Spyke

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I'm building a 55 gallon topical tank community #1

It can be an expensive hobby.

If you're trying to go cheap, you can save money by buying certain soils and sands from a hardware store instead of substrate. Do your research on that before buying. You might be able to buy plant lights there, too.

Add plants. They look nice, provide hiding spots and naturally filter the water. Shrimp and snails add to the ecosystem. Some people will plant a pothos in the HOB filter for added water filtration and for the aesthetics.

Most of all, know what you want your tank to be before you get started. "Measure twice, cut once" and all that. Dedicated fish stores sometimes have plexiglass sandboxes where you can experiment with hardscape placement.