• Looking to buy a cephalopod? Check out Tomh's Cephs Forum, and this post in particular shares important info about our policies as it relates to responsible ceph-keeping.

My 55 gallon cuttlefish tank

Joined
Sep 16, 2005
Messages
4,933
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Since I have been getting sooo many questions about my set-up, I thought I would break it down and maybe it would help...

First of all, I would probably be considered an advanced aquarist. I have worked at several public aquariums as both an aquarist and educator. While I was in graduate school, I worked at the Waikiki Aquarium as an aquarist. I have set up small and large aquariums. The smallest would be my 10 gallon freshwater frog tank and the largest would have been my 8 foot diameter cuttlefish tank on the grounds of the Waikiki Aquarium. I have no idea how many gallons that would have been, but it had fresh sea water flowing in and out at all times, so that was probably my easiest tank! Besides knowing basic tank maintenance, I can repair most of my equipment, or know when it is too far gone to repair (like the time I caught the protein skimmer on fire...).

That said, I have a 55 gallon that currently houses two male Sepia bandensis. I purchased this tank from a person who was raising mushroom corals and zooanthids, along with couple of fish. The reason I was interested in this tank was, it had already been running for several years (and was already cycled) and it was the size I was looking for. I only had to dismantle the whole thing at his house, transport it to my house and take each piece up the 34 STEPS to my basement. Can I just say, live rock is heavy!!! I added fresh sea water made with RO/DI water and waited for the mini-cycle. Once it was stable, I transferred the cuttlefish from my 29 gallon tank.

Ok, so here are the components of my tank...

1. 55 gallon tank with overflow in the corner. Basically there is a piece of plexiglass in the corner of the tank and it has slits at the top of the plexiglass. The water flows through the slits and down a tube with a float inserted into the tube. If the water level gets too low, the float blocks the flow of water into the tube. This is so that 55 gallons of water does not end up in my sump and on the floor...

2. Live rock - at least 55 pounds of live rock, covered with coralline algae.

3. Prefilter - once the water goes through the overflow tube, it goes through a piece of foam and some bioballs.

4. Sump/Refugium - probably about 15 gallons, but not sure. After the prefilter, the water flows into the sump/refugium. This is filled with about 1 1/2 inches of miracle mud, and some green algae. Some is chaetomorpha, I have no idea what the other stuff is...

5. Wet/dry trickle filter - after the refugium, there is another chamber with bioballs that the water overflows into (kind of like a waterfall)

6. Pump - I have a QuietOne and it is anything BUT quiet. Once the cuttles pass on to the ocean in the sky and am replacing it...

7. Protein skimmer - my protein skimmer is rated to 150 gallons. I could not fit it in the sump or I would have. It is currently hanging on to the back of the 55 gallon tank.

8. Even with this filtration system, I still do water changes, every week or every other week.

Hope this helps... Remember, this is only ONE way to do this, even if you replicate my system exactly, you may not have the same results that I have had. I have years of aquarium experience that also help me, plus, I have one of those "salt-water thumbs" like Thales :biggrin2:. When I have time, I will post pictures of the various parts.

Also, if I were to have built this system myself, I am not sure I would have included all of these parts (the live rock and protein skimmer for sure, but there are many ways to filter a tank...).

Good luck!
 
THANK YOU!

Who here wouldn't give up a limb to have your fresh seawater tank at Waikiki! Setting the protein skimmer on fire sounds like one of those things that takes real experience to accomplish, lol!

Looking forward to pics, etc! When you take them, I'd really like a couple pics of the sump/refugium area.

Thanks!
 
Jenn,

Hummm. I know how I set the timer on fire but the electics for a skimmer should all be sealed:confused: . Maybe we should start a thread entitled, "How I Started an Aquarium Fire", could get interesting :razz:
 
Ok, here are some pictures...

First picture is the 55 gallon tank.

Second is overflow corner with intake and outtake pipes.

Third picture is the refugium below the 55 gallon.
 

Attachments

  • conv_290668.jpg
    conv_290668.jpg
    635 KB · Views: 149
  • conv_290669.jpg
    conv_290669.jpg
    648.1 KB · Views: 134
  • conv_290670.jpg
    conv_290670.jpg
    615.2 KB · Views: 127
More...

First picture is the protein skimmer (that needs a good cleaning).

Second picture is the prefilter area, with bioballs (hard to see through all the algae...).

Third picture is the post refugium area with more bioballs (again, hard to see...).
 

Attachments

  • conv_290671.jpg
    conv_290671.jpg
    572.6 KB · Views: 98
  • conv_290672.jpg
    conv_290672.jpg
    737 KB · Views: 126
  • conv_290673.jpg
    conv_290673.jpg
    840.3 KB · Views: 141
Last set of pictures.

First picture is the refugium. I let the algae grow on the sides of the refugium, I figure that is what it is for, growing algae...

Last picture is my oh-so-loud pump...
 

Attachments

  • conv_290674.jpg
    conv_290674.jpg
    615.2 KB · Views: 156
  • conv_290675.jpg
    conv_290675.jpg
    713.9 KB · Views: 102
Jenn,

I know there is not much chance of contamination from a bleed off fitting but since the shots are for new tank people thought I would mention that brass is not recommended for any of the plumbing that comes in contact with tank water since brass contains copper.
 
dwhatley;93057 said:
Jenn,

I know there is not much chance of contamination from a bleed off fitting but since the shots are for new tank people thought I would mention that brass is not recommended for any of the plumbing that comes in contact with tank water since brass contains copper.

That's brass/gold colored plastic :biggrin2: .
 

Shop Amazon

Shop Amazon
Shop Amazon; support TONMO!
Shop Amazon
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Back
Top