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March 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Heeheehee, new tank for me :P
And here I thought I was immune to further MTS...ah, you enablers you...
A whiles ago the 25W heater in my 5g didn't seem to be able to keep a consistent temperature. In frustration I ordered a 50W heater for it. When it arrived, as per Murphy's Laws I had discovered that the fluctuating temperature was actually due to a drafty window (fixed that) and now I had an 'extra' 50W heater. As well, the Aquatech 5-15 filter in the 5g puts out 100 GPH and a pretty strong current, too strong I thought for the betta I eventually wanted to put in there. I could modify it, true, but...wouldn't that filter be just fine on a 10g? and isn't 50W the usual recommendation for a 10g tank? and I didn't have any tanks in my bedroom yet...
To make a long story short, I did not find anything reasonable on craigslist, kijijji etc and didn't want to wait (bad with that), and had decided to get an ultracheap glass tank w. an incandescent hood and then buy fluorescent bulbs for it, as well as a less-powerful filter that would start the 10g's cycle until I eventually swapped it with the Aquatech. As per usual though, some things were in stock and some weren't, some things were cheaper than anticipated and some weren't, and I now have an Elite Waterhome 10g with a fluorescent canopy (13W) that came with an AquaClear 20 - I think I got an amazing deal overall (nearly spent an additional $50 to go up to 15g, but the point here was to use the existing heater and filter so I talked myself out of that...for now anyway)
The tank is currently sitting on my dresser, haven't even leak-tested it yet, as I'm debating leaving it on the dresser versus buying an actual real stand for it (I have a corner in mind...) The filter issue is still up in the air as I really like the AquaClear, I'd discounted it at first purely due to price - it's around $30 for that model around here. I may put it on either tank, may buy another one...I don't know yet.
So I'm thinking guppies  Purely because they're adorable, like colourful little butterflies, and I've never kept them yet. Say three males and 5 pygmy cories maybe. Or just 5 males. Or maybe I'll tank that idea in favour of balloon mollies. It will take me a bit to sort out the stand issue and then it'll be cycling for a few weeks, so I've got time....suggestions welcome  | 
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March 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| You can always find room for a small tank huh? I think it looks good on the dresser...why not go with a betta?? | |
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March 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by SonnyJ  ...why not go with a betta?? | Because my male VT Ivan will be in the 5g and I'll be getting a female for the 3g...once my 5g is done being a cherry barb hospital that is. Ivan's pretty happy in the 3g right now. I've been planning that for a while. I love my betta but I do like variety...never kept guppies! and they're so cute! | |
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March 8th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Cute tank  I like your justification. I have a heater, hmmmm, and a filter, double hmmm.......some extra space......yep, need another tank! lol
I've seen that decoration in the store, it looks good in your tank. | |
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March 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by prairielilly Because my male VT Ivan will be in the 5g and I'll be getting a female for the 3g...once my 5g is done being a cherry barb hospital that is. Ivan's pretty happy in the 3g right now. I've been planning that for a while. I love my betta but I do like variety...never kept guppies! and they're so cute! | Im just a sucker for bettas, and ive never had guppies either, they are pretty fish | |
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March 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Maybe Lucy needs another tank too? 
I bought that tree root thingy before wanting to put it in the 5g, and it was just too big! yet another reason for another tank! | |
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March 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by SonnyJ Im just a sucker for bettas, and ive never had guppies either, they are pretty fish | I'm a sucker for bettas too May change my mind yet...went to three LFS's today, far too many cup babies...  | |
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March 8th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Quote:
Originally Posted by prairielilly Maybe Lucy needs another tank too?
I bought that tree root thingy before wanting to put it in the 5g, and it was just too big! yet another reason for another tank! | lol, My problem is too many tanks not enough accessories.
I've got an empty 30g ready to be filled, can't decide on stock. I live rural and there's not much of a selection. A 30g long, no hood or filter. A 20g long, tank only. lol
(Hush Shawnie!) | |
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March 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| What kind of accessories? I have a very large bag full of plastic plants I no longer 'need'...  | |
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March 8th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Aw, very sweet of you to offer. More like hoods and filters. I'll get them eventually.
My husband keeps bringing up the idea of a Diver Dan bubbler  Although cute, not the look I'm going for. lol
I think I'm more of a tank collector than fish collector. lol | |
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March 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| I was thinking today that since I started with fish I haven't been to Ikea (that's really odd for me)...it seems fishkeeping has finally cured my interior-decorating addiction (and the globe-collecting too come to think of it...one expensive hobby at a time) | |
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March 9th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucy I think I'm more of a tank collector than fish collector. lol | haha, i'm the same way! i have....at least five or six empty tanks that don't have anything else with them, i'm just ecstatic that i already bought the heater and filter for my 29 (that luckily actually came with a hood!), it's just waiting for my lazy self to finish building the stand 
as for your justification for getting a new tank prairelilly, we ALL should take after your example  i know i do! | |
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March 9th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Congrats on the new tank! I have to say I really like the Aquaclear filters. They are all that I use now and I am very happy with them. The tank looks nice You could always buy a stand for the tank and put another one on the dresser....hint, hint I like the ideas of guppies and pygmy cories. I had a school of them in my 10 gallon and they were adorable
It is so easy to justify new tanks. I have done it sooo many times | |
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March 9th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| whahooooooo another victim to MTS...like most of us even need a reason for another tank? its going to be a fun tank for sure...guppies are purdy!! Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucy lol, My problem is too many tanks not enough accessories.
I've got an empty 30g ready to be filled, can't decide on stock. I live rural and there's not much of a selection. A 30g long, no hood or filter. A 20g long, tank only. lol
(Hush Shawnie!) |  | |
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March 9th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Too bad we aren't neighbors. If we were we would both have a few more tanks up and running. I have a 72g and 35g hex not currently in use. I have everything I need to set them up but space is a problem. Congrats on the new tank! | |
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March 9th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Wow...a 72g not currently in use....I'd find a use!! 
I'm running out of room now...or so I thought two tanks ago...amazing how I can 'find' the room...
I've decided to buy a stand for it, there's one at Wally that's not too expensive. I want it to have a solid top (am I the only one who gets nervous about metal stands? I mean what's holding up the middle?) The electrical situation on the dresser's not great (it's behind it. Could require major furniture surgery. There's an outlet in the corner where I want to put the stand). However the dresser IS big enough to hold that 15g I decided not to buy...for now at least...
The AquaClear seems really great, I especially like that you can turn the flow down. One Q: why do they say you should replace the biomax every so many months? why replace it all? I bought another biomax to replace the carbon, but I think I'll just stuff some floss in there with some media from one of the other tanks, help it cycle faster.
Thanks everybody I am so excited about this! | |
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March 9th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| I have a 980 sq ft lil ranch house...with 8 tanks , soon to be nine..you find room LOL
id love one of those coffee table tanks!!! but gotta get a big'un for the africans | |
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March 9th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| That's about the same size as my rented townhouse (975 sq ft)...there's 3 tanks in the living room now, and now one in the bedroom, and then 3 cats and me (: The townhouse is old and has a wooden floor w a big crawl space under it and my 20g makes it sway so I had to bolt the stand to the wall to keep it level (scary I know!) which is about the only reason I haven't gone and gotten a 55g or such...600 lbs I'm sure would go right through that floor...would be really great though, don't actually need a dining room table now do I? when I finally get to buy a house it will have a concrete floor! | |
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March 9th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| well i have the 75, 55, and 30 which arent small but take up alot LOL ..then the rest are 20's and 10's ..but my step daughter is moving in this summer so not really sure where those tanks are going to go as its my fish room right now hahhaah..its an obsession thats totally uncontroleable .... | |
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March 9th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawnie ..its an obsession thats totally uncontroleable .... | ...it's awesome isn't it? 
Last edited by prairielilly; March 11th, 2009 at 11:16 AM.
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March 11th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Finally bought a stand today! that took a while. It seems this particular tank is a 'Euro' style meaning it has no black plastic border around the bottom. Big deal, but I had wanted to get a metal stand and well, whether it's paranoid or not, I wasn't comfortable with just the edges of the glass being barely held by a super-thin piece of steel and then NOTHING under most of the bottom of the tank. I'm not going to load it up with rocks or anything and I'm sure lots of people use metal stands all the time but I didn't want to be always worrying whether or not it was gonna break, wanted something solid under there...ok done ranting. I got a MDF stand that's a smaller version of the one holding up my 20g tank, from Big Al's. That one's still good to go after nearly six months so this should be the same. I'll put it together tomorrow-ish and then the tank can start cycling! It's been full of water for two days now, and no leaks in sight! | |
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March 15th, 2009
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| | Fish Lore Newbie
| I just picked up a 5 gal tank yesterday that was being thrown away. Plus a bucket with about 12 pounds of gravel. (I went to get an encyclopedia.)
So, now I have a 55 gal, 20 long, 20 high, all in use. I have two 10s and a 20 long in the garage waiting. I haven't purchased a single one. I started with a ten three years ago and purchased equipment and fish to get it started. Since then I've gone through some tough financial times and a move. I've managed to continue the hobby without much money. Latest aquisition was 13 long fin danios from Petsmart for .89 each. They are great with the two zebra danios and the white cloud mt. minnow that were free.
I've been picking up fish from people on craigslist. My daughter has the 20 high in her room with a pair of goldfish someone gave me. She's 11 and is becoming a pretty good helper.
Jim | |
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March 15th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| good luck with your tank and future guppies. | |
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March 15th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| No guppies! Puffers! You haz to get dwarf pufferz! I'm planning on getting 3 for my 10 gallon. | |
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March 15th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by MaddieLynn No guppies! Puffers! You haz to get dwarf pufferz! I'm planning on getting 3 for my 10 gallon. | ok thats great but they can get what they want | |
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March 16th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| I did consider DP's briefly...they definitely do have cuteness in their favour don't they? sort of a cross between a Kewpie doll and a hummingbird...those eyes! For me the issue is the snails...I guess too much time in my flower bed ending up with a slug on my hand...eeewwww!!! can't handle the snail thing, so no puffers for me.
I put a healthy filter on the 10g, swapped out all the water and made it into a temporary hospital tank for my one remaining sick cherry barb (the male died). So she's getting antibiotics right now. Then the 20g and the 3g are getting dewormed/deparasitized, and the 5g is chock full of ammonia to sterilize it. Is there really such a thing as more than 3 months without some sort of illness issue  ??
I still want to (someday) put guppies in the 10g.... | |
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