James95's 90g tank build

Hey everyone!

So... I finally decided how I want to consolidate my tanks. I'm going to have one large 90g community tank and a small 10 gallon aquarium (which I want to convert into a marine tank sometime this summer). I recently priced out the tank and stand at my LFS and will probably be placing an order for it this weekend. I'm so excited!

Here's my current setups:
55g- 1 angelfish, platies, mollies, and a common pleco
65g- 2 blood parrots, 1 blue acara, 3 black skirt tetras, and 1 silver dollar

The stock from both these tanks will all be combined into the new 90g. I'm still debating whether or not to trade in the blue acara and the pleco at my LFS. I don't want either of them to reek havoc on my angel and smaller community fish.

I will running 2 eheim canisters combined with a UGF. In the beginning this is going to be a low budget tank. As I have more money to put into it I will decorate and possibly upgrade equipment too. But I do know I want to paint the background with the same paint I used on my old 29g, it's a light sky blue:

I will post pics when I start putting things together!

As a small aside, for the 10 gallon I'm planning on starting a FOWLR tank this summer. I will probably stock it with a couple of firefish and snails but I'm still in the research and reading stage.

If anyone has input or ideas feel free to share em! I'm so psyched to have such a big tank

 

Sounds great! Looking forward to some pics!

Do you plan to add more black skirt tetras?

 

Sounds great! Looking forward to some pics!

Do you plan to add more black skirt tetras?

Yeah I'm planning on filling out the school to either six or eight once I upgrade.

I'm not worried about adding more silver dollars... because mine actually just schools with the tetras! I guess he thinks he's a black skirt. Lol!

 

I'm heading to my LFS to order the tank and stand. There's only one problem: I keep flip flopping back and forth. I thought I had my mind made up about wanting the extra depth of the 90g over a 75 gallon (the 90 is four inches deeper). Anyone have any advice or input? I don't want to regret getting the smaller tank, but I also don't want to regret getting a tank that is so deep which makes it hard to maintain... aka wet armpit syndrome. Someone help!

 

In my opinion you should get the 90 gallon, if it is too deep you can always build up the substrate. If you plant it the plants will have plenty of space to grow their roots.

Good luck!

 

In my opinion you should get the 90 gallon, if it is too deep you can always build up the substrate. If you plant it the plants will have plenty of space to grow their roots.

Good luck!

That makes sense!

I keep telling myself... No fish keeper ever says "oh I just really wish I got that smaller tank instead"

 

Not sure why but the 75 is almost 100 dollars cheaper... maybe because it's such a standard size? Anyway, for me the extra four inches isn't worth the cost

75 it is. Oh well to the erroneous thread title!

 

Update: Just got home with my new 75g! This thing is a monster.

The stand from my LFS comes in on Tuesday. Just placed an order from Kensfish for all the supplies I'll need.

Next weekend should be fun! Pics to come!

 

Waiting for the stand and supplies

 

Update: Most of my supplies are on their way... including a new filter

I placed a last minute bid on a brand new in box Eheim professional II 2028 on eBay today and won the auction! I got it for a great price too. So excited to set up everything next weekend

 

I love those finds on ebay! Can't wait to see the build!

 

I'm still waiting for my stand to come in at my LFS. The darn thing was supposed to arrive on Tuesday.

I do love supporting my LFS but If it doesn't come in tomorrow I might just go to Petsmart and buy a stand I have to assemble.

Yes, I'm getting THAT impatient. Lol!

 

Looking forward to following your progress. Keep taking photos as you go!

 

Thanks KDS! I'm getting anxious waiting till I can set things up...

I'm sitting here at work today having second thoughts about painting the background. I was planning in doing it this afternoon when I got home. Any thoughts?

Last time I set up a new tank I chickened out on painting the background and hate every single background I've tried. I regret not taking the plunge. But at the same time it's so permanent. Lol

I've painted smaller tanks before, like 10 and 20 gallons. But this is a much bigger commitment!

 

Hey James - on the commitment to paint - we did it recently on our 180 gal & only because we knew what we liked & what we hadn't liked.

I had decent success with attaching backgrounds on my 2 55gals with olive oil but still had to tape some of the edges that wouldn't quite hold. We had that blue (oiled & taped) to the back of our 36 gal as well & never got tired of it & felt it contrasted well with fish & plants.

So when it was time for the 180 we had no problem making the commitment. Were able to match that blue in a Krylon spray paint which was lucky☺

If you know what you don't tire of do it - if doubts wait - do something else - it is much easier when new & empty though☺


Walmart has the Krylon for under $4 a can - I think we used 3 1/2 cans & then did a 10 gal with the rest - overbuy then return what you don't use - I only bought 2 at first - went back & couldn't find it - freaked out - calmed down & rearranged some stuff & there it was☺ Look for ColorMaster w/ durable covermax technology - DON'T get the stuff that is used for plastic furniture.

 

You're right fishy friends. Usually I paint my backgrounds on my smaller tanks with the paint found in the link above and I love it!

 

It's just that 55 gallons and up I've never made the commitment. Oh well! There's a first for everything right

 

Looking forward to more pictures!!

I say definitely paint the background. I actually painted my background a nice blue color this past weekend (60 gallon):

removed

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If it turns out you don't like it...just scrape it off and try something different.

 

It's all done! The tank is up and running and the fish are swimming! I had a bit of trouble getting the filter to prime but it was fine one I solved the problem (small air leak in the intake).

I'm going to eat lunch, do some cleaning up, and then I'll be sure to post pics!

 

I've always painted three walls of my tanks both for appearance, and to help the fish feel more secure, but I usually do it with kindergarten type paint, that is, comes off with water. I should stop being so paranoid, as the tank done with spray paint looks great.
However, what I am getting at is that last night I was putting the final touches on a large for me type tank, 225 gal, and had no paint, so I improvised and wrapped the three sides with gardener's burlap, which I think looks kind of neat, as I was not able to put it on as closely as I had hoped to do, it seems to have a rather 3D look to it----as my Mom used to tell me when I had done something she approved of, sometimes accidents can work out well, my brothers being 7 and 10 years older than me.-rick

 

You were obviously a happy one!

 

Here's a quick pic I snapped with my phone. Better ones with my real camera to come later on! (Sorry about the barn reflection... Lol)

 

Phew... what a mess! Both the old tanks (65g and 55g) are cleaned out and ready to be resold. I'm STILL busy cleaning filters, decor, and plants. I'm so ready to crash on the couch! Anyway, here is the final stock I settled on:

 

I think the barn gives the tank "a down home feeling" - - tank looks great - don't fall asleep amongst the filters & decor!

 

Nice job and a really nice tank! I especially love the painted background-wish all mine had that!

 

As promised! Some pictures of the 10 gallon and the 75g. What I did was wrap the undergravel filter riser stems with silk plant vines to disguise them. I'm quite happy with the way it all turned out

 

Nice job and a really nice tank! I especially love the painted background-wish all mine had that!

Thanks, Claire! I'm super pleased with how it turned out. I will definitely be painting all my future tanks!

 

Nice!

 

Darn! I woke up this morning to find that one of the red wag platies has two ich spots on him.

I rather not medicate the whole tank for one little fish, especially since I would end up staining the silicone in a brand new tank. I'm going to try and dose the tank with aquarium salt first.

Never a dull moment! :/

 

Upon closer inspection, the mollies also have some white spots. It's hard to tell because of their coloration.

1 teaspoon per gallon added to the tank. Temp is 80 degrees. We shall see!

 

Update: the blood parrots ate all the platies and mollies overnight!

I didn't even think they were capable of swallowing decently sized fish. Oh well, I guess they proved me wrong

 

Uh oh, that was an unexpected expensive snack

 

Uh oh, that was an unexpected expensive snack

Unexpected, yes. Expensive, not so much. Luckily platies are pretty cheap. Lol!

 

Time for an update! Sorry I've been super busy this week.

All the fish had ich by Tuesday, despite my efforts to treat with the salt and heat.

I did a water change and dosed with rid ich+ on Wednesday. On Thursday morning there was some visible improvement.

I added a second dose of the meds last night. We will see how they look when I get home later today!

 

Still seeing some white spots on my blood parrots and the tetras. I'm going to dose the tank a third time later tonight!

 

Update:

I dosed a third time. All the fish all looking much better. The blood parrots only have a few little ich specks left on them. I'm leaving the medication in the tank for now until I know longer see any visible ich. I'll keep you all posted!

 

The ich is gone! Yay!

The blood parrots were acting a bit weird this morning and staying hidden in their clay pots. They ate voraciously as usual. I did two back to back 50% water changes to remove the ich medications. They seemed more out-and-about following the water changes.

Afterwards, I dosed the tank with Melafix. Based on the BPs behavior I'm just being super cautious. I'd hate to loose them after 6 years

Ugh. I just cannot wait until this tank is completely healthy and stable.

 

Everyone is doing great! I dosed the tank with melafix last weekend just to be sure all the fish were on the mend. This Wednesday I added 8 new white skirt tetras after two weeks in quarantine.

They have settled into the big tank quite well and enjoy schooling with the black skirts. I lost one white skirt (the smallest) and have a feeling one of the BPs may have eaten him. I couldn't find a body anywhere

Overall I'm really happy with how things are going

 

Oh! And I almost forgot...

Petsmart was running a buy four fish get two free promotion. So, I also ended up coming home with 4 neon tetras. 3 survived and they are happily residing in my planted 10 gallon with a small common pleco.

 

It's been a while since I updated. Life has been busy the past month or so. The tank is stabilized and the fish are doing great!

Unfortunately, while I was gone on a backpacking trip, my sister decided she wanted an iridescent shark. Much to my chagrin there's a small (about 3 inch) ID shark in the tank now as well. She was forewarned that she will be responsible to find him a new home when he gets bigger. I'm still not happy but I also felt bad returning him... ugh. Sometimes you just can't win for trying!