Aquarium and Fish Nutheads, I NEED YOUR HELP.

[Tab]

DO NOT BUY OSCARS!

Why?

1) They're mean and aggressive and get pissed off. The generally don't like anything and will ruin any decorations inside your tank.

2)Overbreed this usually results in diseases like Hole-In-The-Head and crappy fish

3)Oscars get HUGE putting them in a anything less than a 300 gallon take is just plain wrong and immoral. You can't expect a fish that is going to get feed on a daliy basis to not go over the size of a Oscar in the wild. These fish get huge and huge fish crap A LOT.

DONT BUY A OSCAR...

Also

Don't buy a undergravel filter - DUMBEST THING IN EXSISTANCE

I would recommend 2 Aquaclear 300s on each side of the tank along with a High-Quality Ebo-Jager or somesuch submersible heater...

A python water changing kit will also help out tremndously...

If you're going to just have fish, I'd recommend a 1/3 inch layer of black beach sand that is clean... Why black? Fish don't like bright BLUE unnatural colors... They'll stand out a lot more and the tank will be much easier to clean

CLIFF NOTES

1)Don't buy a Oscar
2)Don't buy a Undergravel Filter - EVER
3)Aquaclears are one of the most simple and most effective filters ever
4)Python Kits own for cleaning aquariums
5)Your tap water more than likely has more crap in it than your piss.

I'd put in 50 or so neon tetras in the tank or something that can live up in a harsh tap water enviorment.

What's the ph of your tap exactly?

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: creedog
Just for fun here is a pic from my heavily planted 55 gallon.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/creedog/IMG_07911.jpg


I also have a 40 gallon that is just has heavily planted.

What are you using for lighting?

 

[phreakah]

a cool thing to do with the tank would be to put about 30-40 exodons in there... they're agressive tetras that school together really well.. do a search (google) on them if you're interested

also, if you plan to have live plants, i'd go with power compact lighting... it's affordable (check jebo on ebay, i ran one on my tank and it was GREAT).. you only need about 45 watts of PC lighting for your tank

 

[no0b]

Sand Fluidizer is the best biological filter, absolutely no maintance.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p...display.cfm?pcatid=3654&productid=6404

Couple the fluidizer with one of these for mechanical/chemical filtration.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=7375&N=2004+22779

Get a heater, some decorations, gravel, and you are set. Cheapest setup by far.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: no0b
Sand Fluidizer is the best biological filter, absolutely no maintance.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p...display.cfm?pcatid=3654&productid=6404

Couple the fluidizer with one of these for mechanical/chemical filtration.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=7375&N=2004+22779

Get a heater, some decorations, gravel, and you are set. Cheapest setup by far.

The water will flow in the path of least resistance.

 

[Doggiedog]

Also make sure you have a weeklong UPS battery backup in the event your block has a weeklong power outage during the summer so your all fish won't die like mine did.

 

[creedog]

Originally posted by: Tab

Originally posted by: creedog
Just for fun here is a pic from my heavily planted 55 gallon.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/creedog/IMG_07911.jpg


I also have a 40 gallon that is just has heavily planted.

What are you using for lighting?

1 130 watt aqualife pc, 6500k
2 15 watt powerglow NO, ~12000k (i think)

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: no0b
Sand Fluidizer is the best biological filter, absolutely no maintance.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p...display.cfm?pcatid=3654&productid=6404

Couple the fluidizer with one of these for mechanical/chemical filtration.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=7375&N=2004+22779

Get a heater, some decorations, gravel, and you are set. Cheapest setup by far.

1)Sand is OKAY however if you get any gunk or crap in it. All of nice stuff inside get's FVCKED and it's a biatch to clean. A simple Aquaclear is just as effective and efficent

2)Looks too good to be true, get a Aquaclear.

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Also make sure you have a weeklong UPS battery backup in the event your block has a weeklong power outage during the summer so your all fish won't die like mine did.

I wonder how long a 1000VA Belkin UPS would last...

Anyone know what I would need to know reguarding the mathmatical calculations to figure out how long 1000VAs would last me?

 

[her209]

I will point you to another forum that may better suit your needs/questions as a fish keeper.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: Tab

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Also make sure you have a weeklong UPS battery backup in the event your block has a weeklong power outage during the summer so your all fish won't die like mine did.

I wonder how long a 1000VA Belkin UPS would last...

Anyone know what I would need to know reguarding the mathmatical calculations to figure out how long 1000VAs would last me?

Well, I think the biggest draw would be heaters, and in a tank that size you should have at least two. The light is flourescent, so unless you're using a set up with a couple bulbs, it shouldn't draw too much. And to be honest, I have no clue what those little impeller motors draw, but it can't be that much.

Personally, I've never used a UPS, and I don't know anyone that has either. Never thought about it really, but if I were in an area with unreliable power (used to be around here, but that was years ago), I would certainly consider it.

Nate

 

[Tab]

Well, if anything I'd more than likely have 2 UPS. One for the filters and one for the heater.

Maybe this is a question that belongs in Highly Technical.

 

[ElMonoDelMar]

The Rena XP series canister filters are really about your best bet. Grab an XP3 and see how that treats you.

 

[sharkeeper]

Fluidised bed filters are nitrate-nitrogen factories (ok in highly stocked freshwater systems where phosphate levels are controlled with granular media binned contactors or blow off towers) and they also consume lots of oxygen so a return MUST be directed across the top of the column. Of course if a blow off tower is utilised for PO4 control D02 is never a problem.

Also the recirculation system MUST NEVER BE SHUT off for extended periods on these systems!

That brings the topic of backup power. A UPS is good for short term outages or to protect your GMS/GMARS. Oversizing the UPS is a bad idea. Proper engineering includes the installation of UBS or flywheel system with genny. Ferro banks are good with large systems backed up with gas turbine gennies of 10khp+

 

[freebee]

I keep a koi in my 55 gal. Massive filtration via canisters and HOB filters plus 30% weekly water changes. Plus I had to stunt him a bit early to keep him about 1.5 feet, maybe a lil bigger. I also got two goldfish and a crayfish in the same tank with fairly good water quality. Now thats overstocking.

Shop at Big Als, they got good prices.

 

[Antisocial Virge]

I agree Big Als has a good selection and prices but when I went shopping around to get my filters and such, Petsmart's website had the best deals. For example right now the Rena XP is $5 more from petsmart than big als but there is a coupon that will take $21 off the Petsmart price. It might be closer after tax and shipping but I found when I bought my cannister and diatom filter, Petsmart was the best deal.