New Tank set up , advice?

[AngelThoughts]

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I can not believe I have had my tank for almost a MONTH and STILL have not set it up. No water or nothing...
I am wanting to get some S.A. cichlids ... Rams..not sure what else yet?
I've been researching a lot though and had to decide on substrate etc.
Anyways.... I want to set it up and I need to buy a test kit for the water chemistry...recommendations?

Here is what I have now(most of this came with the set up when I bought it)
36g bowfront
Hagen 150w heater
Tetratech PF300 power filter (I had wanted a bio wheel but the guy at my LFS who has been overly helpful said he preferred this one over the other? )
50 lbs of gravel, larger pebbles
Thermometer
25ft Python because I'm not walking back and forth 36 times to fill this tank up haha
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Stress Coat Aquarium Water Conditioner


What else am I missing?

 

[750t]

A good filter!

 

[Hound]

My first suggestion would be to take back the tetratech filter. Assuming you want to stay with a HOB powerfilter get either a Marineland Emporer or a Aquaclear filter that is rated for a 50g tank. Better yet you can get a small cannister filter like a Filstar XP-1 or a Fluval 204 would both work. Since you have had your tank this long and haven't set it up I would suggest you go online to Big Al's to buy both your filter and a test kit. Filter prices online are generally much cheaper and you will also find a Aquarium Pharmaceuticals freshwater master test kit. The test kit includes ph, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate so you will be pretty much set. Other tests you will probably want sooner or later will be a general hardness test kit and a Kh test kit.

Getting back to the tetratech filter I haven't talked to too many people (LFS owners included) that really like them. Both the Emporer and AC filters have strong followings however.

 

[750t]

Good post hound!