set up my 55 gal - criticism wanted!

Quantum

if you like sand, get the quartz (cyrstalline silica) sand, like the Sakrete I linked to, nothing will be cheaper and it will not alter the water chemistry in any way

just stay away from the 'silica free' sand that is white in color as it is likely contains CaCO3, which will affect water chemistry

ladayen

With sand or gravel I would recommend you wash it first before doing anything with your tanks. Depending on what type you get some can be quite dirty and will take a bit to get clean.

Byron

I can't find fine gravel anywhere near me that is inexpensive; you will have to buy gravel from the fish store or online, and that is not inexpensive.

Sand is very cheap; I use Quikrete Play Sand from Home Depot/Lowe's at CDN $7 a 50 pound bag, and two of these did my 5-foot 115g tank. One bag has been sufficient for my 29g, 20g and 33g.

If you have substrate fish, like corys or loaches planned, definitely sand. It is a lot of work to change a substrate and you want it correct the first time.

No. The 10g initially is all water from the 55g. When you have the sand (or gravel) washed and in the 55g, then do a 50% water change on the 10g. This is aimed at getting them closer to the tap water that will be in the 55g. Then half fill the 55g, dechlorinate, add wood, plants. If everything is OK, fill the 55g, all tap water, dechlorinated. I sometimes drain the half filled 55g after planting if it has really clouded up, as it can, and then fill the entire tank and dechlorinate at the start. When the 55g is filled, move the filter and heaters back and make sure everything is working. Do another 50% water change on the 10g to again get them closer to the fresh water. Make sure the pH in the 55g is reasonably close (a few decimal points is OK) and it should be just a tad warmer than the 10g (you can get this when you fill it). Then net over the fish.

slojko

ok thank you, i will let you know how it goes on teusday or Wednesday.

should i still be doing daily 50% water changes?

my substrate is getting a brown tint, is that just poop?

Byron

Water changes should not be needed once the new substrate is in and the plants are planted.

Brown tint is most likely algae or perhaps organics.

slojko

so i should do the daily water changes up until i change the substrate?

is the brown algae bad?

the brown algae started growing on the sides of my tank as well

should i just clean it off? or add more prime?

slojko

just gonna do a 50% water change and add prime

Byron

If ammonia or nitrite are still reading above zero, yes, do alternate day water changes using Prime.

A photo would hlep, but in new tanks diatoms--which many call brown algae although technically it is not an algae at all--is common. Keep it off live plants but otherwise doesn't matter. If it is appearing on the glass as well as other places, it is likely diatoms.

slojko

i have a plexiglass tank,
i just did a water change and scooped out the sand with the brown algea growing on it then tested the water after.
the ammonia is going down, its at a really low .25 but the nitrite and nitrate haven't changed. PH still at 7.5


EDIT: photo coming after dinner

slojko

after i scrubbed the front and scooped it out, you cant really notice but here is a vid with my new camera

https://vimeo.com/41744096