thinking about starting 55 but not sure...

PiMpPiStOl · 01/17/2009, 07:00 PM

i know it cost alot and takes forever to start up...but i was thinking if i start one soon, ABOUT how long will it take?? cuz i might be moving begining of next school year to a university, but the was craps going now, im not sure. it might be either the year after, or between semesters. but i was thinking, if i dont move by begining next year, i might wanna start one up. but i wanna know how long it takes so i can decide if i should start it now or not...

and when i do move, and if i started it up, how would i move it??take out about half the water? put the fish in buckets or something with heater and all they need?? then how woul di set it all back up?

46FiatYamaha · 01/17/2009, 07:14 PM

It's hard to say how long it would take you, really it depends on how much money you have on hand to buy all the necessary equipment, and then up to a month or more easily for cycling, curing live rock, etc... Also as you many already know, there isn't very many corners that can be cut in this hobby, if anything is rushed it usually ends up being a major issue later on. It's a lot of work to move a tank, a good link for that http://www.melevsreef.com/moving_a_tank.html

the2ofus · 01/17/2009, 07:19 PM

Maybe start with something smaller, 29g or 30g, when you move, move it into your bigger tank.

PiMpPiStOl · 01/17/2009, 07:46 PM

im not trying to rush it or anything...but it really takes about a month to cycle?? i thought it was WAY longer...but if its a month or so, i might do it now. depending when i move.

and thanks for the link!

Teen Aquarist · 01/17/2009, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PiMpPiStOl
im not trying to rush it or anything...but it really takes about a month to cycle?? i thought it was WAY longer...but if its a month or so, i might do it now. depending when i move.

and thanks for the link!

Yes it does.

EvMiBo · 01/17/2009, 10:14 PM

for what its worth

I'm starting my 55 up within a week or two and I'm moving in july. Moving will be a hassle, but thats a part of the the hobby and life

.

your rock, sand, etc situation you have going on in the tank will determine the cycle period. i'd say ~1 month though, something around there.

PiMpPiStOl · 01/18/2009, 03:13 AM

if you can move in then. so can i! i hope... but im definately gonna try. im gonna go to a LFS and get more info. i know kinda alot, but i wanna make sure...then sometime start it up.

Aqua Keepers · 01/18/2009, 09:33 AM

If it were me, I'd go ahead and start a tank, but knowing that I would be moving soon, I'd stay away from more delicate livestock.

Sk8r · 01/18/2009, 09:43 AM

depends on whether you want a FOWLR or a reef. Dedicate about 4 feet of space, and you can spend from 1-3 thousand doing it, depending on whether you buy used.
Time is the least problem: get highquality non-cured rock from another tank, and cycle can run about 5 days.
Go for an Aquapod (up to 30g) for much less money and you're good for unlimited softie and some stony corals asap, but fishes are very limited in type and number. Corals are not hard to move if you pack them well in bags and peanuts. Tiny fish are not too hard either. You need to wash a sandbed very thoroughly when you move, and if you can give the re- setup 5 days before you put live stuff into it, much better, though softies and hardy fish will be ok with careful monitoring and attention to ammonia threat.

01/17/2009, 07:00 PM	#1
PiMpPiStOl Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Corsicana TX Posts: 21	thinking about starting 55 but not sure... i know it cost alot and takes forever to start up...but i was thinking if i start one soon, ABOUT how long will it take?? cuz i might be moving begining of next school year to a university, but the was craps going now, im not sure. it might be either the year after, or between semesters. but i was thinking, if i dont move by begining next year, i might wanna start one up. but i wanna know how long it takes so i can decide if i should start it now or not... and when i do move, and if i started it up, how would i move it??take out about half the water? put the fish in buckets or something with heater and all they need?? then how woul di set it all back up?

01/17/2009, 07:19 PM	#3
the2ofus Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Clarion, PA Posts: 725	Maybe start with something smaller, 29g or 30g, when you move, move it into your bigger tank. __________________ ~Matt & Kim~ Current Tank Info: 75 gal reef. w/ 30gal. sump/refugium,g-2 skimmer, t-5 lighting

01/17/2009, 10:14 PM	#6
EvMiBo VictoriaConcordiaCrescit Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ft. Myers, FL Posts: 1,929	for what its worth I'm starting my 55 up within a week or two and I'm moving in july. Moving will be a hassle, but thats a part of the the hobby and life . your rock, sand, etc situation you have going on in the tank will determine the cycle period. i'd say ~1 month though, something around there. __________________ Evan \| DSA 135g Peninsula

01/18/2009, 09:43 AM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	depends on whether you want a FOWLR or a reef. Dedicate about 4 feet of space, and you can spend from 1-3 thousand doing it, depending on whether you buy used. Time is the least problem: get highquality non-cured rock from another tank, and cycle can run about 5 days. Go for an Aquapod (up to 30g) for much less money and you're good for unlimited softie and some stony corals asap, but fishes are very limited in type and number. Corals are not hard to move if you pack them well in bags and peanuts. Tiny fish are not too hard either. You need to wash a sandbed very thoroughly when you move, and if you can give the re- setup 5 days before you put live stuff into it, much better, though softies and hardy fish will be ok with careful monitoring and attention to ammonia threat. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/17/2009, 07:14 PM	#2
46FiatYamaha Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Matthews NC Posts: 990	It's hard to say how long it would take you, really it depends on how much money you have on hand to buy all the necessary equipment, and then up to a month or more easily for cycling, curing live rock, etc... Also as you many already know, there isn't very many corners that can be cut in this hobby, if anything is rushed it usually ends up being a major issue later on. It's a lot of work to move a tank, a good link for that http://www.melevsreef.com/moving_a_tank.html

01/17/2009, 07:46 PM	#4
PiMpPiStOl Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Corsicana TX Posts: 21	im not trying to rush it or anything...but it really takes about a month to cycle?? i thought it was WAY longer...but if its a month or so, i might do it now. depending when i move. and thanks for the link!

01/18/2009, 03:13 AM	#7
PiMpPiStOl Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Corsicana TX Posts: 21	if you can move in then. so can i! i hope... but im definately gonna try. im gonna go to a LFS and get more info. i know kinda alot, but i wanna make sure...then sometime start it up.

01/18/2009, 09:33 AM	#8
Aqua Keepers Moved On Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Clearwater,Fl Posts: 2,915	If it were me, I'd go ahead and start a tank, but knowing that I would be moving soon, I'd stay away from more delicate livestock.