I meant the filter, not the fish tank itself. I just don't want to worry about external leaking, that's all. I'll do more research and just go talk to my lfs and ask them.
Which do I get??? I NEED help please!!! :D
- Thread starter dani_starr
- Start date
:grinyes:
While a FOWLR is typically a little more forgiving, SW tanks take a little more time and effort to keep healthy. Now you could do a 55 with a very limited bioload and likely get away with less attention. Something like a couple of clowns and one or two other small fish.
The Aqua C Remora HOB skimmer is one you hear many people using with success. Reef Octopus also makes a good HOB skimmer from what I have read. Still need to do regular water changes though but with a low bioload, responsible feedings and a good skimmer you might be ok with bi-weekly water changes.
Maxijets and Koralias are probably the most popular bang for the buck powerheads. Tunze and Vortechs are regarded by many as the best (but come with a price).
I am thinking things like daily top off's and even mixing salt with a good water source and doing water changes weekly sounds like it is going to already be more time and effort than the OP has to give. That was why I suggested FW. 
Sorry to say, and AquaC Remora is not going to cut it for a 55G, especially if your looking at keeping things simple. I can think of many other ways to spend $180 than a 5+ year old skimmer that is not sufficient for the size tank. The Remora really can only handle around a 29G tank realistically, 40G tops with 1-2 fish in it. I use my Remora on a 29G rock cooking tank right now.
I do have a thread with my 55G in the other section and it was very cheap, but still requires 3-4x weekly top offs, weekly water changes, and weekly cleaning of the algae scrubber screen.
Sorry to say, and AquaC Remora is not going to cut it for a 55G, especially if your looking at keeping things simple. I can think of many other ways to spend $180 than a 5+ year old skimmer that is not sufficient for the size tank. The Remora really can only handle around a 29G tank realistically, 40G tops with 1-2 fish in it. I use my Remora on a 29G rock cooking tank right now.
I do have a thread with my 55G in the other section and it was very cheap, but still requires 3-4x weekly top offs, weekly water changes, and weekly cleaning of the algae scrubber screen.
I am thinking things like daily top off's and even mixing salt with a good water source and doing water changes weekly sounds like it is going to already be more time and effort than the OP has to give. That was why I suggested FW.
Ahhh okay, sorry I just have been feeling discouraged, my mom got upset I spent so much, even though it was my money that I earned through my job and I live on my own with my boyfriend (my moms idea by the way) but back to the fish.
I am good with daily top offs, water changes, and cleaning algae. I am excited for mixing the water, and testing the water, and all the chemical stuffThe ONLY thing that I didn't want to worry about was external leaking, and the filter not working because you have to put a wood chunk or something in it to modify it. I'm not good at DIY stuff either, and the last thing I want to do is kill my fish because I messed up on something. Or cause water damage to my apartment floor (I am on the 2nd floor). But all the cleaning, and all that jazz, I am happy to do
Sorry to say, and AquaC Remora is not going to cut it for a 55G, especially if your looking at keeping things simple. I can think of many other ways to spend $180 than a 5+ year old skimmer that is not sufficient for the size tank. The Remora really can only handle around a 29G tank realistically, 40G tops with 1-2 fish in it. I use my Remora on a 29G rock cooking tank right now.
I do have a thread with my 55G in the other section and it was very cheap, but still requires 3-4x weekly top offs, weekly water changes, and weekly cleaning of the algae scrubber screen.
Ahhh okay, sorry I just have been feeling discouraged, my mom got upset I spent so much, even though it was my money that I earned through my job and I live on my own with my boyfriend (my moms idea by the way) but back to the fish.
I am good with daily top offs, water changes, and cleaning algae. I am excited for mixing the water, and testing the water, and all the chemical stuff
The ONLY thing that I didn't want to worry about was external leaking, and the filter not working because you have to put a wood chunk or something in it to modify it. I'm not good at DIY stuff either, and the last thing I want to do is kill my fish because I messed up on something. Or cause water damage to my apartment floor (I am on the 2nd floor). But all the cleaning, and all that jazz, I am happy to do What filter do you have in the 55 gallon?
My tank has an overflow box on it and a sump. I made my own filter for it for around $10 in parts and an old pump I had laying around. Algae grows on the screen and cleans the water, once a week to take the screen to the sink and scrape the algae off the screen. Cheap and very effective filter.
yeah it's a bakpak, so you would use a c-siphon as your overflow. it's old school but it does work. I like using the smaller koralias on the 55 because it's so long and having so much current going past the rocks using big boys. I just hide them in the rockwork so it's a nice even flow through the rocks. I've found the little guys on craigslist for like 10~20bucks, get a couple and save a few bucks for something better to move the setup into. I personally would love to put an mp40 in there but finding 400 bucks plus tax just lying around is a little hard for a first timer on what appears to be a barebones setup.. Maybe invest in better lighting and just go soft coral and maybe a few nano fish to make things a bit easier.. at least it was for me.
