BigManAquatic' new 55 gal build

Well, guess i am building a 55 gal this time around. Currently no pics, as it is in the floor of my closet with my filters and a piece of driftwood waiting. The driftwood was free from petco, the pleco i got didn't want to unattach itself from the wood so he decided instead of possibly hurting the fish, he would just put the wood in the bag with the fish. Score!

 

Your new fish and driftwood are living on the floor in your closet? lol

What are the stocking plans?

 

Well that is really a sign of mts!! Tanks in the closets!!

 

watching!!!! what will the type be, africans, asian, amazonian? excited to hear!


(a flowerhorn????????)

 

Your new fish and driftwood are living on the floor in your closet? lol

What are the stocking plans?

We haven't got quite that far yet. Since i already have 2 tanks of tetras, not those. And i ended up having to use some water flow to get the pleco off, he hiding behind the filter. The driftwood ia not touching my water til i go boil it for a good while.

Well that is really a sign of mts!! Tanks in the closets!!

Well i should get the stand this week then i will have somewhere to put it.

watching!!!! what will the type be, africans, asian, amazonian? excited to hear!


(a flowerhorn????????)

I have given a flowerhorn some thought. The one LFS had 2 or 3 the other day.

 

I have given a flowerhorn some thought. The one LFS had 2 or 3 the other day.

good good! I love them! they are super hardy fish for being so pretty. mine got ich after 3 days shipping and recovered amazingly. I have one in my 55 right now and there is a bichir, royal pleco, and 3 spot gourami. they all get along! I also have some anubias and java fern on some rocks. PM me if you want some more details and help with them!

 

Well I’d say the 55 would just be a holding tank for a flowerhorn. You’ll have to make that closet a little deeper cause you’ll be needing to squeeze a 6’ 12t in there. Only thing is flowerhorns are best alone. And that a lot of space for one fish.

 

Well I’d say the 55 would just be a holding tank for a flowerhorn. You’ll have to make that closet a little deeper cause you’ll be needing to squeeze a 6’ 12t in there. Only thing is flowerhorns are best alone. And that a lot of space for one fish.

That is why i lean away. I dont really want to dedicate a whole tank to just a couple of fish at this point. I still kind of like the idea of filling with tiger barbs and let her rip.

 

Since you already have a pleco in there why not try a catfish only tank?

 

That is why i lean away. I dont really want to dedicate a whole tank to just a couple of fish at this point. I still kind of like the idea of filling with tiger barbs and let her rip.

Some of the smaller bodied Flowerhorns could be comfy in a 75. Still bigger than your 55, but maybe worth some thought. 55 would do for a long time.

A group of Amazon Puffers with some dither fish would be pretty sweet.

 

Since you already have a pleco in there why not try a catfish only tank?

The pleco is in a tetra tank. But i have thought about it.

 

Should be picking up a stand tomorrow. Also ordering some stuff online. Think i am going with sand for the substrate on this one. May go look at some rocks tomorrow as well, see what is around.

 

Should be picking up a stand tomorrow. Also ordering some stuff online. Think i am going with sand for the substrate on this one. May go look at some rocks tomorrow as well, see what is around.

What kind of sand? I'm strongly considering just switching to pool filter sand in most of my tanks. Seems like most sands I find are way too fine or so coarse that it might as well be gravel.

 

What kind of sand? I'm strongly considering just switching to pool filter sand in most of my tanks. Seems like most sands I find are way too fine or so coarse that it might as well be gravel.

Haven't thought too hard on it. In the past I have liked that black sand Imagitarium makes. But considering i will be at walmart tomorrow and near home depot and menards....we might go see what they got

 

I got a bag of play sand from Lowes years ago, and still have it in my 20 long. The kribs like to sift through it. But to this day, after being wet for years, it STILL clouds the water if I even thinking about gently topping off the tank.

 

Got the stand home. Now for the assembly. I like the stand in the sense we have a smaller version holding our 29 the last few years, so a little bit of trust there.

 

Ok, so guess the stand will get put together tomorrow. Went to the LFS for a background and that guy likes to talk...but he only run his shop for 40 years and been lifelong in the hobby, great source to get some fish wisdom.

 

Have stuff coming from amazon for the new tank. A bunch of the decor however, sent me a message today saying the packaged got damaged and was undeliverable. Darn. Least they sending me a refund.

 

Trying to talk myself into getting out of a nice warm bed to assemble this blasted stand. Once i get the tank out of the closet i can get stuff put back in order so it doesn't look so blasted overcrowded. Causing me no end of stress!!

 

Trying to talk myself into getting out of a nice warm bed to assemble this blasted stand. Once i get the tank out of the closet i can get stuff put back in order so it doesn't look so blasted overcrowded. Causing me no end of stress!!

You know you'll feel better once it's done!

 

You know you'll feel better once it's done!

Yeah i know, but that doesnt mean i have started yet.. lol! Least i did get out of bed

 

Stand is assembled and placed.

 

Got my package of watering spikes for use as caves today. So that is taken care of now.

 

Great! Have you decided what's going in the 55 yet?

 

Great! Have you decided what's going in the 55 yet?

Cories for starters. Debating between false julii's or sterbai's, they usually not tough to find locally. Aftet that, haven't given much thought.

 

Finally got the tank out the closet and on the stand.

 

So far, i think i am leaning towards 12 false julii's, and 12-15 Buenos Aries tetras for starters for stocking. Seems like a fairly easy mix to fill around and some pretty awesome color.

 

Sounds like a nice stocking. May I suggest 10-12 tiger barbs instead they are really great looking and do well in big groups and if you end up with black sand they will absolutely pop with color we have 10 in our 29 and their always front n center at feeding time. Hoping to upgrade them to a 40B eventually.

 

Sounds like a nice stocking. May I suggest 10-12 tiger barbs instead they are really great looking and do well in big groups and if you end up with black sand they will absolutely pop with color we have 10 in our 29 and their always front n center at feeding time. Hoping to upgrade them to a 40B eventually.

I have had several tiger barbs. I like them but i am trying to make this tank stocking all fish i have never had before. I like to expand my horizons so to speak.

 

Put the background on today, verified the size of hoods needed for this. So, not really much to do now until i start getting parts and aquascaping stuff in.

 

Looks good so far! What do you use for your backgroud?

 

I usually just go to the LFS and get appropriate sized plain black background sheeting. If it is a smaller tank like a 10 gal, i often just get a roll at walmart.

 

Sounds like a nice stocking. May I suggest 10-12 tiger barbs instead they are really great looking and do well in big groups and if you end up with black sand they will absolutely pop with color we have 10 in our 29 and their always front n center at feeding time. Hoping to upgrade them to a 40B eventually.

The funny part about you mentioning tiger barbs though....when i first bought the tank, one of my first thoughts was "eh just make it an all tiger barb tank and put like 30 of them in there". I have always been almost mesmerized by watching a school of tiger barbs swim around, especially in a dark room where the tank light is the only light around.

 

The funny part about you mentioning tiger barbs though....when i first bought the tank, one of my first thoughts was "eh just make it an all tiger barb tank and put like 30 of them in there". I have always been almost mesmerized by watching a school of tiger barbs swim around, especially in a dark room where the tank light is the only light around.

Don’t tell our other tanks but the 29 really is my favorite. We have a 55,29,20,8.8, and a 5 but something about walking up to the tigers tank is something different. We started with 10 then one day doing a cleaning n WC a miracle baby came out of the bed pants and had 11 for a while and the baby got about the same size as the 10 others sadly I had to put one down due to what looked like swim bladder or dropsy but the 10 in there are all doing amazing.

 

Ordered a 2nd heater just a bit ago. I figure 2 200-watt aqueon heaters should be sufficient.

 

Ok so in the next couple of days i will be set on heaters and most of my decor. After that, just need to get substrate, hoods and i want 1 or 2 stumps for driftwood in the tank. Think i am going to the LFS tomorrow to check out their stumps-they have several, want to see how they will fit in a 55 though. Ready to start getting this thing ready for some fish already!!

 

Ok so in the next couple of days i will be set on heaters and most of my decor. After that, just need to get substrate, hoods and i want 1 or 2 stumps for driftwood in the tank. Think i am going to the LFS tomorrow to check out their stumps-they have several, want to see how they will fit in a 55 though. Ready to start getting this thing ready for some fish already!!

If your looking for some DW I have a few pieces doing nothing if you want to pm me later I can send some pictures with dimensions. We can work out a good deal if your interested in any.

 

If your looking for some DW I have a few pieces doing nothing if you want to pm me later I can send some pictures with dimensions. We can work out a good deal if your interested in any.

Certainly wil keep in mind for future. Not sure i want a lot in this tank. I got a free piece from a petco mishap and i want a stump. Think i want more rocks than wood in this setup.

 

Went to LFS today, got my gravel, the stump i been watching for awhile, just hoping i had somewhere to put it...and a few pounds of dragon stone. Looks like i got something to do this weekend.

 

Went to LFS today, got my gravel, the stump i been watching for awhile, just hoping i had somewhere to put it...and a few pounds of dragon stone. Looks like i got something to do this weekend.

I want to see pictures of the stump!!