So new to the hobby...

[The Crazy Ape]

I did it! Woo Hoo! The sale at Petco ends the 27th so I got a 55 gallon and most everything else I need to get started except for a hood, substrate and plants. I haven't found it yet, but is there information here about aqua-scaping?

Congrats, although a 55 has never appealed to me because of the front to back demensions, a 75 allows for more surface area, and oxygen exchange.

 

[MadRiley61]

Crazy A, please don't tell me down the line I'm going to have buyers remorse.

 

[Tifftastic]

Nah, you won't have remorse. You'll just want a second tank and a third and fourth

 

[dougall]

a 55g tank will be fine for most needs..


You will tailor your aquascaping needs to the dimensions of the tank; it will influence your choice of plants, fish and hardscape, but nothing to worry about.

Just set it up, share pictures, and as stated, ready yourself to want another tank.

 

[MadRiley61]

Now I'm worried. It's starting to sound like tanks are the same as tattoos...one you get one you want more. And I've got six tattoos

 

[OrionGirl]

I have 2 tattoos and 14 tanks running right now.

 

[OrionGirl]

It has been suggested that I clarify the following:
1) The tattoos are recent, only within the past year.
2) The number of tanks has been reduced from I believe a high of 44.

 

[MadRiley61]

Holy cow! 44 at one time? What fish is your passion?

 

[OrionGirl]

I'm a fan of little fish. Pencils and aspidoras for a while, but my current favorite is probably the red shoulder paradise fish. They're gorgeous. I also quite like shrimp, so have several tanks to keep the different color morphs.

And...my other half (dougall) is in to fish as well. It doesn't help.

 

[William Harris]

That's a tough question. If you know what fish/plants/inverts you are interested in, you're likely to get a more meaningful answer, but here are my thoughts.

The kits are usually suitable for a fish only setup--they don't have covered intakes to prevent shrimp from being sucked in, they lack the necessary light for all but the most basic of plants. There are exceptions, of course, but mostly in less than 10 gallon range.

Another consideration is that many of the kits include press board stands. Press board is sturdy, until it gets wet, and then it becomes a slowly sinking time bomb to flood.

Personally I wouldn't buy a kit for a 29. (well, nor would I buy a 29, but that's a different issue entirely). The filters that come with the kits, even if suitable for the stock you choose, tend to be on the lower end of quality, and wouldn't meet my needs. Ditto the light. The heater MIGHT be ok, but since most of my tanks run without heaters, it's fairly moot. Optional items such as 'bacteria starter' are a waste of money, and the water conditioners are usually not my preferred brand and all too often include additives I avoid (ie, Aloe. Fish do not need aloe.)