36 gallon tank journey

Just took the plunge and bought a 36 gallon bow front tank from PetSmart

no idea what I’m gonna stock it with as I haven’t tested my tap water yet but have purchased a api master freshwater kit to do

in my old 10 gallon i had a aqua clear 30 hob filter should I get a 50 gallon variety or should I look into getting a canister ( never used one before so not sure what it would entail )

pic from the store website

 

I just set up my first canister, it was easy. Kinda expensive but I like the way it's hidden in the tank stand.

 

I just set up my first canister, it was easy. Kinda expensive but I like the way it's hidden in the tank stand.

Have you done any cleaning of them yet ? Curious if it’s easier than cleaning a hob with the weird curved pieces

 

No, I haven't. I had a little excitement when I accidentally unlatched the top and had water coming out of the syphon tube, but I won't do that next time.

The houses disconnect and I'll be able to move the canister from the cabinet when I need to clean it. I'm told once a month or so.

 

Just tested my tap water after picking up the new tank

pH was 6.8
ammonia was 0
Nitrite was surprisingly 0.25 but this was without water conditioner

nitrate was 0

need to get a go and kH kit but don’t have one right now

 

Well ordered my kH and gH kit a 200 watt heater and a bigger gravel vacuum syphon thing since the one I had was for a 10 gallon tank

think I’ve decided to go with a sand as I want to get some Cory catfish leaning towards pandas

Could I have a layer of river rock gravel with sand on top or is that to big a risk with Cory’s?
really like the look of neon tetras but will need to see if the pandas and them will have a good sweet spot in temperature and pH range don’t want to force anything

 

Just took the plunge and bought a 36 gallon bow front tank from PetSmart

no idea what I’m gonna stock it with as I haven’t tested my tap water yet but have purchased a api master freshwater kit to do

in my old 10 gallon i had a aqua clear 30 hob filter should I get a 50 gallon variety or should I look into getting a canister ( never used one before so not sure what it would entail )

pic from the store website

Congrats on the new tank!

I would definitely suggest upgrading your filter. I’ve had HOBs and canisters, and HOBs are much easier to maintain IMO.

 

Congrats on the new tank!

I would definitely suggest upgrading your filter. I’ve had HOBs and canisters, and HOBs are much easier to maintain IMO.

Forgot to mention I also bought the Aqua clear 70 could have went with the 50 gallon but heck I love some extra filtration

 

I have had hang on the back filters in the past and I just got my first canister filter not too long ago and I have been very pleased with it. I think you made the right decision going with the canister. Hope to see pictures once it is all set up.

 

I have had hang on the back filters in the past and I just got my first canister filter not too long ago and I have been very pleased with it. I think you made the right decision going with the canister. Hope to see pictures once it is all set up.

I actually got a hob because that’s what I’m used to I’ll have to try a canister at some point tho

 

Got some aquarium sand today I ordered 4 ten pound bags but they only had 3 in the store so hopefully 30 is enough for a decent substrate hopefully have the tank filled sometime this weekend

 

received my new filter and got it in place

plan on cleaning sand tomorrow and then filling her up to get the cycle going

reminds me I’ll need to buy some ammonia

but here’s a pic of the current state of things

 

Filled with sand and water and got everything running gonna let it run a bit with the sand and filter going check all my parameters and get my cycle started

 

Bought some mopani driftwood from PetSmart today I’ll take a better picture in between soakings

also bought some fish food and a media bag to let float in my tank and get the cycle started

hoping the driftwood doesn’t drop my pH to much

 

Here’s a better picture of my new driftwood had soaked it since yesterday and it was pretty discolored so am going to soak it for another 24 hours and see where I am

 

Haha got paid today so you know what that means more stuff for the tank

got a pH and ammonia alert thing because I was having trouble distinguishing the pH color on the test kit the ammonia side won’t get much use tho

got some dragon stone and boy was it dirty but oh jeez is it going to look good in the tank

also got a big thing of spider wood that im soaking in my parents deep utility sink hopefully it won’t take too long for it to sink on its own but I have it weighed down with a rock right now

 

Some progress got some rocks in and my mopani driftwood lots of nice places for plants which will probably be my next purchase

 

Rearranged and added the plants I bought from Dustin’s fish tanks

 

So I ended up staring over a bit saved what plants I could and bought more from aquarium co op

also had previously bought 4 platys and used tetra safe start because I was impatient well about a week after that is today and I got 2 mystery snails

sadly one platy passed with suspected swim bladder issues but the remaining 3 seem to be doing well but anyways here’s what’s important PICTURES

 

nice i love platyx