Setting up new tank

Rushfloydfan

Hello everyone,

I've decided that I wanted a new tank. Currently I have my 55G filled with tiger barbs, tin foil barb, Rainbow shark, a plecto, a snail, and two fiddler crabs. But I have another smaller tank (25g) that I wanted to use. SO far all I have is the tank and a heater. What else should I get? I was wanting to put chichlids or something similar inside.

Calmwaters

You will need gravel, filter, and a hood of course. If you can give us your ph and hardness we could help with what cichlids may work with your tank I am quessing with it being 25 gallons dwarf types of Cichlids will be better as long as your water suits them.

Rushfloydfan

any special kind of gravel you would recommend?

Calmwaters

Really for gravel just what ever you like to look at works I like small black gravel if your going do do plants small round gravel works good.

Rushfloydfan

yeah I was looking at plants to cycle with. Keep in mind this tank is nowhere near being ready yet. so no water tests just yet

Calmwaters

If your going to do plants get small round gravel or you could also try one of the special gravels for plants like Seachem Flourite or Caribsea Eco-Complete. If you are doing low tech then some plants you might want to look into are Java Fern, Java Moss, Anubias, Anacharis, Duckweed, Brazilian Pennywort, Cryptocoryne Plants. There is a really good seller that I have bought plants from on Aquabid he has awesome plants and they are cheaper than most places his name is mikeswetpets if you are interested in ordering them instead of getting them at a LFS.

Byron

We need to know your water parameters as Amanda initially asked. This may affect the substrate choice as well as the fish species. For instance, if you have hard water with a high pH and decide on rift lake cichlids (like shellies or something), a calcareous substrate like crushed coral sand woudl be ideal. Wheereas for medium hard to soft water, with maybe South American dwaft cichlids, the black or dark natural sand or gravel substrate with plants would be better.

The choice of a filter can also depend upon intended fish. Some don't appreciate currents, some may need them. The water parameters is a good place to start all this.

Byron.