Carl's 55 Gallon Underwater Inn

[CAVINCA]

So i found an ad today in the local bulletin board publication...

$75.00
2 year old saltwater setup.
55 gallons.
full setup
no stand.
Fish included.

I called about it and they have not used copper in it.
When i asked more specific questions about lights powerheads and such, he said it was adequate for fish... im still assuming he has some type of flow in the tank...

Im gonna go check it out this weekend.
hows the deal sound so far?

[glampka]

Doesn't sound bad so far!

[Jeremy0322]

When he says full setup the first thing I would ask for was more specifics. By fish he could mean there is one blue damsel. 75 for a tank is still not bad, but your best bet is to look at it or get pictures. It would be nice to know if there was LR and LS with it(even thought the sand it probably useless), and what the filtration was. What brand powerheads and if there are things like testing equipment and heaters.

I got a really good deal on my 55, $400 for everything listed. Stand(threw away and made one), canopy, PC 260watt light(needed bulbs), 100lbs of LR, 50lbs of LS(garbaged that quickly), 2 powerheads(one was dead), a heater(didnt work very well, garbage) cheap testing stuff, Excalibur skimmer(which i really like), Magnum 350 Power Filter(needed a new magnet). The deal can sound really nice but then it will end up costing you another 500 to get everything up and running, a little more if you want it drilled. I also got fish with my tank including a Koran Angel, but i took everything back to the LFS except the clown, because he was awesome. Just make sure everything is decent before you do anything, that is my advice.

OH, and good luck.

[CAVINCA]

Thanks jeremy,
Ive got testing equip and all. ill be checking it out this weekend. im pretty sure that fish adequate means the lighting isnt the best and it probably has some hang on filtration. i doubt it has live rock. sand it has, but ill probably dump it or rinse it really well and spread it out to clean it a bit. ive got one reef to keep me busy for now...as far as the fish i will most likely take them to the lfs. im not sure what they are. but it is 'they' so its more than one damsel. and the family has two younger kids so my guess is a couple "nemo" fish

[nikkipigtails]

you're a true addict now...already talking about upgrading...SWEET!!!

[CAVINCA]

Originally Posted by nikkipigtails

you're a true addict now...already talking about upgrading...SWEET!!!

WEELLLLL..... Technically it wouldn't be an upgrade... it will be a quarantine tank for incomeing corals..

[nikkipigtails]

just wait...you'll start looking at it thinking about what fish you could put in there or it will turn into a frag tank...you'll have dreams of how you could aquascape it...you'll see

[CAVINCA]

well i did it i bought the tank. it was originally bought for the fish. i had been planning to use the tank as a acclimation/ quarantine tank/ project. when i went to pick up the tank i found way more than i planned for (good). cost me 75 dollars. i instead have set the tank up to preserve the life in the rock and save the other various creatures he had.

i now have a new 55 gallon tank,
"broken"prizim skimmer (made lots of noise...) now fixed and quiet
some kind of hang on filter
1- "broken" powerhead (now fixed)
2- crap flouresent fixtures so no awesome reef tank any time soon...
1- heater

livestock
1- mated pair percula clowns
1- sixline
1- flame hawk
1- brittle star? guy didnt know he was in there
1- huuuumongous turbo.
a couple of small sea fan looking guys
70#ish of lr. 10# of which is premium marshall is. rest premium fiji
60# black sand only gave me about an inch or two of depth!?!?!

liverock was coated in hair alge and bubble alge... his water was green i acclimated the poor fish and currently have the clowns and sixline in my 28 (temporary)

the hawk is in one of my water change buckets.

here are some pics...






suggestions tips complaints are all welcome.
should i lose the hang on filter and get a canister filter..

ps i scrubbed the mess outta the bubble/hair alge infested lr and fresh water dipped it.

[tbittner]

DANG! What a STEAL! Good job of rescuing those poor animals too.

[CAVINCA]

it was a steal. i just hope it cycles quick enough that i can remove some of the fish in the 28 and the put the poor hawk in it.

[tbittner]

Have you tested the water yet? How did you transport the rock? It may very well cycle and be ready within a day or two as the rock probably wasn't out of water very long.

[nikkipigtails]

either a canister filter or a HOB biowheel filter would be fine. what kind of filter are you using on it now? it looks like a biowheel...if that's the case, just change out the media (minus the wheels)

[cracker]

Looks like You got a good deal! Nice rock well worth your cost!

[CAVINCA]

Originally Posted by tbittner

Have you tested the water yet? How did you transport the rock? It may very well cycle and be ready within a day or two as the rock probably wasn't out of water very long.

have not tested. the rock was covered in newspaper and soaked then placed in a leaf bag. it was out for about 3 hours. i scrubbed the crap outta the rock and fresh water dipped it though. it was infested with bubble and hair alge. the hair alge was literally 3 inches long. i need it to cycle pretty fast cause of the hawkfish. i dont think its gonna last long where i got it. i have nowhere to take it. i hope your right ill test tonight and tommorrow

Originally Posted by nikkipigtails

either a canister filter or a HOB biowheel filter would be fine. what kind of filter are you using on it now? it looks like a biowheel...if that's the case, just change out the media (minus the wheels)

i dont know what that filter is but its nasty... smells horrible and is loud. i think the pumps goin out so im gonna go with a canister. id love to have a sump but that can come later. im gonna go look at some ehiem canisters.

[CAVINCA]

well the tank is up and cycling. yesterday i watched and tested multiple times. the ammonia spiked to 1 and dropped to around .25. i looked around and found a alot of small feather dusters out. by alot i mean around 48 or so... lost count. im guessing this is a positive sign. ive also got hair alge growin incredably fast. ill nip that in the butt though. hopefuly it (cycle)will reach an end soon so i can remove some livestock from my 28... its extremely crowded.