View Full Version : tearing down 55g
NanoMan
01-31-2004, 2:30 PM
my girlfriend has made me a deal.she wants a new living room set and entertainment center.bad news is she wants what she calls an eye sore(shes crazy and everytime she says this i feel like choking the life from her) out of "her" living room. i guess it is hers since i have my own entertainment room. but anyway she says if i tear down the 55 i can have as many corals or fish or whatever in the 10g.she thinks it will be cheaper also. anyway im going to do it because i have no room for the 55 in my room.
so im gonna use the skimmer some LR and one 65w PC, and powerheads and heater on the 10gallon and make a 10gallon reef tank.i have been reading all night and today on these type systems and its 60/40 hard/easy. im going to try it anyway.
so should i take some sand from the 55 or order live sand?
can i use water from the already cycled tank for this or cycle it?
do i need more light or is 65w gonna be enough to keep all types of corals?
can or would it be alright to keep the coral beauty i have?
thx alot
mike
mogurnda
01-31-2004, 3:02 PM
Sand and live rock from the existing tank should make the new tank just about ready to go. I'd watch ammonia and nitrite for at least a week before adding livestock. And then give it a few months to settle down before adding corals.
65 watts should be good for most corals. The hard part will be choosing corals that won't attack each other in such a small space. In my experience, Xenia, anthelia and montipora species are good for a small tank, because they don't sting their neighbors. Leathers are OK, but most will get too large.
Dale W.
01-31-2004, 4:07 PM
Now if you ask me :) I think you got the raw end of that deal. The deal should have been, she can have a new living room set if you can have a new 100g tank with a nice cabinet and hood to make it fit in with the living room decor.
As far as the other tank goes, yes, use the sand and rock from the 55 to get started. More than likely you will go through another cycle that will alst a few weeks because you have just upset the ballance in nitrosomas, arobic and anarobic bacterias.
Andy16
01-31-2004, 5:32 PM
bad news is she wants what she calls an eye sore
sad:shake:
I'm with Dale on this one - I don't see how it was a 'deal'...I don't see what you got out of it. Sounds like she just gets a new living room and you lose a nice tank :(
NanoMan
01-31-2004, 7:35 PM
yeah its sad but little does she know im savin up for the big one.
the worst part is im gonna trade in the coral beauty for somethin
that would fit better.i have tried to tell myself it would work but
its better for CB to go get a bigger home. my luck i trade him in and some jerk with a beta bowl will buy him.but anyway im sure i will be back to post when im ready to add something that lives.
im thinkin inverts and maybe a clown but im not sure on what to add do to the small size of the tank so any advice would be great.
i guess i have a while because like reefscape said i disturbed the bacterias because they were floating and still are but slowly settling.but any advice or suggestions are always appreciated.
thx
mike
I'd trade that girl "friend" in for a bigger tank. You sure she just doesn't want to get you out of the living room too? I know if it was me I'd be spending most of my time where the tank was. Better than TV!:sad
NanoMan
02-01-2004, 6:23 PM
oops
Good one Raki, I agree! :D
When I got my new 60 gallon tank two weeks ago to put into the dining room (aka - the Aquarium Room) I didn't consult my fiance about it first. Hehehe... That I guess I should have done, but no biggie. When she got home from work, she looked at it, said "what's he thinking? He's crazy," turned around, said hello to me, and continued on as if nothing was new.
That's why she's gonna be my wife. ;)
Find a girl like that, nopatience, IMHO.
But, back to the topic, good luck to you and hope all goes well with your new setup! :)
NanoMan
02-01-2004, 7:42 PM
i am amazed at how good this little tank looks with LR and sand and the 65w pc. i took the CB back and they gave me 25$ store credit. i added 2 damsel to cycle even though i know some of you guys are against it. but i am running the prizm skimmer to make it easier on them. if it makes you feel any better i picked 2 beat up looking blue damsels although they r quite healthy.but anyway thx for the replies guys.
mike
mogurnda
02-02-2004, 10:22 AM
Great to hear the tank is looking good. You know, it might help if your girlfriend saw some reefs that were mature and beautiful. Almost everyone who sees the tank in our living room is stunned at how wild and pretty it looks.
There are some great-looking tanks among the WAMAS people here in the DC area. She might be convinced that a tank can be a piece of "living art" rather than an "eyesore."
NanoMan
02-02-2004, 4:41 PM
wamas?
mogurnda
02-02-2004, 4:53 PM
Washington Area Marine Aquarium Society. WAMAS (http://www.wamas.org)
NanoMan
02-02-2004, 5:16 PM
hey dave i am unclear on the frag thing if you are a member in the wamas you get free corals? sign me up
mogurnda
02-02-2004, 5:22 PM
No guarantee of free corals, but people are pretty generous. Most of the corals in my tank are frags I got either free or in trade.
NanoMan
02-02-2004, 5:31 PM
i think i will participate in this group.maybe i will learn something.
when my tank get stable can i go for the 9 for 99 deal at Jeff's or do i need to wait and add 1 at a time?.it would save me alot of money with the 9 4 99.
mogurnda
02-03-2004, 9:04 AM
With the tank just starting out, I would be hesitant to put 9 corals in all at once. When you're ready, PM me and I can start you out with some anthelia and/or nephthea, if you like them. What I found with the 20 is that you can fill a small tank pretty quickly with frags.
I would strongly suggest joining WAMAS. In addition to getting cheap/free corals, there is an active message board for local info. And it always amazes me how much I can learn by simply gabbing with people at the meetings.
It's funny that LFSs charge so much for corals when reefers are constantly having to frag theirs to keep them under control.
NanoMan
02-03-2004, 12:10 PM
thx Dave you have been a big help. i'll keep you posted about the tank.as for the wamas ill be reading up on the website ans see about joining.BTW if you were thinkin about another tank i have a 55g available and about 75lbs. LR.
thx again
mogurnda
02-03-2004, 2:20 PM
You're welcome!
Could you just stow the 55 for now? I'm sure you can find some takers for the LR. For me, 3 small tanks are enough for the moment.
tricksterpup
02-03-2004, 3:03 PM
Mike,
Sorry about your loss, my girl that I am dating is actually behind my tanks. She doesn't get it but she supports my hobby, what a great gal. :)
I am now finding her staring at my live rock in my new tank looking at growths. She is amazed at apistisia. I tell her its a weed but she is just amazed by it.
But I do wish you plenty of luck with your 10, you should be able to get some nice growths in that tank. But it is a shame you had to tear down your 55. It would have been nice to see you keep the 55 and have the 10 also in your entertainment room. :)
My roommate has allowed me to have one of our extra bed rooms as a spare tv room and fish room. So far I have 2 10s and a 29 in there. I am trying to figure out how to put my spare 55 in that room also.
jim