I have a 55g, help me fill it

A

aewing

AC Members
Feb 19, 2009
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I have a a 55 gallon community tank with plastiplants in it now and I am want a more natural looking setting, as I'm sure the fish do as well. I have one actinic and one 50/50 in my fixture. I am currently using a penguin 350 biowheel and a 30g sponge filter (only on 5 hours a day) with a powerhead. I say all this because I have a lot of good flow throughout the tank, if that helps.

What I am looking for:

1. Well planted tank (no veggie patches here and there)
2. What substrate/bedding works well that I can mix with current gravel?
3. I need beginner plants (Anubs and the like)
 
it looks like you basicly just want to go the low-tech low light planted tank route. if so you probably want to switch out youre current lighting with something in the 5,500 to 10,000 K range. also what light fixture are you using, how many watts is it?

for gravel as long as it's not too big you probably will be fine with staying with you're current gravel. but if you want to add any specially stuff i would go with fluorite or rco-compleit because it's relativly easy to find. (is a tad expensive though)

other than thatt not much else to say about it good luck
 
Ozymandias said:
it looks like you basicly just want to go the low-tech low light planted tank route. if so you probably want to switch out youre current lighting with something in the 5,500 to 10,000 K range. also what light fixture are you using, how many watts is it?

for gravel as long as it's not too big you probably will be fine with staying with you're current gravel. but if you want to add any specially stuff i would go with fluorite or rco-compleit because it's relativly easy to find. (is a tad expensive though)

other than thatt not much else to say about it good luck
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thanks
 
first you prob want to replace the bulbs. go for 6500-10000k bulbs. also keep the powerhead on 24/7 those are great for bio filters and quickly moved if you need a qt.


1. Well planted tank (no veggie patches here and there)
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this where the money factor will play in a lot. the more you fill in more so with low light plants the longer it will take to fill in. by switching the bulbs you can get some lower light plants like anubias and also faster growing plants like hygros or other stems to quickly grow out and fill in as the other slower growers fill in too.
2. What substrate/bedding works well that I can mix with current gravel?
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a lot of people use sand or reg gravel. you can also try something like turface which isnt made for tanks but is cheap or more pricey gravel such as eco or flourite that are made for planted tanks.
3. I need beginner plants (Anubs and the like)
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with new bulbs you will be able to keep low and med light plants.

i have many low light plants such as anubias ferns and moss plus plent of other med light plants. i can help fill that tank is a lot cheaper then any lfs. pm me if you want some help.
 
I'm sorry, but I have to ask as I've seen it many times. What is a power head?

Sorry for the side comment.
 
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