55 Gallon Build

[Robmtl]

I am setting up a new 55 gallon for the kids and me. We bought a “kit” was just the easiest and cheapest way to get back into the hobby.

It’s a 55 gallon fluval led kit, it has a Fluval C4 HOB filter but I do have an unused Fluval FX4 in storage (bought it before I lost my last tank). I am just worried the fx4 is too powerful for a 55

I’m using pool filter sand for substrate. It is planted with a few water sprite, anacharis and a have java fern (I think) that got split in two by accident.

I was planning a fishless cycle but the wife and kids had other ideas. So now there are 3 guppies and a platy. No issues with ammonia or anything testing daily......

Here is our “planned” stocking which will take some time to get to.

3 platys
3 guppies
15 cardinal tetras
5 dwarf Cory cats
2 cockatoo apistos(I’ve always had a couple dwarf Cichlids in my community tanks)

I’m open to suggestions with stocking minus the 4 little fish we already have.

 

[kallililly1973]

Not a stocking pro but if your going with dwarf cories I think you could safely up your # of those to 10-15 . They would greatly appreciate a much bigger school in the long run and so will your family their a blast to watch. If the FX4 has adjustable water flow then you could run it on your tank no problem. more filtration the better and it may also allow for a bigger stock of inhabitants. Looking great already good luck with it!!

 

[NavyChief20]

An FX4 is fine for a 55. Vast improvement over a HOB.

 

[Nick72]

Just to offer the opposing view, I'm using a C4 in my 50g.

It's doing a great job.

I did remove all the rubbish Fluval put inside, carbon, two sided filter foam that can't be rinsed, etc..

I cut a square of coarse filter foam that I can wash occasionally to replace the two sided foam. Left out the carbon and filled all the empty space with three media bags of biomedia.

It's been bullet proof.

Edit: only issue I've had is that the tiny adjuster to hold the C4 level (the one that plugs into the underside) can't cope with the weight of my biomedia, so the whole unit trends to full back away from the glass. As mine is only a half inch from the wall I've just wedge a bit of plastic in the gap to hold it in place.

 

[NavyChief20]

Just to offer the opposing view, I'm using a C4 in my 50g.

It's doing a great job.

I did remove all the rubbish Fluval put inside, carbon, two sided filter foam that can't be rinsed, etc..

I cut a square of coarse filter foam that I can wash occasionally to replace the two sided foam. Left out the carbon and filled all the empty space with three media bags of biomedia.

It's been bullet proof.

Edit: only issue I've had is that the tiny adjuster to hold the C4 level (the one that plugs into the underside) can't cope with the weight of my biomedia, so the whole unit trends to full back away from the glass. As mine is only a half inch from the wall I've just wedge a bit of plastic in the gap to hold it in place.

I personally don't like canisters or HOBs, my filters are all sumps. You can modify both canisters and sumps to work better than manufactured

 

[Robmtl]

This will be the first HOB I’ve used in a long time!!! So far so good seems to be doing the job for now. I’ll see how it goes then decide if I bring up the FX4.

Edit: only issue I've had is that the tiny adjuster to hold the C4 level (the one that plugs into the underside) can't cope with the weight of my biomedia, so the whole unit trends to full back away from the glass. As mine is only a half inch from the wall I've just wedge a bit of plastic in the gap to hold it in place.

I also used my own media not a fan of the stuff designed for it, no carbon but filled that chamber with more media bags. Thanks for the tip to wedge I am having the same issues with not being level

 

[gunnergirl]

guppies, guppies, guppies, platys, platy, platys , first there's one then two then 20
they are livebearer fish and love to keep reproducing so just keep an eye on that
I'm a huge fan of canister filters but to each their own the canister filter is way better to use with planted tank then the average HOB filter as I find it circulates better and if you use CO2 gives the least surface agitation
just my personal opinion
also a big fan of the apisto's and have a huge color selection

 

[MountainMan]

Nice looking tank! Glad you're getting back into the hobby. Speaking from beginner's experience, I'd wait until your tank is well established/cycled before adding cardinal tetras. They are super sensitive and get stressed out easily in my limited experience with them. Might I suggest adding some plants and decorations that break up the "horizon line" a bit more to add more depth and texture to your aquarium?

 

[Robmtl]

guppies, guppies, guppies, platys, platy, platys , first there's one then two then 20
they are livebearer fish and love to keep reproducing so just keep an eye on that
I'm a huge fan of canister filters but to each their own the canister filter is way better to use with planted tank then the average HOB filter as I find it circulates better and if you use CO2 gives the least surface agitation
just my personal opinion
also a big fan of the apisto's and have a huge color selection

I know they breed like crazy so keeping all males, done it this way many times before never an issue with them being territorial

I was hoping to not need co2 not too familiar but I could learn I’ve had pretty good luck in the past with root tabs and occasional flourish

I’ve kept many dwarf cichlids in the past find the apisto’s have great personality also and not aggressive so works great in community tank

Nice looking tank! Glad you're getting back into the hobby. Speaking from beginner's experience, I'd wait until your tank is well established/cycled before adding cardinal tetras. They are super sensitive and get stressed out easily in my limited experience with them. Might I suggest adding some plants and decorations that break up the "horizon line" a bit more to add more depth and texture to your aquarium?

Oh for sure I will be adding the tetras towards the end of my stocking to make sure the parameters are extremely stable. I’m going to be adding a few more plants soon jut had a bad experience a while ago with them growing out of control so starting slow see how they grow

Any ideas of an good plants to add that are easy to take of? Hopefully no co2 needed

 

[MountainMan]

I wish I could make suggestions for plants that require no CO², but I've only used artificial plants thus far. Am about to try live plants myself for my next community tank though, so research will be done. Good luck!

 

[Nick72]

I've had most luck with the following:

Egeria Densa

Limnophilia Sessiliflora

Vallisneria

 

[ScareCrowe]

Anubias is supposed to be pretty bullet proof, as well as any kind of java fern.

I have a 20 gallon with a stock led that I grow temple plants & amazon swords pretty well along with anubias & a lace java fern. The temples do get some browning on the lower leaves but they grow great one I've already had to trim once & is about needing it again. The great thing is you can just plant the trimmings & a new plant will grow. Also the amazon swords have done really well, it's putting out huge new leaves every few days. All I do is root tabs & liquid fertilizer once a week.

 

[BaerBonesBarber]

I just got a Fx4 for my 75 gallon and the current was a bit much for my 4" Jardini, (not sure how the smaller fish you mentioned stocking would be too stoked unless you are going to have plenty of cover, but even then it may be too much current in the 55 since its more narrow in footprint) so I made a return bar to spread out outflow with PVC.
removed
I got some 1" black coming in the mail and I am going to re-do it to make it more aesthetically pleasing since the backdrop is black. I also want to add more holes to the front (the back has a lot more cause I didn't want to risk over pressure on my lines and now the plecos are having trouble stayinh on the back wall under it etc

 

[Morpheus1967]

I have two Cascade 1500's on a 75 gallon and had the same issue with too much water flow. I simply drilled the holes larger on the spray bar, and doubled the amount of holes there were by drilling in between each existing hole. Works like a charm now. Great surface agitation, no tsunami.

 

[sadcanine]

I agree with the post by kallililly1973, dwarf cories love the larger schools.

 

[Robmtl]

I agree with the post by kallililly1973, dwarf cories love the larger schools.

100% I’ll get a larger school I was told 4-5 were enough, I should have plenty of space in the tank.

 

[Robmtl]

Here’s an update:

Added 2 small banana plants I was going to get some anubias but they were sold out and love the look of the banana plants and they seem to be compatible with my setup.

Got 4 rosy tetras

1 guppy had a fin injury when I got it, didn’t seem to be improving was exchanged at the lfs they didn’t have any nice guppies so I got another rosy tetra and a small refund. So now 5 total, I am adding slowly planning to have a school of 10-15 at least

It actually seems one of the other guppies is a little bit of a bully I’m going to switch around the tank either tomorrow or next day hopefully that’ll help.

All parameters are great ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 5-10ppm ph about 7

Now I am redoing the stocking list, very happy the kids like the rosy tetras more then the cardinals.

Here is what I’m thinking:

3 platys
5-6 guppies (going to get some females to hopefully stop bullying)
10-15 rosy tetras
8-10 dwarf Cory cats
2 + Bolivian Rams, cockatoo apistos, other dwarf cichlid

And maybe some ghost shrimp or once tank is mature bamboo shrimp but that’s not for a while

 

[gunnergirl]

Co2 is required to photosynthesize plants to grow
This can be achieved by water surface aggitation
Doing a water change will add co2 to your tank not in high dosage as infusing it into the tank but it does provide co2 to your water
When infusing into the water you don't want surface agitation as that will cause the co2 to escape
Plants can grow in aquariums without co2 as well
it can deter the speed of growth or the fullness of growth with out it but it is achievable
You would be fine to use excel in the specified dosage no more or you will kill ur fish
But excel is not CO2
Root tabs will help with your success

 

[gunnergirl]

One other quick point use a bubbler at night if ur tank is planted as your fish will start to become starved of oxygen the plants will consume the o2 they produce especially if you plan on stocking a medium amount of fish

 

[Robmtl]

One other quick point use a bubbler at night if ur tank is planted as your fish will start to become starved of oxygen the plants will consume the o2 they produce especially if you plan on stocking a medium amount of fish

Thanks for the advice but I disagree with a couple things. I’ve had planted aquariums for about a decade before leaving the hobby briefly. I am not planning on adding co2 at the moment I do use root tabs and flourish. I chose my plants so far specifically to avoid the need for co2

As for the plants using all the o2 they produce doesn’t make sense, I could be wrong.

 

[nedpatrick]

Thanks for the advice but I disagree with a couple things. I’ve had planted aquariums for about a decade before leaving the hobby briefly. I am not planning on adding co2 at the moment I do use root tabs and flourish. I chose my plants so far specifically to avoid the need for co2

As for the plants using all the o2 they produce doesn’t make sense, I could be wrong.

The plants can only perform photosynthesis when light is present which does produce o2 however at night when the lights are off at night no photosynthesis will occur but cellular respiration will which uses oxygen as a reactant therefore using it up in the aquarium. But I can’t imagine that you’d ever have an issue with not enough 02 in the tank if there’s at least a little bit of agitation.

 

[Robmtl]

The plants can only perform photosynthesis when light is present which does produce o2 however at night when the lights are off at night no photosynthesis will occur but cellular respiration will which uses oxygen as a reactant therefore using it up in the aquarium. But I can’t imagine that you’d ever have an issue with not enough 02 in the tank if there’s at least a little bit of agitation.

Exactly, some will be used while the lights are off, however the amount should not cause any issue unless there is no light for an extended period, I figure weeks with normal filter agitation.
Ah memories of biology class

 

[Robmtl]

Here is the updated aquascaping



Think I’m done moving things around for a while

 

[Robmtl]

Today 5 more rosy tetras were added plus a few ghost shrimp.

Had an issue with the guppies so now down to 1. (1 exchanged in store, 1 bullied to death)

Current stock is

1 platy
1 guppy
10 rosy tetras
Ghost Shrimp

I’m adding stock slowly to avoid any issues, I’m also still trying to finalize the stocking plan. The kids not make that easy. No matter what I make sure everything is compatible in theory we all know nothing is guaranteed

 

[Robmtl]

So everything has been stable and actually doing great

Temp stable at 75.4f
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5 max

Today took a little trip to a lfs and well May have bought some more stock and changed around the decor a bit

8 KuhlI Loaches (wanted 10+ but only had 8)
3 cockatoo Apistogramma

I’ll get better pics once they all settled

 

[Pescado_Verde]

Well great, now you've got me interested in those Cockatoo Apistos! I'm not sure if I can find any locally but I think I could probably house 3 or so with no issues in my 55 with the stocking that I currently have.

Thanks for posting and please keep on with the updates!

 

[Fanatic]

Wow, the fish look great, especially those kuhlis!

 

[Robmtl]

Wow, the fish look great, especially those kuhlis!

Thanks, one died the first night. I expected it was acting really weird. Everyone else doing well they seem to be getting comfortable. I seem to be seeing them today even during the day. Waiting for my lfs to get more now 7 really want another 3-5.

Well great, now you've got me interested in those Cockatoo Apistos! I'm not sure if I can find any locally but I think I could probably house 3 or so with no issues in my 55 with the stocking that I currently have.

Thanks for posting and please keep on with the updates!

What is your stocking in your 55?

I am really enjoying the cockatoos, they have amazing personalities. I always wanted but never found them before. I added the caves and moved stuff around when they were added. I also seemed to have lucked out and have the 1 male and 2 females each has their own territory now to see if they breed.

Actually wondering but doubtful there already might be eggs . The male is sticking very close or in one cave all day

Here is the new look and couple of Kuhlis relaxing

 

[Pescado_Verde]

What is your stocking in your 55?

I am really enjoying the cockatoos, they have amazing personalities. I always wanted but never found them before. I added the caves and moved stuff around when they were added. I also seemed to have lucked out and have the 1 male and 2 females each has their own territory now to see if they breed.

Actually wondering but doubtful there already might be eggs . The male is sticking very close or in one cave all day

My tank is a typical beginners mixed community, lightly planted but a good bit of driftwood. Platy, Molly, Rasboras, Cory cats, a few Gourami, Small furcata Rainbowfish. I think that's it, lol. I have one end that is sort of an open gravel area that I could maybe set up some caves inbut that's also the end that I fill on during water changes. I left it "undeveloped" just for that reason - so that when I turn on the water it doesn't tear things up. I'd have to reconsider my water change routine but I might still consider the Cockatoos. They're really striking, at least the males are.

 

[Robmtl]

My tank is a typical beginners mixed community, lightly planted but a good bit of driftwood. Platy, Molly, Rasboras, Cory cats, a few Gourami, Small furcata Rainbowfish. I think that's it, lol. I have one end that is sort of an open gravel area that I could maybe set up some caves inbut that's also the end that I fill on during water changes. I left it "undeveloped" just for that reason - so that when I turn on the water it doesn't tear things up. I'd have to reconsider my water change routine but I might still consider the Cockatoos. They're really striking, at least the males are.

That sounds like a nice setup. If you move some of the driftwood to make some hiding spots that works well. Plus one of those coconut or cichlid cave on the “undeveloped” area would work well plus as long as no eggs or fry in the cave they are perfect targets during water changes. I use them for that since I’m using sand. Only thing I’d make sure the caves/hiding spots need to be in different areas of the tank and openings never facing each other. This will allow each to have their own territory.

These are my first group of cockatoos but have experience with many other type of dwarf cichlids always have a few in my community tanks. I’ve found without the female(s) the males do not colour up as much.

 

[Pescado_Verde]

That sounds like a nice setup. If you move some of the driftwood to make some hiding spots that works well. Plus one of those coconut or cichlid cave on the “undeveloped” area would work well plus as long as no eggs or fry in the cave they are perfect targets during water changes. I use them for that since I’m using sand. Only thing I’d make sure the caves/hiding spots need to be in different areas of the tank and openings never facing each other. This will allow each to have their own territory.

These are my first group of cockatoos but have experience with many other type of dwarf cichlids always have a few in my community tanks. I’ve found without the female(s) the males do not colour up as much.

Thanks for the informative reply! Much appreciated. I have room on the other end of the tank for another cave so maybe it is doable as is. My first concern was as you mentioned, having eggs in one of the caves and dumping a bunch of water on it every week. I've got a flat rock that I put on the small gravel already to give the stream of water a place to land without tearing stuff up. I guess I could find a way to put that flat rock on top of the cave during water changes. Hmm. Well, I'll have to keep those fish in mind so if I do see some I can have an idea of how to take care of them if the opportunity should happen.

 

[Robmtl]

Thanks for the informative reply! Much appreciated. I have room on the other end of the tank for another cave so maybe it is doable as is. My first concern was as you mentioned, having eggs in one of the caves and dumping a bunch of water on it every week. I've got a flat rock that I put on the small gravel already to give the stream of water a place to land without tearing stuff up. I guess I could find a way to put that flat rock on top of the cave during water changes. Hmm. Well, I'll have to keep those fish in mind so if I do see some I can have an idea of how to take care of them if the opportunity should happen.

I should warn you also that they are FRAGILE!!! one died on me last night. No clue why all water parameters are perfect..... I was told apistos do that sometimes

 

[Pescado_Verde]

I should warn you also that they are FRAGILE!!! one died on me last night. No clue why all water parameters are perfect..... I was told apistos do that sometimes

Well that's a bummer to hear. I did read a little bit on them and got the impression that they were very adaptable to a wide range of temperatures and pH but don't recall anyone mention them being fragile fish. Is it something to do with line breeding perhaps?

 

[Robmtl]

Thanks that’s life 5+ years ago they were a totally different story. From what I’ve been told/found out is due to the popularity of dwarf cichlids and the amount of inbreeding/selective breeding in general they are not as healthy as they used to be. Also I realized today one of the females seems to actually be a male, once the other male was gone it coloured up like crazy and seems to be developing a much more pronounced Lyre tails. Hopefully this was just a freak accident and the other 2 will be fine

 

[Dena]

I am setting up a new 55 gallon for the kids and me. We bought a “kit” was just the easiest and cheapest way to get back into the hobby.

It’s a 55 gallon fluval led kit, it has a Fluval C4 HOB filter but I do have an unused Fluval FX4 in storage (bought it before I lost my last tank). I am just worried the fx4 is too powerful for a 55

I’m using pool filter sand for substrate. It is planted with a few water sprite, anacharis and a have java fern (I think) that got split in two by accident.

I was planning a fishless cycle but the wife and kids had other ideas. So now there are 3 guppies and a platy. No issues with ammonia or anything testing daily......

Here is our “planned” stocking which will take some time to get to.

3 platys
3 guppies
15 cardinal tetras
5 dwarf Cory cats
2 cockatoo apistos(I’ve always had a couple dwarf Cichlids in my community tanks)

I’m open to suggestions with stocking minus the 4 little fish we already have.

View attachment 537172

Where did you find your substrate? I know you said it’s pool filter sand but I haven’t seen this color anywhere that I have looked.

 

[Dena]

I am setting up a new 55 gallon for the kids and me. We bought a “kit” was just the easiest and cheapest way to get back into the hobby.

It’s a 55 gallon fluval led kit, it has a Fluval C4 HOB filter but I do have an unused Fluval FX4 in storage (bought it before I lost my last tank). I am just worried the fx4 is too powerful for a 55

I’m using pool filter sand for substrate. It is planted with a few water sprite, anacharis and a have java fern (I think) that got split in two by accident.

I was planning a fishless cycle but the wife and kids had other ideas. So now there are 3 guppies and a platy. No issues with ammonia or anything testing daily......

Here is our “planned” stocking which will take some time to get to.

3 platys
3 guppies
15 cardinal tetras
5 dwarf Cory cats
2 cockatoo apistos(I’ve always had a couple dwarf Cichlids in my community tanks)

I’m open to suggestions with stocking minus the 4 little fish we already have.

View attachment 537172

Where did you find your substrate? I know you said it’s pool filter sand but I haven’t seen this color anywhere that I have looked. It looks great!

Edit: after looking at some of your other photos, I am thinking it is just the natural sand color? Initially I thought it was a black/grey mix.

 

[Robmtl]

Where did you find your substrate? I know you said it’s pool filter sand but I haven’t seen this color anywhere that I have looked. It looks great!

Edit: after looking at some of your other photos, I am thinking it is just the natural sand color? Initially I thought it was a black/grey mix.

Exactly it is mainly greys and blacks but it’s a natural quartz type sand. Got it at a pool supply store near me.

 

[Robmtl]

I had an interesting situation today. I had questioned the accuracy of my API master kit. I called the company they took the lot numbers and said they will check. (They keep some of every batch). They also sent me a new kit for free. Well double checked kit vs kit and well seems my ammonia was quite high, .5ppm (new kit) vs 0 (old kit). This could explain a lot of the issues I had. Seems the nitrite is the same and the nitrate is slightly higher with the new kit.

So I was sure I was cycled and all was good but the old kit was wrong. Now I will need to be doing daily water changes I guess since I’m quite stocked.

 

[Robmtl]

I’ve had quite a crash in the tank. It all started with the defective master kit and adding a few mts snails I got off of Kijiji. I did not know the person had tried to kill them off with chemicals, they all died in the sand and caused a huge ammonia spike.

So my stock is down to:
3 honey gourami
1 cockatoo apisto
10 rosy tetras
5(I think) kuhlI loaches
1 platy

And I think I am going to loose a few more. I am doing daily PWCs and dosing with prime. I have not had my ammonia over 0.25ppm but trying to get it back to 0 unsuccessfully.

 

[Pescado_Verde]

I’ve had quite a crash in the tank. It all started with the defective master kit and adding a few mts snails I got off of Kijiji. I did not know the person had tried to kill them off with chemicals, they all died in the sand and caused a huge ammonia spike.

So my stock is down to:
3 honey gourami
1 cockatoo apisto
10 rosy tetras
5(I think) kuhlI loaches
1 platy

And I think I am going to loose a few more. I am doing daily PWCs and dosing with prime. I have not had my ammonia over 0.25ppm but trying to get it back to 0 unsuccessfully.

Sorry to hear about the bad snails. The ammonia will go down eventually, it's just going to be a matter of time.

 

[Robmtl]

Sorry to hear about the bad snails. The ammonia will go down eventually, it's just going to be a matter of time.

Thanks just hard watching everything die off. Just scooped out another dead loach since my last post

 

[Robmtl]

It’s been a while since I posted an update.
It has been a comedy of errors (not a funny one). I spoke with the person who gave me the snails she admitted she tried to poison them not only with aquarium chemicals but actually household cleaners and other stuff. So not only did they die and decomposed causing ammonia but also leached some small amounts of other stuff into the tank. This not only killed off most of the fish but also damaged all the plants.
I also was unhappy with the HOB filter that came with so I bought a canister filter (Fluval 407). This way I’ll be over-filtered as I’m accustomed to. I finally installed it earlier today I’ll run the HOB also for the next little while just to make sure everything is well seeded with BB.

The Anacharis all died off, the java fern seems to be s the same not growing as fast as I’d expect but has a bunch of spores /new baby ferns attached the the leaves. I’ll let them mature before replanting them. Banana plants are growing slowly but surely.
The water wisteria has been the most interesting it grew really tall and spread along the substrate but all the lower leaves on the stem died and rotted off. I did quite a bit of trimming and replanting with quite a bit of luck. The best were the leafless stems that quickly sprouted what’s nuts is the different shapes of leaves all from the same original plant.

My lfs felt bad they know I’ve been keeping tanks for a long time and they gave me a clown pleco to help in my rebuilding.

So my current stock or I should say what’s left:
8 rosy tetras
1 kuhlI loach
1 clown pleco. (Recent gift).

Here is what it looks like now

 

[Robmtl]

I realized it’s been months since I’ve updated this thread. I almost gave up on the tank and the hobby in general, I felt totally defeated. By July there were only 3 rosy tetras left, I was going to rehome them and sell the entire aquarium setup. Luckily I didn’t I decided to give it one more shot.

We placed the 3 tetras in a temporary home (5 gallon bucket) for a day, removed all the water, cleaned the sand which honestly stank worst then words can describe. Trimmed the plants, cleaned all the decorations then rebuilt everything, but didn’t touch the filters to maintain the BB.

Within a day or so of returning the rosy tetras to the now cleaned tank their personality totally changed. It was amazing they were swimming all over eating.... since then I’ve slowly restocked and knock on wood everything is working out extremely well.

Current stock is:

7 rosy tetras
8 cardinal tetras
4 platys
2 cockatoo apistos
5 juliI corys
8 Amano shrimp
10 red cherry shrimp
6 ramshorn snail (blue and pink)
Some mts for sand


My parameters are textbook

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate >5

I am not sure what else I’m going to add possibly bring up the numbers of the current livestock or another pair of dwarf cichlids. For now I’m happy just maintaining it and working on the plants.

 

[Robmtl]

Here is what it looks like after some aquascaping. I took out the arch thing with the java fern and sectioned it off. Some for me and some for my sons tank. His build thread is getting a lot of more love then mine, he’s making fun of me. I love it a 6 year old kid loving the hobby and actually taking it serious.

I also added another piece of driftwood, and the stock I rescued from a bad situation.