Show me your aquarium
Discussion
New tank excitement is great - it's been a long time since I've set one up.
My new cabinet is ready for the big swap to begin on Friday. Not quite new, but as close as. I've broken down all the rock that was epoxyed together, but left it in the tank for now. On Friday I'll lift it out as gently as I can, let the water calm down, and hopefully it will make it easier to get the fish out.
Temporary accommodation for the gang was picked up and has been jetwashed pristine. It will have heater skimmer rock and a powerhead, so will be fine for a few days
And this not so little lady has been in the shop for weeks, so it's time she had a new home. She'll move in after the swap is done and settled.
Wallpaper has arrived as it's the only chance we'll get to redecorate in years, and a gallon of white vinegar is due tomorrow to clean everything while it's stripped down.
And of course, just as this is about to start, the TVR decided to dump it's coolant about 2 miles from home last week.
I hear that yachting is a cheaper hobby than these.
My new cabinet is ready for the big swap to begin on Friday. Not quite new, but as close as. I've broken down all the rock that was epoxyed together, but left it in the tank for now. On Friday I'll lift it out as gently as I can, let the water calm down, and hopefully it will make it easier to get the fish out.
Temporary accommodation for the gang was picked up and has been jetwashed pristine. It will have heater skimmer rock and a powerhead, so will be fine for a few days
And this not so little lady has been in the shop for weeks, so it's time she had a new home. She'll move in after the swap is done and settled.
Wallpaper has arrived as it's the only chance we'll get to redecorate in years, and a gallon of white vinegar is due tomorrow to clean everything while it's stripped down.
And of course, just as this is about to start, the TVR decided to dump it's coolant about 2 miles from home last week.
I hear that yachting is a cheaper hobby than these.
Edited by S11Steve on Sunday 19th September 22:58
MG CHRIS said:
Hang on back or sponge filter will do set the tank up get a API test kit and follow some online guides on cycling a tank kg tropical so some great videos on YouTube.
Smaller ta KS can be a bit harder too maintain though and keep stable but. Good luck and hope it works out.
Thanks Chris, turns out its a bit bigger than i though 110litre tank, not sure where im going to put it but could turn into a bigger project than i first thoughtSmaller ta KS can be a bit harder too maintain though and keep stable but. Good luck and hope it works out.
Mega exciting Steve!
That a Desjardinii sailfin? Probably my favourite fish ever, remember spending hours watching one flit about in a huge reef system at one public aquarium or another...
And here's me getting palpitations over the thought of moving my 50l nano downstairs and then up scaling in a couple of months.
That a Desjardinii sailfin? Probably my favourite fish ever, remember spending hours watching one flit about in a huge reef system at one public aquarium or another...
And here's me getting palpitations over the thought of moving my 50l nano downstairs and then up scaling in a couple of months.
Sway said:
Mega exciting Steve!
That a Desjardinii sailfin? Probably my favourite fish ever, remember spending hours watching one flit about in a huge reef system at one public aquarium or another...
And here's me getting palpitations over the thought of moving my 50l nano downstairs and then up scaling in a couple of months.
Not the best photo of her, but yes. She is around 8" tall - long - round - not sure how a sailfin should be measured, but too big for the majority of tanks which is why she has been left in the shop for so long.That a Desjardinii sailfin? Probably my favourite fish ever, remember spending hours watching one flit about in a huge reef system at one public aquarium or another...
And here's me getting palpitations over the thought of moving my 50l nano downstairs and then up scaling in a couple of months.
Lovely personality, and a very pretty little face. And I have a noticeable increase in algae since the tangs departed.
Can’t compete with you Steve! But we are filled. No leaks as yet. Transferred as much rinsed ( in treated water) substrate as I dared. Rest made up from new. Transferred half the bio media from old to new filter. Chucked a log from old tank in plus a bit of plant and a couple of other little bits. Finished late Sunday night. Monday the water was v v cloudy. Looked to be bacterial bloom as kinda expected. Just got home from work and it’s nearly completely clear. Some ammonia to be added over the next few days to see how it copes. So far still happy, but nervous….
mini me said:
Can’t compete with you Steve! But we are filled. No leaks as yet. Transferred as much rinsed ( in treated water) substrate as I dared. Rest made up from new. Transferred half the bio media from old to new filter. Chucked a log from old tank in plus a bit of plant and a couple of other little bits. Finished late Sunday night. Monday the water was v v cloudy. Looked to be bacterial bloom as kinda expected. Just got home from work and it’s nearly completely clear. Some ammonia to be added over the next few days to see how it copes. So far still happy, but nervous….
To be fair, tank size is really not a healthy competition to get drawn into - as much as I love my system, we were one dead fish away from giving it all up a few months back.The cloudiness is going to be the usual silt from the substrate - When i pulled my rock apart at the weekend, I couldn't see from front to back it was that cloudy, but a few hours of flow and filtration it soon cleared up.
Blooms will come and go over time though - it's all part of the process and part of the pain.
You won't go far wrong by taking your time. Small steps and changes are easier to manage and react to than one big thing going wrong, like adding too many fish at once.
Or one particularly toxic fish....
Nah. Not about tank size. It’s the salty vs fresh. I’d love a decent saltwater setup but I think I need to stick to what I know. It’s a steep learning curve eh. Know what you mean about giving up though. Took me a long time to get our old one settled properly and there were definitely times where I thought enough is enough.
Think that’s my concern with the new one. Don’t want to rush anything for sure. Fish are very happy and healthy in their current tank. But now I’m looking after two! Just don’t want to kill any in the process.
Think that’s my concern with the new one. Don’t want to rush anything for sure. Fish are very happy and healthy in their current tank. But now I’m looking after two! Just don’t want to kill any in the process.
Another useful tip is to get into the mindset that you "keep water" not fish.
If your water is good, then you will have happy inhabitants (barring territory or size issues)
Before the crash in April, my water was pretty much stable for 3-4 years to the point where I hadn't tested the water since the previous summer, and around Christmas before that. Granted a bigger volume will always be more stable, but it was still well stocked with some big appetites and waste output to control. There was a point a few years ago where I thought my test kit was faulty as readings were barely changed after months of regular testing, but another new kit confirmed it was the result good routine and husbandry. I kept doing what I was doing, and kept getting the same results.
I realise I'm going to have to build up slowly and test regularly again after the swap, and get to know my own feeding and water change routines again.
When you spend enough time with the tank to you will get to learn some of the little "tells" that something isn't quite right - the start of an algae bloom, a patch of cyanobacteria, some hair algae that the tangs won't eat etc. Nothing tends to be too problematic when caught early from my own experience.
Water testing is a boring and dull chore, but absolutely necessary.
If your water is good, then you will have happy inhabitants (barring territory or size issues)
Before the crash in April, my water was pretty much stable for 3-4 years to the point where I hadn't tested the water since the previous summer, and around Christmas before that. Granted a bigger volume will always be more stable, but it was still well stocked with some big appetites and waste output to control. There was a point a few years ago where I thought my test kit was faulty as readings were barely changed after months of regular testing, but another new kit confirmed it was the result good routine and husbandry. I kept doing what I was doing, and kept getting the same results.
I realise I'm going to have to build up slowly and test regularly again after the swap, and get to know my own feeding and water change routines again.
When you spend enough time with the tank to you will get to learn some of the little "tells" that something isn't quite right - the start of an algae bloom, a patch of cyanobacteria, some hair algae that the tangs won't eat etc. Nothing tends to be too problematic when caught early from my own experience.
Water testing is a boring and dull chore, but absolutely necessary.
Yep. Understood. Our current tank has been stable for a long long time. I probably stopped testing the water around 8 yrs ago. I can’t remember how old it is. But it’s older than my daughter and she is now 12.
All will be well I hope. Just added some ammonia around an hour ago. Gonna do a test soon to get a baseline. See how it goes from there over the next few days/ weeks.
Hopefully days….
All will be well I hope. Just added some ammonia around an hour ago. Gonna do a test soon to get a baseline. See how it goes from there over the next few days/ weeks.
Hopefully days….
mini me said:
Yep. Understood. Our current tank has been stable for a long long time. I probably stopped testing the water around 8 yrs ago. I can’t remember how old it is. But it’s older than my daughter and she is now 12.
I think I got my replies mixed up - I thought this was a fairly new set up to you..... Sorry if it came across like you were new to the hobby!
mini me said:
Can’t compete with you Steve! But we are filled. No leaks as yet. Transferred as much rinsed ( in treated water) substrate as I dared. Rest made up from new. Transferred half the bio media from old to new filter. Chucked a log from old tank in plus a bit of plant and a couple of other little bits. Finished late Sunday night. Monday the water was v v cloudy. Looked to be bacterial bloom as kinda expected. Just got home from work and it’s nearly completely clear. Some ammonia to be added over the next few days to see how it copes. So far still happy, but nervous….
Same tank and cabinet as mine I think! Is that from Maidenhead aquatics? What filter do you have?Khonda said:
Same tank and cabinet as mine I think! Is that from Maidenhead aquatics? What filter do you have?
Yep it’s and aqua oak 110cm from Maidenhead aquatics yes. Went with a fluval 307 filter. Old tank has a 305 and it’s been very reliable for many years so hopefully this new one will prove just as good. mini me said:
Yep it’s and aqua oak 110cm from Maidenhead aquatics yes. Went with a fluval 307 filter. Old tank has a 305 and it’s been very reliable for many years so hopefully this new one will prove just as good.
Yes same as mine then. They are really nice, you do need to go careful of water marks on the wood though. I taped up the gaps at the top of the glass where the pipes go through as when fully filled up water can splash up. Also the lip around the edge can catch water so I always have a towel ready for mopping up.I hope you get on well with it!
I run a planted Aquareef 400. Jebao 5000 DC return pump which I’m very impressed with btw. Small C02 dose and cheap all pond solutions led light. My son loves it and always wants to lend a hand when pruning or maintaining it.
So I thought I’d let him loose on his own one.
And number three made up of all the spare odds and sods we had about. This will be shrimp only with a few rasboras.
So I thought I’d let him loose on his own one.
And number three made up of all the spare odds and sods we had about. This will be shrimp only with a few rasboras.
New tanks all round then! Must be something in the water eh….
Yep I get what you mean about the water vs wood bit. Many towels hanging around in the lounge at the mo! Got a couple of new plants in today. Still in the pots as I was late home from work. Will sort that out when I have more time. Ammonia added for two days. No trace of anything on any tests yet though.
Yep I get what you mean about the water vs wood bit. Many towels hanging around in the lounge at the mo! Got a couple of new plants in today. Still in the pots as I was late home from work. Will sort that out when I have more time. Ammonia added for two days. No trace of anything on any tests yet though.
So far so good, everything had been dismantled, fish are in their temporary accommodation with the rock heaters & pumps, and they are pissed off.
Lost the corus wrasse after it jumped, so it's a rabbit run cover over the tub. It managed to flop about 8ft from the tub and was covered in garage floor dust.
Currently scraping the tank and it's coming up well. There is a real satisfaction in using a new scraper blade on coraline algae.
I'm also glad I have no sense of smell - shifting the substrate released plenty of "seaside aromas"...
Going to strip down all the pumps and reactors tomorrow, deep clean the Radion lights and start painting and wallpapering.
Lost the corus wrasse after it jumped, so it's a rabbit run cover over the tub. It managed to flop about 8ft from the tub and was covered in garage floor dust.
Currently scraping the tank and it's coming up well. There is a real satisfaction in using a new scraper blade on coraline algae.
I'm also glad I have no sense of smell - shifting the substrate released plenty of "seaside aromas"...
Going to strip down all the pumps and reactors tomorrow, deep clean the Radion lights and start painting and wallpapering.
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff