Instead of starting multiple posts all over the forum I've decided to do it all here. If that isn't acceptable just move it.
I have been thinking about a larger tank and thinking of all the things I would want for it. I had a idea of what I wanted size wise and went so far as to completely rearrange the room that the tank would be going in to try and get a feel if the location would be right. Here is a pick of the area that I had planned for it.
There is a nice empty spot right under the mirror. I made a cut out of the tanks size and just layed it on the floor to see how it would fit in the space.
Well after a few days I could already tell that it wasn't going to work. It was in the way of the dresser and also the desk. As you can tell this is a pretty small room but if I get a bigger tank this is where it has to go. After a couple days I think I may have it figured out, so everything gets moved back like it was before.
The tank will go where I had planned it above but the dresser will be leaving. The clothes will be relocated to storage cabinets I'll either buy or build in the closet. The 10 gal and 5 gal will be stacked and moved to a small partial wall beside the closet.
Excuse the bucket it has my driftwood soaking in. That wall is just big enough. I looked at a double 10 gallon steel stand today while I was at the LFS but they wanted $40 for it. I think I have enough scrap steel to make one. So I'll be designing and building one. I have several pets and small children here so I'll have to design a way to anchor it to the wall.
Well now that I have a place to put it let's figure out the rest of it. The tank itself is only $90 and is 36"x18"x16". I do not like the stands that they carry so I'll be building my own. The plan is for a mixture of sand and natural colored gravel with two or three different "areas" of rock and wood. I would like some real plants as cover for the fish but want plants that are simple to care for. As far as fish go I've almost made up my mind to go with a couple large shoals of tetras, black widows and something else and some cories.
The hood at the LFS was a glass hood topped with a Aqueon light with 1 - 24" single tube. Would this be enough for what I've described above?
Filters. From what I've read so far the two most talked about (in the US anyway) is Rena & Eheim. Also it seems that a 40 gallon is just right about where the filters break for the sizes. The Rena XP1 is rated for up to 45 gallon and the XP2's is 75. Same with Eheim Pro, the 2222 is 40 and the 2224 is 66. I'm assuming that it would be better to go for the next size up, correct? And while we're on filters I guess most larger tanks are using external canister filters?, Why, are they that must better?
I'll be continuing to do research on putting this thing together but feel free to throw out suggestions on anything from fish, favorite heaters, plants, filters, rock or anything else that may help and keep my from doing what I've had to on my last two tanks, do them over.
I've already made my first purchase for the new tank. While at the LFS today I found the most awesome piece of Malaysian wood. It's 12"x5"x6" and will be perfect.
I have been thinking about a larger tank and thinking of all the things I would want for it. I had a idea of what I wanted size wise and went so far as to completely rearrange the room that the tank would be going in to try and get a feel if the location would be right. Here is a pick of the area that I had planned for it.
There is a nice empty spot right under the mirror. I made a cut out of the tanks size and just layed it on the floor to see how it would fit in the space.
Well after a few days I could already tell that it wasn't going to work. It was in the way of the dresser and also the desk. As you can tell this is a pretty small room but if I get a bigger tank this is where it has to go. After a couple days I think I may have it figured out, so everything gets moved back like it was before.
The tank will go where I had planned it above but the dresser will be leaving. The clothes will be relocated to storage cabinets I'll either buy or build in the closet. The 10 gal and 5 gal will be stacked and moved to a small partial wall beside the closet.
Excuse the bucket it has my driftwood soaking in. That wall is just big enough. I looked at a double 10 gallon steel stand today while I was at the LFS but they wanted $40 for it. I think I have enough scrap steel to make one. So I'll be designing and building one. I have several pets and small children here so I'll have to design a way to anchor it to the wall.
Well now that I have a place to put it let's figure out the rest of it. The tank itself is only $90 and is 36"x18"x16". I do not like the stands that they carry so I'll be building my own. The plan is for a mixture of sand and natural colored gravel with two or three different "areas" of rock and wood. I would like some real plants as cover for the fish but want plants that are simple to care for. As far as fish go I've almost made up my mind to go with a couple large shoals of tetras, black widows and something else and some cories.
The hood at the LFS was a glass hood topped with a Aqueon light with 1 - 24" single tube. Would this be enough for what I've described above?
Filters. From what I've read so far the two most talked about (in the US anyway) is Rena & Eheim. Also it seems that a 40 gallon is just right about where the filters break for the sizes. The Rena XP1 is rated for up to 45 gallon and the XP2's is 75. Same with Eheim Pro, the 2222 is 40 and the 2224 is 66. I'm assuming that it would be better to go for the next size up, correct? And while we're on filters I guess most larger tanks are using external canister filters?, Why, are they that must better?
I'll be continuing to do research on putting this thing together but feel free to throw out suggestions on anything from fish, favorite heaters, plants, filters, rock or anything else that may help and keep my from doing what I've had to on my last two tanks, do them over.
I've already made my first purchase for the new tank. While at the LFS today I found the most awesome piece of Malaysian wood. It's 12"x5"x6" and will be perfect.
tell us what tye of tank you want and we'll tell you what stock you can have in it,to name a few: normal community,arican cichlid (not many options here),semi-aggresive community,fully aggresive speices tank,marine,brackish,biotype or maybe even millions of shrimp 
