I Can't Wait......

[ghent_3rd]

I'm back at home now but cannot wait to get my own place and get a fish house set-up, all the stuff that ytou can get in the classifieds on here and Aquarists Classified is ridiculously cheap, not to mention eBay!!

I don't think it will cost half as much as I thought to set one up although the running costs could be a shock!! NO real point to this thread, just wanted to tell people,

How much extra does it cost people that do run fish houses on here??

 

[3ndl3r]

Sounds good, I would love to have a fish house. But im still living with the parents so it's not really an option

Good luck with it, keep us posted

James

 

[ghent_3rd]

Going to be a couple of years away yet I'm afraid, need to do some serious saving for my deposit, not going into rented again.

 

[ghent_3rd]

Just been looking through my old posts and found this. Well the time has come, a little earlier than expected, but I will be in my own place just before Xmas. Was going to dive in and buy a 5 footer in preperation but my wise Mother has reminded me that I actually will need to buy quiote a lot of stuff for the new pad before I should really think about the tank! Why do Mum's always have to be soooo right!

Anyway, going to aim for around the start of February to have everything up and running at the new gaff but will no doubt needs lots of advice on stocking and potential set-ups in the mean time!

 

[Piltdownpaul]

I know when my main tank was out of action for a month in the lounge i got depressed. Funny how you get used to it and then when theres no fish about it seems really odd.

 

[ghent_3rd]

I seem to go through stages. I spend a lot of time at my g/f's at the minute and when I had my stand with 4 tanks set-up I just did not have the time to get stuck in to them for rnough maintenance. Plus the maintenance weas awkward as there was so little space in my room where the tanks were. Could not look after them properly at all so shut it all down a few months back..........time goes by and then I start thinking about the fact that I will be able to start again and I am hooked!! Been reading my old PFK's to get ideas and now think I have a few great suggestions for the main tank that will be set-up in the dining room at the new house.

Just going to make sure that I do not rush it and make sure that I get it spot on!

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Yes i took my time-you know how it is,every now and then you have to shake things up a bit. Took me a week of setting the stones in my tank just how i wanted them.

 

[ghent_3rd]

Although I have not yet 100% decided on the size the main tank will be I have 4 options of what could go in it.

The minimum it will be is 180 litre so here goes.....

OPTION 1 Senagalus set-up with Congo Tetras to give it some colour and life. Would be set-up as close as possible to represent their true habitat

OPTION 2 Channa Bleheri group with lots of floating plants

OPTION 3 Holploestrum community with a barrel-load of 1 type of corydoras to go with them, shedloads of bogwood and dense vegetation!

OPTION 4 This will need a larger tank but is the one I am hoping I can do!! Angels as the feature fish with an absolute mass of Black Widow tetra and Ember tetra. A group of Hoplos in aswell. Heavily done with fake plants and bogwood to the bottom. Bottom of the tank would be a group of plec that lives in planted environment.

I work pretty long hours so need the tanks to be pretty low maintenance and also stocked with fairly easy to keep fish as I won't be able to give more fussy fish the necessary attention they need.

I do love rare plecs but am thinking about the Bristlenose which I know is a little more common than I would ideally like but they are so easy to look after and a community of them would be amazing. If I go for OPTION 4 then the tank would be around the 5 foot mark and hold between 350-400 litres so so a good amount of Angels could be housed. I love the look of tetras when they are in a massive shoal also. Hhhhhmmmmmmmmmm, wonder if I could squeeze some cories into OPTION 4 aswell......AARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHH, too much choice!!

 

[ghent_3rd]

Well, well, well..................Slight change on all plans!!

I have actually bought 2 tanks now, yay!!

They are a little smaller than I was hoping for but it does now allow me to set-up 2 tanks which gives me a few more options.

The tanks are seen in the link below; I am going for 2 set-ups which give me really easy maintenance but not sure exactly what yet. I think both tanks will focus on smaller South American species or some fish from South-East Asia which live in some shocking conditions!!

I am now starting to look for equipment for the 2 tanks and have the luxury of waiting for the right things to come along as I won't be actually setting the tanks up until after Xmas I think.

Opinions on the tanks would be great please and also suggestions for stocking which we all love doing!!!

TANKS PURCHASED

 

[Biulu]

Sorry, but there is an error if I try to click on your link.

 

[ghent_3rd]

Hhhhmmmmmm, dunno why that link did not work but don't have the pics available now anyway.


Basically it is 2 tanks, the top one overflows into the bottom and an external is used to filter water fromon etank into the other. Saves on having 2 filters and 2 heaters as I am just going to have a heater in the top tank and the fish that will be split across the 2 tanks will be from the same areas and live in similar conditions so it is good as it gives me a bigger body of water meaning less fluctuations.

What I need to know is what sizde heater to use?? Both tanks hold about 125 litres each so do I just need a heater to heat 125 litre as the water will be running through or do I need one to strong enough to heat the whole body water even though it is split in different tanks??

 

[ghent_3rd]

Just need some help with the heating of the tanks...would it be best to have 1 heater to heat the water for both tanks seeing as they are both using the same water?? If so, then will it matter which tank the heater goes into?

Or is it better to have a heater in each tank??

 

[snowflake311]

The thing that uses the most power is your heater and lights all depending on the size tank. Most all filters and power heads use 12-15 watts. The water can add up depending on your wc.

So really it's not much more for my 3 tanks I think it's like $40 extra a month. So one mid size tank would be no big deal.

I can't wait till we buy our own house because then I can get a bigger tank. So I know how you feel. I never could have the tanks I do now if I lived with my parents.