New Tank

[viafish]

I just bought this clear for life 55g tank... it has a wet/dry filter with the blue bio-balls...do I need more filtration?
thanks

also, it has a black background...can you guys give me some ideas of what fish i should start with... here's a pic of the back of the tank:

I have a 100watt heater...and 50w neon light fixture
also, I'm thinking of buying round rock instead of gravel... any suggestions would be appreciated...

 

[Dorkhedeos]

well, imo sand is the best substrate. 100 watt heater is too small, you would need at least 300 watts for a 55 gallon.

 

[viafish]

thanks dorkhedos.

I bought a 300 watt heater as you suggested.

I'm new at this hobby and have been reading up on the net, so I need all the help I can get.


a few more questions:
Is sand substrate good to start a fresh water tank?
and are red parrots a good starter fish?

 

[Dorkhedeos]

yeah, sand is good in fw. you can get it for cheap at home depot. make sure its not for cement. when you get the sand, you must rinse it out well, rinse it until the water is clear when you pour it out. all you need to do is put the sand in a big bucket, get a hose, stick it into the sand, and turn it on. you should set up your tank and let it run for a day so all the sand settles. then you have to cycle, im sure somebody else can explain this, cause i never did it before

 

[viafish]

thanks dorkhedeous...

i have the sand substrate now as you suggested... it took me an hour to rinse it though... it looks great in the tank...

I'm letting it cycle for 2 weeks before I buy any fish...

I have bio-balls and moss in my wet/dry filter system... do you think that's enough or do I need activated carbon also? thanks

 

[Katchan]

As a filter agency the bioballs and moss is fine in the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate the charcoal/carbon removes heavy metals, tannons (driftwood), other chemicals (wanted or otherwise - remove before you medicate) and helps stop yucky fishy smell (well thats what it says on the back of my active carbon box)

HTH
Katchan

 

[viafish]

thanks for the info Katchan!


So, basically, I'll have Mechanical, Chemical and Biological filtration for my tank...

I found this topic on filtration helpful also:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=4076


I will be adding fish next week... what cichlids would you recommend I get for this kind of set up? thanks