New tank to set up

[Andrew McFadden]

Home depot.com says it is in stock so that's where I am going tomorrow!

Ya they always seem to have it lol. If your going with the play sand the bag looks nothing like the one online just so you know. When I bought it I was totally confused. The other link I posted I think it was Mogurako that said it washes out better and doesn't have as much fine particles in it. But I don't know about that. I'm sure he wouldn't recommend something that can't be used. Good luck

 

[KateWantsAngels]

Fantastic. I'm so excited to get started.

 

[severum mama]

I typically use pool filter sand as my inert substrate of choice for fish like angels, where I would not need to increase Ph/hardness (in that situation I would use aragonite sand or a mix of aragonite/pfs). It has larger and heavier grains than play sand and thus, doesn't get sucked into the filter. Caveat-- I live in the South and pool supply stores are a dime a dozen here. I'm guessing not so much in the Buffalo area! If you happen to run across pfs, it's very cheap compared to aquarium substrates. I pay about ten bucks for a fifty pound bag.

If it helps, I used 3x fifty pound bags to put about a 3 inch layer of sand into both my 120s. I'd shoot for 2 bags for a 75, so probably 1-2 bags for a 55 just depending on how deep you want the sand.

 

[KateWantsAngels]

Great thanks I was just looking at my tank going hmm how much am I going to need.

 

[severum mama]

I'd start there and see how much it takes to get your substrate to where you want. Looking back on it, I might have used 4 bags for each 120 gal, but it might have been only 3.... lol, it has been a while.

 

[KateWantsAngels]

Got my sand!

 

[KateWantsAngels]

I have another question for you guys. I have heard a few different opinions on adding air bubble things to tanks it increase air in water. Will I need this and if so how do I determine how many bubbles?

 

[Wroberson]

Claude Monet has many paintings that would do well as a background.

As for plants, broad leaf plants will give the fish a safe place to lay eggs, and they are found of floating plants too.