Getting my 55g started.

[Rock31]

Have a few questions on getting my tank started, all and any help is appreciated!

I have decided to go with Electric yellows and red jewels for my fish if that makes a difference in my choices.

I really want a natural looking aquarium and I really like the way sand looks. Is this a bad choice for a beginner? As for sand is there a type that is preferred over another? I have been seeing Carib Sea brand on many sites.

I also wanted to use lace, lava or tufa rock in the tank but having problems finding it locally and the shipping costs on this stuff is pretty high, is there an alternative out there that may be easier to find locally? (NY, NJ area?) If I can't find anything by this weekend I am going to just suck it up and pay.

I think that's it for now, I finished cleaning/repainting the stand and tank this weekend so I can't wait to get started :)

[Bristley]

Hey Rock,

Good luck with your tank, hope everything goes well.

If you haven't already you should check out the ebook on the forum, here's the link.

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/ebook.html

This should help with all the basic questions. As far as if sand is ok to start with or not I will have to defer to someone else with more experience on that one as I'm fairly new myself and haven't used sand yet.

Post some picks when you do get things set up, I'd love to see it.

[Rock31]

Thanks! Already started the e-book this weekend.

I think I am actually going to go with CARIB ECCO GRAVEL instead of sand. It looks really nice and should be easier to maintain than sand.

[Bristley]

That sounds good.

I just looked up that stuff online and it looks nice. Can't wait to see what your tank looks like when you have it up and running.

Good luck

[Bristley]

Sorry about the double post, but I just saw this thread...

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...ad.php?t=58107

In it they are talking about the best substrate to use with cichlids. You might want to read through it and get some ideas. You may end up changing your mind again.

Hope this helps.

[Rock31]

So many choices AHHHH!

Well I did go ahead and order the Carib Ecco Gravel. The kid I bought the tank for suggested to start with it since he uses it in three of his tanks. I am going to be buying my first fish from him since he does breed Cichlids.

Now to find some lace or lava rock :)

Thanks again Bristley.

[souly]

Sand is actually easier to clean if you get the right type. You jus tmove the syphoin over the hand and it pick up all the stuff. With Gravel you have dig into etc.

[Rock31]

Looks like I will have some digging to do :)

Thanks again.

Now just need to find some nice rock and I can get started once the gravel comes in.

[kathymac]

A word of caution, sometimes red jewels can be very very agressive. I have breed them and ended up with just two in a 55 gal to save my yellow labs. put my yellow labs in a 55 gal tank and they had lots of babies. My red jewels did fine all by themselves and they had lots of babies too.

[Rock31]

So with the red jewels is it hit or miss? I did read they could be aggresive but in the tank now he has red jewels and electric yellows.

Would I be safer with electric yellows and yellow tail acei?

Thanks for all the help and I know I have a ton of questions but it is alot to take in :)

One last question I think:

EDIT: Found my siphon answer in an older thread, thanks!