Tim's 125 Litre Tropial Tank

[Torred1771]

Just thought I would start a thread to show the progress of my tank.

Here is my new tank, i bought it second hand, its 125 litres. It came with the Fluval hood with lights, a heater, and the pine stand it is on was included with it. I only paid 50GBP ($79) for the lot. I have purchased an Eheim 2012 Filter, wood, gravel and rocks to go in it. I intend to keep tropical fish in the tank, tetras, barbs, loaches and that sort of thing in it. I would love to get a rainbow fish as well. I rinsed the gravel before putting in the tank, then added the decorations. When we set the tank up we added a double dose of API Stress Zyme (double dose for new tank) and a normal dose of API Stress Coat. Since we set it up we have added nothing to it.

Just got the tank in the house...

This shot was taken 10 minutes after we added the decorations. (Thursday 11pm)

We got it all set up and running about 11pm and let it sit over night and this is what it looked like the next morning. (Friday 7am)

After letting it run for a couple of days, I came home from work and its starting to look a bit cloudy (Saturday 5pm)

I dont understand why it is starting to look cloudy, as we gave the gravel a proper rinse before putting it in. We also boiled the rocks for a few hours and gave the piece of wood a good rinse in boiling hot water for about 10 minutes. I have two other pieces of driftwood soaking so they will sink (not in pics).

 

[riogal_11]

Just thought I would start a thread to show the progress of my tank.

Here is my new tank, i bought it second hand, its 125 litres. It came with the Fluval hood with lights, a heater, and the pine stand it is on was included with it. I only paid 50GBP ($79) for the lot. I have purchased an Eheim 2012 Filter, wood, gravel and rocks to go in it. I intend to keep tropical fish in the tank, tetras, barbs, loaches and that sort of thing in it. I would love to get a rainbow fish as well. I rinsed the gravel before putting in the tank, then added the decorations. When we set the tank up we added a double dose of API Stress Zyme (double dose for new tank) and a normal dose of API Stress Coat. Since we set it up we have added nothing to it.

Just got the tank in the house...

This shot was taken 10 minutes after we added the decorations. (Thursday 11pm)

We got it all set up and running about 11pm and let it sit over night and this is what it looked like the next morning. (Friday 7am)

After letting it run for a couple of days, I came home from work and its starting to look a bit cloudy (Saturday 5pm)

I dont understand why it is starting to look cloudy, as we gave the gravel a proper rinse before putting it in. We also boiled the rocks for a few hours and gave the piece of wood a good rinse in boiling hot water for about 10 minutes. I have two other pieces of driftwood soaking so they will sink (not in pics).

Take a look at the beginner's section in regards to cycling. After getting all the decor and substrate inside, your next step is to do a fishless cycle in order to prepare your tank for fish.
Someone else will have to chime in about the cloudy water, but it probably has something to do with the additives that you put in.

 

[Torred1771]

Well, we are NOT off to a good start, the bottom cracked and I had to empty it!!

 

[Tizer]

Well, we are NOT off to a good start, the bottom cracked and I had to empty it!!

i was going to ask if all those edges were supported by the stand correctly! I guess not

 

[Torred1771]

Well, we are NOT off to a good start, the bottom cracked and I had to empty it!!

i was going to ask if all those edges were supported by the stand correctly! I guess not

what do you mean?

 

[CloudDave]

Hey there pal. Heard about the tank. It's a shame since it was progressing so nicely. Well, no worries, just get up and get back on it. We all learn from our mistakes. I hope you don't mind, but I'd suggest a kinda of foam platform at the bottom to distribute the weight of the tank evenly. That's what I've been taught to do anyway. Nothing too thick, just a layer of something that's not too hard. It'll allow the (considerable) weight of the water to adjust itself to your stand. Good luck and don't give up!

 

[Torred1771]

Hey there pal. Heard about the tank. It's a shame since it was progressing so nicely. Well, no worries, just get up and get back on it. We all learn from our mistakes. I hope you don't mind, but I'd suggest a kinda of foam platform at the bottom to distribute the weight of the tank evenly. That's what I've been taught to do anyway. Nothing too thick, just a layer of something that's not too hard. It'll allow the (considerable) weight of the water to adjust itself to your stand. Good luck and don't give up!

Thanks. I bought a brand new tank last night and it came with a nice supportive base. Slightly smaller though and my filter is huge! Ive gone down to a 90 litre tank that houses a filter for up to 200 litres!