Help with new tank setup.

T

tdg

Registered Member
Jan 22, 2007
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0
Kansas
Hi folks, new to this forum but not new to the hobby, but it's been many years and I'm out of the loop on these newfangled tank setups. The last tank I had was a simple 10 gal. with just the basic components, it always worked well, but it's obvious that things have changed since the mid '90's when I packed up the old tank.

I've wanted to get back into the hobby for many years, and now that I have the space and money, I'm looking into about a 55 gal. setup. But looking at all the various equipment choices available now, it's kind of overwhelming. Powerheads, protein skimmers, sump tanks, wet/dry filters... I've read up on what these components do, but unsure about what I really need, and which are good.

So my question to you guys is, if you had say $500 to spend (not including the price of the tank) on filters, heaters, air pump, etc, what would you buy and why?

Thanks! :help:
 
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Oh my thats a tough 1. I really dont know i have bought complete setups. Sorry i can't be any of help.
 
Wow...$500 is plenty.
2 Visithem stealth 150W heaters - one on each end of the tank
1 Rena XP3 Canister filter
1 Aquaclear 110 HOB filter

This leaves over 300 for whatever else you may want.

Why??...Because these seem to be the best products and would do a good job.
 
you can spend the other 300 on aquascaping (this ate up a lot of my budget because i wanted my tank to look nice), you also want a nice tank and high power light (2-4 watts per gallon if you are going to have live plants). Also need to think about the price of fish which can get expensive, and finally, water test materials, food, and misc supllies (food ring, worm cone feeder, water conditioners, thermometer)

I can vouch for the visi-therm heaters; they are fantastic!
 
You need to decide on whether you want to do a planted tank and/or what species you want to keep. Research any fish on here before you buy it in a fish store, they will sell you anything. Get a water test kit or take it to your fish store and have them test it. Post the results here and we can better help you decide what type of tank to setup.
 
Buy a 75 gallon because then you have a large enough tank to hold most species with a nice matching stand with cupboard(for canister to hide), I would get a canister filter (dont' know which one i'm looking into them myself), Good Quality heater that maintains it's own temparature (not expensive under $40 for a large size), flourecsent hood, white sand bottom instead of gravel(I think it looks pretty) and some hardy plants that are easy to grow without much fuss eg, java fern. Solid colored background.
I think you could just about do all that with $500 if you shop around maybe a little over but under $600 I think.. :)
 
whenever you buy equipment, see if you can find what you want on petsmart.com. print off the product page showing the price of the item you want (make sure it shows the 150w heater price if that's what you're getting), and bring the printed out sheet into petsmart. they will match the price in-store, so you save on the item (sometimes 50%) and you don't have to pay shipping. certain petsmarts will also match competitors prices if you can find something lower.
 
wataugachicken said:
whenever you buy equipment, see if you can find what you want on petsmart.com. print off the product page showing the price of the item you want (make sure it shows the 150w heater price if that's what you're getting), and bring the printed out sheet into petsmart. they will match the price in-store, so you save on the item (sometimes 50%) and you don't have to pay shipping. certain petsmarts will also match competitors prices if you can find something lower.
Click to expand...

THIS IS HUGE!!! The prices in the store are usually obscene compared to the website so bring in the printout so they lower the price!! I saved close to 50% on my supplies that i bought there because of this.
 
I can't really see your background Claw it looks solid to me.. lol.
LOVE your albino cories I didnt' know you had albino's, I have some too.
 
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