My New 55g!

[1800higgins]

So I'm pretty new to the hobby. I've only had 2 10g's before... After reading up and hearing people say that the bigger the tank, the easier it is to maintain (in terms of keeping the numbers right), I decided to jump into a 55g tank.

I found one on Craigslist.com in my area for $30. Super excited about that price. I picked it up the next day and brought it back. It sat in my living room for about 2 weeks, because I was a little tight on money due to having to pay rent.

Meanwhile I went to the local lake (Lake Wallenpaupak) and went on a hunt for some nice driftwood. I found a part of the lake called "DRIFTWOOD COVE!" haha and filled up on some nice driftwood. Came back, bought myself a nice trash can and filled it with water. Stuck the driftwood in there and put a couple bricks on it to hold it down. Letting those suckers soak still.

I also picked up a nice stand and canopy for roughly $125. I like them both a lot.

So as of a couple days ago, I started work.



I filled up the tank and let it sit for 3 days to check for leaks. No problems happened.

You can also see my make-shift way of soaking driftwood (too bad my favorite piece is too big for the trash can).

While it was sitting there for 3 days I went on a hunt for gravel. I picked up a bunch from the local Walmart, but after coming back and reading on another message board (and seeing the major price difference) I returned the rocks and went on a hunt for sand.

I picked myself up a 40lbs bag of "Kolorscape" white play sand (which is distributed by Old Castle) for $4... 3 bags of 5lbg white gravel (for a texture in the sand) for $9... And a 15lbs bag of crushed coral (for even more texture, along with heightened PH) for $10. Plus a 5g bucket for cleaning out all of the sand / rocks (and possibly for future water changes).

I came back and cleaned it all out and put it in the tank. I haven't stirred it around yet to mix all the rocks and the sand together... But I feel like I need a little bit more sand (maybe 10-20 lbs). It's just not as high as I'd like. I have a really good feeling that the rock / sand mixture is going to look amazing together.

I started filling up the tank afterwards, mainly so that I could see how it all looks together...

Here's a picture of the full tank shot.

So the price breakdown so far is:
Tank = $30
Stand / Canopy = $125 +/-
Substrate = $23
A tank I'm happy with so far = Priceless


I plan on ordering my filter this weekend, along with the glass canopy and lighting.

I'm excited.

 

[mark7616]

If you are planning on a malawi tank mate you need to loose the wood as this will lower your ph. For a malawi set up you will need to fill you tnk with rocks. But very nice tank good choice of substrate looking good.

 

[1800higgins]

I was unaware that wood would drop the PH. I was only planning on one piece of it, with a couple large rocks.

 

[SamUK]

is it bogwood or mopani wood?


the latter of the 2 shouldnt drop you PH much at all.


whats your tap waters PH?

 

[aberdeen aquarist]

depending on what malawis you want to keep, you may need more than one or two rocks!!

good find on the tank though

 

[Ginge]

Sams right but if your ph is high and you have the crushed coral and i think you should go with ocean rock or another type of ph buffering rock then you could be ok with a little bog wood and also cichlids do need alot of rock.
P.S dont make the substrate to deep e.i. over 3" its bad for the tank and if you want any more help with cichlids come over to the section.

 

[1800higgins]

Any suggestions on rocks?

 

[SamUK]

ocean rock or limestone will both help with your ph.