my new 55 Gallon

0001

so i just started a 55 gallon a week ago, i'm still waiting for my filter setup and a few other things, i bought a 48inch lowes hardware light 2x32watt and i was wondering if this is enough for a planted tank, the blubs i bought are 6500k 2700 lumens, i'm in the process of building a top for the tank thats why the light is just sitting on the top of the tank

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spike0544

That is the same lighting I have on my 55 and it is working quite well. You should put a background on the tank, it will make your plants and fish stand out much better, while hiding your equipment.

0001

yeah i had that on the list of things i needed to get done, i gotta get some more plants here this week but over all i am happy with the way it looks at the moment, it will look better when my plants grow out alot more though for sure

Byron

That's a good start; light is fine. When you have more plants, monitor the algae carefully and adjust the light period accordingly. It sometimes takes some experimenting to find the point at whch the light will balance the nutrients for the plants without causing algae increases.

Byron.

0001

i had some algae issues yesterday so i decided to transfer my pleco over, and i woke up this morning and it was all gone, and every thing is very clean now haha, my water is looking pretty good, its cloudy though and i dont know whats causing it, and i have like a film on the top of the water, that i never seen in my 20g or 10g any ideas?

Byron

Cloudiness is normal and expected in new tanks. It can be from the substrate, or a bacterial bloom since the full bacteria and biological balance has not yet become settled. In both cases, it will dissipate naturally over a few days or a few weeks.

The surface film is likely protein; not problematical unless it becomes thick. Some surface movement via the filter flow will help, and if it is noticeable you can siphon if off during the water change. I find it occurs in some tanks and not in others, due to the different biological system.


Byron.

0001

yeah i dont have alot of movement in the tank, flow wise i am stuck using my whisper 30 filter till i get paid this thursday, then i'm going to a canister filter,

a few more questions, should i buy me a cheap power head and sponge filter? i was doing some reading on those and i think it might help with my circulation, but it also said you dont need one in a planted tank, so i'm kinda torn there, also what is a good can filter thats around 100$ range?

Boredomb

I have a Eheim 2213 for my 55 gallon tank. It works great! I got mine from fosters&Smith.com for $89 and that was with shipping. It might be a little more now I don't know. I got mine on sale.

Byron

There are many filters that will do the job adequately, and prices as Boredomb mentioned vary with sources, sale, etc. Something as simple as a dual Elite sponge filter with an airpump can work, if you intend plants. I wouldn't bother with a powerhead; I believe some sponge filters do not perform well with them, I know the new Hydro series is being promoted as better with powerheads. But I am not one that likes that much movement anyway. Perhaps one of those internal filters like Fluval U series; considerably less expensive and again with live plants will do the job adequately.

Movement of the surface doesn't need to be much. You don;t want to be driving CO2 off faster, which is what surface disturbance will do. Carbon is the nutrient needed most and usually in the least supply, so one tries to keep the CO2 in the tank for the plants.