I will eventually get a job and be able to move into a house. When i get there I want my 55 to be more then home to 1 eel, so I'll run my plan by ya and you tell me my flaws.
Equipment:
-55 gallon tank
-prolly 15-20 pounds of live sand mixed with agragate sand (i beleive that is what its called)
-around 45 pounds of live rock not sure on what type
-t5 flouresenct bulbs with night lighting of some type
-a couple of power heads
-remora skimmer (i would like to do with a surface extraction box, but the lack of sump makes that not possible)
-turn my filter into a fuge with a couple of plastic grids and a light
-and im thinking of doing a sump, but its not like a filter sump it just keeps my tank lvl right and gives me a place to put equipment like heaters. my diy fuge, skimmer, and some extra live rock or something.
Fish:
-my gymnothorax tile
-a saltwater snowflake
-a lion fish (Antennata lion or Radiated lion)
-i would like to have a star
-a few cheap crabs... incase i loose them as meals ( i thought about an arrow crab thinking it would be big enough to fend well)
-assorted cheap shrimp
-any other creapy crawlies you can think of
-and i need one more fish... and cool fish that you dont see ever day in a tank that is fairly active.
Im taking suggestions on anything you can help me with. sooo have at it
EDITED DUE TO STUPIDITY
sounds like a decent start, but you, like me, need to do a little more research. I'm a freshwater guy, but I too want to start a Saltwater aquarium once I get the money.I don't know how well the lionfish and the snowflake eel (If you are talking about the snowflake eel, because you just said "a saltwater snowflake..."). 45 lbs. would be a good ammount of live rock, and it will leave you a little room for some soft corals. Maybe mushroom coral? I hear they're pretty easy. you do still have room for something. Maybe a couple Yellow Hawaiian Tangs? They're nice fish, and fairly peaceful, and shouldn't take up much room. Sorry I don't know too much about saltwater. Goodluck and keep us posted.
-Ross
I think im gonna have to upgrade to a larger tank for the snowflake... most ppl say atleast a 75 for him so im kinda confused... i want a SW predator tank, but i really dont want a huge tank... I was thinking about building a 200 or more gallon tank, but at the moment that is impracticle due to the repeated moving i do.
i might go on the look for a 125 since they are still a somewhat managable sized tank... and that all depends on if my eel decides to start eating.
I don't suggest people to build their own tanks, especially a 200 gallon tank! It can be risky, and also very expensive. Ever checked how much it is to buy glass in your area? I've made a few small ones ( 3-15 gallon) out of plexi-glass, and even they were expensive. You'd probably be better off just buying a tank that large if you want one. Sorry.
-Ross
im not talking plexiglass... im prolly gonna go with marble or granite and glass and make it 2 side veiwable with the drain and returns at the ends of the tank