Hello!

[Metalhead88]

Hello everyone,

I've recently become more interested with my tank and fish keeping now that my tank is finally at my residence. And I'm shopping around for a 6 foot tank either a 125 or 150, whatever I can get my hands on for a reasonable price.

I've kept fish for my entire life and I'm 31 now. I've mostly kept American cichlids and community fish. I took over my dad's 125 gallon as a teenager and after that sprung a leak (and we cracked it while resealing) I ended up collecting 4 55 gallon tanks. As I got older and knew I'd be moving soon, I began taking down some of the tanks until I had just one.

Fast forward some years, and 5 months ago or so I brought my 55 gallon over to my place finally. The tanks only inhabitant was a seven year female Salvini. I was careful to keep all bacteria and the fish alive and work quickly take the tank down, and set it back up at my place. Everything went great and I didn't have any ammonia or nitrate spikes. I monitored the water for the next 2 months and began shopping around for fish and other supplies after that.

I've now added a few fish. They have all been together for about 2 months. Everyone is happy and I've noticed some nice growth on the new fish. I have the Salvini thats about 6 inches, a Blood Parrot that is about 3 inches, and a Convict that is about 2. Aggression is minimum, Ammonia is 0, nitrates are around 10 - 15.

I do weekly water changes, filtration is an AC110, fluval C4 and a large sponge filter.

I have some questions about setting up and acquiring the larger tank, mostly about filtration, but maybe I'll save that for another post. I have a few ideas for tankmates, but I'm trying not to get too far ahead of myself as I don't even have the big tank yet.

Anyways, nice to meet you all.

 

[FishGuest5123]

Look forward to seeing you around the forum! Can’t wait to see pics.

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome to the forum

If you want cichlids in the big tank, you can get a trickle filter/ sump and put it under the main tank. Then the fish can dig up the substrate all they like and the filter will be under the tank where it won't be harmed/ disturbed by the fish moving gravel around.

One of the members (Hamsnacks) on this forum has a big tank with a trickle filter. You might be interested in seeing it at the following link.
https://www.fishforums.net/threads/sump-setup.452163/#post-3817892

 

[Metalhead88]

I had a sump in my 125 and I always had problems with it./ Idk if im being biased based on past experience, but I was leaning towards a big canister filter or 2. The only problem is that those fluval canister filters are pretty expensive.

 

[Colin_T]

A trickle filter/ sump that is set up properly is a very effective filter and it provides extra water for tanks with lots of rocks (like marine/ reef tanks or Rift Lake cichlid tanks. They are normally easy to maintain and don't cost excessive amounts of money to set up. They can also be used to separate fish that might have been bashed.

However, if you have had bad experiences with them, go for a big external power filter.

 

[Fishmanic]

Welcome...you should consider entering your tank in our Tank of the Month contest which is running now...and around June 15th, we will start the Fish of the Month contest in which could enter one or your awesome fish.

Tank of Month contest ...click link.... https://www.fishforums.net/threads/...-month-contest-enter-now.452439/#post-3820200

 

[Guppylover3x]

 

[FishGuest5123]

Welcome! Look forward to seeing you around.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Welcome! Please enter the tank of the month contest, (aka TTOTMC), but clicking the banner at the top of the screen. Good luck, and welcome!

 

[Metalhead88]

Thanks for the welcome.

Here is a pic of my current setup

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Wow! That’s so cool! How many gallons, and what species of fish, are in said tank?

 

[Danno11]

Welcome to the site!

 

[Guppylover3x]

Thanks for the welcome.

Here is a pic of my current setup

Great looking tank! You should definitely enter it into the next tank of the month contest