question and help

55lookn2upgrade · 08/19/2010, 03:26 PM

Hi all new here to rc and yes I'm a newbee to this hobby. I must say I caught the bug all I do is homework and studying on ways to better my tank. I have a 55g with 70 lbs. Of live base rock in it also its going to be a bare bottom tank. Right now I have two 30-60g power filters filtering the tank and the hood that came with it a two sided pushin t8's daytime bulbs. After a month and a half all readings and temp were good. I added 2 snails astrea / margarita 1 red leg hermit crab and a cleaner shrimp at first. Next day a hippo tang week later two percula clownfish all is going well. Here's where all the questions take play. Askin for feedback and some different ideas from the more experienced hobbies on rc. I'm aware of all the work I have to do. Looking to start with the filtering system I'm leaning towards the eshopps pf-800 however theirs two others like the cpr cs 100 or the adhi brand. I have no clue on which one to buy. Now along with that my stand has an middle slab of wood that prevents me from putting a 20 gal tank at the bottom from the front. I was thinking about using a plastic tub. I just need to bend it a little to make it fit pros / cons.... Moving on to the protein skimmer, in-sump vs hang on ? I was look at the eshopps psk-100 in-sump and the psk-100h hang-on any ideas pros / cons.... that's what I'm working on now thanks so much..... My next project after that one is my lighting. I was looking at 3 light hoods. 1 aquasun t5-ho double light linear fluorescent hood, 2 new wavepoint 2-lamp t5 lighting system or 3 current usa 48" 2x54w nova extreme. Pros / cons... I really appreciated if this newbee could get some help... Thanks a million

B-Willz · 08/19/2010, 04:35 PM

On my 55 I run the Eshopps 100 in sump and for the price I love the thing, once you get it diled in it runs like a champ. The plastic tubs can work but you have to be careful with leaching chemicals. There are a lot of sumps made to fit under the 55 from the front. For mine I took 2 amiricle wet drys and did some mods and atached them together, plenty of room for the skimmer, a fuge section, and return. For the lighting it depends on what you plan on keeping for corals if any. If you are interested in corals the you should look at a 4 bulb setup, not a lot of light from the 2 bulbs. I have no personal experience with the light systems you mentioned, I have the retro systems to fit under the canopy.

Mavrk · 08/19/2010, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 55lookn2upgrade

all I do is homework and studying on ways to better my tank... I have a 55g ... Next day a hippo tang

Not an answer, but it seems you skipped a few pieces of homework: researching about fish before adding them to your tank. The tank is not big enough for a hippo tang in the long run. They get to be one foot long. If you are planning to get rid of it in a year (maybe less, maybe more), I understand the attraction. However, I would not have used that as my first fish. They are prone to to lateral line disease, fin erosion, ich and other skin parasites that many fish. In addition, they are territorial and should be added after any more docile fish.

Sorry if that came off kind of harsh. I just want you to succeed in this endeavor.

Chris27 · 08/19/2010, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mavrk

Not an answer, but it seems you skipped a few pieces of homework: researching about fish before adding them to your tank. The tank is not big enough for a hippo tang in the long run. They get to be one foot long. If you are planning to get rid of it in a year (maybe less, maybe more), I understand the attraction. However, I would not have used that as my first fish. They are prone to to lateral line disease, fin erosion, ich and other skin parasites that many fish. In addition, they are territorial and should be added after any more docile fish.

Sorry if that came off kind of harsh. I just want you to succeed in this endeavor.

Relax, hippo's don't grow very fast, and unlike every other tang, they don't swim nearly as much. A 55 will be a fine home for a while....as for the ailments....the same goes with just about every other fish out there....that's why the successful reefers QT.

Chris27 · 08/19/2010, 06:34 PM

lookn2 -

Shoot for an in-sump skimmer, they generally perform much better then a comparatively sized hang on unit, and are much less of a headache to adjust and maintain. I still have stains on my bedroom floor where a hang on skimmer once sat on the back of a tank.

As for the sump, anything that will hold water will generally work, a 55 can be a tough stand to fit a sump in that's for sure. For an overflow, I like drilling, but the CPR Overflows are a good bet, I've heard good things about the E-Shops ones, but I have yet to use them.

For the lights, I'm a big fan of current products, they are well made, and have very good cooling setup's, lights just work that much better when the ballasts and bulbs are cooled by nice big fans.

For your skimmer, take a look at the Octopus Line, available from Coralvue, they are solid performers and very easy on the wallet. The E-Shops skimmers seem to have some good reviews, but the pump they use on most of their skimmers isn't the best.

Good Luck - Keep asking away.

55lookn2upgrade · 10/20/2010, 07:05 PM

thanks for the helpful info......

08/19/2010, 03:26 PM	#1
55lookn2upgrade Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 7	question and help Hi all new here to rc and yes I'm a newbee to this hobby. I must say I caught the bug all I do is homework and studying on ways to better my tank. I have a 55g with 70 lbs. Of live base rock in it also its going to be a bare bottom tank. Right now I have two 30-60g power filters filtering the tank and the hood that came with it a two sided pushin t8's daytime bulbs. After a month and a half all readings and temp were good. I added 2 snails astrea / margarita 1 red leg hermit crab and a cleaner shrimp at first. Next day a hippo tang week later two percula clownfish all is going well. Here's where all the questions take play. Askin for feedback and some different ideas from the more experienced hobbies on rc. I'm aware of all the work I have to do. Looking to start with the filtering system I'm leaning towards the eshopps pf-800 however theirs two others like the cpr cs 100 or the adhi brand. I have no clue on which one to buy. Now along with that my stand has an middle slab of wood that prevents me from putting a 20 gal tank at the bottom from the front. I was thinking about using a plastic tub. I just need to bend it a little to make it fit pros / cons.... Moving on to the protein skimmer, in-sump vs hang on ? I was look at the eshopps psk-100 in-sump and the psk-100h hang-on any ideas pros / cons.... that's what I'm working on now thanks so much..... My next project after that one is my lighting. I was looking at 3 light hoods. 1 aquasun t5-ho double light linear fluorescent hood, 2 new wavepoint 2-lamp t5 lighting system or 3 current usa 48" 2x54w nova extreme. Pros / cons... I really appreciated if this newbee could get some help... Thanks a million

10/20/2010, 07:05 PM	#6
55lookn2upgrade Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 7	thanks for the helpful info...... __________________ Thanks guys! I appreciate the help...Just getting started, luv this hobby ! Current Tank Info: 55g, 1 hippo tang, 2 percula clownsfish, 1 cleaner shrmip, 2 snails astrea / margarita , 1 red leg hermit crab

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08/19/2010, 04:35 PM	#2
B-Willz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Aurora Co Posts: 420	On my 55 I run the Eshopps 100 in sump and for the price I love the thing, once you get it diled in it runs like a champ. The plastic tubs can work but you have to be careful with leaching chemicals. There are a lot of sumps made to fit under the 55 from the front. For mine I took 2 amiricle wet drys and did some mods and atached them together, plenty of room for the skimmer, a fuge section, and return. For the lighting it depends on what you plan on keeping for corals if any. If you are interested in corals the you should look at a 4 bulb setup, not a lot of light from the 2 bulbs. I have no personal experience with the light systems you mentioned, I have the retro systems to fit under the canopy.

08/19/2010, 06:34 PM	#5
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	lookn2 - Shoot for an in-sump skimmer, they generally perform much better then a comparatively sized hang on unit, and are much less of a headache to adjust and maintain. I still have stains on my bedroom floor where a hang on skimmer once sat on the back of a tank. As for the sump, anything that will hold water will generally work, a 55 can be a tough stand to fit a sump in that's for sure. For an overflow, I like drilling, but the CPR Overflows are a good bet, I've heard good things about the E-Shops ones, but I have yet to use them. For the lights, I'm a big fan of current products, they are well made, and have very good cooling setup's, lights just work that much better when the ballasts and bulbs are cooled by nice big fans. For your skimmer, take a look at the Octopus Line, available from Coralvue, they are solid performers and very easy on the wallet. The E-Shops skimmers seem to have some good reviews, but the pump they use on most of their skimmers isn't the best. Good Luck - Keep asking away.