Slowly Upgrading 55 To 75 Gallon

Ulu. Oh wow! I just need to reach to clean. I got most of it mostly clean but I wanna get it better. I’ve never tried to paint any of my tanks. So far we are ok. My fish are out and about mostly. Sometimes they chill within plants. Or in Bananas case, his cave.

Banana enjoying the zucchinI I put in last night.




And I got sponge media for my two canisters for the 75. The bigger one has fine sponges with it but the smaller one doesn’t.




I’m just gonna get biomax for the other baskets.

 

Oh yes just because. These are the two canisters I got for the 75 gallon. Am hoping it’s not too much for the Angelfish. They do fine with the canister and HOB and sponge filter in the 55 gallon.

 

Well. Dangit. I just discovered a crack in the bottom glass of the 75 gallon. . So went to the LFS and they ordered a Marineland 75 gallon tank for me. If all goes normally (dunno since it is a holiday week) itd be here Friday or Saturday next week.

 

Well. Dangit. I just discovered a crack in the bottom glass of the 75 gallon. . So went to the LFS and they ordered a Marineland 75 gallon tank for me. If all goes normally (dunno since it is a holiday week) itd be here Friday or Saturday next week.

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Oh no! Did you get it from the lfs? Are they replacing it free if charge?

 

Augh! After all this time sitting around it's gotta be a total drag to discover this now, at the 11th hour.

 

Oh no. Good thing you found it before adding substrate and/or water. You get it new or used? I too am wondering about a return. Man we all been dieing to see this buld finally start.

 

Ok so I figured I might as well start a little thread for myself to keep my spirits up while I gather things for my 55 gallon community tank.

I have the tank from my vet (no leaks!) I have a gravel vacuum and I JUST got a SunSun 302 canister filter (264gph). Used. Yes I know that's less than what I need but I bought it for more bacteria and back up.

My ideas are get an AquaClear 110 HOB cuz paranoid hence 2 filters.
Use Black Diamond blasting sand.
Get at least 2 pieces driftwood
Get heater rated for 75 gallon or two for 55g. They will be set for 75*
Glass lid.
Metal stand from Petco
Python water changer
Osmocote Plus fertilizer and gel capsules.
Decorations
Live plants!!
Anubias
Java fern
Amazon sword
Water wisteria
Anacharis
Banana plant
Dwarf Saggitaria
Val (Jungle, spiral)
Temple Compacta
Rotala
Micromeria browneii
Monte Carlo
(Probably not all of these)
Lights. (24/7 Planted Plus

Fish!!!
Bristlenose Pleco
Black neon tetras
Cherry barbs
Panda cories
SuzanaBanana. Soocold
Dave75g. bizaliz3. TexasDomer. (In case you are interested and you guys are pretty knowledgeable and Liz I'm getting one of your Plecos so only fair)

My tank!

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My gravel vac

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My SunSun 302

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Wow that is a nice tank it looks brand new or is that just the sun making it look that way

 

tfreema. I did. However I got it over a year ago and it wasn’t cracked when I got it. Aaron did give me a discount as well as Black Friday price.

Ulu. I know! But at least I found it before adding fish! I’d be heartbroken if I found the tank gone

Dave125g. I know! I was hoping to start washing sand this week. I got it new but that was over a year ago I think. So I just gotta wait a little bit longer then I can start.

Shay1431. Gotta be the sun! I got my 55 from my vet as a thank you. I’ll miss this tank, but I’m also looking forward to setting up my 75!

 

If it's an aqueon tank they'll probably guarentee it.

 

If it's an aqueon tank they'll probably guarentee it.

No. Not Aqueon. Seapora. And since I’m pretty sure it was my fault. Sigh.
But this gives me more time to plan out plant placement! Heheh.

 

No. Not Aqueon. Seapora. And since I’m pretty sure it was my fault. Sigh.
But this gives me more time to plan out plant placement! Heheh.

Ok. They were only like 200 for just the tank. Less if you catch the dollar per gallon sale.

 

Ok. They were only like 200 for just the tank. Less if you catch the dollar per gallon sale.

Oh. No the Aqueon 75 gallons are only offered at my Petco in the summer.

 

Water change done for the 55. Root tabs given. HOB cleaned. Whew! Life is good. Have to clean canister next.

 

Only summer. Mine was 200. For just the tank and lids. You waited long enough. Right?

55 looks fantastic as always.

 

Only summer. Mine was 200. For just the tank and lids. You waited long enough. Right?

55 looks fantastic as always.

Do you have an aqueon 75g??

 

Do you have an aqueon 75g??

Had 1 for a few years, then I upgradded to an aqueon 125. Now that's starting to look small lol. They're never big enough hua?

 

Had 1 for a few years, then I upgradded to an aqueon 125. Now that's starting to look small lol. They're never big enough hua?

Haha ya. I’ve been looking for someone who has a 75 aqueon to have them measure the trim on the bottom (how tall it is). Is your 125 an aqueon too?
Sorry not trying to hijack the thread!
jenmur your sword has grown so much since it was a wee baby!

 

Dave125g. Yeah. And they don’t order. So I went through my LFS and Aaron got me an awesome price! Especially compared to the ones I found online. $132. That includes shipping and tax. I’m gonna use this extra time to try and plan out plants.

Blondeath. I know!! I wish the person who sent it could see it. Maybe they can. It’s grown so much! I hope it’s ok when I move it.

I just consider the 55 very skinny. I can’t get bigger than a 75 though. I just use buckets because a python type water changer doesn’t fit on my sinks. However where the 75 will sit, I can hopefully just send the water out a window. Hehehe. I may get my light this weekend. My LFS is having a sale of course. But if not this weekend then that’s ok too.

 

Dave125g. Yeah. And they don’t order. So I went through my LFS and Aaron got me an awesome price! Especially compared to the ones I found online. $132. That includes shipping and tax. I’m gonna use this extra time to try and plan out plants.

Blondeath. I know!! I wish the person who sent it could see it. Maybe they can. It’s grown so much! I hope it’s ok when I move it.

I just consider the 55 very skinny. I can’t get bigger than a 75 though. I just use buckets because a python type water changer doesn’t fit on my sinks. However where the 75 will sit, I can hopefully just send the water out a window. Hehehe. I may get my light this weekend. My LFS is having a sale of course. But if not this weekend then that’s ok too.

I don’t think a python will fit on any of my sinks either! And I can’t open my window to send the siphon out lol.
the python really does sound great!

 

I don’t think a python will fit on any of my sinks either! And I can’t open my window to send the siphon out lol.
the python really does sound great!

Hehe. I just go out the front door into the yard and water the grass right now. If I gotta do that with the 75 that’s fine too! Since it’s where the bettas are.
The python does sound awesome. I gave mine to my friend for her 150. Hers broke.

 

Water change done for the 55. Root tabs given. HOB cleaned. Whew! Life is good. Have to clean canister next.

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Wow, Banana looks so big! What do you have in the tank now? I need to pick up one of those magnetic veggie clips sometime... when i'm in the mood to splurge on something! Lol

 

Jen you just need a small pump and a long hose and you can forget the buckets.

Just plug it in the wall and forget about pythons.

You can get that pump for twenty bucks at Harbor Freight. 30 bucks at Lowes. It hooks right to a garden hose.

 

Jen you just need a small pump and a long hose and you can forget the buckets.

Just plug it in the wall and forget about pythons.

You can get that pump for twenty bucks at Harbor Freight. 30 bucks at Lowes. It hooks right to a garden hose.

I use a pump to pump water back into my aquarium from a 5 gallon bucket. It is a ton easier than doing buckets! Esp with my small size lol

 

I use a pump to pump water back into my aquarium from a 5 gallon bucket. It is a ton easier than doing buckets! Esp with my small size lol

I do the same thing. Got a cheap pump from Amazon that pumps to the height of my tank and everything is so much faster. I also picked up one of these plug switches just to plug the pump into so other things don't have to be turned off/I don't have to yank out the pump plug when I need it to stop. GE Grounded On/Off Power Switch, Plug-in, Energy Efficient, Space Saving Design, UL Listed, Gray, 45203: Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement

 

Ravynn. Banana is about 2” long. So he’s got a couple more inches to grow! I’m hoping I can detach this one from this tank. If I can’t I’ll just buy a new one.

Ulu. The hose only has cold water and is on the other side of the house. I’m thinking of getting a long hose though. Long enough to stick out the window and then all David has to do is monitor water levels.

Blondeath. Where do you get a pump to do that? Cuz honestly the worst part of a water change is putting water back in the tank via cup.

Some of the other fish in my tank! Hehe.

Bronze cories




Black neon tetras

 

I got a VicTsing pump from Amazon but you can use pond pumps from hardware stores too. Just have to make sure the lift height is the proper height for your tank/stand.

Banana looks much bigger than 2" when he's on the glass! Love the blue eyes.

 

Haha ya. I’ve been looking for someone who has a 75 aqueon to have them measure the trim on the bottom (how tall it is). Is your 125 an aqueon too?
Sorry not trying to hijack the thread!
jenmur your sword has grown so much since it was a wee baby!

Yeah. It was a Father's Day gift a few years back. My wife paid entirely too much though. It came with the stand. I could have built 1 and saved a ton. The stand needed to be fixed. It was very poorly made.

 

Yeah. It was a Father's Day gift a few years back. My wife paid entirely too much though. It came with the stand. I could have built 1 and saved a ton. The stand needed to be fixed. It was very poorly made.

That’s very sweet that she cares enough about your hobby to get you a tank and a huge one at that!
would you mind telling me how tall the trim on the bottom is? I was guessing maybe an inch and a half but I don’t want to guess wrong!

 

Ravynn. Banana is about 2” long. So he’s got a couple more inches to grow! I’m hoping I can detach this one from this tank. If I can’t I’ll just buy a new one.

Ulu. The hose only has cold water and is on the other side of the house. I’m thinking of getting a long hose though. Long enough to stick out the window and then all David has to do is monitor water levels.

Blondeath. Where do you get a pump to do that? Cuz honestly the worst part of a water change is putting water back in the tank via cup.

Some of the other fish in my tank! Hehe.

Bronze cories

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Black neon tetras

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I got mine from amazon. I can link it. It’s pretty fast! I mean it takes maybe 2-3 minutes to refill my 20 gallon when I do an 90% water change. And honestly if I don’t get the hose positioned on something correctly and it falls to the sand while refilling it makes a mess of my sand and then my whole tank is messy because of root tabs getting dislodged and all the decaying organic matter lol.



It’s perfect besides that! And really that’s not a flaw of the pump, I just need to get a better method going

 

I got mine from amazon. I can link it. It’s pretty fast! I mean it takes maybe 2-3 minutes to refill my 20 gallon when I do an 90% water change. And honestly if I don’t get the hose positioned on something correctly and it falls to the sand while refilling it makes a mess of my sand and then my whole tank is messy because of root tabs getting dislodged and all the decaying organic matter lol.



It’s perfect besides that! And really that’s not a flaw of the pump, I just need to get a better method going

That’s a 550 gph pump. No wonder all the sand gets stirred up lol!
I bought a 210 gph pond pump off amazon. It works great to pump water back in my tanks from the 32 gallon brute trashcan. It’s slow but I wanted that so it adds slowly to the tank.
OTOH, I store my RO water in a brute 44 gallon. I keep a 440 gph pump in that one to fill the 32 g. That one is nice and fast. The 32 g is usually filled by the time I am finished adding Equilibrium and the buffers.
Here’s my 75 being filled.

 

That’s a 550 gph pump. No wonder all the sand gets stirred up lol!
I bought a 210 gph pond pump off amazon. It works great to pump water back in my tanks from the 32 gallon brute trashcan. It’s slow but I wanted that so it adds slowly to the tank.
OTOH, I store my RO water in a brute 44 gallon. I keep a 440 gph pump in that one to fill the 32 g. That one is nice and fast. The 32 g is usually filled by the time I am finished adding Equilibrium and the buffers.
Here’s my 75 being filled.

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Ya lol I waiting to get one of those brute trash cans to start aging my water!
jenmur I do what basil does! You can also get a wheel thing for the trash can. And get your pump and hose and it’s be so much easier on you than those buckets!

 

Ya lol I waiting to get one of those brute trash cans to start aging my water!
jenmur I do what basil does! You can also get a wheel thing for the trash can. And get your pump and hose and it’s be so much easier on you than those buckets!

Yep. The trashcan, lid, and wheel thing aren’t cheap, about $85 for all. But so worth it!!!

 

Dave125g. Oh I remember when that happened! Eek!

Blondeath. Oh wow! Maybe I’ll look into the trash can thing. I’d need to buy a pump.

Basil. And what do you use to refill the tank? I have a gravel vac for water changes. Is there a specific type of hose you use?

Tanks are all a day late for water changes. Merlin and Jester will be for today. 55 will be done tomorrow.
Hoping to have 75 delivered this or next week. I bought the light for it. It’s also a Fennix planted plus light. Also bought 500g of Fluval biomax. I’m sure I’ll need more for both canisters. But two gives me an idea once I put them in.

 

Basil. And what do you use to refill the tank? I have a gravel vac for water changes. Is there a specific type of hose you use?
[/QUOTE]
For the 210 gph pump, I think it’s a 1/4 inch size. It’s food/drinking water grade clear tubing from Home Depot.
They sell it by the foot.
For the bigger 440 gph pump, it’s 1/2 inch tubing.
I need to now stop fooling around on Fishlore and do the WC on my 75!

 

Basil.
For the 210 gph pump, I think it’s a 1/4 inch size. It’s food/drinking water grade clear tubing from Home Depot.
They sell it by the foot.
For the bigger 440 gph pump, it’s 1/2 inch tubing.
I need to now stop fooling around on Fishlore and do the WC on my 75!

So I just hang the hose over the side of the tank to refill? With supervision of course! Hose can move and I have cats.
Home Depot is easy enough to get to! .

 

So I just hang the hose over the side of the tank to refill? With supervision of course! Hose can move and I have cats.
Home Depot is easy enough to get to! 4].

Yep. I have glass canopies on all my tanks and just close the lid over the hose to hold it. But you could also maybe use some sort of hose clamp to hold it. And I position it so that it hits the glass and runs in gently instead of hitting the water in the tank full force. With the 210 gph pump, it takes about 20-25 min to fill the 75 after a 40-50% WC.

 

Dave125g. Oh I remember when that happened! Eek!

Blondeath. Oh wow! Maybe I’ll look into the trash can thing. I’d need to buy a pump.

Basil. And what do you use to refill the tank? I have a gravel vac for water changes. Is there a specific type of hose you use?

Tanks are all a day late for water changes. Merlin and Jester will be for today. 55 will be done tomorrow.
Hoping to have 75 delivered this or next week. I bought the light for it. It’s also a Fennix planted plus light. Also bought 500g of Fluval biomax. I’m sure I’ll need more for both canisters. But two gives me an idea once I put them in.

I just bought my trash can today! The Brute Rubbermaid 32?g for $29! Tomorrow will be my last water change without aged water hopefully!

 

Basil. Oh so do I! True! I wouldn’t need to keep it open to pour water in if it’s flowing through a hose. Heheh. My LFS doesn’t have a pump that small in stock currently but I will continue to look.

Blondeath. Woo hoo!!!

I just wanna share pictures of my newest fishies I’ve had for almost two months. My sweet little darlings.

Banana enjoying yellow squash




Azriaphele being a grump




Crowley posing

 

Frogbit got added to all 3 tanks.

55 gallon which has the least. I may need to rectify this.




I think Jesters tank got the most

M


Merlin’s tank however still looks good

 

Our fish to plant ratios are approximately opposite.