Yayyyhh for meeee *1.2m tank sliding top*

So I have been looking for my very own first tank all through out May.

Last night I went to check out a tank for sale!

1.2 meter tank sliding top with all goodies inc (Crystal heater, fluval 304 external pump, spare parts, filter refills, some bottom feeder fish) and a bunch of other goodies.

:bigsmile: I paid R1400. I believe it to be a bargain next to the R2500 for a smaller Jebo Tank I wanted to buy original. Going to fetch it on Saturday!

They guy I bought from is getting married soon and needed a little extra cash. He was very nice, even said he will show me how to clean the filter and get it going again once its set up at my house.

I'm super excited. The tank is muchhhh bigger than I had anticipated (stompies I bought from Veegal wont be enough now ... ush

Any advise on how to move / transport the tank safely? :idea:

I will be posting pics from day of collection straight through setting up, decorating and so on ... Bet you lot will have a good laugh at my newbie maneuvers!! :wondering:

 

Foxy Smurf...

I am assuming that you are bringing the tank WITH the bottom feeder fish in it? Big mistake a lot of people do is start from scratch, and put fish in immedietely. Obviously with you getting the bottom feeders, this is unavoidable.

When setting up a new tank, we usually let the tank "cycle" for 10-14 days before introducing the fish. Meaning we set it up, heater, filter, substrate, plants, internal decor airstone etc. Fill the tank, and then run the tank. Someone once said that keeping fish is actually not the thing we do. We keep a colony of bacteria, and the fish feed this bacteria.

In the water we have what is called the Nitrite cycle. Google it. You need to know it well. When cylcing the tank for the 10 or so days, you are basically getting the bacteria started. The bacteria is the most critical aspect of any successful tank.

When you take collection of your tank, I would advise you NOT to renew the filter media. We actually NEVER completely renew the filter stuff.. but only change little bits of it at a time. And at most, simply rinse the filter media (in some aquarium water that you have taken out--- NEVER tap water, as tap water contained chlorine and will kill the bacteria).

Also try to keep as much of the water from the tank as possible. You might need to take some sealable buckets with to get the water as well.

If the guy who is selling you the tank is good at keeping fish, then I'm pretty sure that his water is reasonably suitable to keep.

Again I stress, DO NOT CHANGE THE FILTER MEDIA! Biggest mistake I ever made was to change the entire filter media... as well as 50% water, and landed up with all my fish dead!

Before adding any water after you are set up at home, make sure you dechlorinate the water. (Goodle on tips how to do this, or check out other threads).

I would also suggest getting a chemical from your LPS called Stability. I think Seachem make it. Follow the dosage instructions on the bottle for 7 days. It's an excellent product for starting a good bacteria growth in your tank.

Then on a final note. Invest in a good Aquarium Test Kit. Api make a good 5 in one test kit, but shop around, you could find cheaper ones. Learn your Nitrate cycle, and test your pH, Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates for the 10 or so days. When your water has finally settled to the ideal chemical properties, (Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrates 0-40) then you can look at introducing the other fish. Don't rush out and get your fish immedietely.

Spend the 10 or so days (because you using existing water and filter media, you could be ready within 5), searching and getting information on fish. Decide what fish you want, how many of each, suitable companions if you going the community route, and what type of water they need. Some fish prefer a higher pH, some a lower. Generally speaking a community tank will be about 7.0pH, but again, this depends on the fish.

And have fun Foxy... part of the hobby is the setting up and getting the ater right. And in my opinion, this is also the best part.

When you are set up... POST PICS. We'd love to see.

 

Not much can be added from what Zoom has said (very nice post by the way Zoom, very comprehensive)

A point to take note of though when transporting the tank - don't let it bang against anything hard - what you can perhaps do is put a layer of bubble wrap around it if you want to be extra careful. Make sure you put the tank in your bakkie ON the wood and polysterene in order to avoid any little stones etc from getting onto the bottom of the tank which may cause 'weak spots'.

I think that's all I can really add to Zoom's post except CONGRATS!

 

Hi Zoom

There is no rush for dumping the fish in (yellow morphs), as for the bottom feeders I have no where to go with them, they will be transported in a bucket, but will have to go in the tank as soon as its running. (unless some one offer them a temp home until my tank is ready for fish).

I will only introduce the fish on my b-day 13th June .. so from Sunday until the 13th the tank will be cycling (nearly two weeks). During this time I will learn how to test water and keep everything in check before adding fish.

I will get the test kit and, bacteria starter and dechlorination as suggested. I wont change the filter media, he just want to show me how to open and clean in future should it be needed.

 

Plans for the tank!

Substrate = White pool filter sand (i got some crushed shells as well is this a good idea)
Decor = Moopani stumps (from veegal) + different sizes terracotta clay pots infused between the stumps and scatted around the tank.
Lighting = White and Blue (I will need spesifications from you guys as to what tubes I must buy and if its ok for the fish)

Im not sure what about plants? What is suggested for a malawi tank (yellow morphs).

 

Foxy,

Crushed shells might be a bit sharp for your bottom feeders. Generally the people on this forum advice against using it, although other people swear by it.

I think I speak for 90% of the people here that the pool filter sand is DEFINATELY the way to go. And once you have oficcially cleaned your first bag of filter sand... then are well and truely into the hobby!!! (It took me nearly 6 hours to wash one 40kg bag... and it was still cloudy when i added the water to the tank. Be prepared for lovely good fun HARD work. My wife says it's the 'little boy' in me that loved cleaning the sand... cause I got to play with sand AND water at the same time! Heehee

Have a chat to Solex about the plants.But I warn you NOW, once you start with plants, you will loose interest in the fishies! The plants seem just that much more rewarding.
Google -planted aquariums and have a look at some of the stnning ideas out there!!

Lighting is dependant on plants... so Solex can help you again. Mopani stumps is also brilliant.

 

I did get my tank as planned last Saturday

Ran into some unforeseen troubles .... Will have it sorted by the weekend "after our get together".

I have a book :The guide to owing Oscars by Richard F Stratton (R110.50)

I have read it .... but wont need to keep it as im not planning on keeping Oscars any time soon.

I'm looking to trade the book for some advise and plants for my malawi tank. I know the malawis I plan to keep is rock dwellers. But I don't like the idea with absolutly no plants in it what so ever. What plants could I put in with them?

If you are interested please pm me

Oh for those who dont know I am in Cape Town.

 

plants +malawis = food

 

pics please

 

The only way you are going to get some plants in that tank with malawis would be if you use plastic plants....sorry.....

 

damn ... guess i will have to settle with the plastic then ...

no one want the book?

 

But if you don't have any live plants in your tank, how are you going to keep a balance in your tank with all the nasty stuff floating around in your water?
Reason I am asking is that I have a 80 liter tank with just snails in it, and with no plants for oblious reasons. This tank tends to go yukky within 3 days....

 

Two words.... WATER CHANGES That and as long as your bacteria is cool then that helps as well.

 

At the moment I am doing a 30-40% change every 3 days, and that is while the snails are still small. Don't know how it is going to change when they start becomming larger.

 

How long has the tank been running for Carping and do you syphon the substrate as well?

 

Tank has been running for about 1 month now, and no, I do not syphon, there are a lot of snails that will be sucked up

 

Filtration?

 

Got 2 filters off those types that you stick to the glass. Don't know what is the right name for them, But I clean them everytime I do a water change, and no, I dont clean them with tap water.

 

Very strange then.....I don't seem to have that problem with my snail tanks at all....water parameters maybe???

 

Honestly dont know. But maybe it could have somethig to do with the zuchinies and cucumbers I'm feeding them?