My 55Gal(a work in progress)

Figured I would show off my 55 Gal that I am building up. This all started with the death of my kids' Chinese Water Dragon. He was living in a 55Gal that my grandmother gave me. She has had fish for years but decided it was too much up keep for her. Since the dragon passed, the wife suggested we get fish. She popped off about setting up saltwater. I was a little hesitant but have always wanted a saltwater setup. So we scrubbed the tank down with vinegar and leak checked it. It checked good so I started researching setting up the tank. Man, was I overwhelmed at first but the more I read the more I wanted this to happen. Then fate intervined. I was looking at craigslist and found a 40 gal that was set up and running for $200. I talked them down to $150 and picked it up that day. We set it up at the house because I still needed a few things for the 55gal.

 

So after we got the 40 home, I set out to get a light and filter for the 55 gal. It about a week to get everything but that next Saturday we moved everything over. I think it turned out nice. It came with some stuff in it. I got a yellow tang, brittle star, strawberry crab, blue tuxedo urchin, horseshoe crab, few snails and hermits. It also had some type of button polyp and daisy polyps. The polyps have really taken off since I got them under the new light.

 

Next I ordered a cleaner pack with a couple of extras since they were on sale. I got Purple whip for my daughter since she like purple. The company I ordered from sent me some free zoa's. Not sure what they are going to be but I am excited to see them open up. Plus I got some Macro Algea for my HOB refugium that houses half the pods I got ordered. Last but not least I got a GBTA for me. I am hoping to get it settled so I can get some clownfish.

 

I work nights so while I was sleeping the wife went to the LFS which has a shippment come in every Wednesday. She fell in love with a green Mandarin Goby they got in. Since I already had some pods in the tank and added more the guy up there store said he would be ok. SO I got up to a new little guy hiding in the back of the tank. I was hoping to have had my 10 gal quarantine cycled before I got any new additions but he is in the tank now. That pretty much catches up my build that started at the begining of the summer. I will post more as I add more.

 

Boy you've been busy. Great scape on the 55 gallon.

 

Thanks, Corailline. My Premium Snowflake and Darwin Ocellaris fishes will be here today. I will post pics once they are settled.

 

Here are some pics from today. The first is the Buttons. They are growing like weeds. Next are the Daisies. They hve really improved in the new tank. I finally got a shot of my Yellow Tang. She is kind of shy. She is right at 3 inches long. Any one have a 125 gal or bigger in Abilene TX that is looking for a Yellow Tang? My aquarium isn't big enough for her so I am looking for a possible swap to get her in bigger tank. Last is the mystery gift I got with my cleaner pack. If someone can tell me what they are I would appreciate it.

 

Tank looks absolutely amazing!! Congratulations! It sounds like you've been doing a lot of research in terms of all elements reefkeeping!! What kind of lights do you have? They look really nice!!

 

I am probably going to get a lot of crap for this but the light fixture is an ebay cheapo. It cost $105 with the bulbs. It works great for now but I am at least going to upgrade the bulbs in a couple of months.

 

so it's T5's? Well, it looks very nice. I'm not going to give you any grief