New Cichlid Tank & Owner

[dehn]

I have a 55 gallon tank that I have recently set up.

I am new to Cichlids, and am only partly familiar with tanks in general, I've had several over the years, most 30G and under.

The Cichlids I have were part of the deal when I bought the tank, and I love em. Just a really entertaining lot of fish. ( a couple Kenyis, Electric Yellows, and a Bumblebee, also have a regular Pleco.)

The setup is still fairly new, and I am working out the rocks to give them the right environment.

Here's my question (s)

The system is only running on a Biowheel 350 HOB. Substrate is normal black gravel, with some coral right now to raise the PH a bit. (That's another thread though)....however, I have most of the needed materials for a 10 gallon sump/trickle filter, including a couple gallons of bioballs, overflow, return pump, powerhead, Poly Material, Carbon...etc....I have all of it really.

Would it be effective for me to go that route, instead of spending $ on a cannister or somesuch? I know I need more filtration going on with these Africans, and I want to give them a good environment, but want to get the sump experience too, before I get into a larger aquarium.....which I feel is almost a certainty for me eventually.....

Also, would you think I could do a small planted or algea refugium area?

Any help and or advice would be appreciated.

[fishbooger]

Yes, you will need a larger tank eventually. Just the pleco alone will require more room, and as the cichlids grow they will try to get (and need) larger territory. The refugium will be a separate tank attached to the current? or are you meaning just a separated area in the same tank? Be patient and one of the other mods or supermods will get back to you. Good luck!

[dehn]

Yea, I was thinking to use a sump with baffled areas for media, and an area in the return area where I could do a bit of planting.

Definately getting rid of the Pleco next weekend. Giving it to a friend.

Had no idea the Pleco could get the size they do. I thought they were cleaners, but, after the poop thing became apparent......

Bear in mind, I didn't choose any of these guys. They came as a group, with the tank and stand I bought. Actually had a male and a female Convict in here too....but I put them a 20 for the time being.

Thanks for the response!

[oscarbartoni]

I would consider a 20 gallon tank for the sump and lots more bio balls or any other media like that for the bacteria to grow on. You want as much area for the bacteria to grow on as you can and a twenty (or larger) would su9it the purpose. With the higher pH it will be hard to grow plants in your sump or tank except for a few plants that can take brackish water. How do you plan on having the overflow? If you do not do this right you may have an overflow onto your floor which would mean a lot of clean up. When I had 33 twenty gallon long aquariums on a central filtration system I had a couple of large Rubbermaid tote containers under the system for the wet dry filtration, yes I pre filtered the water before it got into the bio balls. Keep us informed on what you are doing.

[dehn]

I have an overflow box, and was planning to run PVC for it. The set up came with this 55 from a salt buddy, he had it run with hose, straight down into the sump. He ran it all together for a salt set up. I was planning to refit the 10, but may look at other options that will fit, both under the tank, and my budget.

Was figuring to have a first area for fiber, like poly maybe, then an area for carbon in packs, then an area for the bioballs, perhaps another area too then? Or should I just use more bioballs? I read somewhere broken bricks could even be used? I know the cheap scrubbers are good, but I do have likely as much as 3 gallons or so of the balls.

The friend I got most of the gear from has a 240g as his main tank, and really doesnt like freshwater, so I need some good cichlid advice.

I've been using conditioning salt at water changes, is there a better alternative, or a cheaper one? Not that any of it is real expensive....just curious as to what you folks would reccommend.

[dehn]

Gonna pick up a 20 today, I can fit that.

Any particular advice from anyone on layout would be appreciated. Basically, I have the components for having water flow straight down from the overflow box and into the tank. I was planning to do a first level of Poly in a tray, over carbon packs, into bioballs....which are 1" or so off the bottom, and feed up a baffle to the next chamber.

Thinking to add another area of another material, prior to the sump, any advice?

Thanks all.