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21K views 215 replies 16 participants last post by  jaysee 
#1 ·
Here it is, the journal I've been prodded to do :)

I guess I'll start with the new 125.

I gave away the 45 gallon along with a 10 for quarantine to a friend, sold the 75 and the 30 hex, broke down the 55 and moved the 90 into the kitchen in order to make room for the new 125. It was a big project. Bought the tank with stand and light for $300 on craigslist. Then the tank sat without water in it for a couple of months.

During that time, I painted the background with a glossy black enamel. Used all of a small can, with a sponge brush. The first few coats were lengthwise and left streaks and swirls and what not - very "starry night". I thought about leaving it like that, but I decided to go full black out. With the base coats in place, I then dabbed the paint on, filling in the light spots. Took several coats, and the whole can, but it looks great.

I decided the living room needed a larger TV and thought it best to take care of that before filling up the tank, so I got one and moved the living room TV into my bedroom, and moved my bedroom TV into the guest room - throwing out the old school CRT that took up all the space on the dresser. After that was done, I happened to stop by the LFS and they had a large 10-11 inch BGK for sale, so in the 29 QT it went and I filled the 125. I have 3 filters for the tank, from the 75 and 55 - an XP3, a sunsun 303 and a sunsun 302. They total 1000 gph. The filters had been sitting for 4 months, full of water and dirty media, when I hooked one (XP3) up to the 125. I dosed with some ammonia, and within two weeks (didn't test everyday) the tank was cycled with 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites. The bacteria colony had survived - it just took a little time for them to get a handle on things.

Then I debated for a while what to do for substrate. Decided on doing a mix of mostly pool filter sand, with tahitian moon sand and moonlight sand. It's a nice look - I have to finish with the sand now that I am happy with the ratios I used. At the moment there is 50 lbs of pool filter sand, 10 lbs of TMS, and 5 lbs of moonlight. I'll finish with the sand soon, after which I will hook up the other two canisters.

So some time in september I will start to stock the tank. The BGK is eating NLS thera A and is all set to go in the 125. Next I am going to see about getting a fire eel. Also on the list are pictus cats and a pair of oscars. Not sure what else at the moment.

Well, that's the story of the new 125 thus far. Now that I have made some progress with that tank, it's time to pay some attention to the other tanks. It's been 8 months since I've cleaned the filters - 2 months past due. I'll probably get that done in september some time, after labor day.
 
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#31 ·
Did a water change on the 2.5 gallon.
 
#32 ·
The bichir ate another congo tetra. Now that summer is over, I won't forget to feed the fish as much and hopefully keeping it well fed will stop the predation. Otherwise, I think I'll have to move them to the new 125 to grow them out before reintroducing them to the 90. I miss my old congos - they were so big....
 
#34 ·
The bichir is 7 inches and fat and the congos are a bit over 2 inches.



Finished the sand in the 125.... I think I might work on getting the other filters going.
 
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#36 ·
I'll post a video a little later.

fish grow fastest in length when they are young. At a certain point they slow down on length and start putting on mass.
 
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#37 ·
It's between 7 and 8 inches. The noise is the dishwasher :)

 
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#39 ·
That's an african knife :)



So I cleaned and hooked up a second filter on the 125.
 
#41 ·
there are different types of knife fish. Some are very shy, and others are super aggressive. Some stay small, while others get enormous. Some like to be in a group, while others must be kept singly.
 
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#43 ·
240 might be big enough for a clown knife.
 
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#44 ·
I cleaned and hooked up the last filter for the 125. There's an XP3, a sunsun 303 and and sunsun 302 on it. I also cut out the spots for the plumbing on the plastic strips of the glass tops. Making progress finally.....
 
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#46 ·
I'll be golfing a lot more, that's for sure.... Like today :)

Maybe tonight I'll do some water changes and filter cleanings.
 
#48 ·
Think I'm going to play 27 today. It's just so beautiful out here.
 
#49 ·
Played 36 holes today - finished the second round just as the bugs were coming out.

No water changes or filter cleanings today. Maybe tomorrow if I don't work, otherwise maybe tuesday.
 
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#51 ·
I don't complain very often :)
 
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#52 · (Edited)
I was glad to see all my congo tetras still there when I returned home after a few days.

I have off and will be home tomorrow, so there's a good chance of water changes and filter cleanings..... it's been over a month on the water changes and the filters haven't been cleaned since December.
 
#55 ·
I was glad to see all my congo tetras still there when I returned home after a few days.
Your bichir behaving then I presume lol. Mine has been lately(ish). I love how I feel the need to do a head count whenever I get the chance to look at my tank :lol: . And my clown pleco isn't making it easy for me...going off and cohorting with the bichir in it's hiding spot.
 
#54 ·
Well, it's past 5 now and I haven't done anything yet. I am waiting for the dishwasher to finish so I can use the sink to do the filter cleanings.

I moved the turqiouse rainbow i had in quarantine back to the 125. It had an injury that needed to heal.
 
#56 ·
Water changes are done on the one 125 and the 90 - 80% as usual. Cleaned both filters on each tank.

I removed the moss from the 90 - the bichir used it to ambush I think.
 
#58 ·
I put the 90 moss in the new 125.

I removed the moss from the old 125. It just got SO BIG. I might put some back in, might not. Right now it's in a container with water.

I'll do water changes on the rest of the tanks next week....
 
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