my dual 55 gallon set up

Here are my two freshwater 55 gallon tanks, I haven't set up more fresh water tanks because I have been spendig a ton of time setting up my 20 and 30 gallon saltwater tanks and they have been a lot of work! I have to set up one more fresh water tank (probably a 30 gallon tank) and I will have all of my fresh water fish housed comfortably. I will probably be getting rid of my dog faced bow fin, he is fighting with my Jack Dempsey too much, so if anyone wants him, let me know. Well here is the pic, I will have more pics up soon.

Is it just me or do they seem extremely cloudy?

The digital camera didn't do very with the differences in lighting, so for some reason the first tank in the pic does appear cloudy, but I assure you, it is over filtered and extremely clear water!

Huh, that is wierd. But on a lighter note - Nice tanks!

Thanks a ton, I have put way too much work into setting up those tanks!

Superman,
Hey i have a question for you on your tanks. You have those metal stands under them right? I was wondering how they are? I am getting a new 55 and was wondering how sturdy those stands are. I have 2 young kids who jump and run everywhere and when i went to pick up my tank, i saw the wood ones and they are about $200.00, they are nice, but pricey i think. Sandy

sandyd said:

Superman,
Hey i have a question for you on your tanks. You have those metal stands under them right? I was wondering how they are? Sandy

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Sandy, I'd advise against the metal stands...I had a large Oscar in my 40 gal before I went to a community tank and let me tell you...when he got moving in the tank and caused a current the tank (stand and all!) would sway like you wouldn't believe...I thought one day I would come home to a living room full of water...plus when I walked by the tank too fast it swayed...

Especially with 2 kids I would do better...I suggest either looking in the paper for a used stand...or cheaper yet...I found an old dresser in the garbage (missing 1 drawer)...I cleaned it up a bit, put a black blanket over it and it looks great...even have drawers for storage AND it didn't even cost me a dime!! If you want to DIY it more than I did, you could refinish it with stain/varnish...

If you're not the DIY type, you could buy a dresser or large coffee table from someone in the paper...a LOT cheaper than ANY tank stand!!

Hawkeye,
Thanks for that reply, now thinking about it i do have one of those old fashion cofee tables in my livingroom. You know back when they made stuff out or real wood and not press board. LOL I wonder how i would know if it would hold a 55's weight? I would guess they are a few hundred pounds full. I want one of those premade stands, but dont want to part with all of that money when it does not even include the top part. Crazy huh? I could clean off my desk and put the computer on a different table and use my desk it is very large. Now you have me thinking. Does anyone have any idea how complicated it would be to build a 55 stand? I was thinking about making a 55 stand that would also hold 2 10's underneath. Sandy

sandyd i responded in the DIY section for ya. A 55 gal tank will weigh upwards of 500-600 pounds including substrate and any rocks you might put in it. My 55 gal tank weighs probably close to 75 lbs just the tank. With water, if it actually held 55 gallons, you would be at 515 right there. I had a friend who teaches welding at a community college build me a metal stand in his spare class time. Its a great stand, he acounted for the swaying as mentioned above by turning the legs out a bit, kinda like a spider. Even has a shelf for all my crap.

The metal stand that I have is rock solid, I can even kick and push it and it doesn't budge a millimeter. I don't know about the swaying problems with the other metal stands mentioned, but I sure do love mine, it is rock solid!!

When we got my new tank last weekend, we happened across an old filing cabinet for $6. Went to the dollar store and picked up one of those vinyl table cloths with the felt backs for $2.50 and I taped it to the filing cabinet in the back. Voila! Instant tank stand!

That does sound like a great deal, just as long as the filing cabinet will hold the weight.

nice tanks! i'm wondering if the cloudiness appearance could also be from bubbles? that's happened in a few of my pics as well. i'm curious - where did you get the stand from?

the stand was actually from my wife's dad, is probably at least 25 years old, it originally had a plate of glass as the bottom shelf, but I put the feeder fish tank there instead, it is actually a dual tank stand.

very nice tanks superman!!! metal stands are fine. this past weekend I picked up a used 30 gallon tank with dual tank metal stand and it is as secure as can be. the glass on the tank is a bit scrathed but for $30 for tank, lights and stand I couldn't say no. I will get a new 30 gallon tank for the top eventually and move the old beatup one down below and use it a a breeder tank.