Dwarfpufferfish's 55 journal (updated 1-10)

[Dwarfpufferfish]

Okay so I acquired what I believe to be a 55gallon tank from a friend. Here is what it looks like:



Stats:
Length: 48"
Height: 18"
Depth: 18"

The plan:

I plan on turning this into a low-tech, low-cost, low-light planted tank. I am looking at a few options for lighting and filtration. I am going to go with eco complete as my substrate. Here is the planned purchases in order, please let me know if I am missing something!

1. Fluval 204 $65.00 + Shipping
2. 80lbs of eco complete $80.00 + shipping
3. Coralife Aqualite single 130 watt 120.00+ shipping
4. Automatic CO2 (Maybe)

I am going to pull the UGF first and add the eco right away. Once all that settles and I can afford the lights I will buy them! Any thing missing? Will I need CO2 with under 3.0?

Than I would like to plant it well. what are some good background plants for this set up? I have a ton of Java ferns that will populate the wood!

Any and all suggestions and comments welcome!

[pufferfreak]

Yes I believe you will need CO2, you can go buy a Semi Auto pressureized CO2 system, I think in a nother thread you asked what the size of this tank was, I gave you 68 gallons, I thought it was a rectangle tank, my bad yes that tank is a 55 gallon. Anyways nice tank hope it looks good.

[Dwarfpufferfish]

Puffer you did give me that 68 with it being rectangular, and I just figured it to be around 55 with the corners on the front! Thanks for you help!

[pufferfreak]

Yes sorry about that. I saw on a site that had a flat back hex with those dimmesions and it said 55 gallon....Cool tank btw

[badmatt]

uh that tank 75 gallons........ not 55

55 is 48x13x21

[Dwarfpufferfish]

Okay, my calculations still say 55 gallons. Here are the exact messurements. You be the judge!

[fishyboy]

it's a 55....

[FloridaFishGuy]

Its gonna look good Dwarfpufferfish. BTW if you are thinking about adding Discus I could sell you some of the ones I have now for pretty cheap or I could sell you some later when I get different strains. Let me know becuase your more than welcome to come over and check them out.

[Dwarfpufferfish]

I might take you up on that offer. It will be a while before the tank is ready for that type of fish though. I have just ordered the substrate (Eco) and the filter (eheim 2224). I am going to get a auto co2 system and a nice lighting set up then I may be ready for some NICE fish!

[Urkevitz]

That is a sweet tank, Pm me when you need some plants.

[FloridaFishGuy]

Well I will sell you them for $20-25 (2-3") each which is at cost depending on the strain they are. Also there is a guy down by the airport that I know that has LOTS of plants to choose from and the prices are very resonable.

[corigan]

Originally Posted by FloridaFishGuy

Well I will sell you them for $20-25 (2-3") each which is at cost depending on the strain they are. Also there is a guy down by the airport that I know that has LOTS of plants to choose from and the prices are very resonable.

That's a good deal. Wish I was in florida and had a big tank to house some in..

Matt

[Dwarfpufferfish]

Urk.
Thanks I will keep that in mind. Sadly the last plants you sent to me did not survive my hard water ... But I am sure you have some that will! I dont know what type of plants I want yet, but anything that can survive in 2-2.5 wpg is the goal. Let me know what type of stem plants you have that can take hard water and live in 2.5 WPG!

[FloridaFishGuy]

If you want to check out what the guy down by the airport has you can email him at Zenten66@aol.com or go on aquabid and search for the seller Zenman. Hes has a TON of plants and you can just go to his house and check them out.

[Dwarfpufferfish]

Okay, after 7 days of hanging out with Hurricane Frances, I came home to find my 40#s of Eco and my Eheim 2224. I have installed them and now I am looking for a good automatic CO2 system for around 200-300.... who has a sugestion?