Please Help, New 55g Aquarium!

[sophos9]

Cool..

Anyway, you are going to want at least 2.5wpg, what does you new tank have? You will also need a Co2 system, now you can either get 2 x Natural Co2 kits or go buy a pressurised kit - personally with little experience with both I would opt for a pressurised one every time.

A good algae eater? Well when your tank is started you don't want to be putting anything in for a few weeks - until the plant growth has really taken hold, you can then introduce some Ottos and siamese algae eaters, maybe a handful of shrimp, this will make your clean-up crew!

 

[ir0n_ma1den]

by the way the new 55g wont be started for about a month or two because our basement isn't done yet. Im probably gunna put different kind of tetras in it, some platies maybe, and tiger barbs. For CO2 I'm going to make a DIY CO2 since i have heard that many people have been successful with a diy CO2 injector.

I was thinkin that im gunna put the plants in and then let it do a fishless cycle for about 2-3 weeks. Is that ok?

 

[ir0n_ma1den]

Im starting to get some loose ideas of how i want it setup and the types of plants i may want to use

AGA 1
AGA 2
AGA 3
AGA 4 amazing
AGA 5
AGA 6
AGA 7
AGA 8
AGA 9
AGA 10

You should view them all. These are great aquariums

 

[confusion]

I think you will be better off doing the cycle without plants. Plants will take most of the ammonia, depending on what the conditions are in the tank.

What kind of lighting are you going to get? that will dictate the CO2 that you need. I have a 55G planted with a 135w vho compact flourescent and the 2 18w lights that came with the tank, giving me just over 2.5wpg, and I'm going DIY co2 successfully.

nevermind about the lighting - i didn't see the discussion earlier in the thread.

 

[sophos9]

For CO2 I'm going to make a DIY CO2 since i have heard that many people have been successful with a diy CO2 injector.

I was thinkin that im gunna put the plants in and then let it do a fishless cycle for about 2-3 weeks. Is that ok?

Hi, I've got my fingers crossed for you on DIY Co2...

Its hard to say about cycle time, with a heavily planted tank I guess its possible to add fish within a couple of weeks.... You got a test kit? Keep testing ammonia and you will see the spike happen

 

[ir0n_ma1den]

i do not have a test kit. so you think i should cycle with or without plants? and for how long until I'll be able to add fish?

 

[ir0n_ma1den]

what are good light tubes? should i buy a hood that can hold 1x, 2x, 3x, or 4x bulbs? If i am correct, dont 55g tanks have two hoods?

 

[confusion]

I have this light: http/www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl36...ipw2lunarlights
which spans the whole tank. You have to get the glass hoods to replace the hoods that come with the tank. I took the 2 lights that came with the tank and put them over the front part of the glass hood. I may buy another one of those power compacts, though. They are very nice.