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If I had a 220 Gallon Aquarium, I would stock....

On my way to getting my dream aquarium...

122K views 1K replies 53 participants last post by  djembekah 
#1 ·
We have a 20, 35, and 2 x 55 gallon tanks. Today we took the plunge and put a 6 foot, 125 gallon tank with stand on layaway. It will be our last tank.



It'll take a couple of months for me to pay off the tank, stand, heaters, filter, etc which gives me plenty of time to figure out what kind of substrate I want, whether or not I am finally going to try live plants, and what kind of fish to keep. Actually, i'm not even sure what kind of filter to get yet.

Our current tanks are very colorful and artificial looking (think Vegas, tacky but entertaining) as you can see in these pictures:





I'm thinking I would like the new tank to look more natural. We're going to use it as a room divider in our basement so it will be visible from both sides of the tank, we won't be using a background. So far I'm leaning toward some Balas, Barbs, and Loaches, if the tank is big enough.

Can't wait to get the sucker home and set up! Going to be a long couple of months. My 3 year wedding anniversary is July 18 and I'm hoping to have it then, as this is my anniversary gift.
 
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#329 ·
We bought the python when we bought the 220. When it was just the two 55s, the 20 and the 35 we used four 2.5 gallon buckets from Dollarama. It took us an hour and a half.

I can't believe I am buying another fish tank!

I'm getting a 10 gallon tank with heater, filter, background, light, etc for $20 used because Big Al's is getting dwarf puffer fish this weekend. I am going to fill it with water from my existing tanks and media from my RTS tank (because it has a Tetra Whisper 45 and an Aquaclear 70 on a 35 gallon tank. It used to house dirty goldfish) so it should be instantly cycled.

Another guy had a 10 gallon setup for $20 with heater, filter and light, and a 20 with all that plus a stand for $40. If he gets back to me and still has it, I'll buy both.

I also realized a have a sturdy piece of wood furniture in my basement that is 35" long and would fit a 20 gallon long nicely, if I ever see one without a stand.

Maybe a rainbow crab? Or a newt? Who knows.

Damn fish tanks, it never ends.
 
#330 ·
I've been following your thread here. Your tank is amazing. I have a (compared to your tank) a small 55 gallon. My question for you is how do you plan to insert your fert tabs?
 
#331 ·
Ha! Good question! I bought a long claw

AquaTong - 32"

Mine is actually a little shorter than this one. This is what I use to move the decorations, plant the plants, and insert the tabs into the substrate. This claw is great!

A 55 is the most sensible size. Gear for it is relatively inexpensive, and it is large enough for cool fish and easy to maintain water parameters.
 
#332 ·
Ah, thank you. I went to aquaferts. com that someone recommended and bought the fert tab insert stick. It's definitely homemade, but it works great. At least I don't have to stick my hands in the tank. This is my first time growing real plants and by watching, reading and lurking on this site and the planted tank site, I'm not doing too bad. (except for the staghorn algae that I got from a lfs).
 
#334 ·
LOL.

Well, I found two great deals on small used tanks.

A 10 gallon tank with heater filter, light, etc. for $20

Also a 10 gallon tank with heater, filter and light + a 20 gallon tank with 2 filters, heater, light and stand for $60

I pick them all up on Friday. My LFS is getting in dwarf puffers so I wanted a 10 gallon tank for a pair of them. The 20 and the other 10 were just too good to pass up on.

I'm sure I'll find something to put in them. ;)
 
#337 ·
I was actuallly looking for a deal for a long time this one came up and was actually posted by a friend of the owners and I had to wait a month before I actually got to talk to them I was actually going to buy another one 140 gallon jebo which was twice as much money and then they called went down that night and bought it it was mint condition

Both my tanks that I bought were fairly new and have been fine I bought new heaters substatre lights and another cannister for the 120 since I wanted a pllanted tank and 2 cannisters

and better lighting
 
#338 ·
Canadian Fish I'm glad you are enjoying your Python hose on the tanks.... sure beats hauling buckets!! A few tips...I have used one for years!
Emptying:
Once you have the hose connected and the siphon going, you can actually turn off the water and the siphon will continue slowly allowing you to gravel clean (carefully around the plants or in areas with none)
Turn off the valve and move on to the next tank. You can do all the tanks at once and will save a bit of water this way when refilling.

Filling:
check the temperature of your tank(s). Hopefully they are very close to each other, makes it easier.
Determine the amount of water removed and add the appropriate amount of De-chlor directly to the tank so it is there ready when the new water is pumped in. It's instant, no need to wait, works fine that way.
Lock the shut off at the tank and return to the sink. Change the setting so the water flows thru the valve and set your temperature of the NEW water here. I use a marg container under the valve to collect water and take my time to stabilize the temp, thermometers are slow moving. Make the flow not too hard, not too slow but find your temp at a reasonable flow. You can come back and recheck it by opening the valve at the sink temporarily.
Lock the valve to send the new water to the tank.
Run back to your tank (water pressure in hose) and open the hose valve. Do not leave the room. Once you overflow one... you will only do it once! LOL. NO it is not funny!
It is ok if the temperature is 1-2 degrees max lower than your tank... it is like a refreshing rain in the wild.
After, I hang the hose folded over in half over the bar in the shower for the rest of the day to allow it to drain and dry. Hoses can get black inside if left wet.

As to more tanks found on Kijiji.... they are starting a rehab in your area for addiction. I think you should join. :rofl:
 
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#339 ·
Ha! I just hope I can get one the 10 gallons to cycle "instantly" using the water from one of my existing tanks, and some media from the Aquaclear 70 on my 35. Or, can I just take the Tetra Whisper 45 off of that tank and stick it on the 10 Gallon? Or would that be too much power?

So, I hear if there are no fish, the bacteria in the media will die. I need to set up the tank and get the heater going before going to buy the dwarf puffers, so how long do I have before the bacteria is dead and the tank isn't cycled anymore?

We pick up one 10 tomorrow afternoon and the 10 and 20 in the evening.

My wife would like to keep two newts in the other 10. I haven't found much info on them, but it seems to be a consensus that 10 gallons is adequate for 2.

I have no idea what I'm going to do with the 20. I also have no idea where I'm going to keep all these tanks. If we rearrange the bedroom (which my wife always want to do) we can probably put the 20 in there. Then maybe a 10 on the kitchen counter and another 10 in the basement. I'd love to put another tank in the living room, but the only way would be to take the grandfather clock out of there, and there's no way my wife would let me.
 
#340 ·
FINALLY got my Bristlenose Pleco on camera. He had eluded me for 4 weeks. Every time I'd see him I'd run to get the camera, and when I got back he'd be gone. I kept the camera on the aquarium lid for awhile.

Earlier today he was sitting on driftwood in plain site, but my son destroyed our camera and now it takes pictures so dark that he was indistinguishable from the driftwood.

But I just came downstairs and he was right on the glass. Again, the pics didn't turn out, but you can see him on this video, until he realizes he is being filmed and buggers off.

CHECK OUT the cool white markings on the tip of his tail! I've been trying so hard to get a photo of them.

 
#341 ·
My understanding is the bacteria is not in the water but on the ornaments, media, gravel. You can take some of your old media out of the larger filter (fully cycled one!), place it in a nylon sock and hang it in your tank till you need it in the new tank set up. Top up the old filter with new media as there are lots of surfaces present and set up to support it. When ready move the hanging media to the new tank/filter. You can move gravel too but it will stir up a lot gunk and rinsing in tap water will kill that bacteria. Use dechlor. I buy new matching gravel to my old existing tank... move some old gravel to the new tank... top up the old tank with the new bag of gravel. Instant cycled tank with good bacteria, fish can go in that day or the next. My belief is 24 hours.
 
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#342 ·
I can't use the old gravel because it's all ugly. The only nice gravel I have is in the 220 and that's not done cycling.

Doing my water changes right now, before heading to the fish store to do water tests. Also picking up a ten gallon while we're out.

It is taking FOREVER. We started with the 220 and I am draining it with the water turned off at the faucet, which as you mentioned is a slower drain. It has been going for 25 minutes so far.

I never heard of the nylon sock thing, that's a cool idea. I'll let you know what I end up doing.

I hope it works!! I want two dwarf puffers!!

Anybody know of any cool fish I can keep in a 20 gallon tank that I don't keep yet?

This is what I have now:
20 Gallon - Harlequins, Neons, Platies, Guppies, Cories, Nerite Snails
55 Gallon - Silver Dollars, Pearl Gourami, Hillstream Loach, Peacock Eel, Mollies, Serpae Tetras, African Dwarf Frog, Leopard Bush Fish and Bala Sharks (moving to 220)
55 Gallon - Red, Blue, Boesemani Rainbows, Zebra Dainos, Zebra Loaches, Platies, Moonlight Gourami, Bristlenose Pleco
35 Gallon - Red Tailed Shark
220 Gallon - Black Skirt and Lemon Tetras

I am adding bleeding heart tetras to the Silver Dollar tank this weekend. My wife has been wanting them since February.
 
#345 ·
Thanks, I'll try that next time. Just finished and it took an hour to drain 30% of the tank, with the water on the sink running the last 10 minutes because I got impatient.

Wow Boxer, septic. You are in the country!

Man, I've gotten so much different advice in this thread, anyone new to the hobby will learn a lot if they read it. I know I have.

Can't wait to see those puffers. Apparently they're full grown, wild caught. I've read 5 gallons for the first one and 2.5 for each additional, but my LFS said in a 10 gallon, not to put two, better to put 1 or 5 so as to spread out any aggression. I really want to believe them because I'd much rather 5 than 1, and they're only an inch I believe. My LFS usually gives me pretty good advice, not petsmart style.

The Bleeding Hearts I'm getting are live caught as well.
 
#347 ·
Since they are wild caught make sure you drip acclimate them or acclimate the slowly
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Will do, thanks for the tip!

So the first 10 gallon we went to pick up was actually a 5.5, the owners had no idea. It was brand new with a ton of accessories so I bought it anyway. Going to get our first Betta I guess. :p

Tonight we get the 10 and the 20. Going to put 5 dwarf puffers in the 20, I decided, and 2 newts in the 10 eventually. Gonna do your nylon trick Jakie.
 
#350 ·
If that is the only thing you are moving... no other items then the tank needs time to grow that bacteria on other surfaces... I was about to say 6-8 weeks like a cycle but now I'm questioning that in my head. You know I would still leave it 2 months. It won't hurt it that is for sure.....
Anyone else know that answer...? Sorry Canadian Fish. Maybe Chat room people can tell you tonight.
 
#353 ·
HaHaHa! It was a Betta in a 3 gallon tank that got me started down this road this summer. Hahaha. And now I have a 10 gallon planted tank for the Betta and my 55 gallon planted tank.
 
#357 ·
2 of the heaters were old and garbage, the other one looked brand new and when I googled it, there's a recall on it. (Marineland Stealth Submersible) So all 3 went in the garbage.

It came with 2 Aquaclear 20s, but one is missing the part that goes on the bottom of the intake tube.

I previously bought a 35 and 55 used. The 35 heater was garbage, the lid doesn't fit right and there was no glass under the bulb. The 55 leaked and had to be resealed and the air pump was shot.

The light fixture didn't work on the 10 I bought today, but the 5 I bought earlier came with a spare bulb, as did the 10 tonight, and when I put in the new bulbs, it works.

I hate buying used Aquariums, it never works out in my favor. The problem is I drive so damn far, that I just buy the crap anyway.

The stand doesn't even fit the tank. It's for a 20. The 10 would fall right through. Garbage.
 
#358 ·
So, the Aquaclear 20 is a nice rectangular basket, good old Aquaclear. So I'm going to cut the sponge from my Aquaclear 70 to fit in the 20 filter. I'll still use the leftover sponge in a nylon as per Jackie's suggestion. I'm also going to put some subtrate in a nylon.
 
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