Hey everyone,
So this is going to be my first large aquarium and I haven't done any fish keeping since I was younger so I am hoping to get some advice on what I need to buy. I already have my stand/canopy, tank (standard 180) and glass tops here, and I have a light fixture on order. I am trying to figure out everything else I am going to need to get up and running and minimize the amount of orders I have to place. At this point I am likely going with a Lake Malawi Cichlid tank.
I had my mind set on getting two Fluval FX6's for filtration, but the price is a bit steep at $340 each. Would I be ok with one FX6 and one SunSun HW-304b or should I just suck it up and spend the money for the second FX6? I suppose I could even do the one FX6 and two 304b's and still save over $170ish but I am trying to keep it at two filters. Wish I hadn't missed the lighting deal on Amazon for the FX6s a few days back.
The next question is what media to use inside the filters and how much of it do I need to order? I have been reading about Seachem Purigen/Matrix, and lots of other stuff but I don't really know what I should use, or how much of it and what to put in what tray so any advice would be very helpful as I fumble my way through this. I am trying to read as much as I can in my spare time.
So far on the list to order is:
API Master test kit
Aqueon water changer
Seachem Safe
(2) Aqueon 300 watt heaters
150lbs of sand and ammonia from ACE hardware for fishless cycle
Is there any other chemicals, or medications etc. that I should buy or keep on hand if needed?
Thanks!
Frank
So this is going to be my first large aquarium and I haven't done any fish keeping since I was younger so I am hoping to get some advice on what I need to buy. I already have my stand/canopy, tank (standard 180) and glass tops here, and I have a light fixture on order. I am trying to figure out everything else I am going to need to get up and running and minimize the amount of orders I have to place. At this point I am likely going with a Lake Malawi Cichlid tank.
I had my mind set on getting two Fluval FX6's for filtration, but the price is a bit steep at $340 each. Would I be ok with one FX6 and one SunSun HW-304b or should I just suck it up and spend the money for the second FX6? I suppose I could even do the one FX6 and two 304b's and still save over $170ish but I am trying to keep it at two filters. Wish I hadn't missed the lighting deal on Amazon for the FX6s a few days back.
The next question is what media to use inside the filters and how much of it do I need to order? I have been reading about Seachem Purigen/Matrix, and lots of other stuff but I don't really know what I should use, or how much of it and what to put in what tray so any advice would be very helpful as I fumble my way through this. I am trying to read as much as I can in my spare time.
So far on the list to order is:
API Master test kit
Aqueon water changer
Seachem Safe
(2) Aqueon 300 watt heaters
150lbs of sand and ammonia from ACE hardware for fishless cycle
Is there any other chemicals, or medications etc. that I should buy or keep on hand if needed?
Thanks!
Frank