55 gal fish only w/o skimmer - Page 2

fscmocsaj · 12/12/2013, 01:23 PM

All the power to you then. Good luck

sh0ck · 12/12/2013, 01:33 PM

You did not mentioned that fish list, as 55g is exactly between.
Big display to keep just few little fish and not big enough for tangs.

pkirby · 12/12/2013, 02:28 PM

personally, if you're going to use NSW I'd go for bigger than 10% weekly changes and skip on the skimmer all together. If you were shooting for an SPS system I may have a different opinion... that said, I keep a 29 gallon biocube that's full of SPS/LPS/Zoanthids. I do a 6 gallon water change every 1-2 weeks. I have enough growth that I do have to dose alk... but that's it. I don't run a skimmer. I have a bag of purigen that I replace every 3-4 months.

BenBradford · 12/12/2013, 03:05 PM

What you spend on salt on your bi weekly water changes will eventually be the same as a skimmer as far as money. It is just a temporary scenario to go without a skimmer.

Shaker nemo · 12/13/2013, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenBradford

What you spend on salt on your bi weekly water changes will eventually be the same as a skimmer as far as money. It is just a temporary scenario to go without a skimmer.

im using nsw for my water changes...
probable stocking list-

sebae clown pair
Longfin Fairy Wrasse
1 more small fish... white blenny maybe.
I wz thinking about a kole or tomini tang instead of the wrasse but not sure whether i can keep one. thoughts? I really wanted a leopard wrasse... but they supposed to be hard to keep

. I will def get one in a year or so - thats why im gettin a fuge

. Here in Sri Lanka i can only get fish that are caught here. Imported sw fish r damn expensive fr me

Shaker nemo · 12/13/2013, 05:39 AM

so yeah 4 fish. as far as invertebrates - some snails, couple of shrimp, feather dusters and soft corals (shrooms)

Shaker nemo · 12/14/2013, 01:32 AM

thoughts about a kole tang in a 55 gallon? the tomini is out of the question

Shaker nemo · 12/14/2013, 02:01 AM

i found out the volume of water in my tank is 68 gallons. A kole should be fine in there right?
dimensions are 48x18x18 (LxBxH) =68 gallons

Shaker nemo · 12/14/2013, 10:25 AM

Kole tang still pending...

Shaker nemo · 12/15/2013, 08:29 PM

AnYoNe?

JAnwyl · 12/15/2013, 10:54 PM

My brother had been keeping freshwater for around 20+ years and started in saltwater. His saltwater experience was horrible (this was before live rock or Protein skimmers) I would say live rock, protein skimmer and a surface skimmer are best forms of filtration the algae scrubber being 2nd best, at same time people ran saltwater for years without either but its not going to be easy. (Maybe some DIY projects can help add filtering and make your experience better) I personally would strongly advise to make a sump instead of a fuge. DIY skimmer in the sump.

Shaker nemo · 12/15/2013, 11:03 PM

Yes it will be a sump. DIY skimmer is where I'm goin.

Shaker nemo · 12/19/2013, 05:16 AM

forget corals then is one t8 enough for corraline?

Shaker nemo · 12/23/2013, 01:46 AM

So my stocking plans have changed. This tank is gonna be a aggressive fish tank with ONLY ONE FISH. My choices are- Picasso humu trigger, clown trigger or a lion fish. I want the clown trigger but I don't think he will fit in my tank. This tank is def being upgraded when I move in 2 years. So clown trigger? Any advice appreciated.

Shaker nemo · 12/23/2013, 02:31 AM

I don't mind having only 1 fish. I just found a good deal on a 3 ft tank so that's probably gonna be the sump

. No live rock - only dead rock is gonna be used. I will have around 30 kg for my DT volume of 67 gallons. I will be attempt a DIY skimmer

still not sure what I will have in sump (wet dry, fuge etc) 10% weekly water changes. HOW DOES IT SOUND? thx! All advice greatly appreciated

Shaker nemo · 12/24/2013, 01:33 AM

bump i really need some help

Bpb · 12/24/2013, 09:39 AM

Proposed tank and sump itself sounds fine. To some degree you really just need rock, flow, a glass box, and for the water to not be cold. Beyond that you're adding things to address problems. Want sps? Get brighter lights and think about cleaning up the water. Too much algae? More water changes more flow. Tired of water changes and want to reduce them? Get a gfo reactor and run carbon also. Ect. Right now for a viewing light only fish with live rock tank, you're fine. Please don't get a clown trigger. Even if you got a baby, that's like putting a lion cub in your bedroom forever and hoping it plays nice and has enough room when it gets full grown. Just a bad idea.

In my 55 gallon I have:
Clarkii clownfish
Royal gramma basslet
Azure damselfish
Pajama cardinal
Mandarin dragonet
*soon to be Leopard Wrasse as final fish.

dppitone · 12/24/2013, 10:14 AM

Yes your fish choices, Kole Tang or Humu Trig or Clown are fine. I'd suggest getting juveniles, so you're looking at around 2." They should be good in that tank for a while, a couple years, and then as they grow you can trade them out to your LFS for another fish or move up to a larger tank like a 90g or similar. All's good.
,
I have a bunch of tanks, with two 55gallons as the smallest, and start my new juveniles in those tanks - moving them to larger tanks a couple years down the road as mentioned above, so I've been there.

Shaker nemo · 12/24/2013, 10:44 PM

here is a link of a guy who kept a clown trig in a 90 g for 12 YEARS - my tank has the same legnth and width as a 90 gallon- its just has less height. And since height does not affect swimming room a lot i have pretty much the same tank (in terms of swimming room). http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f1...er-170962.html
and as i said before, this tank is going to be broken down in 2 years so will get a juvenile clown trigger likr dppitone said, of around 3" . In 2 years i will get a bigger tank when i move or give him back to the LFS. thx

Bpb · 12/24/2013, 10:50 PM

Sounds like you've made your mind up regardless of advice, given the quick example of a friend who has done the same. Your tank, do what you will. I maintain it's a bad idea, regardless who has done it in the past. Especially having seen full sized specimens in public displays. Best of luck

dppitone · 12/25/2013, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bpb

Sounds like you've made your mind up regardless of advice, given the quick example of a friend who has done the same. Your tank, do what you will. I maintain it's a bad idea, regardless who has done it in the past. Especially having seen full sized specimens in public displays. Best of luck

In quoting your advice, I'm curious as whether you have you kept clown triggers in various sized tanks? In saying it's a bad idea, are you speaking from experience with juvi trigs?

Bpb · 12/25/2013, 01:18 AM

Lol I don't need to have personally kept a clown trigger to believe its bad to keep a fish of that size and temperment in a 4 ft long 12" deep tank. Go ahead and pick up a shoal of baby look downs and maybe a panther grouper while were at it. They start small right?

dppitone · 12/25/2013, 02:09 AM

Yeah, you do IMO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bpb

Lol I don't need to have personally kept a clown trigger to believe its bad to keep a fish of that size and temperment in a 4 ft long 12" deep tank. Go ahead and pick up a shoal of baby look downs and maybe a panther grouper while were at it. They start small right?

You're right, you don't have to have kept one to "believe" it wouldn't be a good choice. But the OP isn't asking about folks' beliefs, but rather about specific info and knowledge. If you haven't experienced a clown trigger, then you don't know of what you speak. And beliefs are irrelevant here.

Folks think they can learn everything by reading, but in fact there are only a few aspects of the hobby, like water chemistry, that can be learned this way. Reading something and then giving advice is unfortunately done to often here. You learn this hobby by doing, and doing for years and years, decades. After you do that and can draw on experiences, then you'll be in a position to give advice on variable matters.

And I'd be very interested in hearing about your experiences with Look Downs after you have some. Very much so. I've never had any, so wouldn't give advice on them.

Bpb · 12/25/2013, 02:21 AM

Agree to disagree. Haven't attempted to grow sps by candle light. Haven't attempted to raise a shark in a nano cube, haven't attempted to keep a green moray eel in a 40 gallon, haven't attempted to raise zoa eating nudibranches in a zoa garden, haven't attempted to keep a lion fish in a fry tank, shall I go on? All things I've read are a bad idea and believe them to be. My lack of experience in trying something stupid doesn't mean I'm not entitled to an opinion. That transcends the hobby. The original poster asked for opinions. He got them. If he had already made his mind up on the matter he shouldn't have asked in the first place. Done on that subject. If it helps you sleep better tonight, you can have the last word, seeing as you started the debate, be my guest and finish it. My gift. Though I doubt I'll even see it. Unsubscribed. Merry Christmas

dppitone · 12/25/2013, 02:23 AM

Brilliant

12/12/2013, 01:23 PM	#26
fscmocsaj Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 752	All the power to you then. Good luck __________________ Red Sea 170- Acro dominant Current Tank Info: Red Sea 170

12/12/2013, 03:05 PM	#29
BenBradford Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 53	What you spend on salt on your bi weekly water changes will eventually be the same as a skimmer as far as money. It is just a temporary scenario to go without a skimmer. __________________ I can't stop thinking about fish...

12/13/2013, 05:39 AM	#31
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	so yeah 4 fish. as far as invertebrates - some snails, couple of shrimp, feather dusters and soft corals (shrooms) __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/14/2013, 01:32 AM	#32
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	thoughts about a kole tang in a 55 gallon? the tomini is out of the question __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/14/2013, 02:01 AM	#33
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	i found out the volume of water in my tank is 68 gallons. A kole should be fine in there right? dimensions are 48x18x18 (LxBxH) =68 gallons __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/12/2013, 01:33 PM	#27
sh0ck Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 229	You did not mentioned that fish list, as 55g is exactly between. Big display to keep just few little fish and not big enough for tangs.

12/12/2013, 02:28 PM	#28
pkirby Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 408	personally, if you're going to use NSW I'd go for bigger than 10% weekly changes and skip on the skimmer all together. If you were shooting for an SPS system I may have a different opinion... that said, I keep a 29 gallon biocube that's full of SPS/LPS/Zoanthids. I do a 6 gallon water change every 1-2 weeks. I have enough growth that I do have to dose alk... but that's it. I don't run a skimmer. I have a bag of purigen that I replace every 3-4 months.

12/14/2013, 10:25 AM	#34
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	Kole tang still pending... __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/15/2013, 08:29 PM	#35
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	AnYoNe? __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/15/2013, 10:54 PM	#36
JAnwyl Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: El Dorado Hills, CA Posts: 239	My brother had been keeping freshwater for around 20+ years and started in saltwater. His saltwater experience was horrible (this was before live rock or Protein skimmers) I would say live rock, protein skimmer and a surface skimmer are best forms of filtration the algae scrubber being 2nd best, at same time people ran saltwater for years without either but its not going to be easy. (Maybe some DIY projects can help add filtering and make your experience better) I personally would strongly advise to make a sump instead of a fuge. DIY skimmer in the sump. Last edited by JAnwyl; 12/15/2013 at 11:10 PM.

12/15/2013, 11:03 PM	#37
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	Yes it will be a sump. DIY skimmer is where I'm goin. __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/19/2013, 05:16 AM	#38
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	forget corals then is one t8 enough for corraline? __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/23/2013, 01:46 AM	#39
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	So my stocking plans have changed. This tank is gonna be a aggressive fish tank with ONLY ONE FISH. My choices are- Picasso humu trigger, clown trigger or a lion fish. I want the clown trigger but I don't think he will fit in my tank. This tank is def being upgraded when I move in 2 years. So clown trigger? Any advice appreciated. __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/23/2013, 02:31 AM	#40
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	I don't mind having only 1 fish. I just found a good deal on a 3 ft tank so that's probably gonna be the sump . No live rock - only dead rock is gonna be used. I will have around 30 kg for my DT volume of 67 gallons. I will be attempt a DIY skimmer still not sure what I will have in sump (wet dry, fuge etc) 10% weekly water changes. HOW DOES IT SOUND? thx! All advice greatly appreciated __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/24/2013, 01:33 AM	#41
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	bump i really need some help __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/24/2013, 09:39 AM	#42
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	Proposed tank and sump itself sounds fine. To some degree you really just need rock, flow, a glass box, and for the water to not be cold. Beyond that you're adding things to address problems. Want sps? Get brighter lights and think about cleaning up the water. Too much algae? More water changes more flow. Tired of water changes and want to reduce them? Get a gfo reactor and run carbon also. Ect. Right now for a viewing light only fish with live rock tank, you're fine. Please don't get a clown trigger. Even if you got a baby, that's like putting a lion cub in your bedroom forever and hoping it plays nice and has enough room when it gets full grown. Just a bad idea. In my 55 gallon I have: Clarkii clownfish Royal gramma basslet Azure damselfish Pajama cardinal Mandarin dragonet *soon to be Leopard Wrasse as final fish.

12/24/2013, 10:14 AM	#43
dppitone Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Queen Village, Phila. Posts: 1,697	Yes your fish choices, Kole Tang or Humu Trig or Clown are fine. I'd suggest getting juveniles, so you're looking at around 2." They should be good in that tank for a while, a couple years, and then as they grow you can trade them out to your LFS for another fish or move up to a larger tank like a 90g or similar. All's good. , I have a bunch of tanks, with two 55gallons as the smallest, and start my new juveniles in those tanks - moving them to larger tanks a couple years down the road as mentioned above, so I've been there.

12/24/2013, 10:44 PM	#44
Shaker nemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 263	here is a link of a guy who kept a clown trig in a 90 g for 12 YEARS - my tank has the same legnth and width as a 90 gallon- its just has less height. And since height does not affect swimming room a lot i have pretty much the same tank (in terms of swimming room). http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f1...er-170962.html and as i said before, this tank is going to be broken down in 2 years so will get a juvenile clown trigger likr dppitone said, of around 3" . In 2 years i will get a bigger tank when i move or give him back to the LFS. thx __________________ -Shaker- "I live in place some people call home, I call it paradise" if only life were as easy as in minecraft 10 gallon reef planning stage :D Current Tank Info: Nothing at all :D

12/24/2013, 10:50 PM	#45
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	Sounds like you've made your mind up regardless of advice, given the quick example of a friend who has done the same. Your tank, do what you will. I maintain it's a bad idea, regardless who has done it in the past. Especially having seen full sized specimens in public displays. Best of luck

12/25/2013, 01:18 AM	#47
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	Lol I don't need to have personally kept a clown trigger to believe its bad to keep a fish of that size and temperment in a 4 ft long 12" deep tank. Go ahead and pick up a shoal of baby look downs and maybe a panther grouper while were at it. They start small right?

12/25/2013, 02:21 AM	#49
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	Agree to disagree. Haven't attempted to grow sps by candle light. Haven't attempted to raise a shark in a nano cube, haven't attempted to keep a green moray eel in a 40 gallon, haven't attempted to raise zoa eating nudibranches in a zoa garden, haven't attempted to keep a lion fish in a fry tank, shall I go on? All things I've read are a bad idea and believe them to be. My lack of experience in trying something stupid doesn't mean I'm not entitled to an opinion. That transcends the hobby. The original poster asked for opinions. He got them. If he had already made his mind up on the matter he shouldn't have asked in the first place. Done on that subject. If it helps you sleep better tonight, you can have the last word, seeing as you started the debate, be my guest and finish it. My gift. Though I doubt I'll even see it. Unsubscribed. Merry Christmas

12/25/2013, 02:23 AM	#50
dppitone Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Queen Village, Phila. Posts: 1,697	Brilliant Last edited by dppitone; 12/25/2013 at 02:29 AM.