Seeking advice for my 55-gallon saltwater aquarium

[painter_1]

I've made a few posts already and gotten some great help from you all, so I figured it's time to organize my info and get even more advice.

I started cycling my 55-gallon Top Fin tank on 12/17 with fish. Right now, it's got an oceanic_42 70 Powerhead, 21lbs of live rock, and Florida Crushed Coflake. The only fish in there is a Clark's Clownfish I picked up from my LFS.

Just checked my water stats again tonight - here's what I've got:

Ph is 8.2
Am is just above 0
Ni is 0
Na is 0
Salinity is 1.023

I'm using treated tap water with Dechlorinator and Instant Ocean.

Had a bit of a setback when a percula clown fish got caught in the powerhead intake. Removed the cover, and so far the new Clownfish is doing great - eating mysis shrimp and flake food.

Looking for some advice on what to prioritize next, given my limited budget. The goal is a fish and live rock tank.

Should I put my next available funds towards:
- more live rock (LFS recommends 1lb per gallon)
- an RO/DI unit (saw the Melves reef unit for $169)
- another powerhead (do I really need it?)

Also curious about:
- when can I add a clean-up crew? Does the tank need to be fully cycled with live rock?
- should I upgrade the standard lights that came with the Top Fin tank?
- are there other chemicals I should be checking in the water?

Lastly, I've been reading about sumps and wish I'd noticed that before buying my tank. Can't afford a protein skimmer yet, but I could grab some tubs and a pump from Walmart to create a makeshift sump. Would that be beneficial, and where would you rank it on my priority list?

Thanks for any input. Here are some pics - the stand is 10 feet wide, and my end goal is to have another 55g once I get the hang of this and the right equipment. I've had a blast so far.

[fluxo]

I'm thinking more live rock would be the way to go next, my LFS recommended 1lb for each gallon, and I'm currently at 21lbs for a 55 gallon tank.

[dreamon7]

I'd get the RO/DI unit first, it's one of those things you'll keep putting off if you don't just do it now. Then I'd focus on adding more live rock, it's always better to have more. After that, consider getting another powerhead - I think you'll find it makes a difference. Have you looked into Tunze Turbelle?

[foxrun]

I'd definitely recommend adding more live rock to your tank, it'll really help with the overall health and stability. You might also want to consider another powerhead, the extra water circulation will do wonders for your tank. And don't forget about that RO unit, it's a game-changer for water quality - try to save up for it as soon as you can.

[dune9x]

I'd definitely recommend adding more live rock to your tank, it'll really help with the overall health and stability. You might also want to consider another powerhead, the extra water circulation will do wonders for your tank. And don't forget about that RO unit, it's a game-changer for water quality - try to save up for it as soon as you can.

I agree, more rock, an RO unit, and increased circulation are all essential. For a 55-gallon tank, I'd recommend aiming for around 28 kilos of live rock - it's a good rule of thumb. In terms of circulation, you'll want to aim for at least 10 times the tank volume per hour, so for you, that's 550 gallons per hour. This will help keep your water quality high and prevent dead spots from forming.

[zenoxa]

In my opinion, having more live rock isn't necessarily a must, it really comes down to personal preference and what you plan on stocking in your tank. If you're aiming for that classic "patch reef" look, then yeah, adding more rock would make sense.

[dune9x]

In my opinion, having more live rock isn't necessarily a must, it really comes down to personal preference and what you plan on stocking in your tank. If you're aiming for that classic "patch reef" look, then yeah, adding more rock would make sense.

I'd have to disagree with that, in my case the live rock is the main filtration method, so it's pretty essential.

[rusticore]

I think you should focus on adding more live rock to your tank, it's the way to go for a fish with live rock tank. The LFS recommendation of 1lb of LR per gallon is a good starting point. I'd also consider upgrading your filtration system, maybe ditch the Top Fin filter and go for something better.

As for the powerheads, I think having more than one would be beneficial for better water circulation. I'd aim for at least two, maybe even three, to get that 10 times per hour flow rate.

Regarding the fish, I think it's best to avoid fish cycling and instead let the live rock do its magic. Once the tank is cycled, you can slowly introduce new fish and clean up crew.

Oh, and dune9x, I don't think live rock is the sole method of filtration in this tank just yet, since the Top Fin filter is still in use.

[zenoxa]

The criticism of the Top Fin filter as "crappy" seems unwarranted. People often forget that successful aquariums existed long before the advent of high-tech Berlin systems. Our predecessors didn't rely on oversized skimmers or hundreds of watts of metal halides. Instead, they utilized basic equipment and still achieved success, albeit with a different aesthetic.

In painter_1's case, the live rock already present is likely sufficient to mitigate the negative effects of fish-in cycling. The bacteria are probably established, and I'd venture to say that the cycle is already complete.

[rusticore]

I've had my share of experience with Top Fin filters, and let me tell you, they're not the most reliable. Mine lasted about three months before the motor gave out on me. I'm not saying it's impossible to make it work, but a failed filter is like a dull razor - it's just not effective.

I think the first fish that died was a victim of the unfinished cycle. With so little live rock and no deep sand bed, I'm assuming the tank is still in the process of cycling. The lack of nitrates also points to this. I know we shouldn't jump to conclusions, but it seems like a series of unfortunate events led to the fish's demise.

Regarding the RO/DI unit, I've heard good things about Melevs Reef, but be prepared for the shipping costs - it's not as cheap as it initially seems. I think the total cost comes out to around $200. And when it's time for refills, don't bother getting them from Melevs; instead, check out www.twopartsolution.com - it's about $20 cheaper. But don't worry about refills just yet; just make sure you've got a good unit to start with.

Edit: I might have misread the picture, but it looks like you've got a Penguin/Emperor filter, not a Top Fin. My experience with Penguin filters has been good - they're reliable and don't fail easily. The only issue I've had is with the wheel stopping if the pressure gets too low.