Help with a 55-gallon tank

[puddin]

A cousin a mine bought a 55-gallon starter kit. It came with:
1. 55-gallon tank
2. Hood and lights
3. Power filter
4. Thermometer
5. Heater
6. Net
7. Fish food sample
8. Water conditioner sample
9. Bacteria starter sample
He is asking for my help. I only have a 10-gallon tank! He is saying he will have to get another filter and heater. Will he need too? I don't know. Is there anything special we need to know? Or is it the same as with my 10-gallon tank, and I'm just overwelmed by the size?
He got this at Petsmart, by the way.

[Gin]

Hi ,I did have a 55 gal. tank ,about the heater, depends on what size the heater is that he has I would set it up and monitor the Temp . I used an under gravel filter and a power filter . Would need the grid , an air pump tubing and air stones might be a good idea to use an air pump and stones to put oxygen into the water . It is pretty much like running a 10 gal. only more of it Hope this helps a little .. Gin

[snow]

for a 55 gal tank you should have a filter that pumps at leasttwice that per hourso a 110 gln per hr pump
heaters 2 watts per gallon. although is better to have 2 say 75 watt heaters incase i heater gets stuck and bouls your fish
if you however just want to keep coldwater fish like goldfish, no heater is required

[lepanthes89]

Hi; In my experience,its easier with a larger tank,than a smaller one.Conditions are more stable,and if you dont overcrowd the tank with too many fish,things are easier overall.
It all depends what kind of fish you want to keep of course, and I assume we are talking about freshwater fish.Saltwater is another ballgame.
Set up the tank,fill with water, and let it run for afew days; see if you can maintain the desired temps,and then decide on the type of fish and start adding them gradually.
By the way,in my experience,the best way to "kick-start" the bacteria cycle in the tank is to put a gallon or so of water from another mature aquarium.(after the temps. in the new tank have stabilized.)
Good luck.

[puddin]

The heater is a 200 watt. Sorry. I should have mentioned that.

[snow]

like i said 2 smaller heaters is better than one big one.'to prevent overheating the fishtank,incase the heater gets stuck. espescially if you have a big investment in fish and plants
ps those are my parrot fish'' brad and angelina''
i.ve had them for 10+ years

[puddin]

Neat! Great fish!