55 Gallon "Fish Only" Setup

Kiel'thalin · 09/11/2006, 06:44 AM

Alright, I have a friend at work that is stepping into the Salt Water scene and was just going to use a Mechanical Filter and put Saltwater in the tank with fake decor, that was it. After talking to me I gave him a bit of scare and discussing how to setup his tank. And, he has absolutely no desire for a Reef Tank or FOWLR setup. He wants a Fish Only setup with fake decor. How does one setup a tank this way and be successful?
DSB?
Trickle Filter?

I don't know, someone help me out here.

arizona tech · 09/11/2006, 07:14 AM

reef central, and reading let him do some of the leg work, if is a fo only tank i think a hob filter or canister+ a skimmer will be fine

Kiel'thalin · 09/11/2006, 07:25 AM

I just want to give him the correct advise. He has a 55 gallon tank. I just wanted to hear some one elses input. I am going to suggest so far:
HOB Mechanical Filter (for a media chamber)
Protein Skimmer

What biological filter would be the best without using liverock?

arizona tech · 09/11/2006, 07:44 AM

the bio filter will be established in a canister filter via rock rubble,bio wheelrun a eheim 2213 on my 55 and i run a penguin 150 on my 25 fo tank with a bio wheel no problems that filter gives you bio, mechanical, chemical filter all in one, you will get a 100 different ways to filter the system i just did what made sense to me and my needs

Shagsbeard · 09/11/2006, 08:14 AM

He's going to need to control nitrates with frequent water changes. He'll get aerobic bacteria on just about everything... filter media, the glass, the "furniture"... that will take care of that. But there will be no anaerobic spaces, so he'll have to deal with the nitrate physically.

dc · 09/11/2006, 08:16 AM

I totally would hook him up here first. My small tanks have nothing fancy in them. LR and caulerpa in them. I run various brands of power filters in them. And the only time I add any media to it is during a water change when I stir up the sediment in the tank. Depending on the size of his tank, he could go with a deep sand bed. Fake plants ten to get coraline, algae and other such things growing on them and can be a real pain to keep clean. Have him look through Galleries here. Some of them are so breathtaking, he may change his mind about Live rock.

Kiel'thalin · 09/11/2006, 08:55 AM

Okay, I am learning now. Here is the list so far:
Penguin Bio-Wheel 350
200W Heater
(1) Seio M620 Powerhead (620GPH)
Skimmer ?

DEEC77 · 09/11/2006, 09:08 AM

I have a 55 fish only but I do have live rock and a thin layer of sand. Like everyone else mentined he may want to add some marco algae to help with nitrates. I have 2 power heades and a protein skimmer and heater. The fake decorations will be able to help with bio filter once they become seeded.

~Dee~

Kiel'thalin · 09/11/2006, 10:38 AM

Considering he is on a budget here is the supplies I have come up with:

Penguin BIO-Wheel 350 with (2) Media Baskets & 6 Pack of Rite-Size C
200Watt Visi-Therm Stealth Heater
SEIO 620 Power Head
Coralife Super Skimmer
Saltwater Master Test Kit
Akalinity (KH) Test Kit
Digital Thermometer
Hydrometer (Salinity)
Total: ~$250

I would just hate for him to walk into the LFS to get the advise. He is not internet savvy by any means, and he is trusting me to help him out. With that eq list provided, is there anything I should modify, delete, or add? Thanks again.

BurntOutReefer · 09/11/2006, 10:42 AM

IMO...you'll waste money on the skimmer. The fish will most likely eat all and any food you put in there, and any non-eaten food/detrius/poop etc will be taken in by the penguin.....you're better of spending that money on a UV system. That will help him(you) more in the long run.....

dc · 09/11/2006, 10:44 AM

Many people don't use skimmers, the only one I have is in my reef tank. That could be a later add on. IMO

Kiel'thalin · 09/11/2006, 12:22 PM

After talking to him/showing him books, he has decided to go with the live rock setup "FOWLR" for ease of lowering nitrates and cut down on water changes. He basically just wants to have fish either fresh or saltwater.

Filtration: The Live Rock, and the CSS 125 Skimmer
Water Flow: SEIO 620 Pump

Go with a bare bottom/starboard setup or a 1 inch sandbed? He is going in stages, he want all the eq he needs up front, no having to order anything else if he doesn't have to.

09/11/2006, 06:44 AM	#1
Kiel'thalin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Albany, Georgia Posts: 575	55 Gallon "Fish Only" Setup Alright, I have a friend at work that is stepping into the Salt Water scene and was just going to use a Mechanical Filter and put Saltwater in the tank with fake decor, that was it. After talking to me I gave him a bit of scare and discussing how to setup his tank. And, he has absolutely no desire for a Reef Tank or FOWLR setup. He wants a Fish Only setup with fake decor. How does one setup a tank this way and be successful? DSB? Trickle Filter? I don't know, someone help me out here.

09/11/2006, 08:16 AM	#6
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	I totally would hook him up here first. My small tanks have nothing fancy in them. LR and caulerpa in them. I run various brands of power filters in them. And the only time I add any media to it is during a water change when I stir up the sediment in the tank. Depending on the size of his tank, he could go with a deep sand bed. Fake plants ten to get coraline, algae and other such things growing on them and can be a real pain to keep clean. Have him look through Galleries here. Some of them are so breathtaking, he may change his mind about Live rock. __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

09/11/2006, 10:44 AM	#11
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	Many people don't use skimmers, the only one I have is in my reef tank. That could be a later add on. IMO __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

09/11/2006, 07:14 AM	#2
arizona tech Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: south elgin Posts: 342	reef central, and reading let him do some of the leg work, if is a fo only tank i think a hob filter or canister+ a skimmer will be fine

09/11/2006, 07:25 AM	#3
Kiel'thalin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Albany, Georgia Posts: 575	I just want to give him the correct advise. He has a 55 gallon tank. I just wanted to hear some one elses input. I am going to suggest so far: HOB Mechanical Filter (for a media chamber) Protein Skimmer What biological filter would be the best without using liverock?

09/11/2006, 07:44 AM	#4
arizona tech Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: south elgin Posts: 342	the bio filter will be established in a canister filter via rock rubble,bio wheelrun a eheim 2213 on my 55 and i run a penguin 150 on my 25 fo tank with a bio wheel no problems that filter gives you bio, mechanical, chemical filter all in one, you will get a 100 different ways to filter the system i just did what made sense to me and my needs

09/11/2006, 08:14 AM	#5
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	He's going to need to control nitrates with frequent water changes. He'll get aerobic bacteria on just about everything... filter media, the glass, the "furniture"... that will take care of that. But there will be no anaerobic spaces, so he'll have to deal with the nitrate physically.

09/11/2006, 08:55 AM	#7
Kiel'thalin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Albany, Georgia Posts: 575	Okay, I am learning now. Here is the list so far: Penguin Bio-Wheel 350 200W Heater (1) Seio M620 Powerhead (620GPH) Skimmer ?

09/11/2006, 09:08 AM	#8
DEEC77 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 447	I have a 55 fish only but I do have live rock and a thin layer of sand. Like everyone else mentined he may want to add some marco algae to help with nitrates. I have 2 power heades and a protein skimmer and heater. The fake decorations will be able to help with bio filter once they become seeded. ~Dee~

09/11/2006, 10:38 AM	#9
Kiel'thalin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Albany, Georgia Posts: 575	Considering he is on a budget here is the supplies I have come up with: Penguin BIO-Wheel 350 with (2) Media Baskets & 6 Pack of Rite-Size C 200Watt Visi-Therm Stealth Heater SEIO 620 Power Head Coralife Super Skimmer Saltwater Master Test Kit Akalinity (KH) Test Kit Digital Thermometer Hydrometer (Salinity) Total: ~$250 I would just hate for him to walk into the LFS to get the advise. He is not internet savvy by any means, and he is trusting me to help him out. With that eq list provided, is there anything I should modify, delete, or add? Thanks again.

09/11/2006, 10:42 AM	#10
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	IMO...you'll waste money on the skimmer. The fish will most likely eat all and any food you put in there, and any non-eaten food/detrius/poop etc will be taken in by the penguin.....you're better of spending that money on a UV system. That will help him(you) more in the long run.....

09/11/2006, 12:22 PM	#12
Kiel'thalin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Albany, Georgia Posts: 575	After talking to him/showing him books, he has decided to go with the live rock setup "FOWLR" for ease of lowering nitrates and cut down on water changes. He basically just wants to have fish either fresh or saltwater. Filtration: The Live Rock, and the CSS 125 Skimmer Water Flow: SEIO 620 Pump Go with a bare bottom/starboard setup or a 1 inch sandbed? He is going in stages, he want all the eq he needs up front, no having to order anything else if he doesn't have to.