55s are ok tanks but tbh I'm not a big fan of em as they are really thin front to back. Makes aquascaping hard, trust me. You're better off going with like a 50 breeder tank or even a 75 if you have 4' of length to work with. The extra front-back depth will make your life MUCH easier. Also, where in the states are you from? Its quite possible that you can save a bunch if you can buy used. Make sure you check out craigslist if nothing else