55 gallon now...

Here's a pic of my 55 now, it'll be a year old in March, and I've just started putting a few corals in it. Gonna keep a journal of my progress along the way, and see how it goes. As of now, its just a basic 55, no sump, HOB skimmer (Red Sea Prizm) three power heads, a Jager water heater, 40 lbs of live sand, and 60 lbs of live rock. I currently have one Percula Clown, one yellow tail Damsel, one small snail, an emerald crab, one frag of Anthelia, and two frags of Green Star Polyps. Damsel will be going back to LFS soon, he's had the tank to himself the last 6 months, and I just added the Clown, and he's bullying him pretty bad, so he gonna have to go. Anyway, I'll keep yall posted with the slow stocking of corals to the tank, gotta a long way to go....

T.

 

Looks good! I really like your aquascape.

You'll definitely want to look into a better skimmer at some point. I had 2 different Prizms on my old 38 gallon sumpless tank & neither one could keep up on a 38 gallon, even though they're rated for a 55+.

 

It's awkward you should say that. I actually bought a new skimmer as soon as I started up my 55 last march. I bought a Coralife 65 model skimmer brand new from LFS, paid $130 for it. Within 3 months, it sprang a leak at the o-ring going to collection cup, not only that, but it was starting to not produce micro-bubbles. It was basically a water pump. I would un-plug it, and it would start working again, for about a week then just turn water pump again. I contacted manufacturer, they were very helpful, said they would send me a new o-ring, along with a new pump motor. New o-ring came in, and the motor they sent was WAY bigger than I needed, it wasn't the stock pump motor. I called them back up, explained to them the problem, and they told me that they were only allowed one disposition a year on warranty claims per customer. So I had a pump motor that would pump more water than my collection cup could hold, and it ran into over-flows ALL the time, even on the most minimal setting. So I dis-mantled it, and went back to my Red Sea Prizm skimmer. It's been doing a pretty good job so far, but yes, I have been contemplating a new one, just don't know yet.

 

By the way, thx for the compliment Sushi Girl.

T.

 

By the way, anyone who has any ideas on my setup as it sits, please let me know, I'm open for suggestions. Anything from aquascaping to hardward, setup, etc. Let me know. This is now, and I'm looking forward to going from a tank to a full blown reef.

T.

 

I didn't see anything about lighting? That and the sump are the first two directions I would go

 

Awesome tank!

 

Light is not worth mentioning. Actually going to be buying another one soon. Not interested in a sump, and never will be on this tank, I like simple. I'll keep yall posted.

T.

 

I have a 55 too man let me know if you ever want to see it. I too didn't go for a sump and at times i wish i did. Still debating if for this tank I will or for the next bigger upgrade. But yea keep up the good work!

 

Yeah, I know having a sump would be a lot easier to maintain, but all that stuff just looks confusing, and a lot of hassle to set up. If I go bigger down the road, then I will go the sump route, and probably have someone do the work for me. I want to be successful with my 55 first before I decide to go bigger, if ever. It cost me close to $600 just to get started, can't imagine the start up cost on say....180 gallon???

T.