Starting A 27 Gallon Tank (Used) + Stocking Ideas

[x2p]

I had been following freecycle daily for fish tanks etc in Japan. Low and behold I finally found one!

Ironically the guy is from the same place as I am in Canada where neither of us have ever met anyone from there here in Japan. Heck even same highschool. Its such a small world hahaha

The tank etc...

Anyways, the tank was used for goldfish buy him but he got it used as well and it has been sitting dry for a while. Its a 27 Gallon. 75cm x 35cm x 45 cm height

How do I check for leaks? Fill it up and let it sit?

Should I scrub it down with vinegar and water solution to clean it?

Unfortunately, no filter, heater etc. So I am working out what to grab.

I am considering a canister but they seems like a lot of maintenance.

I was thinking the Eheim 2217 or possibly a wetdry filter? Any suggestions are welcome. Will a Eheim 2217 canister provide too strong of a flow?

Also for heater, I was thinking a controllable 300 watt. Sounds good or too little? Japanese homes have no central heating.

Lighting will be a double bulb set up.

Stocking

First off lets talk fish! I want to make this tank more of a "biotope"

I am thinking South American as wood is ok (will lower ph but no risk of glass breaking). African is out of the picture as rocks, although nice and raise ph are a no no for where I life (Earthquake zone).

Any suggestions on fish? I want something "large". I fell in Love with an Oscar at the petshop but I know it will be too small for him soon enough. I cant get a bigger tank on the second floor anyways.

What is like an oscar? I do like Blue Ram Cichilds, but they require a well cycled tank and I heard they mate quite frequently. I want to avoid mating at all costs as I dont want to keep spending cash on new tanks. hahaha (5 Tanks in less than two months + this one )

Angels and Discus are pretty cool too. Though I may end up with Male guppies.

I want fish that are a little "odd" but interactive, aggressive and active.

I want this to be a planted tank with NO CO2. I really dont have the cash or time for a CO2 setup.

Thanks in advance. This free tank is coming at a perfect time as I was preparing to order a similar 24 gallon tank.

 

[Liam50]

when i found a tank, i filled it fully and let it sit for an hour, then i washed it out with just water and some bletch stuff (i wanted to make sure it was all gone so i took the ultimate test and licked the glass) anyway, you may find a 300w is a bit large for a tank that size you could probably use a 150w-200w. also maintaining a external eheim is sooo easy, i have had one and would definitely use them again, quiet, reliable and easy to access. i'm not sure about angels, but you could keep german blue rams and i haven't heard of them breeding to much, if you wanted something odd you try a twig catfish or farowella.

 

[x2p]

when i found a tank, i filled it fully and let it sit for an hour, then i washed it out with just water and some bletch stuff (i wanted to make sure it was all gone so i took the ultimate test and licked the glass) anyway, you may find a 300w is a bit large for a tank that size you could probably use a 150w-200w. also maintaining a external eheim is sooo easy, i have had one and would definitely use them again, quiet, reliable and easy to access. i'm not sure about angels, but you could keep german blue rams and i haven't heard of them breeding to much, if you wanted something odd you try a twig catfish or farowella.

Thanks for the response Liam.

You really took the ultimate test to the tank I cant lick it.. ironically although I love fish I am severely allergic XD

I was leaning towards a 300w since here in Japan there is no central heating... meaning homes can go down to 5C. Its my first year in this place and although it is far better than most homes by just having real insulation and double pained glass (VERY RARE HERE) I dont know if I should trust the home.

What would you consider easy maintenance? From what I was able to find it was once a month cleaning out the tubes and that was it.

Im considering an wet dry system as well as it would save me a bit of cash.. or a tetra canister

Wow those farowella are odd 0.o they are interesting but Im not sure if I want one. I like more bulky fish.

Thanks

 

[Liam50]

no central heating why is that? i thought japan was advanced
well most people on here clean their canister filters between 6-12 months generally when flow is reduced as you don't want to making a mess every month. i don't understand the bit about a wet dry system as i'm pretty sure that most wet dry systems are more than the conventional canister filter.
thinking of odd go for a Hammers Cobalt Blue Lobster . fits the weird category and i believe they will take live food (although never recommended as sole diet)

 

[x2p]

no central heating why is that? i thought japan was advanced
well most people on here clean their canister filters between 6-12 months generally when flow is reduced as you don't want to making a mess every month. i don't understand the bit about a wet dry system as i'm pretty sure that most wet dry systems are more than the conventional canister filter.
thinking of odd go for a Hammers Cobalt Blue Lobster . fits the weird category and i believe they will take live food (although never recommended as sole diet)

Yup no central heating, code only requires a home's supporting beams to be 2x 4s =.=;

That sounds pretty minimum. A wet dry filter sucks water up and dribbles it down on hoops:

I am thinking Ill go with a 2215 as it would cut the cost of the filter in half. I am leaning towards guppies or endlers or blue rams