Tank set-up Today!

I took the not particularly metaphorical plunge today, and bought my gravel and etc for setting up my tank - I'll be working on that this afternoon and evening.

Here's the order of operations.

Carry tank into bathroom, put in bath-tub and rinse/check for leaks.

Move dresser that will support tank to spot where tank will be.

Empty tank, worry about getting water all over carpet in hall, carry tank to dresser.

Check tank for levelness. Worry about the quality of bubble level.

Rinse gravel, add to tank. Add decorative objects - I got a piece of drift wood, and rock. Worry about rock and wood messing up water.

Fill tank with 2 gallons of water - double check level, reposition deco-objects as needed.

Fill buckets with additional water and put in closet. Worry about buckets getting kicked over during the night.

And that's it for today. Tomorrow I"ll get my plants and plant them, then finish filling the tank, and start cycling.

I've already gotten a head start on the worrying. *lol*

Anna

 

Hi

Is your tank the type that needs to sit on a foam mat?

 

A foam mat? Not as far as I know..... Certainly no one that I've talked to at the LFS has mentioned my needing one.

They did suggest I check my dresser for the weight load though - which I did.

Anna

 

Hi

You can get foam or pollystyryne, not sure if all tanks need them.
But I just got one to be one the safe side.
If the surface is not quite flat, it can cause presure in one spot.

 

or a towel

 

Set back!

I went to look at the tank after it had been resting for a while (about an hour) with the gravel and water (2 galllons) in it, and it is starting to make the top of the dresser bow. >

We tested the dresser by me, and then my husband both climbing on top of it -- it was sturdy and did not move or creak. But we didn't stay up there for very long - maybe five minutes, so I guess it didn't get a chance to start bowing.

Anyways, I'll pick up a formal aquarium stand tomorrow -- the dresser can hold on for another day, and with only two gallons of water in the tank, it won't be too hard to move.

 

sounds like a plan but I wouldnt worry about rock and wood messing up water though but looking forward to seeing some pics if you can take them

 

Good idea about getting the stand. What you have to remember about you and your husband as opposed to the tank is that you are considered a 'live load' and the tank a 'dead load'.

Dead load is critical when checking for structural stabillity as it's stationary so the load is constant and spread over one concentrated area. Chances are when you and your husband sat atop the dresser, your weight was more evenly distributed from left to right and front to back.....

Enough of the boring talk!!

Sounds like you've got a plan!! Have fun and good luck!

 

Good idea about getting the stand. What you have to remember about you and your husband as opposed to the tank is that you are considered a 'live load' and the tank a 'dead load'.

Dead load is critical when checking for structural stabillity as it's stationary so the load is constant and spread over one concentrated area. Chances are when you and your husband sat atop the dresser, your weight was more evenly distributed from left to right and front to back.....

Enough of the boring talk!! 

Structural engineering rocks! ;D

 

yup stands are nice too as then you can put it wherever you want just in my opinion I like the solid tank stands all the way down so youu can't see all the wires like you can with the metal wire stands just my opion I only like those for breeding tanks.

 

;D


One more thing about stands - BEWARE OF THE PARTICLE BOARD STAND!!!! They're OK, it's just that structurally speaking, they're like sponges....And what are we dealing with??? Water ...... So....Keeping this in mind, particle board over time if water is repeatedly spilled or splashed on it will eventually blister and fail......and one day CRASH!!! No more fish tank and Nemo is flapping around on the wet carpet while you're at work....... >

There are some really nice solid wood stands out there with cabinet doors and shelves, etc.....I would recommend going this route if you're looking for something in the ways of furniture....One more thing....Don't forget the surge protector for all of your electrical gear!!! 8)

 

Hello !

If you are worried about the driftwood dirtying up your water, it probably will if you do not boil it or let it soak first. I just threw mine in a pot and let it run to a boil and then once it started boiling, I kept it in there for like 5 minutes. within that five minutes the water was YUCK BROWN! I emptied the yuck water, put in new water and I did the process one more time (Not sure if the second time was necessary, but safety called, lol ) -- after it boiled the 2nd time, I just placed it on a clean towel and let it cool off, and then I put it in my tank ( I have two pieces of driftwood, one big one small, and neither yuckied up my water with this process )

Good Luck

 

Surge protector, check! I picked up a cheapo four plug in one, and I'm using it to replace the high end computer surge protector I've been using for my electric tea kettle! Tea kettle gets the cheapie, fish tank gets the big one.

My drift wood is soaking in a bucket in the closer right now. It's got some serious floating action going on, and needs a good soaking -- hopefully it will be good to go by the time I get the stand, but if not I'll just let it float. Guy at the LFS says this will also leach it clean if it's going to discolour the water or anything.

I"m probably going to get one of the metal stands I've seen at petsmart - my LFS doesn't carry stands for ten gallon tanks!!! >

 

Vin why are surge protecters necessary? I have a power strip that my grandpa used and my friend just uses extesion cords

 

The tank is completely set up, filled with water, and has been fed ten drops of ammonia to start the cycling process.

My tank has - a whisper filter, 90gph, a little all-glass submersible heater, a light(15 watts), a rock with two large holes in it, a neat shaped piece of wood and some plants. The plants are - two clumps of dwarf mondo grass, an anubias nana, a java lace fern, and some java moss. It looks very sparsely planted,, so I may pick up some more plants next week, if these ones don't die or look like they are starting to die.

My camera has dead batteries, or I would take a picture to share.

Anna

 

o recharge those batteries or get new ones but is your light incadescent or flurescent and as far as I am aware of mondo grass is not fully aquatic and will eventually die and foul up your water though I am not 100% certan that dwarf mondo gras is the same but better do some research to make sure and sounds like you are doing good Good luck and take some pics

 

I'm putting the batteries in to recharge over night - pics coming tomorrow.

And I have just googled the dwarf mondo grass, and it is not fully submersible so I will probably keep it in until I finish cycling, and then pull it out and put it in a planter on my plant bench - it is a pretty little grass.

 

Sounds like you've got it going on and such a good lot of good advice also. Good luck!!
atmmachine816- power strips are ok But the extension cords can get a little warm if overloaded.
Carol

 

ok well what does a surge protecter do I know my dad has them on all our computers but what do they actully do

 

A surge protector will protect against sudden surges of electricity, like say during a thunderstorm. When a surge of electricity runs through the electrical lines, any electronic or electrical appliance is subject to a sudden burst of power that it cannot handle and can burn up.

The surge protector - one with a reset button - will turn off, much like blowing a fuse. Since you are dealing with water and electricity, a surge protector will protect you against possible fires if there is ever a short in one of your cords.

Never use extension cords on ANY appliance where water is involved. Especially since most plugs are two prong, not the grounded 3 prong. Though nowadays, the shielded cables (prongs w/ one larger than the other) are better than ones with no protection at all.

I have all my aquarium equipment, all of my computer equipment, all of my home theater and big screen TV connected to surge protectors. It's important to make sure they have a reset switch or button on them. Otherwise they're just power strips with no protection.

I hope I've helped.

 

ok thanks