ADVICE: Help me with a Fish Tank.

[Big Steve]

When I moved to the Grand Canyon I had to leave....

my English Bulldog back in Mississippi with my mother.

The only pets that I can have in Company housing are fish.

So I am going to get a fish tank, so I have some pets.

Here is the Catch(no pun intended), it has been at least 20 years since I have had a fish tank.

Any and all advice would be great.
It will be Fresh Water 55 gallon tank.

I like alot of different types of fish but not sure what kind are compatable with what?

I also don't know which plants, heaters, filters, ph balancers, testing strips, salts, food, rocks, caves, etc. to get.

Thanks in Advance!

Big Steve [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[edfurlong]

You should send me your dog, I'll buy you a fish.

[Big Steve]

[ QUOTE ]
You should send me your dog, I'll buy you a fish.

[/ QUOTE ]

I laughed out loud, he is fine with my mother. He spends most of the day sleeping and snoring. I called home one day and my mother put me on speaker phone and he went ape [censored]. The next day the cordless phone became a chew toy until my mom found it. He must have thought I was in there somewhere LOL.

Big Steve [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[guids]

steve,

I posted this question about a month ago, if you dont want to wait for replies, search fish, username guids, there is a great thread with some great advice that people gave me.

[Big Steve]

[ QUOTE ]
steve,

I posted this question about a month ago, if you dont want to wait for replies, search fish, username guids, there is a great thread with some great advice that people gave me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks guids!

I actually did a search for fish and got catfish, ponds, and sushi among other things. I added it to my favorites and will read it when I get back from dinner.

Big Steve [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[Zurvan]

Go to www.aquahobby.com

Best fishkeeping site on the Web.

[grinin]

African Cichlids but you can't put anything else with them as they are highly agressive

[Stagger_Lee]

With that size some African cichlids are interesting and there is a wide variety to choose from.

They are not all aggressive by any means and you will learn a lot just by researching what to put in the tank. The right mix, erring on the side of caution in terms of numbers, is the key. Less is more when it comes to fish numbers for any tank. Plan the environment and it will be easy to keep and rewarding.

A decent canister filter will easily serve a tank this size and they are very effective, silent and low-maintenance.

Standard fluro light will get the job done - nothing special or expensive here and a standard underwater heater. You can get the low end heater for a tank this size. Cheap thermometer and a PH test kit and you are fine.

You want to mix cichlids by water type and environment - there is heaps of information online.

[Big Steve]

This is what I settled on. I found a coupon on line for 10% off so I saved over $100. My total was $1,017.58. I will get this all set up and then buy some fish. I am looking at Large Goldfish: Orandas, Moors, etc.



Image item # item description qty. status unit price total

605725 SeaClear 46 Gallon Bowfront System II 36" L x 16.25" W x 20" H - RTR Black Black 1 Submitted $649.99 $649.99
605692 20W AQUA-GLO® Fluorescent Bulb by Hagen 24" 20 Watt, 24 inch 2 Shipped $10.99 $21.98
602608 Rena Air Pump Model 300 - for up to a 75 gallon tank, 1 outlet Model 300 (45-80 gallons) 1 Shipped $35.99 $35.99
606208 4-Way Top Fin® Plastic Gang Valve 4-Way 1 Shipped $2.79 $2.79
606199 Top Fin® Airline Tubing - 25 ft. long 25' Long 1 Shipped $4.99 $4.99
606195 Top Fin® Round Airstone - 4" Round 4" Round 4 Shipped $3.49 $13.96
603474 White Gravel, 2 lb White 35 Shipped $1.99 $69.65
606794 Magical Castle Aquarium Ornament - 14''W x 7''D x 14 1/2''H Section A (14''W x 7''D x 14.5''H) 1 Shipped $49.99 $49.99
606793 Magical Castle Aquarium Ornament - 16''W x 9''D x 14 3/4''H Section B (16''W x 9''D x 14.75''H) 1 Shipped $59.99 $59.99
604931 Top Fin Hygrophilia Plastic Plant, 20" 20 in. 2 Shipped $4.29 $8.58
604930 Top Fin Hygrophilia Plastic Plant, 16" 16 in. 2 Shipped $3.49 $6.98
604916 Top Fin Hygrophilia Plastic Plant, 12" 12 in. 2 Shipped $2.79 $5.58
604915 Top Fin Hygrophilia Plastic Plant, 8" 8 in. 2 Shipped $1.99 $3.98
604914 Top Fin Hygrophilia Plastic Plant, 6" 6 in. 2 Shipped $1.29 $2.58
604780 Master Test Kit, 50 Strips 1 Shipped $17.99 $17.99
606810 Tom Aquarium Temperature Alert 1 Shipped $19.99 $19.99
606369 EHEIM Jager Aquarium Heater - 150 Watt (for 40-60 gallon aquariums, 13.5''L) 150 Wat, 40-60 Gallons 1 Shipped $27.99 $27.99
604411 Hagen Gravel Vacuum, Large Large 1 Shipped $15.29 $15.29
606223 Top Fin® Aquatic Fish Net - 8"W net x 10"L handle 8''W Net w/10'' Handle 1 Shipped $2.59 $2.59
603823 Prefilter Sleeves, 6 Pack 6 Pk 1 Shipped $32.99 $32.99
606281 Top Fin® Airline Tubing Organizer - 2 Pack 1 Shipped $1.99 $1.99
604903 AquaSafe One-Step Formula for Aquariums, 16.9oz 1 Shipped $7.19 $7.19
605473 EASY BALANCE II 500ML / 16 OZ 16.900OZ 500ML (16 oz) 1 Shipped $7.64 $7.64

subtotal
tax (5.6%)
shipping
coupon/discount
order total
$1,070.69
$53.96
$24.95
- $132.02
$1,017.58


EDIT: The above list is from PetSmart so if you would like to look at the items the Item #s are for there.


Big Steve [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]