Help me set up my new tank

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rotten_stars

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May 7, 2003
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I am, within the next few days, purchasing a new tank. It will be between 40-50 gallons (ive narrowed it down to a couple of choices). What i need to know is what in your opinion do i need in terms of Hardware to successfully run this new tank.

Currently i'm running a 20 gallon tank with a bio-wheel filter, thermometer etc. Nothing really very complicated to that. Ive been very successful by paying very close attention to illness, fish condition and chemical levels in the water. I currently have irridecent shark (i know the tank is too small for them, my wife bought them prior to me knowing anything about them), clown loaches, a gourami and an algae eater

I wanna keep up this trend of having few fish die. So i really would appreciate any help at all with what hardware i should purchase to help me accomplish this, types and manfacturers too if possible. I'll probably be adding a few more fish too, so feel free to make any suggestions there.

Thank you and feel free to ask for more information
 
There are so many things! I just love setting up new tanks, I love it!

A few aquascaping pointers first:
You probably want to decide now whether or not you are going to plant this tank with live plants. This will have an impact on fish choices, lighting choices, substrate, (substrate is the gravel or sand in your tank,) as well as have a small impact on your filter choices. Live plants are more expensive and more work, but are more rewarding and more life-like.

As for heaters, you definitly want to go with an Ebo-Jager. You will probably want (2) 100 Watt heaters - this allows for better heat distribution, plus, if one heater goes out, (or stays on,) it wont be as bad as if you only have one. It also keeps energy costs and cold and hot spots, (sections of the tank water that are much hotter or colder than the rest of the tank,) down.

For filtration, you may want to go with a canister if you are willing to spend more money, and especially if you will plant the tank. Also, if the tank is in a very visible location, canisters are much quieter and aren't as visible as power filters that hang on the back of the tank.
 
Go with as big a tank as you can. The loaches will also outgrow the current tank, and a 50. Also, while the bow fronts are really nice, I would avoid any of the hex/corner style tanks. Even with the same capacity, they tend to limit the open swimming area, and with a bala, you'll want lots of this.

Keep in mind that you can just move the existing filter over to a larger system, and keep the fish pop the same, and not worry as much about ammonia/nitrites. Then add fish slowly. You could change/upgrade filters at this time as well--just have them both running, then remove the old one after about 2-3 weeks.
 
I was wondering about adding new my existing fish to the tank. What do i do when transferring these fish over. is there a way of cutting down that 4-6 weeks or so associated with cycling or can i use existing elements from my current tank to speed up the process. I cant just move the filter over to the new tank without taking the fish with it, because then the old tnak wont have a filter to support the colony of fish.

What i really wanted to do was add things like rocks and decorations from the old tank then add the fish slowly after a week. A guy in the LFS told me that adding a portion of water from the existing tank would mean it woul be sooner before i can add the fish.

so what can i do in that department??
 
So. thanks for the help. i am now the proud owner of a really great looking 45 gallon tank with a pine cabinet and hood. Cost 250 for the lot. I fitted an emperor filter to it for the time being and a 250 watt heater. tetratec deepwater dw24 air pump, with two foot long bubble strips attatched to it.

After much deliberation with the wife we have an old sunken village and lava rocks in the tank with some fake plants (we will be planting for real eventually, the plastic plants are just to make the tank a little less spars euntli then and dont actually look that bad.

Overall the whole set up is pretty nice. Only problem is that the tank seems to be leaning forward a little (about 4 degrees) but i'm gonna resolve this problem with either a wooden wedged support at the front or rubber door stops on the leaning side to push it back just a little.

The other fish in their tall 20 gallong are swimming against the wall closest to the new tank in anticipation. I'm scared to tell them how long its gonna be before theyre all in it. I'm so excited though and so very thoroughly pleased with how its looks at the moment

I really really would like to hear of any suggestions you have for new tnakmates or helpful hardware additions to the tank.

p.s. the guy in the LFS told me it would be fine to add the fish the next day if i used the water from the old tank, to which i duely laughed.
 
The WATER from the old tank won't help, but transferring the filter to run on the new tank for about 3 weeks in conjunction with the new canister will work fine. The filter media is where most of the bacteria live, so moving the filter moves them. I've done this with several tanks and never seen a spike.

The tank should be leveled before adding water--not sure if you've added water or not? Tanks are not designed to withstand that much torque, and can split seems and crack.

I wouldn't get any new fish. Clown loaches will get to 12 inches, the irrie much bigger than that.
 
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