55gallons what should I do?

[Alkylhalide]

So I hope i will be picking up a 55gallon fish tank this weekend if all goes as planed and I need some suggestions on what i could do to make it super uber cool!

It comes with black gravel, which in the pics looks like sand but i really don't know. I got an idea from somebody here on taking a piece of plexie glass and siliconing sand to it and putting it on the bottom of the tank, that way you get the look and feel of sand/gravel without the mess. So regardless its nice looking so i was thinking of trying that out. What do you think?

It also comes with a lot of rocks for decorations, siliconing them to make hides maybe? Sounds like a fun project!

I also have a few hides in my current tank but still havent decided if i am going to keep that going or not.

Driftwood? I have a piece of driftwood somewhere, i need to make it axie friendly though first. And a lot of pretty white rocks(all at least twice the size of their head)

Any other cheap and cool ideas i could do?

 

[JoshBA]

If you like plants you could build a riparium. I've never set one up myself but they seem like they would be excellent for an axolotl or aquatic newt. They're like a paludarium, except they don't involve an actual land area, just mini planters with emersed plants growing right out of the water line. I've seen some incredible ripariums on theplantedtank forum. The only drawback is that you would have to keep the water down at least 16cm/5in.

 

[Quentari]

siliconing the gravel/sand sounds like a good idea, don't want any accidents!! Just don't forget that silicone takes 7 days to cure before you can put it in the tank.

 

[mamangenn]

i have tried to make a riparium with what i have at home. so far it is working.

i use as plant..., pothos, mint, spiderplant, anthurium,

 

[JoshBA]

That's an awesome setup! How well do the plants absorb ammonia and nitrite?