135 gal journal. starting off right!!!

so i figured i'd start this thread off with a bang. the first creature to swim in my new tank is... me. this journal will be slow and possibly considered a necro'd thread as i keep it progressing, but i'm just a broke man with an expensive hobby!



but on a serious note, i had help getting in and out so no weird stress was put on the tank.

so far i only have hardware, no hard-set fish plans. the hardware is:

Eheim Jager Submersible Aquarium Heater 300 watt
AquaClear 110 Aquarium Power Filter - for 60 to 110 Gallon
Emperor 400 Pro Series Bio-wheel Power Filter - Up to 90 gallon, Rite Size "E"

I'm still trying to decide on a substrate. I want plants, but I'm 100% set on getting loaches/botias, so i'm not sure the sand covered dirt substrate will work... since they like to shove their cute little noses in it.

I want a powerhead to ensure the water moves from one side to the other, and i may throw a sump in the mix to hide the rest of the hardware... but money is an issue and determines when i get to set this tank up.

and i still need lighting.

so here's the start to my first journal. i got Prime and the API master test kit, since many of you are so fond of both of these. btw... prime seems infinitely better than the other conditioners... but t smells like raw sewage. it's gross lol

well, this was nice timing. a sump just came up on craigslist. "rated for tanks up to 175 gallons. Can also come with a self priming over flow box(double drop)"



I figured i'd just use a 55g or something... are there any benefits to this funky sump? the seller has no price listed, and he's asking for offers

NECRO TIME!

I found a deal on Craigslist that i could not pass up. So I finally got some fish! I stole bio-balls from my 29, and squeezed the sponge into the new filters. API says ammonia and nitrites are still zero in both tanks after 3 hours. (I imagine it will take a while for the PPMs to get high and readable in the 135g, even with no bacteria) I'm mentally prepared to perform many water changes.

So the stock that i got:
(ALL FOR $15 BUCKS!)
2 jack dempseys (one is very light colored)
2 firemouths
1 green severum
1 salvini

now the ones i'm not very sure of...
2 oscars that are a little larger than the others.

The lady who "rehoming feed" them to me said they were all between 6-8 months old. They all get along swimmingly, and even school sometimes. As they mature, though, I know their temperaments will change, but I guess i'll pick out the meanies as they get mean. They're all happy atm =)

oh, and my Aquaclear has a crack in it so i replaced it with a penguin biowheel 200 for the time being...

well, I'm not surprised that you foresee problems with this stocking. I have no problems getting rid of the O's. I've never been a big fan of the fish that every non-aquarist wants and/or has owned for a few months to a year. But, i must admit, their personalities are making me like them more, even in these few hours. they already jump out of the water to try to snatch the pellet i'm holding >.<

The salvini I'd hate to lose because he looks GREAT! With every fish I'm interested in, it seems the general public doesn't like it. I'm fine with this, but it's a bonus when they like my fish lol. I still don't see how they don't think my tiger barbs are absolutely beautiful.