redoing 55gal

[Ricker]

I am redoing my 55 I am sure most of you seen the last one i liked it decided to spend some MONEY this time to do it right so here we go here is what I am buying today off of petsolutions.com

First lights-48" FRESHWATER NOVA EXTREME T5HO $99.99

substrate-ECO-COMPLETE PLANTED AQUARIUM SUBSTRATE 60 lbs. $65.97

Driftwood- LARGE 15-20" $12.99

gravel-CUMBERLAND RIVER GEMS 15Lbs $11.97

Total-$204.91

Good price? If not please redirect me before I do my buying tonight after work. Next month I am getting more. Once I get everything pics will be soon . Thanks again guys for being such a HUGE help to me!

Looks like a good price to me. I haven't done any price comparing on those things, but it seems to be about the going rate last time I checked for lights and Eco. Go for it!

[Good Wolf]

That is a good price for drift wood. I've seen smaller pieces go for $30.00.

[Ricker]

Awesome just wanted to run it by you guys so good price which means I am going going for it. Also might be going to LFS tomorrow to get rock and eco. ya look it up on www.petsolutions.com Malaysian Driftwood that is what it is called. At LFS pieces this big go for 50

[Ricker]

well I just ordering my light I went to LFS and got my eco-complete so I wouldn't have to get it shiped. total cost 81 even with an extra filter pad. 60 LBS of eco. didnt order drift wood will wait tell next check for a good piece I can look at LFS. But about to fill up with water one thing should I wait tell tomorrow to let filter run?

[Ricker]

So as I was just filling up tank I look down and I saw a ghost shrimp I knew I lost one while I was cleaning tank I left some water and sand in there I guess he was living and eating off that stuff I took him out and put in 10 for now the water is at 59.2 right now so about to turn on heater at 8. got filter running looked clear enough. Trying to find Camera so I can show you guys. I love the way it looks under water the black just pops out and the grains aren't to big or to small

[Ricker]

So UPS decided today would be a good day to give me a heart attack. My lights still haven't arrived been looking forward to this day all week. I didn't get them shipped to my house cause I though I wouldn't be home. So got it shipped to my mama's house. Most of the time they deliver at 10:30-2:00 PM range. Hope they get here soon can't wait to see them. If they aren't here by today do I get a refund on my shipping in handling. I paid for 2day air they shipped out Wensday

[Ricker]

Well I just got my lights on the tank. I highly recommend from what I've seen so far that they are great I would like a little more purple tint but hey I love them. I am stll trying to find camera but havent had luck. most likely will just borrow one.

[Ricker]

OK my lights have been running for 2 full days now and I love them they make my fish/plants pop out the eco-complete color helps alot to. The only thing I have a problem is the fan is a little loud but hey the lights are amazing. I got some black poster board today at Wal-Mart and put it on back of tank. Now I have a Q... The stuff you buy at like petsmarts is it a lot more shiny? because this poster board looks a little dry. I like the black cause i brings out background plants. Also next week I am buying c02 system most likely the red sea one as JOM helped me out alot. Also will be buying some plants. I got some bulbs from walmart but you never know if them will grow. Also got little river rocks from walmart and I found a cool spot for them. Now I only have one question I am going to go down to creek this week and get some rock how can I clean it real good (also going to try and find some drift wood) I know how to clean drift wood. I heard of boiling rock but afraid it will blow up lol. Well I hope to get some responses soon. Also tomorrow going to try and borrow a camera.

For the rocks, I would rinse them in water as hot as you can stand and use a new scrub brush to scrub them really well. Or you could soak them in a bleach/water solution for a few days and then in dechlorinated water. I think scrubbing would be more effective though. I personally scrub mine under hot water and don't soak in bleach.

[Ricker]

Well today I found my camera so I am SUPER excited about that. So pics will be up tonight. But I am going to put what plants I like for the tank. I don't really want all these just ones I like. I am hoping some one will tell me which ones will look good/grow well. Next week I am getting c02 so I think that will help them out a lot. here they are.


MICROSORUM PTEROPUS
ALTERNANTHERA REINECKII
CARDAMINE LYRATA
ELEOCHARIS ACICULARIS
LUDWIGIA OVALIS
CRYPTOCORYNE PARVA
LILAEOPSIS BRASILIENSIS
CABOMBA PALAEFORMIS
BACOPA MONNIERI
EGERIA DENSA

[Ricker]

Any thoughts on plants?? Also tomorrow pics will be up no good batteries for camera lol.

[electricblue1]

Originally Posted by JustOneMore20 For the rocks, I would rinse them in water as hot as you can stand and use a new scrub brush to scrub them really well. Or you could soak them in a bleach/water solution for a few days and then in dechlorinated water. I think scrubbing would be more effective though. I personally scrub mine under hot water and don't soak in bleach.

ive never had a problem with river rocks like JUST siad scrob em down though i scrup with bleach and then soak for 3 days i
n a salt solution then rise of

[Obsidian]

I scrubbed my river rocks, and soaked them in bleach for a few hours. Then I rinsed them and let them soak dechlorinated water for about an hour and let them dry completely. The next day I put them in the tank.

[Good Wolf]

Where are our pics?