My New 55 Gal Build Thread (1 Viewer)

[TiffMunchkin]

So...since some maybe know I got a self build frag tank...which is 40 gallon. So I decided to go with a 55 gallon so that my new pet moray dragon eel will have the entire bottom part to himself and the top will contain all my frags close to my two t5 wave point light fixtures. I am very excited about this!!

So the story is: Friend of mine from the EMS station called me up that his friend left his house and left behind a 55 gallon freshwater. He asked if i want to take it. So my boyfriend and me got there and took the fish to a near fish store and cleaned out the tank. I cleaned the entire thing and took the silicone off. An hour ago I finished resealing it again. My apartments stinks like vinegar now. Kinda makes me throw up. hate the smell...so the A/C is running on full to make this smell go away and so that the silicone dries faster.

So the tank will be sitting in my bedroom...not sure how that will turn out since i wake up from each tiny noise! the tank will run off a self build skimmer....no sump...since it will be only the eel and the coral. and i don't way to ruin the coral. All my tank so far have been only running with a skimmer and things worked out just great with it.

So I will be posting some pictures soon. The tank will be set and done this weekend i believe or by monday since the silicone is brand new on the tank. I a will transfer all the stuff from the 40 gal frag tank into the new one so it wont need to cycle for long. Will use the old water from my 28 gal biocube for the additional 15 gallon and some fresh mixed water. I am very excited...

 

[fredG]

Following along.

 

[TiffMunchkin]

bought some more live rock form Don in texas city. Not sure if today or tomorrow I will be getting the tank ready to go...gonna get the rest today such as the top glass covers to put the lights on top and some other tiny things.

 

[below radar]

Just tagging along

 

[TiffMunchkin]

this is just all the rocks...didnt decide how to place them..so no worries they won't stay like in the picture hahah

 

[below radar]

I see your bottom...lol how much of a sandbed are you putting? Also, what are you thinking for your rocks...single stack or double?

 

[TiffMunchkin]

haha yeah its just sitting on the floor right now i still have to move the tank ito my bedroom. i just put the rock in there to just see...im not sure how much sand yet..whatever i got here in my 40 gallon and i will buy more live sand today i think. since the eel will be probably the fish only tank..for aggressive fish i don't think i will be going fancy with things. the rock no clue whatever looks good and gives my dragon eel enough room to hide and swim as well. i am thinking about maybe one side every high stacked and fading out into the other side and then just a few rock as an island or something...or just two islands ...no clue only idea i am open for anything

 

[tektite]

You going to build some PVC tubing under the sand for the eel? How large will it get? Never really researched eels much, but ribbon and dragon are my favorites of the ones I've seen

 

[TiffMunchkin]

it said he is a mexican dragon moray eel. it is a dragon eel but i don't think he is a mexican dragon though. when he comes out i will take a picture and y'all can guess with me. spend 2 days researching and nothing came out yet.

but yeah i will use PVC pipes...i didn't think about putting it in the sand though..i like that idea a lot

 

[TiffMunchkin]

added 20 lbs of sand into the tank. i am somewhere between 40 and 50 lbs right now...have 1.5 bags to go...so 15 lbs ....making it nice and deep. got a skimmer now on it thanks to FredG!!! Already running. Checked chem levels.

Ammonia: 0
Nirate: somewhere between 0 and 0.5
Nirtite: 0 as far as I can tell
Phosphate: 0
pH: 8.3
Salinity : somewhere 1.023-25

the eel seem to be happy in his new home. he swims A LOT now!!! getting my hang on sump tomorrow and then tuesday probably some power heads from Dennis.

 

[Diesel]

Oh my! EEL??

 

[TiffMunchkin]

Oh my! EEL??

YEpp!!! I am spending my entire day now in bed watching the eel swim around!!! like no joke! I LOVE having the aquarium right across my bed! I might put a baby trigger in there with him...

 

[emixa]

so what do you plan to put on top of the tank? they sometimes get curious and get out. just saying.

 

[TiffMunchkin]

got glass tops ..those cover things,...you know what i mean?

 

[emixa]

aaawwwwight.

 

[TiffMunchkin]

yeah and my boyfriend and me are going to build one of those tops ...those wooden things ...whatever those things are called

 

[TiffMunchkin]

update from last night after adding sand...thats why its still cloudy in the picture

and here is the unknown object!! ANybody who knows what type of eel that is please let me know...

 

[TiffMunchkin]

 

[ReeferMike]

cool tank

 

[TiffMunchkin]

more pictures with the thing set up with a skimmer...and my xenia colonies