New Tropical Tank

[CollegeFish]

Hi all,

I've been reading here for a week or so, and I've just had some good news.

A little background info;

I'm a uni science graduate and now working as a Science Technician at a College. I'm dealing with a couple of subject areas, but one of them is Environmental Science and Geology.

The college has some fish already, but it was suggested I could set up a new tank in one of my new laboratories!

As the college already has some fish, I searched through their equipment and I've managed to get together a 60cmx30x30 tank (estimate), a new heating element, filter, air pump and substrate.

As for water testing etc, I have access to some great test kits (environmental science equipment), pH meters, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate etc.

I've also been told, as far as plants and fish and any extras that are needed, it will all be funded. I just need to choose what is needed for the tank and order it.


I'm pretty exited about this as I've wanted to buy my own tank for at home, but to have one funded and set up myself at my place of work is a good feeling.


I'll be posting a little step by step as it gets underway with photos.

But I may need to ask you guys/girls for advice along the way - as this is the first time for me.

I was thinking about a geological theme, and have been given some granite samples as a start. I'm thinking of changing the background to black card?

Hope you'll all enjoy.

Update 1;

Firstly, here's the tank and a few bits of equipment;

Cleaning it out

Hood needs a bit of a paint.. not sure how the light will house inside it either.. no fittings.

 

[CollegeFish]

Update 2;

I've got everything ready now for a fishless cycle and haven't had to buy anything yet

Some pretty specialist kits (pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate)

Ammonia solution
Dechlorination/Stress Coat soln.

There's also another tropical tank that has a filter with sponge I can use to seed my filter.

Will start this all next Tuesday when I'm back at work.

Here's the tank so far.

It has an air stone under the left hand side set of granite.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Welcome!
Look forward to your progress.

 

[mishka83]

Welcome!!

Looking good so far, i look forward to seeing more pics and hearing about your progress.

Your test stuff looks cool

 

[brian2708]

Is that a piece of breeze block?

 

[CollegeFish]

Haha probably pretty sure its a huge piece of granite. Stupidly big rock sample lol.
I've just found out we have a student who can get plants/fish at a discount where they work. Also means its easier to bring them into the college.

Cycle starts Tuesday with the hope of doing it pretty efficiently.

 

[joeskandal]

Geology Rocks!

 

[CollegeFish]

It does now there's fish involved!

 

[algir]

What a cool concept!

 

[CrazyAirborne]

if thats ur heater on the left, it shouldnt be straight up and down, since the warm water will rise right into the thermostat and shut off the heater too quickly. put it at an angle to help it regulate better.

awesome so far tho and ur really lucky!

 

[OldMan47]

OK, I think I know what you are up to but is there a purpose to the tank or is it just for your enjoyment? I would think the tank would be used for some kind of research so its setup would be quite specific to that purpose. If you are exploring how a particular geology affects fish, you will need to investigate the geologic conditions in which the fish live and try to reproduce a waterway in that geological setting.

 

[CollegeFish]

Hi OldMan47,

There's no real purpose to the tank other than enjoyment really. There are two tanks in other areas of the college (biology areas) which are also just for looking at.

This tank was once set up but it wasn't properly maintained by whoever was running it, and now I'm going to try and do it properly. (which means keeping the fish food stored in the prep room so that students can't overfeed them).

The types of rock that we've chosen/or will be using are ones that are pretty stable in water so that the water quality isn't affected and are just to make the tank a little more themed to the subjects being taught in that room.

 

[CollegeFish]

Would stocking the tank with the following be too much?

4 Julii Cory (although I've been told the ones ill get aren't exactly the same, smaller/cheaper).

4 Neon Dwarf Rainbow

5 Cardinal Tetra

5 Black Neon Tetra

1 Rubbernose Plec.

I don't know why I asked, its going to be overstocked. Lose the plec and dwarf rainbows?

 

[fluttermoth]

Sorry to jump in to this topic so late, 'cos I'm going to suggest something totally different now!

I know you've said thee's no real 'point' to this tank, apart from enjoyment, but why don't you base it around some Great Rift valley fish?

I think that would be great for a geology department, as it could cover plate tectonics and the affects of the rock on water chemistry (with the dissolving of the rock and the hardening/changing alkalinity of the water), plus, I know not your department but fascinating anyway, evolution and speciation.

It's quite a small tank, so you want tiny fish; but a few pairs of the small Lake Tanganikan shell dwelling cichlids would be brilliant in there.

 

[CollegeFish]

I like that idea and I'll suggest it to the lecturer. I'm not a Geologist though so would need to find out what type of rock and find a supplier for that kind of fish. It sounds like a bit of a challenge keeping the water quality set up to the specific environment, would the tank need constant water changes because of the dissolving minerals etc?

I've asked a student to help with the stocking of the tank for plants/fish, so specific types of plant to african lakes might be unlikely now.

I can't spend too much time and effort on this really as its not really part of my job description