Today the final supplies will arrive!
I am putting together two "60" gallon aquariums - the 60 is in quotes for I have learned here that in fact they are more like 50's (based upon inside measurements of 47.5 x 14.5 x 16.5 it is 49.19 gallons maxium volume).
Yesterday I received most of the supplies I have been waiting for so last night I put together the air line systems - using "HoldFast Epoxy Stick" (which I paid $13.99 for when I could have bought it online for $7.99 - one of the few things I bought locally and only because it was something I had never seen before and would have never thought to buy it online).
So the air lines are in place - allowing slack for modifications but for the main trunk lines held in place with the epoxy.
The backing (yes I used "pretty" backing) was put on two weeks ago when I bought the aquariums.
I have had the African Root parts I bought yesterday (locally for 5.99/lb) soaking all night - I'll rinse them and start another soaking cycle shortly.
Today I'll also rinse all the gravel I have bought and the "sand" (much smaller gravel) - though I'm not so sure I can really rinse the "sand" outside the aquarium.
After the rinsings I'll put them in the aquariums and start putting the root and rocks in - which I am sure will go through many changes until I find an arrangement I like.
Then I'll add water (no not for the first time - I did test the aquariums already and had drained them) and get the heaters and filters set up and get the cycling started!!!
I'll be using two Marineland Emperor 400s on each aquarium. (Is there such a thing as too much filtration?) I've used these in the past and really liked how they worked - especially with the bio wheels.
There will be two 200 watt heaters in each aquarium. (Can't remember what the recommended wattage per gallon is - but I think it is good enough especially since my apartment runs a little on the warm side.)
I understand (from other threads) that my lighting is not sufficient for one of the aquariums where I want to do plants so I'll have to work on that but since I'm looking at getting plants from http://www.azgardens.com/ (Arizona Aquatic Gardens) I won't have those until next Friday anyways so I have time before they arrive to get my lightin issues worked out.
I'll be contacting them (AAG) for what they think is best based upon what I buy from them and go from there.
Either way hopefully within a couple of weeks I'll have the aquariums outfitted the way I want and I'll post pictures (without fish).
Hopefully they will be pleasing to the eye and starving for fish once the cycling is done.
Thanks to all and the hosts of this board for all the great information! And I look forward to any hints or tips or even rants (if I have totally messed something up) anyone wants to throw my way.
I am putting together two "60" gallon aquariums - the 60 is in quotes for I have learned here that in fact they are more like 50's (based upon inside measurements of 47.5 x 14.5 x 16.5 it is 49.19 gallons maxium volume).
Yesterday I received most of the supplies I have been waiting for so last night I put together the air line systems - using "HoldFast Epoxy Stick" (which I paid $13.99 for when I could have bought it online for $7.99 - one of the few things I bought locally and only because it was something I had never seen before and would have never thought to buy it online).
So the air lines are in place - allowing slack for modifications but for the main trunk lines held in place with the epoxy.
The backing (yes I used "pretty" backing) was put on two weeks ago when I bought the aquariums.
I have had the African Root parts I bought yesterday (locally for 5.99/lb) soaking all night - I'll rinse them and start another soaking cycle shortly.
Today I'll also rinse all the gravel I have bought and the "sand" (much smaller gravel) - though I'm not so sure I can really rinse the "sand" outside the aquarium.
After the rinsings I'll put them in the aquariums and start putting the root and rocks in - which I am sure will go through many changes until I find an arrangement I like.
Then I'll add water (no not for the first time - I did test the aquariums already and had drained them) and get the heaters and filters set up and get the cycling started!!!
I'll be using two Marineland Emperor 400s on each aquarium. (Is there such a thing as too much filtration?) I've used these in the past and really liked how they worked - especially with the bio wheels.
There will be two 200 watt heaters in each aquarium. (Can't remember what the recommended wattage per gallon is - but I think it is good enough especially since my apartment runs a little on the warm side.)
I understand (from other threads) that my lighting is not sufficient for one of the aquariums where I want to do plants so I'll have to work on that but since I'm looking at getting plants from http://www.azgardens.com/ (Arizona Aquatic Gardens) I won't have those until next Friday anyways so I have time before they arrive to get my lightin issues worked out.
I'll be contacting them (AAG) for what they think is best based upon what I buy from them and go from there.
Either way hopefully within a couple of weeks I'll have the aquariums outfitted the way I want and I'll post pictures (without fish).
Hopefully they will be pleasing to the eye and starving for fish once the cycling is done.
Thanks to all and the hosts of this board for all the great information! And I look forward to any hints or tips or even rants (if I have totally messed something up) anyone wants to throw my way.
Last edited: