Stradius011

I got it for free from my dad's friend. He says that it's a 75 gallon aquarium but it doesn't seem much bigger than my 29 gallon aquarium. It has a lot of scratches and is really dirty. Could I clean it with baking soda? Also, I plan to put leleupi cichlids in there.

sgould

If you go here: http://www.fishlore.com/ConversionCalculator.htm

At the bottom of the page is an area where you can put in the measurements of the tank and hit "compute" and it will tell you how many gallons the tank holds. That would let you confirm the size if you are unsure based on its appearance.

Butterfly

WOW! How lucky can you get! Congrats on the new tank. Baking soda and lots of work will get it clean
Carol

Tom

You could also use vinegar to clean it and then you would have to rinse it like you have never rinsed before. You could also use this site which Butterfly showed me.
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/volcalc.html
Tom

Isabella

I'm very happy for you Stradius You know, I used to think that 75 gallon is a big tank ... but actually, after a while, it becomes kind of "normal" ... you know. Now it doesn't seem that big to me at all! I want a bigger tank! I don't think I'll ever be satisfied in this hobby UNTIL I get some 200 - 300 gallon tank ... seriously!

COBettaCouple

Maybe the aquarium down at 'The Living Seas' in EPCOT would do? Think of the possibilities.. LOL

Stradius011

I decided to get Fancy Goldfishes. How many would do, 4-6 or less? What plants are reccomended? I am not good at designing my aquariums.

COBettaCouple

http://www.petcaretips.net/fancy-goldfish-care.html - this info might help. 4-6 sounds like they'd fit into a 75g well.

sirdarksol

If you're buying live plants for goldfish, don't buy expensive ones. Goldfish have a habit of tearing them out of the substrate and snacking on them. I planted a little swatch of microsword in my tank. About a week later, I found it floating on the surface.

Stradius011

So far I have vallisneria, swordplants, java fern, myriophyllum hippuroides, anarchis, and water sprites on my list. Will they be hardy enough?

atmmachine816

I did a bit of work for my aunt and got some good links, I'll see if I can pull them up for you. I wouldn't go for more than 6 fancies. Though if you wanted you could keep a common plec in the tank as long as you keep a heater so it doesn't get too cold but you would have to take some fancies out. The plants you said are ok though most will probably get eaten except java fern, though you can try and see what they do, doesn't hurt. Hornwort is good too I'm pretty sure along with java moss. Just have as much filtration as you can, more than 10x and use bubble things.

Stradius011

So...get a filter that's for a 750 gallon with aerotion thingies?

atmmachine816

What I would do is get two of the large filters at wal-mart, called aqua-tech or something like that than DIY put a bio-wheel on it. I think they run about 30-35$. They are a lot cheaper and the same filter basicaly as the bio-wheel just without the bio-wheel. Or if you not comfortable with that get two of the biggest aquaclear or bio-wheels or one of each. Or if you have the money get a canister. Depends on your budget and what you like. Personally I would just get a aquaclear, largest one and a emperor bio-wheel 400. And ya buy different aeration things and some pumps. Helps keep the water moving without creating a huge current and IMO I've seen goldfish tanks with and without these and the one's that have them are by far the best.

Stradius011

Actually, I need to make it a fancy guppy aquarium. My guppies are reproducing like crazy, lol. Can guppies and a pair of dojos get a long fine?

COBettaCouple

The dojos can be aggressive with small fish sometimes. I think it's a 50/50 thing.

Stradius011

Ok.

atmmachine816

You'l still need a large filter, guppies produce a lot of waste. They should keep reproducing in the 75, if you let it go long enough you'l have tons, my grandpa did that.

armadillo

Wow! 75G! Am getting a 40G from my parents for my birthday and thought I was pretty lucky, but 75G! You must have done something right in your previous life.

mojoman101

i would settle for a free ten! lol
great find. good luck.
mojo

Stradius011

Another person kindly offered to give me another aquarium that's about the same size but I don't have any more room, lol.

armadillo

You're kidding? How do you DO this? I guess I like to make myself feel better by imagining how much maintenance all those free tanks would be if I was offered them. Still. Xtreeeemely jealous!

COBettaCouple

Tell those people to move to my neighborhood, i'll gladly take that tank off their hands.

armadillo

Well actually, my customer today (am an IT consultant for my sins) had a screendrop of a fish tank, so we got chatting about it, and he told me I could have his 500L aquarium for 100 euros (don't ask me what that is in dollars. I guess around 2x as much). I seriously considered it, but there just isn't the room in my house. Argh!

atmmachine816

You know whats amazing, I was offered a 55gallon SW tank with all the live rock and fish and everything for 100$, but my parents wouldn't let me. It was probably worth over 1000$

COBettaCouple

wow.. that's almost a legal reason to slap them! i'd love that deal to come along.. i don't know where i'd put the tank, but maybe some furniture could go or something. we could sleep on the floor..

atmmachine816

Ya and all I got was a 5.5 gallon tank and I spent 100$ on live rock and one coral

Stradius011

Whoa....a 5.5 gallon SW tank? That's like...small.

armadillo

I think it's 55G.

100$ instead of 1000$, but indeed, where do you put it. Exact same thing happened to me and turned him down. Rah!

sirdarksol

Actually, I have seen a small (maybe as much as 10 gallons, but definitely not more than that) SW tank that was going for $750. It had a single tiny fish in it and then a bunch of inverts, mostly coral but with a tiny cleaner crew. It was a very pretty tank, though I've got to think that keeping the water parameters in check would be a pain, especially with the sensitivity of coral.

armadillo

That is sooo expensive!