My Tank Setup

[loveforfhishies]

so for the longest time i did research on fish aquariums and got really into it, i then decided i wanted to put my money elsewhere and never got a tank, i have not studyed much about aquarium fish for a long time without expecting it my girlfriend got me a 55gallon oxagon plexiglass tank from one of her friends moms, she then went and bought all the filters and stuff for it.

this is where i need the help, i think the tank is good exept the plexi lid is sealed on and has a few openings for some filters and lights, but its been so long since i have read up on fish aquariums im not sure if the filters she got are right.

this is what i got.

Tetra power filter/30-60gallon tanks 300gph
AquaClear Powerhead/40-70gallon tanks 400gph
Tetra Whisper Air pump/30-60gallon tanks
25' standard airline tubing 7.62M

is that all important to keep or is there anything i should exchange ore get different,

if you need any pics of anything just ask and ill post some up

 

[chibi]

Hmm... you may want to get a size bigger filter, just because if your tank is a 55 and it's for 30-60, you're close to the bigger end of the size limit. It's better to overfilter than underfilter. Everything else looks good. I'd like to see pics just for curiousity's sake!

 

[loveforfhishies]

aright ill post pics soon sometime today


what do you think about UGF, are thouse filters necassary

 

[fish-r-fancy]

A lot of people on this site will tell you that hang on back filters, like the one you have will beat under gravel filters anyday. In my experience UGF's have never been anything special, just a pain in the neck if you ask me. So I'd advise you to stick with hang on the back filters.

 

[loveforfhishies]

yeh the problem is there is only a little slit for a filter at the top of my tank and the whole top is sealed on, its an arcylic tank so could i modify the top and cut it bigger to fit my filter in it?

ill post pictures of all this so you can see what im sayin

 

[fishy_girl]

here are some pictures

top view
side view
components

the top of this tank doesnt come off but those are the open spaces i have to work with

 

[loveforfhishies]

so what else do i need to get before i can start cycleing my tank with water, i showed you what i have so far in the pictures, is there anything else i need or anything i dont need.

im kinda confused with what to do with the powerhead since i wont be using a UGF.

 

[erk628]

so what else do i need to get before i can start cycleing my tank with water, i showed you what i have so far in the pictures, is there anything else i need or anything i dont need.

im kinda confused with what to do with the powerhead since i wont be using a UGF.

The powerhead will create a current, so if you get fish that like a current this will be something you will want. The nice thing about the one you got is you can adjust the flow of the water pressure that it shoots out. If you decide on fish that don't like a current I would suggest taking it back and getting another filter. Another thing that is nice about the powerhead you have is you can buy an attachment that acts like a filter. With your acrylic top you could always cut sections off for your filter but don't do this until you have decided were you want them once you began to cut theres no turning back. If I was you I would either look into getting a canister filter or a undergravel filter.


If you decide to get a canister check e-bay out you can find them pretty cheap.

 

[loveforfhishies]

the filter i have now is a bio filter right? and i read somewhere those are a must for any fish tank, would a canister filter fit better and do the same thing?

 

[loveforfhishies]

so really all i need for a filter is one that hangs on the back and cycles the right amount of water? and thats called a biological filter that cycles out all the toxins right?

what do i use the air pump for, just deceration of bubbles from the bottom of the tank?

i just got my tank all cleaned out and ready so i wana cycle it soon so i gota get the filter i will be using soon