First tank setup - 55 gallon tank

[2life]

After 30 years out of the hobby I decided to set up a 55 gallon with an Emporor 400 filte and Eco_complete substrate. I am initially using fake plants and may change to live plants down the road.

I have included two photos, before and after the setup.

I started my fishless cycle on Friday May 31. My initial ammonia reading was 8.00 PPM. I picked up a bottle of the janitorial strength ammonia at Ace Hardware. I set the initial water temp to 82 and pot in an air stone.

I did my second water test today, they were:

Ammonia - 4.00 ppm
Nitrite - 5.00 ppm
Nitrate - 0 ppm

My cycle has only been going since Friday, so hopefully it will be heading in the right direction

IMG_1736.JPGfilled tank.jpg

[MandyK]

Looks pretty good for the plants to be fake. Since you've already spent the extra $$ on the substrate I'd go ahead and do real plants.

I mean why not? They don't really require maintenance if you get the right plants for your light set up.

What are you considering for a stocking plan?

[kim92]

What is your lighting? I agree with the above poster. You paid for a plant substrate, why not get live plants? Low Light plants live java ferns, anubias, crypts, wisteria, can be easy to find, and require minimal effort. Certainly worth looking into in my opinion. Tank looks great though. You're off to a good start. You have ammonia and nitrite. Now the waiting game starts....

[2life]

What is your lighting? I agree with the above poster. You paid for a plant substrate, why not get live plants? Low Light plants live java ferns, anubias, crypts, wisteria, can be easy to find, and require minimal effort. Certainly worth looking into in my opinion. Tank looks great though. You're off to a good start. You have ammonia and nitrite. Now the waiting game starts....

I have two 17W daylight bulbs. It is my understanding that I would new light fixtures and would need to spend about $200

[2life]

Looks pretty good for the plants to be fake. Since you've already spent the extra $$ on the substrate I'd go ahead and do real plants.

I mean why not? They don't really require maintenance if you get the right plants for your light set up.

What are you considering for a stocking plan?

I have not decided on the stock, I figure I have another two weeks or so to figure it out. I will probably go with a community tank, I am open to any suggestions!

[Greentoads41]

It is my understanding that I would new light fixtures and would need to spend about $200

Depends on the light fixture, for your tank you could get some decent ones for under or around $100. For stock suggestions, maybe 12 aggasiz cory cats, 18 leopard danios and 18 black ruby barbs. With some sort of centerpiece fish too, like a gold gourami. There would be a lot of movement in this tank lol.
This was the first suggestion that came to mind, idk why it was, but I think it would look splendid especially in a planted tank.

[kim92]

I have two 17W daylight bulbs. It is my understanding that I would new light fixtures and would need to spend about $200

Not necessarily. I have grown plants in a 55 with this light. http://www.kensfish.com/aquarium-sup...-t5-strip.html
The 48" is $51.95, plus shipping.
Here is the tank. I don't have it anymore. But it had the light fixture I linked,mostly low light plants, and Eco Complete.

14443.jpg

[talldutchie]

What there is now qualifies as low light but I'd still work

[MandyK]

Yeah, no need to spend a load on lights. My 55g set up had a $60 set up with 2 T5 bulbs that grew plants pretty decently.

EDIT: Actually, they are now on my 130g. Of course they now only grow low light plants because of the height difference in the tanks.

[2life]

Not necessarily. I have grown plants in a 55 with this light. http://www.kensfish.com/aquarium-sup...-t5-strip.html
The 48" is $51.95, plus shipping.
Here is the tank. I don't have it anymore. But it had the light fixture I linked,mostly low light plants, and Eco Complete.

14443.jpg

Would I need to buy a cover for the tank for the T-5 lights to sit on? or do you think I can use the existing covers? What I have now are two covers on each side of the tank where the lights fits into the center section. From what I remember of the hobby 30 years ago, I had the same type of hood/light