Switching to a 55 gallon!!!

[tmlhaus]

I have a 10 gallon that's been set up for about 2 months. Currently we have 2 tiger barbs (babies) a yellow and a rosy barb and 2 dward gourami. I got a GREAT deal on a 55 gallon. $50, includes hood, light and filter, stand. It's pretty dirty so I have my work cut out for me just in cleaning the tank. The filter is an Emperor 400B. I know NOTHING about this. I would like to know what other brightly colored fish would go with what we have. Rainbows? Platys? Angels? What about a red parrot fish?
So...what about an underground filter? I have already decided to go with fake plants. I'm not up to all the upkeep with real plants, since we're just starting with this bigger tank. How does this work? Do you put your gravel directly on this underground filter?
Currently, I clean my tank every other week or so with that suck vac system (whatever it's called). It makes the tank clean, but it messes up all the gravel. Any way to prevent that, perhaps is that what the underground filter is for?
I have several ideas for rocks, caves, etc. I also have the problem of our fake plants not staying rooted in our 10 g.
So....any help here? THANKS!@

 

[heresmike]

Undergravel filters are in many people's opinions a little outdated. You'd still have to vacuum with a ug filter.

I'd say "YES" to getting some rainbows ... I love mine. Check out the bosemani rainbows and the Irian Reds ... mmmmm pretty fish.

Angels are nice too, and go well with rainbows.

 

[digital_run]

Under Gravel Filters are probably not the way on a tank like that ( though i may be wrong ) I bought a Bio-wheel (penguin 330 ) and an aqua clear 300 running and everything is crystal clear.... There a little more expensive...But u get what u play for

Good luck ..

 

[Nina7777]

Hey there- I just set up my 55 gallon a couple of weeks ago.
First of all. I too have a emporer 400 but i use it in conjunction with an aquaclear 500. This keeps the water really circulating/clean and creates lots of surface agitation, which is great for the fish. Instead of going out and buying a UGF, which IMO is a waste of money, I would just buy another HOB filter. It doesn't have to be as powerful as the emporer400, even a little one for up to 30 gallons would do.

UNfortuantely there is no way around messing your gravel up except to fix it after you vacumm.

As far as the fish go, you get 3 clown loaches, or the rainbows, or pretty much any kind of live bearer, as far as the blood parrot goes I am not really sure as i don't have any experience with them.

What i did to get my fake plants to stay put was buy a finer gravel. Not only will your plants stay in place but IMO its alot easier to clean.

Right now i have larger gravel in my 30 gallon, and I can't wait to switch it over to finer gravel. Everything Gets stuck to the larger gravel.

Hope this helps a bit.

Good Luck and congrats on finding such a great deal!

 

[Naomi]

I would definatly not go with the undergravel filter...from what I understand they will be a pain in the butt. Get a couple of good filters that hang on the back...also make sure you don't clean out the tank with anything chemical. Soap and other cleaning products will leave a residue that will kill the fish. An assortment of Platys, Mollies and Swordtails would be really colorful. Throw in a couple of powder blue dwarf gouramis.....

Have fun setting up your tank!!

 

[Spat_si]

50 bucks.... damn that is a good deal.

 

[drobbins27]

Sounds like you got your answers. My only thought is that you should ask if the red parrot is dyed (ask salesmen/manager). Many of us on this forum are strongly against buying dyed fish, it is creul and wrong. I dont want to hijack this thread tho

Have fun and try to get some pictures