Hardware for 55gal..

FreshyFresh

FreshyFresh

Superstar Fish
#1
Jan 11, 2013
1,337
23
38
East Aurora, NY
#1
I'm in the process of gathering the gear to start up my new 55gal.

Just wondering if there's any advantage to running two smaller heaters over one larger one?

Something like (2) 100W over one 200W? This tank will be up near a large window. There is a hot water baseboard heat run along that wall. Not much choice given pretty much every sq foot of outside wall space has them in our house. It still gets pretty cool in this room in the winter.

I'm thinking about running a Sunsun canister filter. I can mail-order one for $50-60.

Not sure on the lighting yet, but I want it to be one 48" and not two 24's. I'll need two versa tops.

Still deciding on a stand. I like the "Brooklyn metal stand" from Petco, but a cabinet based one might be better for stability and storage. The Brooklyn stand would be like $70 shipped to the house. Building one would be atleast that from start to finish, plus the stink-eye I would get spending time on that, where I've been TOTALLY slacking on needed projects around the house. Making one that looks good would take me some time.

Lots of fun.. trying to keep costs down too of course..
 

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OrangeCones

Elite Fish
#2
Feb 27, 2009
4,395
0
36
#2
If you are going to do a canister filter, I'd personally do an in-line heater. Less to look at for hardware IN the tank that way, plus if you house bigger/aggressive fish, they can't break it.
 

CAPSLOCK

CAPSLOCK

Elite Fish
#3
Jul 19, 2004
3,682
33
48
39
Cape Cod
#3
The main advantage to 2 smaller heaters is that if one should fail (and they usually fail ON), it is less likely to overheat a tank before you notice. One large heater, especially in summer, can get the tank to fatal levels much more quickly. Conversely, if one should fail OFF the other will keep the tank somewhat warm and be a backup til you can grab a new one. Also allows you to potentially take one entirely off in the summer if you so choose. In a longer tank like the 55g, you can also have one at either end for more even heating.

I personally wouldn't trust a used heater, but most other things you can likely get gently used off craigslist, a "local" fish club, some stores do "used" stuff, on sale at amazon, etc. Amazon also does some nice stands with very reasonable shipping.

With the metal stand, if you're handy, you can also "skin" it in some type of wood (or veneer) if you want to enhance the appearance.
 

FreshyFresh

FreshyFresh

Superstar Fish
#4
Jan 11, 2013
1,337
23
38
East Aurora, NY
#4
Well.. so far we wound-up going with this stand: Aquarium Stands & Furniture: Aquatic Fundamentals Aquarium Stands & Canopies It was missus approved. It was the best price I could find for a MDF, put-together special. $139.99 all-in. This is about $20 cheaper than anywhere else.

I have a similar stand for my 29gal that worked out to be MUCH sturdier than expected, looks good and is very functional.
 

exhumed07

exhumed07

Superstar Fish
#6
Apr 30, 2006
1,774
0
36
Illinois
#6
I've only used one heater in my tanks. so far i've only blown one up due to my stupidity and had one short into the water. never have had an issue with a heater other then that myself. as for the stand i would most deffinatly go for a wooden stand as i have always felt the metal ones are kinda flimsy even for something as large as a 55. also i'm not big on tops on my tanks. my african tank has tops just to keep them from jumping out as they are the onyl fish that i have had that do that besides my guppies, but my guppies i raise for food so i'm not very concerned about them. my sunfish will eat them dead or alive even if they have been dried out on the floor. i know those are just my personal preferences but figured i would at least share them with u :p
 

FreshyFresh

FreshyFresh

Superstar Fish
#7
Jan 11, 2013
1,337
23
38
East Aurora, NY
#7
Thanks guys. Good info.

I eBay'd a 200W Chinese special. $9.98. Hopefully I keep fish soup to a minimum. I looked into an inline heater for the canister, but the only ones I could find online were $40-50.

Also eBay'd a Sunsun HW-302 canister filter w/ media for $58.66. We'll see how that goes. W/out the media was ~$50.

Got my eye on a few different twin tube 48" T5 light fixtures...

Thank goodness for some OT in the last few paychecks.
 

T

Thyra

Superstar Fish
#10
Jun 2, 2010
1,891
0
0
Yelm, WA
#10
I did start a thread a couple of days ago about Dr. Foster & Smith' s catalog - not necessarily to buy from them but to be able to see all the stuff available-a lot of it I didn't know even existed!
 

CAPSLOCK

CAPSLOCK

Elite Fish
#12
Jul 19, 2004
3,682
33
48
39
Cape Cod
#12
Hopefully you can avoid being stuck with that heater, but at least if you end up with it it was only $10.

For lights, check out amazon or similar sites just to check out the reviews. What type of lighting were you thinking?
 

exhumed07

exhumed07

Superstar Fish
#13
Apr 30, 2006
1,774
0
36
Illinois
#13
um i'm realy not sure how those can be 220V. those plugs are for a 110 wall outlet. I saw it said 220 only but a 220 is a 3 prong outlet with one of the prongs sidways. just like a cloths dryer or an electric stove. i'm thinking the seller don't know that they are talking about.
 

FreshyFresh

FreshyFresh

Superstar Fish
#14
Jan 11, 2013
1,337
23
38
East Aurora, NY
#14
exhumed07

exhumed07

Superstar Fish
#16
Apr 30, 2006
1,774
0
36
Illinois
#16
i run t5 on all my tanks except my 30 is a store bought LED. my 20 and my planted 55 are t5ho. I love the t5's myself. bit more expensive but much brighter. i just replaced 2 48" HO bulbs. my lfs charged me about 45 bucks for the 2. I'm sure there are cheaper ones on ebay or amazon but i like to support my small local stores as much as i can as long as i am able to afford it.
 

FreshyFresh

FreshyFresh

Superstar Fish
#17
Jan 11, 2013
1,337
23
38
East Aurora, NY
#17
Got the stand, canister filter, small sunsun internal filter and heater today.

Got the stand put together in 20-30min. Pretty much all metal cam-lock fasteners with a few screws. It's a pretty nice unit for the money. Nice thing is, it's US made by Aquatic Fundamentals / Marco group LLC of Neosho MO.

The Sunsun HW-302 canister filter seems surprisingly well constructed. It seems as if the quality of Chinese plastic, etc, has gotten MUCH better over the years. A lot less bubble gum and paper mache LOL! The instructions and wording on the box is hysterically horrible. You have to rely on the pictures, but it's a simple, straight forward setup anyway.

The heater looks decent, but indeed requires 220VAC to operate. Oddly enough, it's a standard 2-prong plug like you'd find in the US, with the only difference being, there's no holes in the prongs like you see with most US stuff. I'll see where I need to return it and how much it would be...

Once I get some substrate picked out, I'll start setting up the 55g. FUN!! FWIW, I'm pretty sure I'll be going with some type of gravel substrate. Probably from Lowes or Home Depot.
 

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FreshyFresh

FreshyFresh

Superstar Fish
#18
Jan 11, 2013
1,337
23
38
East Aurora, NY
#18
Here's the fiddy-five in setup mode. I put used bio media from my 29gal into the bio section of the canister filter for the fiddy. Also transferred two plastic plants and two live plants from the established tanks.

Also transferred the 4 zebra danios from the 10 to the 55. Lord what a mess I made of the 10 trying to net those buggers. The betta is still giving me the stink-eye. LOL!

 

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OrangeCones

Elite Fish
#19
Feb 27, 2009
4,395
0
36
#19
Easiest way to catch danio (or any quick fish) is to lower the water to just an inch or so, and use two nets. They will dart INTO the 2nd net if you try to catch them with the first!
 

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