50 Gallon Tank for FREEEEEEE

[NDIrish7]

i was talking to a family member today and i told em i was going to start a new fish tank, and then they told me i could have their old tank (4 years?)that they dont use any more. it previously held a oscar and for a while then died of old age. This tank hasnt been used in over a year and its a great fish tank. It comes will the light, filter and stand. WHAT MORE COULD I ASK FOR? plus im not paying for ANYTHING! (VERY SUPRISED) i really wasnt expecting them to just be like, yeah u can have it, LOL. THis is a perfect 50 gallon tank for me. I was only thinking about getting a 40 gallon or lower because thats all i could afford right now. So a 50 gallon sounds HUGE right now. Ill prolly end up buying a new filter for it and some other extras for the tank. Now the questions .....

First Steps to cleaning it? What to use/ not use and where to start??

What "bigger" fish would i be able to hold?.....(im def. getting a school of tiger barbs around 8 or so, WOULD like to get some bigger fish in their, so if ANYONE has any suggestions...FEEL FREE TO REPLY!)
Clown Loaches?(oh wait tank is to small right?)
WHat eles?

 

[vantgE]

rinse it out rub it down clr can be used to clean if you need it ans so can bleach just rinse it down alot

 

[drobbins27]

Clown knife maybe? Bachirs are neat, and why not get some clown loaches (they go well with tiger barbs )

 

[NDIrish7]

what is a Bachirs? and for the clown knife....just by looking at him scares me for some reason...LOL

anyone else? what big fish do u all have? or small?

 

[cutechic]

Use the hottest water you can stand to clean out the tank. If you use bleach, wash the tank out thoroughly, and then wash it out again to ensure that no bleach is left on the tank.

Does the tank come with a heater as well? If not, you'll need to buy one.

I know someone who has a 55 gallon with angels, swordtails, tiger barbs, and clown loaches. The tiger barbs don't seem to bother the pair of angels, but if you decide to get both you will need to keep an eye on them It shouldn't be a problem if the tiger barbs are kept in a school. IMO, these types of fish look very nice together, especially in a planted tank.

HTH

 

[NDIrish7]

yeah and how many ottos would i need to get for this tank? (THEY ARE THE ALGE EATERS I SHOULD GET RIGHT?? they do the best?) what alge eater stops eating alge after a while?

 

[Doggfather]

buy 6 angelfish and let them from a breeding pair then get rid of the ones which don't breed

as for algae eater maybe a couple of bristlenose cats?

 

[jasmine]

i would use a salt solution to clean the tank, not bleach, then rinse well.

 

[Dorsal]

Just a thought... why not use amonia to clean the tank? Use the brand that you intend to use for your fishless cycling, and then even if you don't quite get it all out, your fishless cycles is off to a start

 

[Inchworm]

Hi NDIrish7

Congratulations on the new tank! What wonderful luck!

I'd clean it with nothing more than salt and water since you know that the last occupant died a natural death. White vinegar and a plastic scrubber will take off any dried on water marks, if necessary.

Lots of luck with it!

 

[NDIrish7]

thanks for all the usefull cleaning tips,

and what kinds of fishes do u all have? big/or small? 8)