ShinyCard255
Fish Fanatic
So I got an awesome deal on a brand new 55G (208L) tank (along with canopy and stand). $400 (256GBP)! Tank measures 48"x12"x24" (120cmx30cmx60cm).
Came with a AquaClear 70 HOB for the filter. I am going to take some filter media from my 15G and throw it into this to give it a kick start on the cycling process. It also came with an Aqueon strip light (32W T8 which I need to upgrade) and a powerhead (rated at 230GPH). Will I need to use the powerhead or no?
So I would like to do a substrate of dirt capped off with sand. Should I do an inch of dirt along with an inch of sand on top of that? Also, would I only need 1 bag of sand or 2? I was thinking of using pool filter sand but I have seen pics of black sand and would love to know where people buy it from.
I would like to do a fishless cycle, but now I have some questions around that. If I'm doing a fishless cycle, should I add the plants after the tank is fully cycled or can I start putting plants in while it's cycling. I know the plants help with the ammonia, but I don't know if with a fishless cycle if the ammonia would be too much for the plants to handle? I also read on here this topic and now am lost.
I have also done a little bit of reading about dosing and ferts and this really throws me off. Can someone please explain this to me?
Sorry for all these questions, but I would like to the get all the info that I need first before I start actually going out and spending money the tank. Thanks in advance for all the help too!
(Made some conversions from US to metric/GBP to make things a little easier)
Came with a AquaClear 70 HOB for the filter. I am going to take some filter media from my 15G and throw it into this to give it a kick start on the cycling process. It also came with an Aqueon strip light (32W T8 which I need to upgrade) and a powerhead (rated at 230GPH). Will I need to use the powerhead or no?
So I would like to do a substrate of dirt capped off with sand. Should I do an inch of dirt along with an inch of sand on top of that? Also, would I only need 1 bag of sand or 2? I was thinking of using pool filter sand but I have seen pics of black sand and would love to know where people buy it from.
I would like to do a fishless cycle, but now I have some questions around that. If I'm doing a fishless cycle, should I add the plants after the tank is fully cycled or can I start putting plants in while it's cycling. I know the plants help with the ammonia, but I don't know if with a fishless cycle if the ammonia would be too much for the plants to handle? I also read on here this topic and now am lost.
I have also done a little bit of reading about dosing and ferts and this really throws me off. Can someone please explain this to me?
Sorry for all these questions, but I would like to the get all the info that I need first before I start actually going out and spending money the tank. Thanks in advance for all the help too!
(Made some conversions from US to metric/GBP to make things a little easier)
