55 gallon Tang tank setup advice

[mistahoo]

Would it be alright to use two different filters? One Tetra and one AquaClear? I have no problem returning the new one, however, the first tetra came in my kit, so I feel like I should use it!

It doesn't matter what you use on your tank as long as it is filtration. It'll look a bit off being that the Tetra one is black and AquaClear is more greyish but it's fine.

Andrew and mistahoo - Thank you so much for offering to let us have one of your filter pads. Is there any way that either of you are available for us (my husband and myself) to stop by or meet you somewhere tomorrow morning and pick one up? Would you like for us to go pick up a replacement filter? We would be more than happy to!

I don't mind, but my filter pads are usually extremely dirty and stink by the time I take them out. I don't live by Spring, but if you want, I could meet up (preferably somewhere halfway or closer to me) and give you the old filter padding.

Replacement filter? There shouldn't be a need unless you mean those filter cartridges? The thing I like about Aquaclear filters is that you don't need to buy filter cartridges. Everything they give you is all you need. Just rinse out the sponge in old tank water every month or so. You could also just stick a coarse sponge inside the Tetra filter where the filter cartridge goes.

Thank you all so much!
Mere

Replies are in red above.

[mnemenoi]

Just let me know and I'll PM you our address, I'll be around tonight and early tomorrow morning. All we would be getting you is a squeeze out of our old filter pads, so a quart jar should be fine or something similar. Then just dump it into your tank filter when you get home.

[mere2442]

Just let me know and I'll PM you our address, I'll be around tonight and early tomorrow morning. All we would be getting you is a squeeze out of our old filter pads, so a quart jar should be fine or something similar. Then just dump it into your tank filter when you get home.

this makes much more sense, I was envisioning needing to take a filter pad and bring a replacement, thank you for clearing that up! I will PM you.

[mere2442]

We just got our tank set up and thanks to mnemenoi We should be ready to go! He gave us some established filter media yesterday morning, along with some fabulous tips. We got the rock from Ballinxalex. We have been pretty amazed by how helpful and resourceful this forum has been, and look forward to establishing more relationships on here! Here is a picture of the tank, pre-fish!
photo (1).jpg

[Ballinxalex]

When are u gonna put some fish in there looking good but one question why not sand all the way ?

[mere2442]

We are going to test levels tomorrow and then start looking for fish! We just wanted some contrast, so we mixed in some pebbles. There was no other real reason behind mixing the substrate.

[Ballinxalex]

Hahah I see gl it's looking good so far

[mnemenoi]

Glad to help and terrific meeting you both, anything else you need just ask and looking forward to what you end up stocking. We can always due with more Tang keepers up on the North side!!!!

[LooksLater]

Definitely, it was great to meet you guys and we're glad to help- update us when you get some fishies in there! It's looking good, guys!

[johnnymisty]

Looks good cant wait to see fish swimming

[mere2442]

When is it ok to add fish? We have cycled in good bacteria from Roy, but I am worried about the ammonia levels. Should we run the tank for a while before adding fish?
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Ammonia - between 0.5 and 1.0
pH - 8.2

Thanks,
Mere

[mistahoo]

You could add fish as of right now, but if you want to be safe, wait until the ammonia reads 0ppm. 1ppm is pretty much the danger zone and anything over that is overload and could be very harmful for your fish.

[mere2442]

We have started adding fish! It took just over 3 weeks to fully cycle, but everyone that we have added seems to be doing fine. we have 7 gold occies, 1 calico pleco (thanks Mike!) and 10 cyps (thanks Tim!) One of the cyps is missing, there were 10 yesterday, but 9 today, we are hoping that number 10 will turn up soon, and is just hiding out. We plan to add julies, leleupi and calvus...possibly gobies.

Here are some pics of the progress, things are much more interesting than when it was just rocks and mystery snails!
Cyp-Fry_Web.jpgFull-Tank_Web.jpgGuarding_Ossie_Web.jpgPeeking-Ossie_Web.jpgStrangers-In-The-Night_Web.jpg

[mistahoo]

Nice pick ups!

[mere2442]

Thank you, we have a 2 year old daughter that is just in love with them...OK, we are all in love with them! Now we just need more : ) We were going to see if anything else was available on here, and then order from Dave's, but I think that we may keep looking here, then go to the auction, then order anything that we still want from Dave's! We are about to start cycling a breeder/hospital/time-out tank. It will be in our kitchen, so rather than anything at all normal, we are making caves using plates, cups, a tea pot, etc. It is going to be ridiculous, but so much fun.