Upgraded to 55 Gallon - anything i am missing.

[Gman83]

We upgraded from a 30 gal to a 55 gallon in early November. I have a seachem tidal 55, with a mechanical sponge and fluval biomax media. I am not currently running any chemical filtration. I have 60 lbs. of pink fiji live sand. There is 40ish lbs of the dry rock. The tank cycled earlier this month (in addition to the live sand, I used some filter media from the 30 gal to help it along). I got a WSR18sG3 hob refugium system, and plan to run chaeto. I have two aquaneat power heads that are rated for 800 gph each. The filter gives another 200ish gph, and the pump for the refugium is rated for another 237 gph. I figure I have total flow around 2000 gph. I have a 300 watt heater, which keeps the temp pretty constant at 77. I have moved over the two clowns, and two black margarita snails. As I get the tank better stocked, I will get the refugium up an going, but right now i don't think i have the nutrients. I would eventually like to have corals. Is there anything else that i am missing that will be helpful? The Paw patrol figures help guard the fish, according to my kids.

 

[Jekyl]

Heater controller.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

We upgraded from a 30 gal to a 55 gallon in early November. I have a seachem tidal 55, with a mechanical sponge and fluval biomax media. I am not currently running any chemical filtration. I have 60 lbs. of pink fiji live sand. There is 40ish lbs of the dry rock. The tank cycled earlier this month (in addition to the live sand, I used some filter media from the 30 gal to help it along). I got a WSR18sG3 hob refugium system, and plan to run chaeto. I have two aquaneat power heads that are rated for 800 gph each. The filter gives another 200ish gph, and the pump for the refugium is rated for another 237 gph. I figure I have total flow around 2000 gph. I have a 300 watt heater, which keeps the temp pretty constant at 77. I have moved over the two clowns, and two black margarita snails. As I get the tank better stocked, I will get the refugium up an going, but right now i don't think i have the nutrients. I would eventually like to have corals. Is there anything else that i am missing that will be helpful? The Paw patrol figures help guard the fish, according to my kids.

View attachment 2948111

Need a little scuba diver next to the submarine or inside of it haha

 

[ElementReefer]

What are your plans for lighting? I have a 55 and it used to be lit by a 48” long (59 watt) Fluval Marine 3.0. I upgraded to two Nicrew 100 watt and coral growth and coloration were much better.

You should try an encruster like cyphastrea on the Triceratops, that would look awesome.

 

[Gman83]

I’ve been trying to decide what to do for lighting. While I try to figure it out, I’m using my old 30” Nicrew from my old tank. Not a permanent solution, but a good for right now. I’m glad to hear Nicrew is doing well for your corals. I liked my current one, and didn’t want to spend a fortune on lighting.

Great suggestion on encrusting the triceratops. That would look awesome.

 

[Gman83]

I hadn’t updated this much because I had a brook outbreak, and have been fallow the last 8 weeks and a couple days.

I had to take apart my rock work to get the last fish, but I put my fallow period to good use.

I rebuilt my rock work, and secured it using the Fluval epoxy. While the epoxy sticks out now, supposedly algae and coral will grow over it (when I get to that point). I intentionally put one of the “shelf” rocks off to the side and titled it so I could have more area without shadows when I get to corals. The one rock is green because I moved it out of my hang on back fuge, to feed the two snails in my display tank so I didn’t have to feed them nori.

I upgraded my circulation pumps to two icecap gyre 2000s with the wifi controller. I really like them so far (I bought them used in the forum market). Right now I have them on a random schedule, and will dial it in once I start getting fish back in the tank.

I also got a good deal on a AI prime, so for the time being I will use that and my old lights. My tentative thoughts are use the old lights for lower par, and the AI Prime for higher par. As you can see from the pictures, I haven’t hung the AI Prime yet. I think reading about lighting I’d like to get led bars… my current thinking is three OR3s should do it.

I’ve got time, I feel like I need to get my tank close to being stocked with fish (so I can balance nutrients) before I start messing with coral.

I got a BRS reverse osmosis system, 75 gpd. I hope I don’t regret not getting a bigger one.

Then finally I got a bigger QT tank should something happen in the future. I also rounded out my treatment abilities, I got a Hannah copper checker, RRP and general cure so I can QT in the future and respond to most emergencies appropriately and in a timely manner (i.e. not waiting on shipping).

Finally, I don’t know if I need them but I got an automatic feeder that is Hydros enable, and the BRS brine shrimp hatching disc and eggs. They should arrive next week.

current stock:
2x margarita snails
1x Astraea turbo snail
1x nerile snail

 

[Gman83]

I forgot to mention, my first Dr. Reef order is suppose to come towards the end of next week.

I ordered a McCrasker Wrasse and a Middas blenny.

 

[Gman83]

I got my fish order. The wrasse didn’t make it through the shipping process. I followed the acclimation procedure, and on the third day it passed away. The Midas Blenny is going strong

 

[Gman83]

I order an Orphek Atlantik icon, and it got delivered Friday. My wife isn’t keen on me hanging lights from the ceiling, so I had to figure something out. I ended up building a light stand out of 3/4” electrical conduit. I was able to put it all together for about $70. I took some pictures. I think it turned out pretty well.

 

[Gman83]

In had to transfer a good amount of water to my buckets so I could move my stand around to attach the light. I also got a hob Aquamaxx protein skimmer