A 55 Gallon is Born!!

yungreefer2410 · 12-07-2008, 11:14 PM

well my dad finally gave me the okay to build the 55g stand. since were moving in a few weeks he didn't want me to earlier but he had changed his mind i suppose. anyway i need the standard 55g measurements. i'll google in a bit but all i know for sure is its 48in long. but hopefully i'll have it running in a few months but lightless till summer. can i have fish without lights? i mean i have a 20in flourest tube light can i just use stuff like this or will it promote algae?

yungreefer2410 · 12-07-2008, 11:15 PM

just remembered i think i have the measurements in the car...i will go check tomorrow

chrome91 · 12-07-2008, 11:16 PM

48x12x22 i believe

are you making your own tank? if you are, i would cut down on length and make the tank 18" wide, with live rock 12" of width is impossible to aquascape

SeahorseBT · 12-07-2008, 11:20 PM

You can have a tank without lights as long as you dob't have corals or plants

new reefer 03 · 12-08-2008, 12:23 AM

what lighting system do you plan on having this summer?

ZAPCOnj · 12-08-2008, 01:00 AM

here is a good link for you: Aqueon » Products » Standard Aquariums

you got some fun work ahead of you!! Congrats on the new tank!!!

Jeremy0322 · 12-08-2008, 03:42 AM

Chrome is right. If you dont have a tank yet i would strongly recommend looking into a 75. A 55 runs these dimensions - 48 x 12½ x 21 - and a 75 runs this - 48 x 18 x 21 - and that extra 6 inches in width will make a world of difference. This is coming from someone that has tried to do a nice scape in a 55, you just wont be happy with anything, it truly is impossible as he said. For the light, you can run a fish only system without light but as soon as you can get the light on the tank go for it. And spend on a good light the first time, dont do what i did and go PC, the more and more i get into this hobby the less and less i like them..haha. We need pics once this process gets started! And congrats on the go ahead, just take your time and it will all be worth it.

yungreefer2410 · 12-08-2008, 06:23 PM

well i already have the tank have had it for a while. its reef ready pre-drilled with black acrylic overflow. i will attempt to scape it on 2 sides with a space in the middle

chrome91 · 12-08-2008, 06:39 PM

yeah, from experience i know how bad aquascaping a standard 55g is. when i had my 55g, the only way you could stack medium size rocks was straight up, you cant give any depth.

Jeremy0322 · 12-08-2008, 08:42 PM

I tried as hard as i could to give it depth and it kind of worked a little i guess. I would have loved to have an extra foot in width though, would have made it much easier.

yungreefer2410 · 12-08-2008, 11:26 PM

well we'l see what happens with the scape. well i will stock it fish wise before summer just no corals. i plan on using a 10 or 20g sump and a 20 or 29g refuge

new reefer 03 · 12-08-2008, 11:28 PM

i find scaping it to be pretty easy... although theres not too much room in the front. i wish i had a sump, and fuge. where are you going to put all of this in your stand?

yungreefer2410 · 12-08-2008, 11:44 PM

on top of each other most likely. t-valve coming from tank some going to refuge most going to sump refuge gravity drain into sump

yungreefer2410 · 12-09-2008, 08:21 PM

i picked up some of the wood today. will constuct parts of it tomorrow an dpick up remainder of wood hopefully thursday. will post pics of how far i get with the stand tomorrow. also found the measurements for the tank. the stand is going to be 30in high which i think is a good height esp for someone my height which is not much

yungreefer2410 · 12-09-2008, 10:28 PM

well i got bored so i built as much as i could without bringing out the saws since it was like 7:30. here is a pic of how far i got

12-07-2008, 11:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
chrome91 Achilles Tang Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: edmonton, alberta, canada Posts: 821 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: A 55 Gallon is Born!! 48x12x22 i believe are you making your own tank? if you are, i would cut down on length and make the tank 18" wide, with live rock 12" of width is impossible to aquascape __________________ 650- SA tank 125g- reef, 150lbs LR, 250w MH/2x65w PC, 150w MH, 15g sump 90g- SA tank 10g cube- 3 firebelly toads

12-07-2008, 11:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
SeahorseBT Golden Moray Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Libertyville, IL Posts: 2,277 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: A 55 Gallon is Born!! You can have a tank without lights as long as you dob't have corals or plants __________________ -Blake My 34 Gallon Seahorse and Macro Tank-http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...acro-tank.html My 46 Gallon LPS Tank-http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-lps-tank.html My 120 Gallon Reef-http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...chronicle.html

12-08-2008, 01:00 AM	#6 (permalink)
ZAPCOnj Yes that's me. Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: East of reality Posts: 1,590 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: A 55 Gallon is Born!! here is a good link for you: Aqueon » Products » Standard Aquariums you got some fun work ahead of you!! Congrats on the new tank!!! __________________ My 40 gal Reef...

12-08-2008, 03:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
Jeremy0322 Tridacna maxima Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 4,753 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: A 55 Gallon is Born!! Chrome is right. If you dont have a tank yet i would strongly recommend looking into a 75. A 55 runs these dimensions - 48 x 12½ x 21 - and a 75 runs this - 48 x 18 x 21 - and that extra 6 inches in width will make a world of difference. This is coming from someone that has tried to do a nice scape in a 55, you just wont be happy with anything, it truly is impossible as he said. For the light, you can run a fish only system without light but as soon as you can get the light on the tank go for it. And spend on a good light the first time, dont do what i did and go PC, the more and more i get into this hobby the less and less i like them..haha. We need pics once this process gets started! And congrats on the go ahead, just take your time and it will all be worth it. __________________ UNCW 2011 -Marine Biology Major -Oceanography Minor The old 90 Gallon Build r.i.p Only after the last tree's cut And the last river poisoned Only after the last fish is caught Will you find that money cannot be eaten....

12-08-2008, 06:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
chrome91 Achilles Tang Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: edmonton, alberta, canada Posts: 821 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: A 55 Gallon is Born!! yeah, from experience i know how bad aquascaping a standard 55g is. when i had my 55g, the only way you could stack medium size rocks was straight up, you cant give any depth. __________________ 650- SA tank 125g- reef, 150lbs LR, 250w MH/2x65w PC, 150w MH, 15g sump 90g- SA tank 10g cube- 3 firebelly toads

12-08-2008, 08:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
Jeremy0322 Tridacna maxima Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 4,753 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: A 55 Gallon is Born!! I tried as hard as i could to give it depth and it kind of worked a little i guess. I would have loved to have an extra foot in width though, would have made it much easier. __________________ UNCW 2011 -Marine Biology Major -Oceanography Minor The old 90 Gallon Build r.i.p Only after the last tree's cut And the last river poisoned Only after the last fish is caught Will you find that money cannot be eaten....

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