The Puffer Forum

ArmyCANUCKS wrote:How much LRs is enough for 55 gallon to filter.

Like PufferPunk said, 1 lbs / gallon is a good minimum, but more doesn't hurt. For SW tanks, you don't actually need a HOB or canister filter. The live rock and powerheads provide the bacterial filtration and flow, and the skimmer removes most of the organic waste, so I wouldn't spend money on a filter and just try to get the skimmer as soon as possible.

ArmyCANUCKS wrote:I hope a sump won't be too hard to make, I will have to read on how to make one online this week.

Sumps aren't technically hard to make, but they generally require the tank to be drilled and whatnot. Personally, if the tank is already set up, it's not worth the effort to add a sump, especially if the sump is only 10 gallons on a 55 gallon tank.

ArmyCANUCKS wrote:So you think they can survive 16 days with just the dry blood worms with the lights on 24/7.

Honestly, two weeks is a LONG time in terms of food. Since you have a marine tank, I would go to a LFS and buy up a bunch of blue-legged hermit crabs and trochus snails (if you can find those ones - if you can't, just look for snails that have a cone-like shape, as they live longer in puffer tanks). Combined with the freeze-dried bloodworms, they might be able to pull through the 16 days. Is there nobody that would be there that could drop in a couple pieces of shrimp or something every 3-4 days? This way you'll know that they're eating at least every 3-4 days, and they'll be fine for a couple weeks like that.

Also, I wouldn't keep the lights on 24/7. If you can, pick up a timer (they're best to have anyways). Keeping your lights on for 2 weeks straight will cause a massive algae bloom, especially on a new tank, and you'll likely come home to an extremely nasty tank.

I have timers for every light in my house over 9 tanks (including my fuge). I have a lil ole lady next door neighbor who stops in every other day & drops in what I have pre-measured in Dixie cups for food in each tank & tops off the water (remember, when it evaporates the SG becomes much more concentrated). I highly suggest you find someone to do this!

This is why I have nver been on a vacation more than a week. As member of a reef club for 4 years I have finally found a nice felllow to take care of my tanks (at least my more sensitive reef tanks) for dosing & checking on the corals, so Hubby & I can finally take a longer vacation now that he is retired.