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.
So far for filters I have a Rena Filstar XP4-XL and an Aquaclear 110.
I'll probably add a second Aquaclear, or maybe an eheim 2217 classic in a couple of months.
For heaters I have 2 x Jager TruTemp 300W
I also picked up a tetra whisper 100 air pump and a couple of 12" airstones.
The substrate is just regular black gravel.
As far as breeding goes, I don't put any effort into it, but the platies in my 20 gallon are always making babies and sometimes the fry survive on their own. There's 2 in that tank right now that have survived by living around the driftwood and I think they'll actually make it to maturity.
It sounds silly, but I can't even reach the substrate to level it out. I had to use a 2x4. Which is actually a huge pain. I should have thought about this sooner. Gonna be tricky adding plants when I can't reach the substrate.
lol pile substrate up and level it out with the hose as you fill it
you can get tank glass scrapers with planting forks on the bottom end they are about 9-10 inch at a guess hope this help not as much fun in setting up as you thought then lol
Not to mention unless you are wearing a tank top your sleeves will get wet when its full my aquarium is 26 inches deep and if I have to reach to the bottom standng on a chair I get soaked everytime
So I filled it with water, took an hour. My vacuum hose fits the sink downstairs, where the big tank is. Unfortunately it does not fit my kitchen sink upstairs where the other tanks are.
The heaters are pretty much calibrated. I need to raise them about 2 degrees, but right now they're not running all the time and they switch from one to the other. Perfect!
I found this deal on kijiji:
A great deal, all this for $40. Big Al's charges 5.99 a pound so this saves me a ton! I pick it up Friday or Saturday!
Have fun with all that. . . I just did that for the first time a few weeks ago, too! They seem more complicated than they *actually* are, but I'm still kind of afraid of mine, lol!!! So far so good - Good luck!
You really sure this will be your last aquarium?
I have thought about going to one very very large tank, but then, what would I do with the old ones? They all still need fish in them...
p.s.: sorry about your problems reaching the substrate. I found that out with my 56 gallon column. I can juuust barely reach the bottom.
Thanks! Long Island eh? You watch hockey? I've been an Islanders fan my whole life, despite being a Canadian. They've made it hard for the last decade.
Well, the aquaclear and the canister filter are running! Now it sounds like an aquarium. I turned the two heaters up a bit, we'll see how that goes. Still haven't hooked up the air pump, as I need to pick up tubing this weekend.
Haven't shown any pics because they all turn out too dark. Haven't put the lid and lights on the tank yet because I'm waiting until I put the driftwood in. After the lights are on, I'll take some pics.
I could not, for the life of me, get the tubing to go a full 2" up the intake and outtake tubes (or on the canister lid), even with lube. One leaked a little at first, but I managed to get the clamp to go on a little tighter, and now it seems ok. I'll keep a close eye on it tonight and tomorrow. (and forever, but especially for the next 24 hours).
Can't wait to get that driftwood! I think I'm going to start off with some fake plants, just to fill it up a bit, and then tie some java fern to the driftwood to get the real stuff growing. Later when I have more money I'll add some anubias. Hopefully one day I'll have enough real stuff that I can remove the fakes without the tank looking barren.
Edit: I really think this will be my last aquarium. We have 5 now and that's a lot of fish.
Your tank looks wonderful. I have enjoyed watching and learning from you. For your tubing problem, I found dipping the end in boiling water softens it enough to push it farther on the plumbing. just make sure it's in the final position or your stuck. LOL
I'm stuck! LOL. But I seem to be on enough to stop any leaks. Dry so far. I wish the manual had suggested something along the lines of the boiling technique.
I'm sure you will do fine my issues were adding a inline uv sterilizer to my Eheim pump the connectors were all different sizes so we had to make up parts the eheim return is small priming is fun Posted via Mobile Device
We may switch to an all black background. The store gave me this one, it was what they had on it on display and they couldn't resell it anyway. I actually like it.
I'd be torn, too. I prefer black backrounds, but that one is pretty cool looking. You'll know once you get everything in there, I'm sure - off to a GREAT start!!! Sorry about the canister issues... I'm still afraid of mine. Make my husband help me with it! Sooner or later I WILL master it! I WILL!
The little rocks on the right I picked up yesterday with my son, and the three larger ones on the left I just picked up 5 minutes ago on my way back from dropping my kid off at school.
Pics on the previous page. Yeah, it's full of water. I'm paranoid because the hose for my canister filter didn't go all the way on, but I can't get it off. Not leaking now but scared it might one day. Might try and heat it with a hose to soften it up so it will go on further.
Pics on the previous page. Yeah, it's full of water. I'm paranoid because the hose for my canister filter didn't go all the way on, but I can't get it off. Not leaking now but scared it might one day. Might try and heat it with a hose to soften it up so it will go on further.
What canister are you using? I know neither of mine hoses went on to the canister fully but the hose clamps that came with it have prevented it from leaking thus far, just make sure you tighten the clamps as far as they will go on the end of the flexible tube.
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