http://forum.aqua-fish.net/ A forum devoted to aquarium fish, plants, techniques and fish keeping as a whole. en http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=plz-help-me-i-m-relatively-new-with-a-55-gallon-tank#1 so i started a 20 gallon take about 2 years ago that did okay but i never seemed to get it right. had 5 oscars that got ick and died even after the conditioning stuff that was supposed to save them. . then had guppys and a few other fish they also died they got ick again. tried one last time with some tiger barbs i believe they were and some other fish that were given to me by a friend who was getting rid of their tank. the last tank lived decently long about a year until someone in my house "accidently" messed with my heater while i was away and needless to say killed all of the fish. giving this another try this time i have a 55 gallon tank that was given to me by a family friend just wondering if anyone has any advice i haven't put water bought a filter or anything yet was wondering if there are any suggestions or if you could teach me where i should start and what to do next because i would really love to have a beautiful long living tank this time. the last tank went well but it always seemed like something was wrong too high ph too low ph cloudy lots of algee not enough i just want this tank to go really well so i can have healthy beautiful fish. any help would be great thanks guys . . . kaitiegirl 2009-02-18 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=plz-help-me-i-m-relatively-new-with-a-55-gallon-tank#2 foe a 55 gallon tank you will need at least a 200 watt heater.Get the best filter you can afford and then set up your tank with whatever decor you want. Add conditioned water and bringit up to the correct temp. Invest in a good water testing kit so that you can cycle the tank. I cycle by adding a frozen prawn or just some fish food and let it decay to create the ammonia. Don't add any fish until your tamk is cycled mickey 2009-02-22 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=plz-help-me-i-m-relatively-new-with-a-55-gallon-tank#3 thank you very much!!! i looked into filters what do you think about a marineland biowheel power filter? kaitiegirl 2009-02-22 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=plz-help-me-i-m-relatively-new-with-a-55-gallon-tank#4 this is where the "living across the pond" kicks in. In th eUK we don't have that make of filter but if it is rated for your size of tank then it should be o.k. I normally buy filters that are over rated for my tank size as when they have been running for a while the efficiency drops a bit mickey 2009-02-24