what should i buy with my 160$?

[K_S_W_I_S_S]

any idea what i should buy???

[NJ Devils Fan]

Is there anything that you need? What size tanks do you have?

[K_S_W_I_S_S]

i have a 125g and a 55g... i was going to get a diatom filter, but i changed my mind... i think i want to get a better filter for my 125g cuz my oscar makes a mess with his food (the 2 ac 500's arent doing enough)

[fish_freak]

get a magnum 350 pro. it comes with a micron filter so you can use it as a water polisher like a diatom and you can use it as a regular canister filter as well
there like 80 bucks on bigals so you could buy something else too

[andruboz]

2 ac500's arent cutting it? hmm.. thats the route i had planned to go. is it they can't pull the leftover scraps out of the water or general cloudyness?

guess i could spend more and go 2 emperor's.

what makes more sense 3 equal strength filters across the back of a tank or 2 monsters on each end and small suplemental something in the middle?

[K_S_W_I_S_S]

can you leave the micron filter on it the whole time or do you only use it when you want to polish the water?? and how often would i have to replace the micron filter???

[K_S_W_I_S_S]

it looks like there is junk still in the water... not really cloudiness...

[K_S_W_I_S_S]

what about a canister filter?? any ideas which ones would be good for a 125 and a 55??

[MeAirlinePilot]

I don't see how two 500's on a 125G could cut it...I have two AC500's on a 55G midas aquarium and I consider them to be sufficient. Both are stocked with nothing but two sponges and I think any cichlid aquarium bigger than 55G would need more filteration than just 2 AC 500's. I love AC filters and I would never buy any other types of filters because AC's rule, IMO!

[Caleb]

I have a tetratec filter for sale....this thing flows water through two cartridges, one side of each pics of major particles, and the other side is a finer mesh that pics up ALOT of small particles....it also has a heater unit that you can plug into it.

Clears up water alot faster than an aquaclear can, and I like the fact that it has a heater where bigger cichlids can't hit it. It also has a wet dry filter with no moving parts.

Basically, power of AC filter....no noise, built in heater, Wet dry that works better than marinelands, and filters that cost less the emperors, and filter more....

Caleb

[NJ Devils Fan]

I would recommend getting a Rena Filstar xP3 from Big Al's. It will be a great additional filter for the 125g. Why did you decide against the diatom filter?

[K_S_W_I_S_S]

it seems like too much of a hassle

[blitzen25bm]

i have a HOT magnum thats kind of like the 350. the micron filter can be used the whole time but you will have to wash it every week or so. you don't have to replace it just soak it in a bleach/water solution. or you can use their media basket with the foam sleeve. -john

[Elmo]

I would either get a good canister or work on building a sump.

[CyberDrgn]

I have a 90g and I use 1 ac500, 1 penguin 330, and a magnum sometimes to polish. I still have to gravel vac often, its really unavoidable with oscars.

[somefinnfishy]

I'd slap a 350 pro on there and use the twin bio wheels they work far better than the emp wheels as they are much larger my buddy forces all of his out take on a HOT magnum though a pair of wheels and since the flow rate is reduced he doesnt have to clean the micron cartrage but once a month he lets his AC,s do all the water moving.

[Mr.Jingles]

how bout a nice personal CD player with an MP3 system built in??? Or maybe a nice pair of roller blades. Or how bout a trip to a theme park. or a new pair of shoes. or some pants and some shirts. or a collection of CDs. Or how bout you put it into a savings bond (or your bank account) and save up for a car? Or how bout you save up for a guitar. Or maybe a dinner at a fancy restourant with some friends. Or maybe some camping equipment. or save up for a cruise. or a plane ticket. or save up for a road trip with a bunch of friends. or spend it on something more worthwhile than a filter or a new fish tank.

Ill give it to you that tanks are nice to look at and can be fun to set up. but man, ive just been comming to realize that they are a waste of my money. What will I get out of them in the future? How can I use them right now? What do I want right now that I can't buy because I need new lights for my plants, or a filter for my dumb oscars, or a new tank cause my old one cracked.

think about it.

[somefinnfishy]

dude what a downer .I say buy a new 75 set and spend your next 160 on lights and filters the next 160 stocking it:D

[Mr.Jingles]

what are you trying to say?

[somefinnfishy]

he could throw it in the garbage or the donation plate at church both will have same effect.
BTW totaly not related to this post
I hate religious sig lines I could have one knocking organized religion but am more respectfull than others.

[cubano]

Originally posted by somefinnfishy
he could throw it in the garbage or the donation plate at church both will have same effect.

Indeed.

i say mag 350 pro

[Mr.Jingles]

my sig is aimed more at Christians. I guess its not really that clear tho. Ill change it to make it more clear or non exhistant so it doesnt offend anyone........

on a non-religious side, think about what your fish tanks are keeping you from taking advantage of and think about if your tanks are worth the investment. to some, they are, but to me, it just doesnt seem like its worth it.

[goldfish freak]

What ever he puts on his signature line is his business, as long as it is not offensive. I don't see why you would consider religious statements to be offensive. Have you not heard of freedom of religion? He is exercising that right.

[somefinnfishy]

sorry no real offence taken.Was a lotaBIT harsh on my part.And I like the new sig line ;)

[Matak]

Originally posted by goldfish freak
What ever he puts on his signature line is his business, as long as it is not offensive. I don't see why you would consider religious statements to be offensive. Have you not heard of freedom of religion? He is exercising that right.
Thank-you Mr. Goldfish.
What we have found is more wonderfull than words could express. We have a passionate interest and a sworn duty to at least share what we have found. If we keep it to ourselves, how will anyone know about Jesus?

[somefinnfishy]

I happen to think the Knights templars know the truth.
But I think reminding every one their religion is a farse in every post I make is not polite.I constanty have a dep set resentment to the church as they have used@lied to my family for money. Again sorry for hyjacking but those sig lines **** me off like salt in a open wound.

[CyberDrgn]

The question was what equipment could he buy with $160 to take care of/make the care of easier for an oscar. There was no question about jesus or whether money is evil, those topics belong in the general chit chat forums.

I can understand everyones comments here, but questions asked in aquria forums under freshwater aquariums has nothing to do with this other stuff.

[somefinnfishy]

I dont chat much in general chit chat and have somebody flaunting-pushing their values on me with their sig lines in every thread in general FW its just rude.Same as its legal to tell some one you hate them but not very nice.You have the right to be racist and speak about such things openly but not right thing to do.

If my sig line said "organized religion is a farse" it would offend dosens of people in only one post.I post 10 times a day so should I feel good about pissing off people 120 times a day NO.

[NJ Devils Fan]

wow, this certainly spun out of control. Most likely will be locked.

[Mr.Jingles]

I dont know NJ. I think it was a well managed convorsatoin concerning how people feel. If we ignore those feelings and push them away because we feel our opinion and what we feel to be facts are better than what they think, then there really isnt any communication. I dont mind that Fishy didn't like my signature, and him feeling like its rude to have a sig that would offend people is perfectly valid.

however, to get back on topic. 160 dollars is a lot to put into fish tanks. I can imagine you could think of better things to spend that money on.

[Heady]

Anybody can say whatever they want! Regardless, what people have in their sigs is irrelevant to this topic! Please, just stop now!! :rolleyes:

$160... hmm...

Can we hear more about what's in the tank? Full bio please!!

Tank size?
Lighting?
Heating?
Substrate?
Plants?
Inhabitants?

Is there room for more fish?

BTW, I found this really cool looking fish at my lfs, looks kind of like a dragon, has like a mane, legs, & everything... didn't catch the name, but it was a bottom dweller and came in an albino strain as well. That would be about $15... :D

[JP457]

I agree with Jingles, if it was me I would buy a nice new surfboard. People spend way too much on fish.

[K_S_W_I_S_S]

125g, some schultz plant gravel (just for the brown look, the price was kinda good), no lights actually (do the fish really need lights) and 1 oscar and 7 cons... i dont want more fish... i actually would like to find a nice home for these fish so i can make it a community.. i dont have plants.... does anyone know a good priced digital camera?? i might just get one of those instead...

[Heady]

Well, I bought my digital cam for $48 at Wal-Mart. It's not great but it works. See my post for an example of the quality:

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9046

If I were you, I'd add lights and some plants. It would make your tank more natural looking and should more than eat up your $160... ;)

[K_S_W_I_S_S]

i guess its not bad for 48$... i think ill have my moms husband buy one and then i can still have my money...

[somefinnfishy]

All my cheap wallmart digi does is leave me wanting more cant get a decent pic to save my life:rolleyes: And I can run a darkroom.It's kinda funny I spent 160 on my new 55 since this tread started so I guess you all now know how I would spend the money.

The sig thing I was in a horrible mood and saw something on the boob tube that pissed me off sorry guys@gals every one has the right to free speach we all need to be carefull who we might offend with it is all I was getting at.And again sorry MR.jingles for picking on you personaly for no good reason at all.

[NJ Devils Fan]

Do you want live plants?

[Mr.Jingles]

no offense taken.