building from the ground up

[armorguy]

Hey all,

I'm starting fresh after selling my last tank, and I'm excited to set up a new 55-gallon African cichlid display tank. I'd love to hear your thoughts and get an idea of the total cost for a solid setup.

Here's what I've got on my list so far:

1. A 55-gallon tank with a stand and canopy
2. Substrate - I'm thinking white sand or a coflake base
3. Decor - I'll need some rock work to create hiding places
4. A heater to keep the water at the right temp
5. Filter - what are your recommendations for a tank this size?
6. An air stone and pump for some extra oxygen
7. Lighting - do I need anything special for this type of tank?
8. A water test kit to keep an eye on the water quality
9. Fish - I'll need some juvenile cichlids, but I'm not sure how many I can fit in a 55-gallon tank yet
10. Anything else I'm missing? I already have water conditioner

What's the total damage gonna be?

[kalevi]

Prices definitely vary depending on your location, I'm assuming you're in the States. As for me, I'm not too sure about your prices, but I'm guessing it's probably cheaper than what I'm used to. Are you looking at brand new or second-hand equipment? That's a big factor in the overall cost. For a 55-gallon setup, I'd estimate anywhere from $200 to $700, but that's just a rough guess.

[armorguy]

I'm from the States, NY area to be specific. Having a tough time finding a 55/60 gallon tank, new or used, with stand and canopy. Anyone know of some sites that sell these as a package deal?

[armorguy]

I'm also looking for some insight on the rock work - does anyone have an idea how many pounds of dead live rock I'd need for a 55-65 gallon tank? Trying to get a good estimate to fill it out.

[floriana]

I've got about 40 pounds of rock in my own 55g mbuna setup. Rock prices vary but I've seen good quality stuff go for anywhere from 10 to 25 cents a pound, which is pretty reasonable.

[floriana]

I've got about 40 pounds of rock in my own 55g mbuna setup. Rock prices vary but I've seen good quality stuff go for anywhere from 10 to 25 cents a pound, which is pretty reasonable.

[armorguy]

Do you usually find these places online or do you check out your local fish stores?

[fastbyte]

I've had some luck finding complete tank setups on Craigslist, especially in the NY area. You can often find a tank with a stand, and even the filter included. What part of NY are you located in, maybe I can give you a better idea of what's available in your area.

[armorguy]

I'm in NJ just outside the city. Found a sweet setup on Craigslist after a lot of searching and a bit of luck. Got a used stand, canopy, 55-gallon tank, light, and light strip for $100 - pretty stoked about it.

Had to put in some work on the wood stand, but it was worth it. Now I'm on the hunt for a glass top since I only have the canopy and light.

Where can I find nice rock for cheap? I came across marcosrocks.com and I'll probably go with them, but are there any other online places that can beat their prices or would a LFS be cheaper?