New tank!

Pamphilos · February 15th, 2009

Belated Happy Love Day everyone! <3

As a Vday gift to myself and my goldies I was finally able to get them a new tank! 20 gals and pretty nifty! (see bellow for peekchoors) For a filter I got an Aqua Clear 50 HOB, I wanted a filter that was easy to clean and maintain. There was a Fluval internal foam filter but I thought pulling it out every time to clean it would be a hassle, and besides it was around $6 more expensive hehe.

For lighting I got a simple fluorescent lamp with aluminum fixture. I'm looking around to put a yellow light tube in though to bring out the goldfish's color more. (pic 2 with cam flash and 3 no cam flash)

Unfortunately my LFS ran out of the gravel that I used in the first tank, will contact them again next week if they have stock. Meanwhile I'll be looking in the 2 other shops nearby if they have similar substrate.

For now the tank is going through a 24 hour burn-in. Will start doing cycling as soon as I get substrates and plants. Will keep you posted! ^_^

shellbell4ever · February 15th, 2009

yea!!a new tank

what is it a 20gal high?Whats all the blue?

JESS01 · February 15th, 2009

I CAN"T wait for pics with the goldfish in!

Lucy · February 15th, 2009

Neat set up. I'm curious, is the light fixture attached to the underside of the shelf? Does the tank have a lid? How will you do a gravel vac and water change?

I ask because I saw this really cool shelving unit yesterday and happily exclaimed to my husband, do you know how many tanks I could fit on that?
He poked so many holes in my theory and your answers will give me ammunition. lol

Pamphilos · February 15th, 2009

Thanks everyone for the very enthusiastic replies! I myself am barely able to resist the compulsion to take the day off and go aqua scape shopping so that I can move the fish in ASAP!

shellbell4ever: the tank's dimensions are 24"x12"X16" so I *think* its a long tank. All the blue is from the fluorescent lamp. I asked the lady and they said it was a 'white' lamp :/ The blue color is somewhat increased because of the blue plastic borders on the top and bottom of the tank.

JESS01: me too!

Lucy: to answer your questions:

1. The light fixture is just an aluminum housing placed on the glass lid of the aquarium. It can be easily removed during cleaning and water changes.

2. The tank has a simple glass lid on top. I'll attach pics later when I get back from work.

3. Ah! Am always glad to help a fish lover rationalize a need for more shelf real estate!

The "shelf cabinet" was originally used for books/sound system/TV. The larger area where the 20g tank is now is the area for the TV. You can see in my original post that the left side used to be full of shelves and books! So one key aspect of this shelf cabinet is that is customizable, and the shelf planks can be removed!

So whenever I do water changes, I just remove the books and whatnot on the shelves over the tanks, and remove the shelf planks! Voila, easy access to tank. I remove some stuff on the topmost shelf to put the pail from which I siphon the new water.

Had I been able to get a 30gal tank, I would have moved all the stuff from the top shelf and put it in the TV area and put the tank up there. Then during water changes I would use a power-head to pump the water from the pail on the floor to the tank up top.

Cheers!

Lucy · February 15th, 2009

Thanks, It looks really good!

agabr123 · February 15th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucy

I ask because I saw this really cool shelving unit yesterday and happily exclaimed to my husband, do you know how many tanks I could fit on that?
He poked so many holes in my theory and your answers will give me ammunition. lol

i was considering industrial shelving for a fish room, the only issues i was having were

1. making sure i could actually open/remove the lids for cleaning
2. which tanks (if any) to put on the bottom, a gravel vac wouldn't work very well thanks to the gravitational force involved with it
3. which tanks (if any) to put on the very top shelf, i'd be scared it would be too top heavy and i'd probably just use the top and bottom shelves for storage for either a QT that could be quickly set up and keeping all of my conditioners, medications, test kits, etc
4. having enough plugs, easily fixed with extension cords

5. even distribution of weight

other than that, i don't see any problems with it except for the weight on the floor, the shelving would definitely be able to hold the weight, but my floor probably couldnt. oh and i still live in a dorm and i'm only allowed to have a 20 gallon tank

Pamphilos · February 16th, 2009

Here is a pic of the lifted shelf section to have access to the top of the tank.

agabr123: valid points! Good thing my floor is solid concrete

Pamphilos · February 23rd, 2009

Went to the LFS last Sat, still no gravel but they got a shipment of these really nifty tank products, so I splurged a little hehe. In the first pic they are: the Hawaii Blue background on top, then from the left is a set of tube fasteners, 10 cm ceramic bubble tube, couple of intake guards, tank thermometer, and some really cool air-flow regulators. Second pic is the tank all spruced up!

Now only needs gravel and plants and some ornaments! Rawr must find teh substratezzz!!!

<3

kojen · February 23rd, 2009

ok the tank is probably the neatest 20 gallon i have seen so as far as shelving goes who is to say you have to go all the way to the top.

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