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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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#178 ·
Success, than DISASTER!!

So I popped off the quick disconnect on the filter. Put it in a bucket, but it didn't leak a drop.

Used the hair dryer on the hose, and success!! It slid on further, and the clamp tightened better!

Took a couple of minutes!!

Then, couldn't get the quick disconnect to sit properly in the filter to close it. Wouldn't go. Came upstairs, googled the problem, placed a call to the service department of the store where I bought it, left a message.

Went back downstairs, and the I had actually managed to open the disconnect enough to drain. The bottom of the stand was filling with water and leaking all over my basement floor!! Thank God I put the power bar on a raised box. Like an idiot, believing the valve to be still closed, I left it sitting loosely on the cannister, not in the bucket.

So i just used every towel in the house to soak up the water. Got most of it I think. Now all the towels are in the dryer. Once they're dried I'll go over everything again. CRAP!!!

That was my big fear, and I caused it by playing it safe. POOP!
 
#180 ·
There you go.... what we fear will appear. In fact we make our own reality!
But now it's done, happened, over, you can move on. Won't likely ever happen again!!
Amazing how that works. And you were at home to deal with it too!
 
#181 ·
The crappy thing is, The tank is very slightly raised because I shimmed it to level it, so there is water underneath. I have a heater pointed at it now, hopefully that will dry it out a bit.

So frustrating.

I push down on the bottom and it squishes water out, and I soak it up with the towel.

The outside is all solid oak, but the bottom is just a thin shit of crappy wood, I'm scared it's going to rot. Hopefully the rest of the water will evaporate quickly. :cry:
 
#182 ·
I'm pretty fed up. Before I fooled with it today, the filter was running ok.

Now, when I move the filter, (I moved it out of the stand to clean up the water) it leaks water out of the motor assembly. Not where the seal is between the lid and the canister, but out the actual assembly, here:



Weird, because it wasn't doing it before.

I guess I'll have to return it. A pain because I got it mail order. I have to pay for shipping.
 
#183 ·
What I'd really like to do is just replace it with two more Aquaclear 110s, for a total of 3 of them on the tank. This will give me 1500 GPH turnover. Someone told me 8 times the tank volume is recommended for a canister filter. This will give me 7 times. Close enough for me. If necessary I will under stock my tank.

I am so disillusioned right now. :(
 
#184 ·
Awwww!! How the heck did you get water coming out of the top?? That is weird. I could see it if it fell over... but not from what you described.
Bet you are totally frustrated right now!! Canister filters are so amazing too when they work. Just a little intimidating for sure!
 
#185 ·
Ok, so I went to the Rena site and people complained about getting water out from where the power cord is. This happens if the quick disconnect valve isn't in all the way, and water gets where it isn't supposed to.

When the filter was flooding out, it was flooding into that part. So in theory I should be able to drain the water out of the top part, hook the quick disconnect properly, and no more water should get in that top part.

So I put the hoses back (I had taken them off the tank in disgust, but I didn't disconnect from the outlets, thank goodness) put the media back, primed it and it is running. So far so good. I set a timer for 15 minutes and I am going to check it every 15 minutes for a few hours. Pain in the butt, but I am hopeful.

Fingers crossed! What a night.
 
#186 ·
So I checked on the filter every 15 minutes, then every half hour, then every 45 minutes, now I'm starting every hour.

So far, dry as a bone!!

What a relief.

Some good news tonight, my marina aquavac that I used to fill the big tank fits the sink downstairs in the laundry room, but not the sinks upstairs in the kitchen and bathroom, which is the floor my other 4 tanks are on.

We're going to the fish store tomorrow, so I ran the hose up the stairs, to see how long an extension I would need to fill all the tanks from the basement, and the 50 footer I have can reach all 5 of my tanks, without being so tight it puts strain on the faucet adapter! Woo hoo! No extension needed.

I'll take a small victory tonight!
 
#187 ·
Your lucky it only took you one day I have 2 different cannisters on my tank with a inline uv sterilizer it was a lot of putting together and taking apart I put the washers in the ub ate ruler in the wrong place so it leaked the tubes in the rock wall came apart we had airleaks too it was a big learning curve
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#188 ·
It was only one day, but I totally could have done without the flood.

Is yours running smooth now?

Tomorrow morning we're going to the fish store and tomorrow evening we're getting the driftwood. Then we should have everything we need to decorate the tank, other than live plants. Once we have some more money I'm going to try some java fern on our driftwood.
 
#190 ·
my tank is running smooth other then some diatoms from it still being new I have java fern on my driftwood one is tied on with brown thread the other had a hole in it and the java fern which was a larger one is stuck in there. Going to Big Als today I have a 4 day weekend this week Whitby has all their plants on for 20 % off
 
#192 ·
Nice! I just got back from Big Als. Got a heater for the 35 that the red tailed shark is going into. Got some airline hose, decorations, a grabber to reach the bottom of the tank, some thermometers and other crap.

We're going to get the driftwood at 7pm tonight. Tomorrow will be decorate tank day!!

Also have to redecorate the 35 with some driftwood and hiding rocks for the RTS. Going to be busy this weekend.

Sunday we're going back to Big Als to get another big silver dollar for the 55. They just got 3 in that are the same size as mine. So I will have a total of 4. Also going to get the Red Tailed Shark.
 
#194 ·
I bought 3 more rainbows today and 5 plants I bought 1 bosemi that had orange instead of yellow and Two larger Parkinson's rainbows they are 4 inches not fluorescent yet
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Wow, 4", nice. How large are your clown loaches?

What kind of plants did you get?

I picked up my driftwood tonight, but the tank is a little cloudy and it's dark in the basement at night. Can't have the lid and light on the tank while I'm rearranging stuff, so it was too hard to see to set it up. Going to try again tomorrow during the day when some sunlight is coming in.

Added some driftwood and a cave to my 35 gallon (and a heater). Looks much better now. Took out my wife's cheesy alligator bubbler.
 
#195 ·
My clown loaches are about 3 inches the same size were $14.88 at Big Als today I paid 3 for 18 dollars at pjs pet centre. I paid too much for those rainbows today but they are really hard to find. I still want 6 redline torpedo barbs they are still 20 bucks a piece at big als I am going to see if pjs in pickering has any if not then I will get them in a few weeks
 
#197 ·
Yeah, that's a lot of money for a 3" clown loach. Glad you found them somewhere cheaper.

The Silver Dollar I'm getting Sunday is 19.99, but that's not so bad, it's a biggie, same as the ones I have now. Though they were $5 cheaper, at the same store.

My Big Al's has some awesome Rope Fish in right now. Wish my big tank was cycled! i might just get one and stick him in the 55 until the cycling is done on the 220.

I love those torpedo barbs, but a group is just too expensive for me. They're beautiful fish.
 
#198 · (Edited)
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The 3 rainbows today were 20 a piece I'm at the stage now were I'm looking for certain fish for this tank that are harder to find and will have to pay more I would like a few more Parkinson's rainbows some red and dark blue ones and my redline torpedos which you have to buy together and grow or they can be aggressive
Make sure you take pics tomorrow
 
#200 ·
This is better.








The little tank isn't new, but the fish that lived in it died recently. I am getting a Red Tailed Shark for it on Sunday. They like driftwood and hiding places so we redecorated it last night.

The big tank is coming along nicely! I had to buy a claw because I can't reach the bottom the tank to decorate.
 
#203 ·
looking very nice for you there

shame i can't say the same my 150 L sprang a leak today so housing all the fish out of my 150L in my crappy 105L they have all fallen out with me talk about upsetting the apple cart lol my puffers (GSP) and kribensis are in a 25L plastic bucket with small pump heater and filter

but you know what they say out of the storm comes a rainbow

i found a UK seller that is going to supply me with a 48x18x15 approx 212L brand new for only £81 and further £20 to deliver it the 90 mile trip to me awesome
 
#204 ·
Sorry to hear that. Any water damage?

How in the world did it spring a leak? Did you buy it used? I had to reseal a tank that I bought used once. I think if they sit empty in storage too long the seals start to go.

212L is that a 55 gallon? That's a good size. And cheap delivery! I had to pay $180 CAD to get mine delivered. Mind you, it's heavy as all heck, but it's only a 10 minute drive.

When do you get it?
 
#205 · (Edited)
Sorry to hear that. Any water damage?

How in the world did it spring a leak? Did you buy it used? I had to reseal a tank that I bought used once. I think if they sit empty in storage too long the seals start to go.

212L is that a 55 gallon? That's a good size. And cheap delivery! I had to pay $180 CAD to get mine delivered. Mind you, it's heavy as all heck, but it's only a 10 minute drive.

When do you get it?
GOT IT HERE !!!!!!
Aquarium, Fish Tank, Glass Tank *Brand New, at Great Prices* | eBay


the one im getting is the 48x18x15

which is 212L or UK gallons =47 (US gallon =56) <yes there is a difference>

the tank was second hand and i had already fixed a leak on the corner it has sat full for 12 months plus and been fine

it wasn't leaking much good job as it is in my bed room and i would of had one flooded kitchen lol
 
#207 · (Edited)
i managed to get a VERY NICE friend to lend me the money for 2 week but cant get it in the bank till Monday when i will order it and then upto 3 weeks depending on what areas his delivery company are going to

i was amazed myself leaking after that time and from the bottom too lucky it was a slow leak though

so yes keep ya eye on it
i will just sell old one for reptiles and use old hood i will have to modify it to fit the wider 15 inch hood as tank right now is 12 inches lucky i have some black acrylic left over from making my sump should be plenty there



EDIT!!!!!!!!
huuummmm might have to go for the 48x21x15 at 248L
 
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