55 gallon pony tank

tgoeujon · #1 12-05-2009, 05:12 AM

not started yet but im thinking in the near future of setting the 55 back up for seahorses and pipefish. i dont want to have a tank filled with liverock and the tank isnt drillable, so unless an overflow is possible i cant run a sump. could someone suggest a good overflow to try or possibly give me an idea of a reliable DIY setup? ive got everything i need to set up so if the overflow is easy enough i could get it started right away.

gobytron · #2 12-05-2009, 05:10 PM

Theres a couple for sale around this site.
I have a hurricane quiet flo (600gph) for 50$..
There is a lifereef one on here as well.

Do a classifieds search.

fishytime · #3 12-06-2009, 03:14 PM

If you have to go with an external overflow, get the life-reef....no ifs, ands or buts...

gobytron · #4 12-06-2009, 05:46 PM

I know lots of people like t believe that the only option is the one they use...lol
or because they've never used one before and are just going off of what they've heard or seen is the most expensive or best...lol

I used the hurricane overflow for 2 years and it never broke siphon once.
It's just your typical utube design nothing special only the hurricanes are designed dead silent.

IMO, there isn't a whole lot of difference between one utube overflow and the next but maybe i can be enlightened here?
I know for a euoro braced tank, lifereef can do some custom work that you might not have an easy time finding elsewhere but as for there being no ifs ands or buts...well, consider this comment all of the above.

tgoeujon · #5 12-06-2009, 06:03 PM

in a 55 gallon with only one pair of seahorses ( probably kuda or reiddi ) and a pair of pipefish ( jans or dragons) would i really need to run a sump, other than estheticly to hide equipment. There is going to be 60 lbs of LR and 80 lbs of LS so biologically i should be alright shouldnt I? It would be nice to hide the rock and have a wide open tank. Is it very hard to install an overflow down the road?

gobytron · #6 12-06-2009, 06:58 PM

an overflow i an easy install.
No hardware involved so you can add one anytime without much change to your system.

With seahorses though, you have to be very careful with your intake/outtake as seahorses suck at a=swimming and are very easily sucked into anything that offers the chance.

A sump is convenient, and you're right gives a great place to hide equipment in addition to adding extra water to the system as a general buffer against error (consider in your 55 gallon with all the LR and LS you're really only looking at about 30 gallons of water capacity). I don't think they are necessary though by any means.

Like a lot of other things in this hobby, just another choice in what works for you and your needs.

and as you've already noted, a sump/overflow would be an easy add on later.

tgoeujon · #7 12-10-2009, 01:01 AM

tank started and cycling

ill try to figure out an overflow later. the tank has till the middle of february before i add anything other than maybe a few snails. when would be the time to add macros? and is there any good supplies of macros or CB ponies in BC?

Leah · #8 12-10-2009, 01:08 AM

J&L sometimes has them. You could call and see if they could get some for you.

Leah · #9 12-10-2009, 01:18 AM

A sump is nice but it would be fine without one. I had Seahorses in a 25 gal with a hang-
on skimmer and I used a Aqua-clear (filter) And used the foam part off a Remora pro to
cover the intake. Can not say for sure how Pipefish would be with them, I only had Seahorses. They are a bit of work but worth it.

Leah

tgoeujon · #10 12-11-2009, 04:58 AM

Im kinda curious what people have for flow in there seahorse tanks? right now im just running a koralia nano, as well as the flow from the skimmer ( coralife super skimmer 65 ) it doesnt seem like enough but i dont want to go overboard. I want the end result to be as comfortable as possible for the ponies so any and all advice welcomed.

Trevor