55 Gallon canister reef tank build

[Gobi1canobi]

I am very curious to see how this goes for you! I have a 90 g that has been cycled for about a month now, my goal is also a mixed reef! I have 2 Marineland magnum 350 canisters, a Coralife 125 skimmer, and a Marineland HOB 400. So far so good! I plan to turn my lights on around Christmas, and start adding corals after new years. Good luck!

This. I hated the canister maintenance, i preferred a wet/dry in my FW days because it was simple to change out the filter pad every 10-14 days. I always feared tearing apart the ol fluval for maintenance because one nicked o-ring was a water leak from hell.

honestly I’d go 2-3 months sometimes before opening the fluval FW . They moved alot of water to!

Very experienced in fresh and a good 2-3 yr reefer and you can run any tank with any filter! Honestly if you know what your doing you don’t need a filter at all ! its just your tank so go with what u know ! Pay attention to tank and it’s residents! And keep learning ! Just take it slow enjoy the process! Do your research and do what you want! Don’t let anything stop u

 

[Gobi1canobi]

That’s a lot of filtration Sophie’s mom ! You can probably pack that with fish

 

[Canned55]

Update:
I filled the tank and tested the Marineland canister filter for leaks. Low and behold it was just pouring out. So now i am on the market for a new canister filter. Luckily there are some pretty good deals right now, but i am open to any recommendations.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Update:
I filled the tank and tested the Marineland canister filter for leaks. Low and behold it was just pouring out. So now i am on the market for a new canister filter. Luckily there are some pretty good deals right now, but i am open to any recommendations.

I don't know about the marineland but with the fluval and eheim canisters, o-ring kits are readily available. Prolly just needs a reseal.

 

[Canned55]

I don't know about the marineland but with the fluval and eheim canisters, o-ring kits are readily available. Prolly just needs a reseal.

I have been looking for a replacement set of o-rings since i knew they were pretty old. They are sold out everywhere. I was looking at the sicce whale because its in sale with brs https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/whale-350-canister-filter-330-gph-sicce.html

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I've always got o ring kits from my LFS, they are a odd ball to get online. Find a good FW LFS, they prolly have a kit collecting dust or will know where to get it.

 

[FUNGI]

120G mixed reef. 3 FX6's,(no sponges, filled with LR rubble) HOB skimmer, HOB refugium. Rinse out canisters every 6 months.

 

[FUNGI]

Update:
I filled the tank and tested the Marineland canister filter for leaks. Low and behold it was just pouring out. So now i am on the market for a new canister filter. Luckily there are some pretty good deals right now, but i am open to any recommendations.

FX6. More than enough and cheap......huge internal volume.

 

[Canned55]

I decided to not use a canister (for now) and to use a Tidal 75 hang on back filter that I have used on a reef tank in the past. Just to get it off the ground and ease of maintenance.

 

[Canned55]

I added some water and dropped in some rocks that i got from an LFS just to try and get the ball rolling. Bought a Chinese hygger pump from Amazon that i am very happy with honestly. Will be adding sand soon. Still trying to decide how i want to light the tank. Thinking AI Blades since it its long and thin, or hanging 2 Orphek lights since i don’t trust AI .-.

 

[CallMeLloyd]

Currently using the Fluval 307 Canister. Seems to work well but if I could fit a bigger canister filter in stand I'd go for the FX4 or FX6. May eventually get the FX6 anyways and jut place in on the floor next to tank

 

[Canned55]

Sorry that there has not been an update. No real progress other than I started cycling the tank with some established media/rocks and NiteOut II as well as putting in my pair of clowns to move things along while I decide on a light. I am stuck between the AI Blades and the Orphek OR3 light bars. Since I am on a budget I am considering the OR3 due to the value and the odd shape of the 55 since it is so thin. Does anyone know if 2 OR3 would work for mostly softies and LPS?

 

[Canned55]

**Update**​

I decided to go with the Sicce Whale 500 Canister filter due to some space constraints under the stand of my tank. So far it finishes off the tank with a very sleek look. The primer being at the top of the tank is very useful! I will have some pics coming shortly.

 

[Roatan Reef]

**Update**​

I decided to go with the Sicce Whale 500 Canister filter due to some space constraints under the stand of my tank. So far it finishes off the tank with a very sleek look. The primer being at the top of the tank is very useful! I will have some pics coming shortly.

120G mixed reef. 3 FX6's,(no sponges, filled with LR rubble) HOB skimmer, HOB refugium. Rinse out canisters every 6 months.

Good deal on the Sicce!

And yes...You can use any type of filter you like. Whatever works. I am running a canister on my 40gB and only clean it every 3 to 4 months....I'm thinking after about 2 years running now, I may not even need it anymore.

Keep us posted!

 

[Canned55]

Lights are up!
I went with Current USA R24 pro lights.
Making a pretty nice low-light area in the center for some of those more sensitive corals. (Ignore the algae. Ive been battling turf algae for months in the tank I moved out of)

There is not a ton of information in the forums on these lights, so I will be doing a review in a few months.

 

[Canned55]

**Update**​

Sorry for the late update to the tank. Now that my corals have been under these lights for some time, there have been some explosive growth under the CurrentUSA R24! Here are a few photos of corals I thought have grown the most. It is not a perfect tank, but I could not be happier with its progress. Currently the only maintenance I perform is a bi-weekly (5 gallon) water change. I do however assume that the nutrients are a tad high due to the amount of filter feeders that have continued to grow in my tank. The population of spaghetti worms, tube worms, and sponges has gotten a little out of control, but I believe that this is nothing a good pest control fish wouldnt be able to handle. My next update is going to be about my fight with some polyclad flatworms eating my scuba steve frogspawn.

 

[Canned55]

***UPDATE***​

I added some new fish to the tank. A trio of Scissor-tail Gobies/Dartfish.
They are so fun to watch and get along so well with the 3 other fish in the tank. Although one looks a little malnourished I did see them eat so i am hopeful to keep all 3 alive.