FILTER QUESTIONS 55 gal

igotaweinerdog · 01/03/2008, 01:47 AM

so ive decided to just use a filter and not live rock. but can i use a hob filter and a skimmer or should i get a wet dry sump? what would be best

serum153 · 01/03/2008, 02:15 AM

Live rock is such a key to keeping your own mini ocean and without it your maintenance routine will take even longer and your fish/corals will suffer if you slack once. Rock is expensive and if that is what is holding you back from doing it, then be smart about it. Get a piece at a time and run your hob with foam and rinse it every 3-5 days religiously until you have at least 1lb per gallon...Then remove the foam and use it for flow and carbon. I have a 55 gallon also that I used to run an ac70 on with foam and carbon until I purchased enough rock.

Start off on the right foot and you will not regret it. Just my 2 cents

igotaweinerdog · 01/03/2008, 02:23 AM

its going to be a Fish only tank if that matters

snulma1 · 01/03/2008, 04:27 AM

You'll still need a decent amount of LR to help with the bio-filtration. Otherwise your nitrates will be off the chart. A fish only tank can handle a higher nitrate level then a reef tank.

My recommendation is to buy 45-50 lbs of base rock and then buy about 5 lbs of LR and let the LR seed the base rock. It will take a little longer to cycle, but will be well worth it. Also if you can get a cup of Live sand from a friend or a LFS it would be a good thing as well.

stevelkaneval · 01/03/2008, 04:30 AM

you still should have some lr in it, fo systems tend to run more "dirty" than a reef couse of the higher stocking levels and the feedings. just buy a whole mess of base rock( NOT lava rock), then just put like 2 peices of lr in it it will take a lot longer to make the dead rock live but itl be cheaper and less hassle than a cannister or anything else. or a sump with cheato and a deep sand bed. i use a ac 70 on my 20 long that i modded to a refuge,skimmer and liverock. and thats it.

Jocephus · 01/03/2008, 06:03 AM

I would get the wet/dry. If you really have NO live rock, at least the wet dry will keep ammonia/nitrite levels down. As long as you keep up with water changes, you'll be fine.

Jocephus · 01/03/2008, 06:05 AM

PS- 55's are the most overstocked size of aquarium. Large as it may seem, typically you should only have four or so fish in there, depending on species. Do your research on how large the fish will grow to, and who gets along with who. It will save you money and frustration in the long run.

Good luck,

Joe

igotaweinerdog · 01/03/2008, 05:09 PM

alright so then if I buy say 45lbs of base rock and 10 of live rock i should be fine and then i wouldnt need the wet dry right? also if i do the rock. can i cycle the tank with damsels

01/03/2008, 01:47 AM	#1
igotaweinerdog Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 15	FILTER QUESTIONS 55 gal so ive decided to just use a filter and not live rock. but can i use a hob filter and a skimmer or should i get a wet dry sump? what would be best

01/03/2008, 04:30 AM	#5
stevelkaneval Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: oshkosh wisconsin Posts: 633	you still should have some lr in it, fo systems tend to run more "dirty" than a reef couse of the higher stocking levels and the feedings. just buy a whole mess of base rock( NOT lava rock), then just put like 2 peices of lr in it it will take a lot longer to make the dead rock live but itl be cheaper and less hassle than a cannister or anything else. or a sump with cheato and a deep sand bed. i use a ac 70 on my 20 long that i modded to a refuge,skimmer and liverock. and thats it. __________________ "I live too serve you lord Megatron." "Were is the cube?" "The humans have taken it." "You fail me yet again Star Scream, get them." Current Tank Info: 20 long,korilia 1,and small ph,aquaclear70 moded fuge,coralife pc's,aqualight flouresent,seaclone skimmer,35lbs lr,green mushrooms and red and blue,and dragon eye zoas,assorted hermit crabs,nassarius snails,turbo snail,

01/03/2008, 02:15 AM	#2
serum153 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Reno Posts: 584	Live rock is such a key to keeping your own mini ocean and without it your maintenance routine will take even longer and your fish/corals will suffer if you slack once. Rock is expensive and if that is what is holding you back from doing it, then be smart about it. Get a piece at a time and run your hob with foam and rinse it every 3-5 days religiously until you have at least 1lb per gallon...Then remove the foam and use it for flow and carbon. I have a 55 gallon also that I used to run an ac70 on with foam and carbon until I purchased enough rock. Start off on the right foot and you will not regret it. Just my 2 cents

01/03/2008, 02:23 AM	#3
igotaweinerdog Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 15	its going to be a Fish only tank if that matters

01/03/2008, 04:27 AM	#4
snulma1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,281	You'll still need a decent amount of LR to help with the bio-filtration. Otherwise your nitrates will be off the chart. A fish only tank can handle a higher nitrate level then a reef tank. My recommendation is to buy 45-50 lbs of base rock and then buy about 5 lbs of LR and let the LR seed the base rock. It will take a little longer to cycle, but will be well worth it. Also if you can get a cup of Live sand from a friend or a LFS it would be a good thing as well.

01/03/2008, 06:03 AM	#6
Jocephus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 995	I would get the wet/dry. If you really have NO live rock, at least the wet dry will keep ammonia/nitrite levels down. As long as you keep up with water changes, you'll be fine.

01/03/2008, 06:05 AM	#7
Jocephus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 995	PS- 55's are the most overstocked size of aquarium. Large as it may seem, typically you should only have four or so fish in there, depending on species. Do your research on how large the fish will grow to, and who gets along with who. It will save you money and frustration in the long run. Good luck, Joe

01/03/2008, 05:09 PM	#8
igotaweinerdog Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 15	alright so then if I buy say 45lbs of base rock and 10 of live rock i should be fine and then i wouldnt need the wet dry right? also if i do the rock. can i cycle the tank with damsels