My 55

[AquaticTim]

This is a repost.. Just wanted to add a poll, as it looks like they seem to get more response. First time trying to add a poll so bear with me..

Ok.. So, I have had a 20 gallon for some time, and decided to upgrade. It was black Friday and found some nice deals at Petsmart. I am afraid I may have more fish in my tank than I should, but the associate at Petsmart told me No, and in fact told me to come back in about a week to get more fish. Here is my story.

FILTER: My tank has the hang on back type filter that came with it, labeled "top fin" which is supposed to be for a 55 gallon tank. (I believe it may be a different brand with their logo on it) but it has two different sides each with their own filter. It is rated at 300GPH Which I believe is adequate. Just to be sure I also have my 30 gallon Aqeuon filter on the tank as well. (also put on to help tank cycle). It is rated at 200GPH. One of my decorations also has a bubbler built into it.

SUBSTRATE: I have 2-3 inches of black/blue gravel mixed with a couple gallons of my white gravel from my original 20 gallon tank so it would cycle faster (am not sure if it made a difference or not)

DECORATION: a handful of rocks, 4 mid-large size decorations with small holes and hiding spaces, a mid size rock with a hole through the middle, and a couple cheap plastic fake lava type molds with holes in them, one stuck to the wall

PLANTS: I was trying to get a few plants that were appealing and would help with ammonia levels, but don't want an all planted tank that is covered in moss. (just not my thing). I have 3 lucky bamboo (Which are fully submerged, which I later researched and found that they shouldn't be (contrary to what I was told in store)). I intend to keep an eye on them and at the first sign of yellowing/dying I will remove and repot until they are tall enough for leaves to stick out the top of surface. I have 3 small green plants which I believe to be Amazon swords. I have a small piece of driftwood with what I believe is a java fern in the middle. And I have 2 moss balls. (One rep told me to anchor them and let them spread, another told me to let them float and sink on their own) Both said to squeeze them periodically to let them breathe

FISHIES: I transferred my 2 pleco, one about 5 inches, the other about 2.5 into it. I also tranferred my 2 angelfish that are each about 3 inches. I also transferred my one bala shark about 3 inches into it. I bought 3 more bala sharks, one rainbow shark, 6 glofish (danios I think), 6 fancy guppies (one died the first day, now 5), 3 sunburst platies, and 2 clown loaches.

After further research, I will be bringing back all my sharks and plecos. And will be bringing back one clown loach. (Eventually I will bring back the other as well, but for now he is only 1.5 inches long.

I also used a bio chemical to shorten the cycle time, and once cycled used water conditioner, ammonia remover, and stress reducer before adding fish. It's been about a month and the water looks clear and fish look happy

FEED: I feed my fish about once a day with flake food, just what they will eat. I also put in a frozen brine shrimp about once a week

WATER CHANGE: I did do a couple 30% changes while cycling but my plans are to change my filter cartridges by every two weeks changing one filter, so they get changed once a month, but not both at once and doing a 40% or so water change once a month. I have heard everything from once a year to to every other day.. But I plan on trying this and just see how it goes and continue to check water params.

QUESTIONS: I guess what I want to know is

1) is my filter setup adequate? I've heard about biowheels, and is what I have ok or should I replace my 20 gallon filter with a biowheel keeping my 55 gallon that came on it as well? Are they worth it? what about canister filters? worth the investment? is there such a thing as too much water movement? I have my 20 gallon currently on a timer so that when lights go on the filter goes off for feeding and viewing purposes, but with 2 filters and a bubbler is too much air a bad thing?

2) Although the rep says it could hold many more fish, is this overstocked? I plan to remove my balas, but could I keep one? thoughts?

3)Any one else ever buy the lucky bamboo from petsmart and what were the results?

4) Any other thoughts and input is helpful. I've had a 20 gallon tank for years and this is my first time with something this large.

My goal is to have a low maintence tank that is properly filtered. I also prefer to have a variety of colorful fish that get along with each other.

Thanks a lot for any input and help!

(Click on picture to view it larger.. Sorry for the bad quality, it is from my phone)

 

[IThinkTherefore]

I voted "4" simply because I prefer more natural-looking tank.

You seem to have an excellent, healthy environment with a great community for your fish now that you've made the drastic changes!

Lovely tank, and I wish you the best of luck with it!

 

[Newman]

it has good potential. judging by the gravel color you want more of an ornamental tank than natural?

 

[AquaticTim]

Good potential usually is a polite way of saying it aint much lol. What would you have done differently?

Yeah.. I do want to have some plants and be somewhat ornamental I guess.. I've had sand and even a sand colored gravel in the past, and wanted to try something different. In past experiences the light color seemed to make the fish look more pale in color, and the sand color reflects off of things giving it more of a yellowish feel. I figured I'd try something different, and mixed black and blue (I've been told black gives it more pop, and they use blue in the pet store, so it can't be too bad) mixed with a couple gallons of white from an established tank. I did have to add some to anchor my plants so the top layer in the pics is mostly blue, but should blend a bit more black after a couple vaccuumings. So far I really like the results, it just seems to give it more of a clean look. But that's one thing that everyone seems to have an opinion on and I guess to each his own.. Mine almost looks like a little village with the decorations and plants.. And I thing that the fish do look more vibrant with the blue and black substrate.

 

[Newman]

I am a fan of naturalistic tanks (even if mine are sucky representations of them lol) but yours could use a theme (village?) maybe trees or something (driftwood turned upside down with java moss tied to the top part) and a few more fish.

I would recommend more cories to have around 10 or so total. if the angels are a pair then thats perfect, perhaps they'll be your center piece fish. get more platies in there though, try other colors like red wag, coral, blue wag, yellow to make your tank even more colorful. I'm sure the glofish really help there too haha.

what else are you thinking of?

 

[bassbonediva]

In past experiences the light color seemed to make the fish look more pale in color, and the sand color reflects off of things giving it more of a yellowish feel.

That wasn't the sand. That was your lighting. If you look at my 55gal, I have white pool filter sand (PFS) and my fish are vibrant and really stand out. But, I'm also running a T5 light (as I said in your other thread, it's more concentrated than the standard T8s) that has a daylight bulb (very white light) and an actinic bulb (usually used for saltwater, but it works with my setup and my plants, so I don't think I'm going to change it...throws off a blue light).