55 gallon FOWLR system ideas

Reef noob_ · 10/19/2014, 07:26 AM

I have a friend that is moving and willing to give his 55 gallon to me for only $150. The tank has been dry for a while and has no coral. it comes with a sump, powerheads, new return pump, skimmer, new overflow, and the rock. i was planning on getting it and setting it up as a FOWLR for my valentini puffer that i recently tried in my reef and ate all of my inverts within an hour.

I was planning stocking to be: 1X yellow tang, 1X coral beauty, 1X valentini puffer, and a sixline wrasse. i know the tang is pushing it in there but i think he should be okay as i've seen many tanks with one in them. think this is good?

dkeller_nc · 10/19/2014, 08:18 AM

Yellow tang, no. They get too large for a 55 gallon, and they get to the "too large" size really quickly.

If you want a tang, one of the bristletooth tangs such as a Kole would be appropriate for that tank.

By the way - if the equipment's high quality, then $150 for that setup is a good deal. If the equipment's of low quality, I suggest passing that up and getting a 65 gallon instead. 55 gallon tanks are very narrow from the front glass to the back compared to their height, and can be a real pain to aquascape or maintain for that reason.

uncleL · 10/19/2014, 09:15 AM

I concur that a 55G is small to start a saltwater just because of the size 75G would be better....I would get it for the equipment! I can parts off Tanks all the time.......

rfgonzo · 10/19/2014, 09:30 AM

I'm assuming the 55 gallon is 48x12x20, with that size tank you're very limited on what you can do. If all equipment is good equipment I would buy it for $150 keep the 55 as a sump and buy yourself A 75gal to give you some better options. You can get a 75 gallon tank pretty inexpensive. But even with a 75 gallon tank I would still say no on the yellow tang. Tang's like to swim from end to end and they move fairly quickly just because you've seen some in smaller tanks does not mean it's healthy for the fish. I've also seen kids riding in a car with no seatbelt but that doesn't mean it's right.

fishhuman · 10/19/2014, 10:18 AM

Yellow tangs are a big no no otherwise your fine

Reef noob_ · 10/19/2014, 02:09 PM

so kole instead of yellow tang? i can live with that. starting to get excited about this tank, calling the guy tonight to get it.

rfgonzo · 10/19/2014, 07:35 PM

I would say Kole tang in a 75gal, but not a 55gal still on the small side.

Reef noob_ · 11/15/2014, 01:00 PM

actually he sold it to another guy but i found a free 90 gallon on a website and snatched it up so now i' doing a 90. I kinda started a build thread ( will make an official one when i actually start building) here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2456116

Sk8r · 11/15/2014, 01:35 PM

A tang that isn't happy sizewise is going to become an aggression problem and may take the tail off your puffer. Save yourself the aggravation and get something with a max size about 5". You might try some hardy shrooms and other softies in with this fellow. Most things won't touch them. And for fishes that will stand up for themselves, maybe a YWgoby or even one of the non-reef wrasses or a yellow dottyback---relative of the wolf eel, and mannered like it.

10/19/2014, 07:26 AM	#1
Reef noob_ Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: holmdel, NJ Posts: 555	55 gallon FOWLR system ideas I have a friend that is moving and willing to give his 55 gallon to me for only $150. The tank has been dry for a while and has no coral. it comes with a sump, powerheads, new return pump, skimmer, new overflow, and the rock. i was planning on getting it and setting it up as a FOWLR for my valentini puffer that i recently tried in my reef and ate all of my inverts within an hour. I was planning stocking to be: 1X yellow tang, 1X coral beauty, 1X valentini puffer, and a sixline wrasse. i know the tang is pushing it in there but i think he should be okay as i've seen many tanks with one in them. think this is good? __________________ ________________________ New Build in progress http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2528685 90 gallon DT, 65 Gallon Fuge, Chinese LEDs, LPS and Soft coral reef

10/19/2014, 02:09 PM	#6
Reef noob_ Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: holmdel, NJ Posts: 555	so kole instead of yellow tang? i can live with that. starting to get excited about this tank, calling the guy tonight to get it. __________________ ________________________ New Build in progress http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2528685 90 gallon DT, 65 Gallon Fuge, Chinese LEDs, LPS and Soft coral reef

11/15/2014, 01:00 PM	#8
Reef noob_ Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: holmdel, NJ Posts: 555	actually he sold it to another guy but i found a free 90 gallon on a website and snatched it up so now i' doing a 90. I kinda started a build thread ( will make an official one when i actually start building) here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2456116 __________________ ________________________ New Build in progress http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2528685 90 gallon DT, 65 Gallon Fuge, Chinese LEDs, LPS and Soft coral reef

11/15/2014, 01:35 PM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	A tang that isn't happy sizewise is going to become an aggression problem and may take the tail off your puffer. Save yourself the aggravation and get something with a max size about 5". You might try some hardy shrooms and other softies in with this fellow. Most things won't touch them. And for fishes that will stand up for themselves, maybe a YWgoby or even one of the non-reef wrasses or a yellow dottyback---relative of the wolf eel, and mannered like it. __________________ 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%.

10/19/2014, 08:18 AM	#2
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	Yellow tang, no. They get too large for a 55 gallon, and they get to the "too large" size really quickly. If you want a tang, one of the bristletooth tangs such as a Kole would be appropriate for that tank. By the way - if the equipment's high quality, then $150 for that setup is a good deal. If the equipment's of low quality, I suggest passing that up and getting a 65 gallon instead. 55 gallon tanks are very narrow from the front glass to the back compared to their height, and can be a real pain to aquascape or maintain for that reason.

10/19/2014, 09:15 AM	#3
uncleL Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: NC Posts: 411	I concur that a 55G is small to start a saltwater just because of the size 75G would be better....I would get it for the equipment! I can parts off Tanks all the time.......

10/19/2014, 09:30 AM	#4
rfgonzo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,280	I'm assuming the 55 gallon is 48x12x20, with that size tank you're very limited on what you can do. If all equipment is good equipment I would buy it for $150 keep the 55 as a sump and buy yourself A 75gal to give you some better options. You can get a 75 gallon tank pretty inexpensive. But even with a 75 gallon tank I would still say no on the yellow tang. Tang's like to swim from end to end and they move fairly quickly just because you've seen some in smaller tanks does not mean it's healthy for the fish. I've also seen kids riding in a car with no seatbelt but that doesn't mean it's right.

10/19/2014, 10:18 AM	#5
fishhuman Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: LA california Posts: 647	Yellow tangs are a big no no otherwise your fine

10/19/2014, 07:35 PM	#7
rfgonzo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,280	I would say Kole tang in a 75gal, but not a 55gal still on the small side.