A Bit Of A Tank Choice Dilema

[resu]

Hi all,

Im new to the forum and i'm just after some advice really.

I had my heart set on a new Biorb 60ltr with heater etc etc but then last night just before i entered my card details my dad offered me his, which is a regular shape and around 75ltrs

now my dads gear is pretty old so i would be looking at a new filter, air pump and heater .. trouble is i dont know where to start (gear wise)

at least with the regular tank i could have bottom feeders etc but on the other hand with the biorb i could have pretty much everything i need in one package.

the biorb 60 with heater etc is around £120 and so i assume that a good filter, heater and air pump will be less than £100 right? i would have to get a stand for my dads old tank aswell.

I would be looking at cleaning up and spraying the old top to my dads tank aswell as it is old .. back when brown & cream (not the band) was cool do i have to buy special paints? Ive currenty got a load of car paint as im spraying aload of bits n pieces for my car aswell.

anyway i was wondering what you all would suggest really?

thanks in advance

Will

 

[Truck]

biorbs are crap IMO the filtration is rubbish, maintenance is hard.

a new filter and heater are gonna set you back about £40 you dont need an airpump.

i would go for an internal filter and fluvals are pretty good. a fluval 3+ would suit your tank
[URL="http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...dce29524d5b9e59"]http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...dce29524d5b9e59[/URL]

and for a heater these are pretty good
[URL="http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...dce29524d5b9e59"]http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...dce29524d5b9e59[/URL]

so your looking at £40

and dependent on your dads DIY skills you could make a stand from wood or if you have a cabinet with a top put it on that but ake sure it can take the weight.

 

[resu]

biorbs are crap IMO the filtration is rubbish, maintenance is hard.

a new filter and heater are gonna set you back about £40 you dont need an airpump.

i would go for an internal filter and fluvals are pretty good. a fluval 3+ would suit your tank
<a href="http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...dce29524d5b9e59" target="_blank">http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...dce29524d5b9e59</a>

and for a heater these are pretty good
<a href="http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...dce29524d5b9e59" target="_blank">http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...dce29524d5b9e59</a>

so your looking at £40

and dependent on your dads DIY skills you could make a stand from wood or if you have a cabinet with a top put it on that but ake sure it can take the weight.

cheers for the reply. It sounds like refurbing my dads old tank is the better idea. I take it that with this set up id be able to have sand?
sorry if thats a really bad question but i think its better to ask than guess lol

thanks again

Will

 

[Truck]

yep sand will be fine

 

[Inchworm]

Hi resu

I'd take your fathers set up and try out the filter before buying a new one because it might still work. If that's the case, just get new media for it. I wouldn't take a chance with an old heater since it could have been damaged through careless handling and you might not find that out until it's too late.

 

[resu]

thanks for your replies.

ive decided to go with my dads old tank for the time being ... gotta start cleaning it out and getting a stand for it

tho i went a seapets near me today to have a look at tanks and ive seen a Juwel 125ltr with stand for around the £180 mark lol stupidly tempting to get the plastic out

i also saw a rather poorlly maintained Biorb 60 .. i was surprised on how big the are but im not a fan of their lava rock stuff that you get with it.

so my plan is use my dads to get up and running and see how i get on

then if all goes well ill buy the 125ltr tank i saw today and use my dads as a tank for the kitchen or somewhere

thanks again

im sure ill be asking more questions tho

 

[Inchworm]

Hi resu

I think you made a great choice! Later, when you do upgrade, it will be easier. Then too, many people find that, somedown down the line, they would like to have the option of a second tank to raise fry or try out species that they weren't aware of at first.