Star Wars Build

So how should I go with when to buy the fish(obviously after it's cycled) and how to add them in?
I only ask bc if I would order fish online, I would only want to pay for shipping once but don't think that much of a bioload would be able to handle the tank.
Also, what should my back up fish be for the green neon tetras and how many? I only ask bc they aren't very common and are hard to find.
Thanks and may the force be with you!

 

Update!

So I washed all the sand! I added in a rock that I boiled and plan on adding in two more rocks after I boil them!
Question is I bought this nice piece of driftwood and don't know if it will match with my tatooine theme? If not , I'll gladly add it to my 55!
55 gallon filter will go to 20 for time now, while I order a aqueon 30 and then put it on 55 to gain BB. I will also order the USA Current LED light with lightning effect and etc !
I have a really older heater from 5 yrs ago from old setup but don't know if it'll work. I'm gonna try to use it and see if it works.
Background is not done yet as I went to AC Moore and was disappointed. I will probably leave bare for now until later! (Like my 55)
The plants going in the pit might just be a java fern bundle from my lfs who sell them for like $3! I'll probably tie it to a flat rind rock and put that in center of pit!
Thanks for the help so far and hope y'all will help me in the future!



Also, saw these beauts at petsmart but don't know if they are heathy! Let me know if they are!

 

Update!

So I washed all the sand! I added in a rock that I boiled and plan on adding in two more rocks after I boil them!
Question is I bought this nice piece of driftwood and don't know if it will match with my tatooine theme? If not , I'll gladly add it to my 55!
55 gallon filter will go to 20 for time now, while I order a aqueon 30 and then put it on 55 to gain BB. I will also order the USA Current LED light with lightning effect and etc !
I have a really older heater from 5 yrs ago from old setup but don't know if it'll work. I'm gonna try to use it and see if it works.
Background is not done yet as I went to AC Moore and was disappointed. I will probably leave bare for now until later! (Like my 55)
The plants going in the pit might just be a java fern bundle from my lfs who sell them for like $3! I'll probably tie it to a flat rind rock and put that in center of pit!
Thanks for the help so far and hope y'all will help me in the future!
View attachment 360055View attachment 360056
Also, saw these beauts at petsmart but don't know if they are heathy! Let me know if they are!
View attachment 360057View attachment 360058View attachment 360059

GBRs look pretty good for PetSmart fish.

 

GBRs look pretty good for PetSmart fish.

Yeah that's what I thought! I went to petshmo too and they looked HORRIBLE! Like al the fish were breathing fast and Latin on bottom! Also, prices were jacked at both places! So glad I have my lfs where I got most of my fish from for my 55! They have healthy fish and decent prices! I wish I could get the GBRs right away but then they would die right away since they need well established tank!

When the time is right, would 3 rams work if there are only 3? Or do I have to get 2? I just want to make sure I have a couple bc knowing my luck, it would be 2 guys in the tank

 

Yeah that's what I thought! I went to petshmo too and they looked HORRIBLE! Like al the fish were breathing fast and Latin on bottom! Also, prices were jacked at both places! So glad I have my lfs where I got most of my fish from for my 55! They have healthy fish and decent prices! I wish I could get the GBRs right away but then they would die right away since they need well established tank!

When the time is right, would 3 rams work if there are only 3? Or do I have to get 2? I just want to make sure I have a couple bc knowing my luck, it would be 2 guys in the tank

I'd only do 2 because they're hard to sex in stores. If you get 2, less of a chance of getting 2 males.

 

Which set up do you like better????




Or...

If wood isn't used, it'll go in middle of 55.

 

Which set up do you like better????
View attachment 360095View attachment 360096

Or...View attachment 360097
If wood isn't used, it'll go in middle of 55.
View attachment 360098

I think it would look NICE with driftwood

 

When doing a fishless cycle you can really get the bacteria numbers up to process a large bio load by keep upping your dosage of ammonia once things get going of course. Then more fish can be added at once. Or you can qt them in different tanks and add to the main tank as if you bought them slowly.

 

I think it would look NICE with driftwood

I think it looks like a structure still and not wood! Does that make sense?

When doing a fishless cycle you can really get the bacteria numbers up to process a large bio load by keep upping your dosage of ammonia once things get going of course. Then more fish can be added at once. Or you can qt them in different tanks and add to the main tank as if you bought them slowly.

Say what?
What's this ammonia technique? Last year, I did fish food method but not the liquid thing bc I didn't know how to.
Could you tell me what it is?

 

Update:
So water is in and I transferred the one Aqueon75 over to the 20 gallon high! However, something sounds off about it... is this normal or like is it that I'm not used to it on such a small volume? Idk if it's normal but let's hope it is!

Heater works and let's see if it warms it up!

I'm scared about the outside of the glass bc it looks a little bit weird... it's like bubbly. Hopefully it'll go away and if not, let's hope a scrubber will get it!

I'm really excited and hope it all works!

 

Update:
So water is in and I transferred the one Aqueon75 over to the 20 gallon high! However, something sounds off about it... is this normal or like is it that I'm not used to it on such a small volume? Idk if it's normal but let's hope it is!

Heater works and let's see if it warms it up!

I'm scared about the outside of the glass bc it looks a little bit weird... it's like bubbly. Hopefully it'll go away and if not, let's hope a scrubber will get it!

I'm really excited and hope it all works!

Is this your first Tank? So beutiful

 

Is this your first Tank? So beutiful

No I have a 55 but this is a tank that's 5 years old and I just wanted to use it and the heater is an old item too and the filter was from my 55 but until
I get the filter for the 20, I'm just sticking with this and the 55 will only get 400 gph rather than 800 gph.

I'm just really nervous bc I don't want anything to catch on fire or leaks! I shouldn't be worried but doesn't everybody worry???

 

Update:
So I let the tank sit overnight and did nothing to it bc I had wisdom teeth surgery today and am really out of it but to my surprise, the tank looks great now!