prairielilly

Whew, busy day with fish stuff! the new 10g has been sitting on my dresser for a few days now leak-testing, and not a drop in sight. Purchased a new stand, took a few days before I got to put together the new stand...finalized where it was going to go, emptied/cleaned out the tank, rinsed and added substrate, rinsed and added decor, set up the filter, plugged it all in...wow I love that feeling you get when you see it all done (just wait til there's actually FISH in it!)

DSC00544.JPG<-- new tank when first bought, parked on my dresser
DSC00552.JPGDSC00553.JPGDSC00554.JPG<--- a few pics of tank now, all set up (still lots of bubbles. The funny looking thing at the front is a veggie clip holding a piece of used filter sponge from one of the other tanks. The lettering in the background is the word 'relax' in wooden letters stuck to the wall - gotta move that)

The stand is the tiniest bit wobbly...it's because of the carpet underlay. I have the same issue with my 20g stand in the living room (same type of stand, just bigger). That one I bolted to the wall What I think I'll do here is pile a whole bunch of heavy stuff inside the storage compartment - good use for old university notes I think...

The only real issue atm is the filter is well, loud. It's an AquaClear 20 and I truthfully wasn't expecting it to be loud. It grinds a little. I've cleaned it, checked the impeller, everything. It's likely just 'breaking in' and will be quieter in a day or so, or at least I hope that's what it is -- anyone?

I put in a bunch of ammonia and some used filter media to jump-start the cycle. I am so excited!

Now, how to discourage the kitten from playing behind it...

TFA101

how exciting it is to set up a new tank! I wish I could experience that feeling again and again and again.....

anyway, it sounds like the filter is just breaking in, thats what my aquaclear filters both did for a little while when first starting out. As for the kitten, you could try to give him/her his/her own little area to play

PS


What do you plan to add to the tank?

aquarist48

Looks GREAT! Good luck and enjoy!

Shaina

Looks great, prairielilly!

I seem to remember my HOB ACs being pretty loud at first too, but they quieted down within a week and now are barely noticeable. I think the internals had to expel the microbubbles and build up a thin layer of slime or something, lol, as I've never had a problem since.

If you have an air wand near the intake of the filter, that will cause a lot of noise though (just checking).

prairielilly

Thanks everyone. I love the new tank and I'm really excited about it, but just had a near-sleepless night due to filter noise (the tank's about five feet from where I sleep). I took the whole filter apart right now trying to find a way to shut it up...I remember my biowheel on my 20g made quite a racket for the first few days or so, so I'll give it some time. The noise is coming from the motor, but I can't find anything amiss there.

The kitten has a 1000 sq ft townhouse to play in plus two other cats and more toys than I can count. She's nine months old and into everything as babies that age are; she's adorable but there's a 'cubby' behind the tank stand the way I've got it set up that seems to be pretty enticing to her. The tank's too heavy for her to knock over I know.

I'm thinking of putting guppies in this one, seeing as I've never kept them and can't in my 20g with my gourami. I just find them adorable, like little colourful butterflies. I should be able to put five males in there. I purposely kept the colour scheme pretty monochromatic as I thought then really colourful fish would show up well. Debating the idea of a few cories - either a small school of pygmies or the two pandas currently in my 20g, that would mean less guppies; got some time yet to figure it all out while it cycles.

It's 5:26 am on a Saturday morning Going back to sleep now, grinding filter or no.

midnightwolf

Good night and good luck!

haedra

Looks great!

I love the ornament, it looks kinda like a treant!

Lucy

Nice job. I love the tanks.

agabr123

i love your tanks! they look great

prairielilly

Thanks everybody

Had some issues with the heater - it appears it hardly works at all, and it seems it would cost me more to return it than to buy another (long story). When set to 79 it made the tank 74; when set to 84...it made the tank 74. I added a 25W Elite and turned both of them up to maximum, four hours later...yay, 76! I bought a new heater today - a Rena Smart heater, 50W - and within an hour it brought the temp up to 78 all by itself, and is happily keeping it there. Hopefully that's the end of that ($$$).

The filter seems really loud to me. It is possibly 'normal' and I have to get used to it? Everything I've read here from folks with AquaClear filters says they are 'almost silent'...maybe it depends on how ppl define silent? It's about as loud as the average fan you might use in the summer I guess. It kept me up most of last night. Then again, it's a constant noise so I suppose I'll get used to it. Or...this tank may have to move into the living room.