outlaw

capekate

Kewl! What size is that? a 29g tall? .... Looks like your all set to get that tank up and running! Have fun!

~ kate

Gozer_1

Looks like you're off to a good start!
Doesn't an empty tank just eat at you little by little. It just sits there saying "Fill me, fill me" Have fun getting it running. Decorating is one of the fun steps lol

outlaw

It's only a 20gal tall. Picture is kinda distorted because I forgot to lower the res on the camera. (put on the computer at a 3200x2000 res). I just shrunk it down in paint.

I have almost everything, but I don't really want to use it. The heater as you can see hangs on the back but the water line it has on it is right at the lip of the tank. The filter intake is cracked and easily overflows when starting to get plugged. The light is a standard 15W so I could use it and get by, but would prefer a little higher wattage for live plants. I have to air pumps, so that is a plus. lol

I was talking about it in our other post about getting an Odyssea B28 (slight bow front with front corners rounded glass). Anybody know anything about that company? It was a nice tank with a built in drip filter. $414 for a small kit, stand and hood.

Yes, the empty tank just sitting in my dining/living room does that. I just want to get fish in it, but still debating on using this tank or not. There is also a 5gal tank inside of it. I don't want to rush things like in the past. I have had good luck doing it but want to do something a lot better then before.

susitna-flower

OM !!! outlaw, how can you stand it! The cycle doesn't do itself, overnight, you will never get fish in there unless you make a plan and get started!!!!!

SO you need a new HOB filter, not very expensive for a 20 gallon! Make sure it processes at least 200 gph!

Then you have to decide on substrate. If you are doing plants it is good to have eco-complete. (Check out Isabellas 75 gal tank pictures. That is what is in the bottom of her tank, looks great!)

You can plant it and start the cycle, I'm sure with everything you already have the total cost to start this tank will not exceed $100.00. If you replace the lights, a little more...

outlaw

The only way I can stand it is, funds! lol. darn kids... anybody want one? lol JK! The filter/pump I have is only rated for like 118GPH or about that and the light is less then 1W per gal. For the substrate (i didn't look at Isabellas yet) I would like to do black stone, or a majority of black stone since it brings out all the colors of the plants and fish very nicely.

**update**
I assume you are talking about this post of Isabella's. Since I'm currently at work. The proxy blocks them. Some pictures I can see, some I can't. But I can't see any of hers.

susitna-flower

I hope you can open that post when you get home. It takes a LONG time to open, it did on my computer and I have a fast set up, You will not regret the wait however. Eco-complete is like black coarse sand. It has beneficial bacteria in it, and does not need to be washed, just put in as is (a moist with water in the bag) condition.

A KID? Thing to do is figure out a way to turn it into a "business", and everything you buy is tax deductable!

outlaw

My kids my wife and me a nice tax deduction, but they also came with great debt due to crap insurance. I will just have to save it up and do it right. As much as I want to rush in, I don't want to kill any fish or my wallet. lol Thanks for the heads up on the site.

COBettaCouple

Well, we're looking for a little girl, preferrably potty trained and our walmart is all out of them.

susitna-flower

I hope you find one as cute as my granddaughter, the very best kind, she loves "shish", and talks to them every chance she gets. Walmart doesn't carry this kind, they only carry the kind produced with overworked, underpaid labor! But they do have smilies on their foreheads!

outlaw

Sorry it's been so long, all of 3 days . COBetta, My oldest daughter (3) is fairly potty trained (just not at night). lol

Susitna, they are very cute. All my daughter talks about, when she talks about fish, is Nemo. lol

I was thinking too, should I just save up some extra money and go for a bigger tank/stand/filter combo then the 28G or just get the 28G when I have the money?

susitna-flower

Morning outlaw, de-stress with coffee?

Make it easy on yourself. Do the 20 gal, get a start and find out if it is for you....and save for at least a 55 gal.

You will find since they are so popular in size, that there are lots of them out there to pick up used, and if you keep your eyes open for sales they are one that is commonly on sale for CHEAP. Last summer one of the big chain stores was selling them for $1 / gallon, all over the country... So I would definitely save up. The 55 is a good size for the $$ and much more you can do with it.

GreenMan13

All I can say is Craigslist. I have bought 3 tanks off there so far. I have spent about $100 and have gotten a 20 gal, 10 gal, and a 55 gal with all the equipment for them except a heater for the 55 gal and lights for the 10 gal and 55 gal. The 20 gal I got the best deal with, $35 for everything including a HOB filter along with a canister filter and a nice wood stand and so a lot of exrta small things too. Just need to keep watch on there as the good deals go fast, especially with fish tanks.

outlaw

Susitna, I drink "Monster", can't stand coffee.

I am kind of confused by what you stated, first you said do the 20gal, then save up for the 55. Then at the end you said you would def. save up... Not sure where to go with that. Maybe it's just me and the long week at work.

Green, I was actually looking last night (til about 1230am) at craigslist, they have some 100+/- tanks with stand and top for like 4-500, which is about what this 28Gal Kit is new at the store. Only problem is room. I was just thinking of going with a slightly larger tank like a 45-60gal tank so I could get a little more variety of fish, or a few more of schooling fish.

susitna-flower

AH HA! Now I have your number..... I guess coffee dates me..

I was refering to the 20 gallon tank you HAVE, in the first post here, that just needs a little TLC.

My impression was that you were going to set that up, and save for a larger tank, and you were asking if you should save for a 28 gallon, or for something bigger. I am just saying BIGGER is BETTER!! Even if it takes awhile, it will be worth it. 28 gallon tank won't give you much more than you have now.

outlaw

The 28 wasn't that it was going to give us more, but that it was A LOT nicer and came with a stand. lol. Currently as you can see, we are using a dresser. My wife doesn't like that. We liked the 28Gal because it wasn't $1000, was a bow front and didn't have the corners in the front like a standard tank. I would just build one, but I am still finishing our Entertainment Center I started with a friend 3yrs ago...It's almost done (by no means is it small: little over 6ft tall, and about 7ft wide, 2ft deep made from scratch out of 3/4" plywood; for our 54" tv). Anyways... I will look a little more on Craigslist to see what else is there. I am going to stop at the LFS again hopefully this weekend to look at some pricing maybe just for the 20Gal.

Is there any "rule of thumb" to follow when looking at pump/filters? I know (or think I know) not to get the exact size of my tank. For our 20Gal, I was looking at a pump/dual filter for up to 60Gal tanks. Same with the heater, 150W rated for up to 55Gal.

GreenMan13

I understand how room can be a problem. I would have probably gone with a 100 gallons or so if i had the room.

If I was in your shoes...
1. Set up the tank you have and get the cycle started.
2. Keep looking on craigs list for a tank in the size and price you want.
then...
if you don't find a tank that fits your size and budget and the tank finishes its cycle you can add some fish to that and keep looking for another tank or be happy with that setup(I don't see that happening).
if you find a tank, you can add the water, gravel, and filter from the current tank to help speed up the cycle on the new tank.

outlaw

Makes sense, BUT... (probably seen that coming, lol) If I buy the stuff for this tank, I can't get the bigger tank, possibly with the same stuff or better... Oh the endless cycle begins of well, if I do this...what about that? lol I will try to stop at the other LFS to see what their price is on a HOB filter and heater. The sub heaters are one of the cheapest things that I need coming in at just under $20. The only positive thing out of the stuff I have is that I have already cleaned the 5Gal (I think) and 20G tank.