My Tank Diary

[WayneVT08]

Well there aren't gonna be any pictures in this post. I'm going to pick up the tank I'm buying tonight. My Dad and I figured that I will just end up using the 55 gallon that I found as some type on amphibian/snail habitat. Plus, the nastiness on the sides was too hard to get off. I even tried using the razor blade, and nail polish remvoer, which contains acetone. So since that didn't get it off we pretty much gave up trying to get it off.

The tank I'm getting tonight, is a brand new one. The only reason why I didn't go second-hand is because I haven't been able to find one. Plus the one I have didn't have anything with it. It was just the tank. Then I would have to buy everything for it just to get it set up, without all the stuff to go inside it.

The one at PetSmart I'm going to pick up is a 55 gallon starter kit, it comes with a 200 watt heater, a Top Fin filter, not so sure about the filter, as I'm doing this from memory. I might buy a different one to replace it later on (if my bio-load becomes too heavy). A 6" net. Food samples or something. The hood, with 2 bulbs.

I'll list it all here:

1.) 55 gallon tank = I'll get price estimate tonight when I go.
2.) Top Fin filter = $30 or $40
3.) 200 watt heater = $30 or $40
4.) 6" Net = get estimate tonight.
5.) Hood with light bulbs = $129.99

This is all included with some extras that I can't remember, but the final price is $159.99. If I were to get the items individually it would have costed a lot more. So I figured I'd go with this. I'll try to have pictures by Wednesday or Thursday, I'll have to see if I can get my hands on my sisters digital camera.

Well that's all for now. I'll update when I get home from PetSmart tonight. Have a good day!

 

[linda1503]

Best of luck with your new tank and pics would be cool if you can get some, everyone likes pics about a new project.


Oh and By the way

 

[WayneVT08]

Projected Stocking (so far):

4-5 Clown Loaches
1-2 Angelfish
1-3 Dwarf Gourami

I want something that will add more of a variety than those three. I've read that they are all compatible. I just want other suggestions. I'm only getting the tank and such tonight. I still have to build a stand for it. So I have a chance to change and update my stocking list.

I've also heard that I need to aerate the tank somehow... Does that mean I need something like a bubble wall? Will I also have to buy a pump for that? Can someone help me understand this?

 

[vancouver]

I've got one of those kits.. don't leave the light on for more then 24 hours straight or you will have algae everywhere.. That's one thing I learned when I forgot to turn the light off one night. The filter is starting to act up .. it wont stop making a weird annoying grinding noise.. I've cleaned it 10 times and it wont stop.. I don't know what's up with it.. it still works fine, just makes annoying loud noises

It's a good deal, I would definitely buy one again, just thought I'd let you know about my experience.

ps happy birthdat

 

[WayneVT08]

I will be getting a new filter once it gets up and running. And thanks for the happy birthday's

 

[WayneVT08]

UPDATE: Picked up the tank tonight, of course there were problems, the place I would've gotten it had one yesterday but it was sold. So we had to head over to the enxt town to get it, so we picked it up and brought it home, came with everything it said it did, plus a little extra, will have pics of it tomorrow hopefully. Will update on more information about it tomorrow, not tonight because 24 is on Fox. So I'll update it fully tomorrow after school. Thanks for reading again!

 

[vancouver]

I had the same thing happen to me.. place told me it would be in, I drove 45 mins to pick it up, they didn't have it.

Then they said it would be in on X day, so I called.. still not in.. so I flipped at them, and they ended up giving me a 48g hagen tank (which is worth more then the $200 I paid itself), the big aquaclear filter, hagen heater, different hood. Ended up getting like $350 worth of stuff for $200 because I complained. haha..

It's cool you got it though, have fun setting it up

 

[WayneVT08]

Yea I won't be setting it up until my dad and I buid the stand for it, but I'm going to be drawing a picture for him tomorrow.

 

[Suriliel]

Those 55 gallon tank kits are amazing deals! I have 2 of them First one I paid $149 for (Petland had a sale) and the second one was $289.. not AS good.. but still good!

Heh that's good to know about the algae thing.. I left my light on overnight once and in the morning the back wall was green, heh I thought my pleco went on strike or something Also if your tank is near a window where it can get any sunlight you'll have algae issues on that side.. but I think that one's obvious

 

[WayneVT08]

More questions!!!

Do I really need to aerate the water/gravel/sand somehow? How would I go about doing this? Just getting a small bubble wall? Would that do the trick?

and

I've read about the styrofoam or something that you put under the tank? What is that made of? And does it need to fill that whole space or what?

Projected Stocking (so far): (UPDATED TODAY)

4-5 Clown Loaches
1-2 Angelfish <----- Thinking about scrapping the angelfish...
1-3 Dwarf Gourami
a school of Tiger Barbs (which would eliminate the Angel fish)
a school of danios... probably Giant Danios

Can anyone help me with suggested stocking here? Open to all suggestions. You can post them here or just send me a PM. Thanks.

 

[Fish'InMN]

Gouramis and angels will not get along. Both will nip fins, especially the angels. Tiger barbs can also be somewhat aggressive. I would recommend the clown loaches, a trio of gouramis and a school of danios. This is my personal opinion, you might want to do some more research on compatibility.

Cheers,
Marty

 

[WayneVT08]

Gouramis and angels will not get along. Both will nip fins, especially the angels. Tiger barbs can also be somewhat aggressive. I would recommend the clown loaches, a trio of gouramis and a school of danios. This is my personal opinion, you might want to do some more research on compatibility.

Cheers,
Marty

Angel Fish are often seen in aquariums with Gouramis, Giant Danios, Rainbows, a group of Bala Sharks, and a group of Clown Loaches.

source: http/www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/...sorted.htm#top2 - towards the bottom of the page.

^^^ That is from an angel fish page...

This is from a Dwarf Gourami page:

Often seen in aquariums with Angel Fish, Bigger Tetras, and livebearers such as Platies, Mollies, and Swordtails.

source: http/www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/...uramis.htm#top2 - towards bottom of page.

 

[WayneVT08]

Update: May 10th

It's raining here in Atlanta, GA. So no getting wood today. We had to push it back to tomorrow because if we were to get the wood today it would porbably end up warping. So hopefully tomorrow.