Freshwater

[miked78231]

im turning my 55 into a freshwater tank for now and i was just wondering if any of you could help me get started? i only have a few questions. also what a good site to check out freshwater tanks?

[loans_n_fishes]

hmmm..not sure about the web site, but I can help you get started.

On my tank(s): stock lights, biowheel filter, heater, thermometer, amquel plus for water conditioner (have used tap water for years with no problems), "flora base" for substrate (looks like granular soil).

I highly recommend setting up the tank, treating the water and adding "biospira" to jump start the bacteria. You can put fish in almost immediately when you use it. If you don't put fish in immediately, feed the tank to keep the bacteria alive until you do add them.

I also strongly urge you to buy live plants. They really help keep the tank balanced. The ones I like are Java Fern, Annubius, water sprite, wisteria. You can also use cuttings of household ivy...just make sure it has never had pesticides on it and wash it well before putting it in.

Hope that helps. 8)

[NewB]

aquariumadvice.com is good site. Plenty of friendly and helpful peopple there.

They have Freshwater and Salwater forums and some good info on planted tanks. I am thinking of turning the 55 I have into a planted tank.

[Flobex]

depends on what you want, you could do an african cichlid tank, with yellow labs,or tangynnika cichlids... but whatever you do, i reccomend usng a canister filter, especiallly if you go all out planted with co2, because a HOB filteer creates to much suface agitation for co2, and it causes the co2 to disipate, and a HOB cannnot go low enough in the tank to get good filtration. where a canister is better filtration, it gets deeper in the tank, and the return can be put far enough below the waters surface, to keep co2.

people will suggest doing a planted tank, but i reccomend, unless you wannt to go all out with upgraded lightinng, and co2, its a waste of monney... at least upgrade the lights... and use some eco-complete substrate... very nice for plants...

also remember, lightingn for freswater is alot different :P you only need about 1-3 max watts if you use co2, otherwise you willl have massive algae.

just google freshwater aquarium, and finnd what you like, then tell us what you woulld like to keep in the tank, and we can futheur help you.

this (www.petfish.net) site is awesome, and they have a very nice, helpful forum.