55 Gallon Setup Journal [update: 21/03/06] [severe 56k Warning]

[DarkSoul]

I'm currently in the process of setting up my aquarium. The same aquarium I have had for 5 years and done nothing with it.

I got my tax refund and spent $900 on equipment and things to get this up and running. (If anyone is interested in exact prices I have all my receipts.

The pictures are up to date, and I will keep adding more as my progress continues.

I don't have a huge budget so I will be buying things as I get paid. It may be, in some cases, a couple of weeks before new pictures are added sometimes.

Enough rambling, On to the pictures.


First is the setup, you can see her in all her beauty (so far) right here. The undergravel filter hasn't been connected to air.

And this is all of the stuff tucked neatly away in the corner. The bubble wand you see running down the corner is actually modified to hide my airline tubing so it doesn't mess up the look of things.
More on that later.

The next set of pictures i have here show the hole i cut in my hood to mount the heater, and allow the filters intake and spraybar to exit/enter the tank.
You can also see the small hole i drilled to run the airline tubing through the lip in the aquarium frame.

The syphon valve was added next, and I even had a spare suction cup and clip laying around that was just the right size to mount it to the glass and keep everything as neat and tidy as possible.

And my filter. An Eheim 2213. I have yet to go about cleaning up the plumbing in here, But I'm going to purchase some 90° elbows, and use those to clean up the tubes all over the place, and I'm also going to mount a power bar in there so I only need to deal with one cord coming out the back.

And now the modified bubble wand.
I simply ran a piece of airline tubing inside of the bubble wand and used some super glue to glue it to the tips of the bubble wand.
This keeps air going through the bubble wand instead of out of it, and allows me to keep everything super organized.

And that's all for now folks. Tomorrow I will buy some gravel, and post some pictures of that.

 

[Bloo]

That is such a cool setup with everything tucked away so nicely. Great filtration too . I'm really not a fan of tank "ornaments", but that castle is ultra cool.

Just make very sure your heater is submerged to the minimum water level - it looks a bit high, though I might be wrong. All the glass basically needs to be submerged. Also make sure that the water level doesn't drop below that mark on the heater, or else you'll sit with an expensive but broken heater.

What fish are you planning to keep ?

 

[DarkSoul]

The heater is fully submerisble, but I don't want to do that.... fear really

The water level is a little below the Min. water line, but it doesn't feel like it gets hot or anything up there, and the heater seems to be functioning.

I still need to purchase a digital thermometer though.

As for fish, I haven't totally decided yet, As I'm currently still getting everything setup, But I was considering the following.
Also keep in mind I'm saving right now for an even larger tank.


2 Ropefish, about 4 or 6 Angels, a Betta, some larger Tetras perhaps, a few plecos to keep the tank clean, and maybe something else if I have the room... But like I said, I still don't really know what kind of fish I will get.

I had a rope fish when i was about 15 (I'm 23 now) and in a 20 gallon tank, Which I realize now I probably shouldn't have, But I love them so much, they are such cool and majestic fish.
The fish above were pretty much what I had before, But smaller quantities, and they all seemed to get along pretty well.... except when my rope fish decided to snack on my neon tetras... but there wasn't much I could do at that point.

I hope to have better success this time

 

[guppy_man]

looking good i love looking at people tank diaries
cant wait to see more pics

 

[Bloo]

The heater is fully submerisble, but I don't want to do that.... fear really

The water level is a little below the Min. water line, but it doesn't feel like it gets hot or anything up there, and the heater seems to be functioning.

.......perhaps, a few plecos to keep the tank clean

Hope you don't mind me saying so .....

But the Visitherm heater absolutely has to be no less than the minimum line - it's very important part of your tank you don't want to take any risks with. You should rather fear that it would almost certainly break if anything below the minimum line

Just keep in mind that pleco's are some of the largest waste producers and common ones reach anywhere between 12 - 20" when adults. If you want something to eat algae and stays fairly small, get some bristlenose (ancistrus)

Look forward to see some more pics.

 

[SPLiSH]

Looks great so far, can't wait to see it develop!

A word about the stocking though: I wouldn't put a betta in as they don't cope well with currents. Some people manage to keep them in community tanks but they do better alone, and I don't think they would get on with your angels - they might mistake the angels for male bettas or vice versa.

Get him or her a nice little tank, 1.5 - 10 gals and some silk plants to explore and he'll be a lot happier.

 

[Austin_09]

Yes, like splish said some people do keep bettas in a community tank but with the fish you are planning to keep with one I don't think they would have much fins.. You betta may eat your angel fish's and tetra's (i guess it depends on what kind of tetra I guess) fins.

And about the heater. If it is able to be submerged that would be the best to do. And if it is, it would also be best if you put it at a horizontal angle. The thermometer in the heater is located at the top so when the hot water rises on a heater that is verticle the thermometer tells the heater that it is time to shut off prematurely which then keeps the water temperature down.

sorry... don't mean to annoy you or anything.

The tank does look awasome! I wish I could afford one like that myself! Can't wait for updates!

 

[DarkSoul]

I'm still trying to figure out a way to mount the heater deeper in the water and still be able to access the temp. setting dial. I may just make the hole larger and sink it down flush with the hood, that should bring it to the right level.

There is lots of circulation around the heater so for the time being, I'm not going to change anything about that, I really do not want to put this totally under water, Even though I know it can be, That's one potential failure I don't want to have to worry about.


As far as the betta, Like I mentioned I had one before in pretty much the same situation, and everyone seemed to get along fine. The only fin nipping was from the neon tetras I had at the time, they would nip the bettas fins.

As long as the betta has lots of places to hide duck away in I think they would be happy.
I remember my previous one liked to hide in the skull I owned. He claimed it as his own for sure, he'd keep a close eye on fish swimming past it, but outside of it, he seemed totally happy and got along well with the other fish.

Maybe it was just that particular fish, or his personality, so I think there is at least a 50/50 chance of a betta not causing/having any problems.

But I will have to wait and see what fish I even decide to get.
I'm going to be picking up some gravel tomorrow, but how much should i get, it comes in 25KG bags, and I was thinking of getting 2.

And last but not least, Does anyone know the EXACT distance between the glass and the stand top on a tank this size? I want to know what thickness foam I need to place underneath the tank.

Thanks for all the kind words, Its good to know that so far I seem to have done everything (mostly) right.
I'm going to buy the other half of that castle and put it in the other corner, then I'm going to get maybe a medium or large Moai figure for the center.
Perhaps even a small pice of drift wood hollowed out just in front of the Moai.

Some plants in the corners and between the decorations.... But I dont even know what kind of plants

 

[DarkSoul]

Well I've got my gravel, I picked up 50Lbs and if I need more then I guess I'll just have to go buy some more.... But I honestly thini I need at LEAST 25Lbs more, I just couldn't carry 3 bags home on the bus, then a 1/2 Km walk down a big hill.

I could have carried the 75Lbs, just not the 3 damn bags

Right now I'm just trying to find something I can put underneath the tank, As I can't easily get a hold of any foam.

Any suggestions?
Also what thickness would i need, i would guess 1/4" ??

 

[Bloo]

Isn't your tank already on a special stand ? if so, no foam is needed Otherwise it would be a heck of a job emptying the whole thing to get some Styrofoam underneath

If you need it, most fish shops sell Styrofoam - otherwise art shops.

yep, also don't worry about your heater not being at an angle. It's purely a preference thing and Visitherm instructions state you can have it at any angle. Being right next to the filter intake, it will circulate nicely

 

[DarkSoul]

The tank is on a stand, but it is just a flat top.
Anyway I've put the gravel in (50Lbs) spent painstaking hours getting everything just right, including these freakin bubble wands

and once the air bubbles go away I will post some pictures.

There is nothing under my tank, but it also has a center brace.

The problem I'm dealing with now is that I've already got a hole drilled that the heater slides into nicely, but it sits too high.
So if I move the heater down, it is at a good level, but i cant access the control easily enough.
I do not want to drill any more holes, nor do I really want to cut out another square part where fish could possibly exit the tank.

And there is also no way to bring the water level up to the heaters level when it is mounted in the hood.

I'll post some pics probably tomorrow once t he air bubbles have cleared and I am able to get a good pic.

 

[Bloo]

Once the temperature is set, there really is no need at all to fiddle with it and change it. It really doesn't have to be in easy access - it's really not like you're going to twiddle with it every day

Just lower it down slightly and the suction cups can still ensure that the heater is at such a level that the red knob is above the water. Make sense ?

I wouldn't worry about foam underneath the tank - especially seeing as you have everything filled and nicely set up. Many tanks don't come with the foam if they sit on a stand.

 

[DarkSoul]

I know what you mean about not needing to fiddle with the temp., and no I won't be playing with it But if I need to change it for any reason, I dont want to have to lift my hood, move stuff and spill the water just to change the temp.
Know what I mean?


I'm getting frustrated with my bubble wand at this point.

I have it laid out in 3 connected sections, the middle section doesnt let any air through at all, Which is OK because it acts as a pipe to the end section, and makes for a nice effect.

The first section, the one the airline is connected to, Was powerful and had tons of bubbles, and the end section was barely working.
Then I found a piece I had, cut it to length, and blew into it, and realied it was REALLY free flowing.
Then the end section and the first section was extremely powerful.....

Now the first section is weak.


What would be a good bubble wand that will produce fine bubbles?

I'm using the Penn Plax Bubble Walls right now.

 

[BOD]

Lets put it this way - if you dont have the heater set up right so that the water comes up to the min level it could explode in your tank glass everywhere and exposed heater elements which have the potential to fry stuff! i had it happen to me and it wasnt very nice cleaning up the mess!

So if you do ever have to change the temp i doubt that lifiting up the hood is as much work as cleaning up and exploded heater!

which one would you prefer?

 

[SamUK]

ive had my tanks setup since way before xmas and i havent touched my heater once.


i really would do what the guys say and jus drop it down.

its even better at an angle rather than vertical, heats the tank better.


as for the bubble wall, i think your meant to leave them to soak for a lil while before theyll work properly.