On my way to getting my dream aquarium...

Canadian Fish

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.

keeperofthezoo

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).

boxercrazy156

I just lean into my 120 gallon and get wet with the tabs lol
Posted via Mobile Device

Canadian Fish

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. ;)

boxercrazy156

I bought both my tanks on Kijiji I got my 120 gallon with stand canopy lights fluval cannister filter heater and python plus media and stuff for $450.00 it was only used for 1 year and my bowfront also came from Kijiji with stand filter gravel fish heater food etc for $200.00

Canadian Fish

Wow, amazing deal on the 120. We bought our 35 and one of our 55s from kijji and we actually had problems with both of them. I had to reseal the 55.

boxercrazy156

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

Jakiebabie

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.

Canadian Fish

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.

Canadian Fish

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.