things that come handy when setting up a tank

Olla

To prevent the unnecessary frustration and time wasting when setting up a tank. What extra little use full things to have ready when you start. Things beginners like me wont think of.

Lets make a list!

1. Cable Ties (to keep things neat)
2. Big enough adapter for all the plugs and such
3. Towel
4. Bucket
5. Screws & Screwdrivers
6. Wine <--- will be in reach.
7. A long enough hose-pipe <--- not a problem got this covered.
8. A largish plate of sorts - to put on top of the sand while you are filling the tank <--- Good good.
9. One-way valves - put this by your air pump to stop your tank emptying if there is a power failure. <--- not sure how this work


you get the idea add some.


PS: I was wondering. We have a UV water filter attached to our kitchen tap. It meant to take out all the bad stuff in the water like chlorine, particles and such. Im thinking this would be good to use in the tank. Right?

 

4. Bucket
5. Screws & Screwdrivers
6. Wine

 

Not necessarily no - you want SOME minerals in the water.

Add to your list....

1. A long enough hose-pipe (what I usually do is full up with the hose and then condition and let run - beats running about with buckets etc)
2. A largish plate of sorts - to put ontop of the sand while you are filling the tank (stops the gravel etc being blown about and clouding the water)
3. One-way valves - put this by your airpump to stop your tank emptying if there is a power failure.

 

Things I make sure I have nearby on hand:

1. Scissors/pliers to cut tubing and plants
2. An old bath mat on the floor to catch water spillage
3. An old tea cloth draped over my shoulder (A MUST HAVE)
4. A seperate bucket to throw all the rubbish in. (Beats having to pic up the junk lying all over the room when all you want to do is sit back and admire the tank)
5. A small table at the correct height with all the necesary equipment on. This also keeps everything within reach if your hand is all the way in the tank, and you don't necessarily want to dry your arm just to go fetch the pair of scissors you left on the other side of your newly carpetted floor!

THINGS NOT TO HAVE NEAR YOU WHEN SETTING UP TANK.
1. Your multiplug or extension cord (PLUGGED IN!)
2. Your ipod
3. Your phone.
(These are generally not water friendly, and although your new tank might look ultra modern with the hi-tech equipment inside as ornaments, I'm sure a phone or ipod in the tank will leech some kind of junk that your fishes will not appreciate.)
4. Too much wine (that's a given)
5. And your wife's otterman that she got from Whetherleys does not make for a suitable table next to your tank with all the fishy stuff on it!

 

Brilliant Zoom - just one question, are you talking from experience (especially regarding point 5)? :bigsmile:

 

lol .... the list growsss

great guys .. keep it coming.

 

If you have an airpump in the tank cupboard or next to a tank on a desk the pump is below the level of the water. It's possible that if the pump stops pumping the water will go into the pipe enough to start a siphon and drain your tank out through your pump.

Option1: One way valves that can fail
Option2: Put the pump higher than the tank level

 

Not yet on the first 4 Veegal, but the 5th one comes from experience.... and not only once might I add...

 

It would take either a very brave man or a very stupid one to repeat something like that :bigsmile:

 

Not quite... but a very tolerant wife...

 

Very true :bigsmile:

 

a mop!

 

If you're gonna plant the tank, a layout drawing would help. Obviously you've researched which plants can go where. You don't wanna put your riccia in the background, right?

 

laptop + 3G + TASA

 

it will be a tank filled Malawi's. as far as i have reasearched the species i want to keep not much planting needed.

Is there any plants recommended for a Malawi tank?


**New List**


1.Cable Ties (to keep things neat)
2. Big enough adapter for all the plugs and such
3. Towels / Mop
4. Bucket
5. Screws & Screwdrivers / Scissors/pliers to cut tubing and plants
6. Wine <--- will be in reach.
7. A long enough hose-pipe <--- not a problem got this covered.
8. A largish plate of sorts - to put on top of the sand while you are filling the tank <--- Good good.
9. One-way valves - put this by your air pump to stop your tank emptying if there is a power failure. <--- thank you for explaining thanks Rory
10.An old tea cloth draped over my shoulder (A MUST HAVE)
11.A small table at the correct height with all the necessary equipment on. This also keeps everything within reach if your hand is all the way in the tank.

Come on there must be more clever things to add to make it easier.