A Home For Jack

[Yankee]

Hi
I am planning to get a 55 gal. tank and stocking it with a Jack Dempsey and one suitable friend, Green Terror, Texas Cichlid, Firemouth, something along those lines.
I would like to make the ideal living conditions for them. If you experts were to start from scratch, what type of substrate, heating, lighting, filter, pump, etc. would you use?
I'm new at this but I'm reading everything I can find and I'm not in a hurry to get a tank going. I would rather try to avoid mistakes than make them.
Any advice would be helpful.
Thanks
Yankee

[Glasstapper]

I would go with about 4 inches deep (4 inches in the back and about 3 inches in the front) substrate using pea sized smooth gravel. I'd skip real plants and go with some natural looking plastic and silk ones. I'd find a big piece of artificial driftwood (that way it doesn't color your water or mess with your pH, unless you want that). I'd also get lots of slate and set them up a few little caves on each side of the tank and some big round smooth rocks to make a little something in the middle. Maybe grow some java moss on the rocks. I'd also get a couple of those fake floating plants since your cichlids might like dimmer light.

For filtration, if money were no object, I'd go with an eheim canister filter for my main filter, and a HOB filter for some aeration and extra current.

For lighting, just the standard light bulb that comes in most hoods since I'm looking to dim my tank, and that java moss can usually survive with standart lighting. If the moss doesn't survive, then I'd just omit the plant altogether.

As for an air pump, I wouldn't get all crazy with the bubbles. I might have a 12" airstone on one side of the tank, but you don't really need it.

I'd also try to introduce the two cichlids at a young age and approximately the same size. They should both be of the same aggressive temperament, so it doesn't matter which you introduce first, just make sure you put the second before the first can establish a territory. If a territory has already been established, then you'll have to move the decorations around.

Anyway, if I had a new setup to plan for two potentially large cichlids, that's the way I would go--very natural looking. Everyone has different tastes and opinions, though.

[Yankee]

Wow, thanks for all the good info! I'll print this page and work from it.
I do like the natural look for this tank.
Thanks again
Yankee

[jeffs99dime]

yeah. fakes plants. the cichlids will "organize" the tank for you! lol

[Yankee]

Thanks. Are there some realistic fake plants out there?

[jeffs99dime]

yes there are. the plants made out of silk look the most realistic to me. they are a little more expensive however

[Yankee]

I think I read somewhere that these fish like a sand bottom. Is that just another option?

[Glasstapper]

yes, that's just another option, and it does look really nice, but I'm always afraid of those toxic gases building up underneath if you don't sift the sand around. I'm sure the cichlids will sift it enough for you, but I would make a mess of it in the water when it came time to clean, but ALL substrate needs to be kept clean anyway.

Maybe someone who's had sand before can help you a little better about the maintenance. I just really like to watch mine pick up a piece of gravel and carry it around in their mouth. :)

[Yankee]

If gravel is easier to clean it may be better for me.
Thanks again