New 55 gal tank

[Richardwm]

Hopefully tomorrow I will be buying my 55 gal tank. I want to go planted and I was thinking of dirting the tank. The light source I will be starting with are two 24 watt t5 ho fluorescent one will be 10000k the other will be a red blue supplement spectrum light. for now I will be running a fluval c3 filter later on I will add a fx5 canister filter. I currently co2 inject so there is no problem there I currently have a swordtail and a rainbow shark I will be transferring from my 25 gal planted. If anyone has suggestions on fish plants lighting filter sect the whole 9 yards it will be appreciated for the fact I have never ventured bigger then a 25 gal.

 

[Rivercats]

An FX5 is kind of overkill on a 55. I've used them on my 220g. I actually use a Fluval 406 Canister on each of my 55g tanks. I have that on one end of the tank and usually have a HOB filter on the other end or a small powerhead at the other end to achieve good flow throughout the tank.

On the one 55g tank I have an AquaticLife T5HO 2 bulb fixture with one Geisemann 6000K Midday bulb and one Geisemann AquaFlora bulb. I can grow just about any plant and achieve very good color on non-green plants. The only thing is won't grow is high light carpeting plants.

 

[Richardwm]

That's sounds like a solid setup and a little cheaper to tanks for the tip

 

[Richardwm]

An FX5 is kind of overkill on a 55. I've used them on my 220g. I actually use a Fluval 406 Canister on each of my 55g tanks. I have that on one end of the tank and usually have a HOB filter on the other end or a small powerhead at the other end to achieve good flow throughout the tank. On the one 55g tank I have an AquaticLife T5HO 2 bulb fixture with one Geisemann 6000K Midday bulb and one Geisemann AquaFlora bulb. I can grow just about any plant and achieve very good color on non-green plants. The only thing is won't grow is high light carpeting plants.

what kind of media do you use in the hob and canister I was told to use the hob to the fullest and stuff the canister with mechanical filter media what are your thoughs.

 

[Rivercats]

I use 100% polyfill to stuff in the HOB and pretty much use it as a mechanical filter where I can pull the dirty polyfill out at the weekly WC and add new in. Then since my Fluval 406 has 4 baskets to hold media I leave the pre-sponge in the bottom one, then add 100% polyfill in the next basket, Polyfill or Purgen in the 3rd basket, and bio-media in the 4th basket. I clean my canisters every 4 weeks. Everyone has their own ideas as to what they want or use in their filters.

 

[Richardwm]

Sounds good I'll have to look into it