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No interest??

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Coming soon to a website near you.

As you can probably guess...Santa brought me a 55. I might start a tank log if anyone is interested. I could start now by posting a pic of it sitting in the box in bedroom and keep posting until it's done.....but only if y'all would be interested.

I think I'm going to do a SA type biotope with rams, angels, and/or Apistogramma.....any recommendations on this combo will gladly be considered.

I'm going to have to go a little slower than I would like in setting up this tank because I'm going to have to order a bunch of stuff for it and, at the moment, I'm busted from Christmas, so it's in the prelim. planning stage right now.

I'm going with plants so I'm going to order a PC light that will give me 130 watts or 2.36 wpg. I'm also going to add a Rena Filstar XP2 to the Aquaclear 70 filter that came with the tank.

Any advice right now is certainly welcome!!

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

crazyred,

Sham puts it nicely, these lights are doable but with quite a few inconveniences.

As to what kind of cycling you should do for a heavily planted tank: None, Nada, Zip.

But I will elaborate on it before you put 5 plants and 50 fish in the tank on the first day .

Heavy means just that, loads of plants, preferably quite a few of them being really fast growers (look at my log and the first maybe 8 pages and you know what I am talking about).

Stocking should be done slowly, a few fish at a time with weeks in between. I dare to assume that you don’t have a QT, right? In this case the break between stocking can also save future fish lives in case an addition should be sick.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I have jebo fixtures I got off ebay. You can get them real cheap there. I don't have any major complaints. I had one running for 2years and got a 2nd bigger one. They now have 2 switches but they don't have 2 cords so you have to manually turn the lights on/off or do some DIY wiring with an extension cord. Not recommended without at least basic electrical knowledge. They aren't great and have no plus compared to other lights aside from the price. However if you have a very limited budget they will do the job.

Really if you have the money you'd be better off with another brand but they aren't horrible. Just made for people with low cash flow and in need of only a real basic setup.

I was looking at the 30" dual PC (130w total) on there a while back, an' everybody told me to steer away from JEBO fixtures and from aquatraders.

Couple reasons -
-JEBO fixtures have cheap wiring and have been known to fail/short out and start fires
-aquatraders is known for poor customer service, running out of stuff, delaying orders, etc, etc
-JEBO fixtures only have one ballast per unit (thus one switch per unit)...can only have either ALL the lights on, or ALL the lights off... can't create a sunrise effect (can w/coralife fixtures)
-JEBO fixtures have really crappy reflectors (an' you lose a lot of light because of it)

Basically, the only thing that would benefit from you buying that fixture over a decent one would be your wallet... until your house burns down an' you're REALLY out of a LOT of money

IMO, get a decent fixture (coralife is good, but spendy)
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You're moving all your fish from yer 29 into the 55?

You shouldn't really have a problem w/cycling... seed it w/bacteria from the 29, put fish in, dose with New Improved Cycle or Biospira, call it good

I've never actually cycled a tank...ever I just started w/Cycle...then seeded from there

Have fun

Congratulations! I wish I got a tank for Christmas like you lucky folks.
Well I did recently set up a 55g...the biggest I have had. I have gravel mixed with flourite for substrate. But one thing about the flourite...it would get expensive (IMO) if you use only flourite...and it makes the water very cloudy. I had to look at a cloudy tank for a couple days after adding the gravel/flourite mixture. I couldn't imagine what it would have looked like if I had only flourite. I even rinsed it many times. Anyways...just my experience with the stuff. I have heard that Eco-complete doesn't cloud the water as bad. I think it is black and resembles sand. If that is what you like then I would go for it. It would really make your plants happy. I think it is expensive also...if using only that. I recommend small gravel. You could use root tabs for your plants and it would be just as good (I think) but cheaper.
I seeded my 55 with gravel from my 5g and 10g and put sponges from an existing filter in the AC 70. I stocked slowly...only adding about 6 fish every 2 weeks, sometimes only waited a week. I didn't have mine planted when I cycled it, only because I didn't have the money. I wish I would have planted it when I set it up though, it would have saved me alot of time and effort. So my advice is plant it when you set it up.
I never registered any ammonia. I am not sure if the test kit was old or what...maybe I just got lucky. I only tested once a week, but never got anything. I have tetras in my 55. I started with head and tailight tetras. They seemed colorful and the LFS guy said they were hardy. Now I wish I would have chosen something else. They are kind of boring.
I like the idea of an angel and a ram. I have both in my 55 with cories (panda and false juliis), 3 yoyo loaches, a BN, an otto, and rummynose tetras. Everyone gets along fine.
Aquascape it with a big piece of driftwood and heavily plant it and it will look great. Good luck!

edit: Like mentioned before...try to get bulbs in the range of 6700K to 10000K. I have one of each in my light fixture. I really like the 10000K bulb better. It is brighter and looks better to me. I can't see a difference in the way they affect my plants though.

Last edited by GirlieGirl8519 at 29-Dec-2005 22:42

*Kristin*

Lighting:

Are your lids the plastic or glass? If they are plastic I would say it might be a good idea to get the glass. Most lights dont work very well on the plastic lids.

The light fixture would probably be fine. The bulbs on the other hand your are probably going to want some thing that is rated at 6700K to I think 10,000K is ok. I am not sure if the 50/50's are going to really hurt anything but you probably wont get your full wattage out of it. (if someone could help me out that would be great!)


Substrate:
I vote Seachem Florite! It is all up to you though. I really like the florite in my tank.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Okay, I've already got a question. What kind of cycle should I do for a heavily planted tank? I still have to cycle even if I seed it right? I'm certain that I can't transfer enough "stuff" from my 29 without disrupting it to consider my 55 completely cycled.

I don't want to put any fish in there until I'm ready to stock it with the permanent residents, none of which can stand an immature tank.

Also, I found a hella deal on a PC light and need to know if this work on my tank.

Site: [link=http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=9]http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=9" style="COLOR: #FF00FF[/link]

The 55 that I have has two seprerate covers that are 24" long with a brace in the center. the total tank length is, of course, 48" I believe this light will sit square on top of that all the way across.....am I correct?

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

*agrees with Ingo*

DEFINATELY plan everything out before you get started! That's my biggest regret w/ my 29! I wish I had done terraces and gotten a different piece of driftwood and done a biotope and built a sump and used a different substrate and and and

For substrate, I vote Eco-Complete... kinda expensive, but nummy

crazyred,

Ok, I could go off into details already ( like why bother with a fishless cycle in a heavily planted tank? ) but I will wait until the time is right .

Overall one word of caution: Don't rush it, enjoy the ride! Things you figure out before you set up the tank will save you lots of trouble later.

And we (that being the log freaks from the planted forum) always have a place for new log .

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Thanks you guys...I was just checking to see if we could stand another tank log on here.

I will def. start in the planted forum once things get going. It's not going to sit in the box for long. As soon as I get the stand (end of this week) I'm going to set it up. My first task is to get substrate (any suggestions?) I did get some money for Christmas so I should be able to get the cannister and the lights pretty soon too. Maybe next week!! I'm going to do a fishless cycle with gravel and filter material from my 29.

Thanks for the ideas Poison....they're being highly considered. BTW...my froggy is doing great. She hasn't eaten the dwarf gourmi so I guess they're buddies.

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Congratulations to all of you who got new Tanks for Christmas.



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Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
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I just got my 46 for Christmas (I got it early) and am stocked for a while. I am over stocked so I am going to let things calm down before possibly adding some harlequins. (Everyone's doing great and water quality is perfect)

I understand the excitement completely!! As far as I'm concerned, share away!! Pics every week (or day, lol).
Happy planning!!!

Here's what I currently have:
12 danios (+ 2 babies)
6 leopards
6 zebras
4 female bettas
2 upside down catfish
4 spotted cories (just added those)

crazyred,

Sure I am interested, how could I not be?

But maybe it is a little early to start a log while your tank sits in a box for maybe even weeks to come .

Although could be kind of interesting to see how it collects dust .

Now seriously, I would suggest the following:

a) Start individual threads for any questions you might have now, like one for lighting, one for substrate, one plants, you get the point. This way you would get focussed replies.

b) Once almost all is in place start the "Real Log", but please in the Planted forum .

Hope this helps,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Sounds like fun

I'd drill the tank an' put a sump on it! Incrases tank volume, great place to hide heaters (and co2 reactors (you'll probably want one of those for the plants , an' all that other fun stuffs), etc, etc. I'd keep the cannister, maybe ditch the AC... so sump, cannister, maybe HOB, you should be good

For stock, I'd go with something like this -
2 rams (as the centerpiece possibly)
10-12 cories (pick a species, any species... *votes pandas*)
6-10 otos
? some other SA fish
6-10 shrimp of some sort...preferably not dwarfs, they'd get eaten... maybe amano?

I'd definately skip the angels... they can go vegetarian on ya an' eat all yer plants... an' IMO they look stupid in planted tanks

For plants -
5-10 Aponogeton sp. in one corner
2-3 Cryptocorne sp.
2-3 Val. sp in/around the back
Anubias nana on driftwood
Maybe some mosses an' other stuffs too...

Aquascape -
I vote you do both driftwood an' rockwork... ottos an' shrimp will like the driftwood, rams will like the rockwork (might spawn on it too )

Substrate -
60lbs Eco-complete

CO2 -
Go with pressurized if ya can, but it's expensive (think ~$300ish)... DIY can be a PITA on bigger tanks... you'd need a lot of bottles

Have fun, an' definately post up pics of everything along the way

EDIT - BTW, how's the frog(s?) doin'

Last edited by PoisonWaffle at 28-Dec-2005 11:56

OMG...I got the tank stand assembled last night after getting the assmebly instructions faxed to me from the manufacturer and let me tell you.....from the stand point of a little woman...I was not meant to work with hand tools. I hurt all over today!!! I have a big swollen area on my palm and a big blister on my middle finger from pressing all my weight onto the screwdriver to get the stupid screws in all the way.....I just hope this thing doesn't collapse in a heap when the tank is on it and filled with water and gravel. Tha tank is on it right now still in the box, but I know it will weigh a ton when water and gravel are added.

Guys....props to y'all that do mechanic work or anything involving tools.....it sucks in a big way!!!!

Oh yeah, and if I had read the instructions a little more closely at the end, then I wouldn't have had to unscrew both sets of top hinges on the doors and redo them.....apparently you have to screw them on AFTER putting them in the little holes on the stand......I'm such a moron!!!

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Thanks for the phone number Bob! Unfortunately, it's just as I suspected......in this whole stinking border area, with a total population of close to 950,000 people the nearest dealer to me is in a city 120 miles away that only serves a population base of 300,000. doh!!!

We go there from time to time and I have a friend that lives there so maybe I can get him to hook me up.

Thanks for the 800 number!!! Most helpful!

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Crazy,

Call CaribSea at 888.461.1113. They were very helpful in finding a local supplier of the product for me.

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Are you kidding?? My LFS's (all two of them) specialize in neon rainbow gravel in 5 pound bags for your goldfish bowl.

I do have a Petco and Petland 15 miles away that I could check, and we are (finally) getting a Petsmart soon. Although I've never seen EcoComplete on Petsmart's web-site.

I'll keep looking, that shipping is ridiculous....talk about waste of $$$$$$!

Last edited by crazyred at 03-Jan-2006 15:29

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

crazyred,

You cant find the Eco at any of your LFS?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric