Just got a free 55 gallon tank and stand, Now what?

^ Uhhhh, no. :)

So here's the final stock decision: 12 Neons, 6 Kuhli Loaches, 6 Rummy Nose Tetras, 6 Peppered Cories, 2 Bamboo Shrimp, 1 Bristlenose Pleco, 4 Platies, 4 Otos, 2 Bolivian Rams, and 1 Blue Gourami.
 
Just keep up on the water changes, it's a bit heavily stocked, but not too much IMO. (Though I'd probably skip the livebearers, just me) Add the kuhlis & otos last, & maybe the shrimp later (newby shrimper).
 
Well, it passed the leak test. I filled it up to the top over a concrete patio the turns brown if it gets wet and waited 2 hours. And at the end of those 2 hours: nothing. Not bad for a first time resealing a tank.
 
I would wait a little longer

I got a free 55 gallon that needed resealed as well. AFter the first time of resealing, it lasted about 2 weeks and then the seal broke and I had LOTS of water on the floor. This time, I thought I had done a much better job of sealing it. Waited 2 weeks and decided okay, I had done it right this time, so I began putting in some decor and got the some other items ready to get it in....thankfully, the black sand that I ordered hadn't arrived yet, because after a MONTH of having resealed the second time, the seal broke again. AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, I JUST WANT TO SCREAM!
I am going to give it one more shot, but I sure will sell it as a reptile tank if it doesn't hold after this! If anyone has any sure proof ways to seal, I sure would like to hear them. Good luck on your sealing job. I didn't want to discourage you, just want you to be cautious and realize that sometimes, you may think you have done it right and then.....
 
I like your stocking. Hope you don't have the same results as Kim. Wouldn't hurt to let it sit a few days and make sure all is well before setting it up.
 
I got a free 55 gallon that needed resealed as well. AFter the first time of resealing, it lasted about 2 weeks and then the seal broke and I had LOTS of water on the floor. This time, I thought I had done a much better job of sealing it. Waited 2 weeks and decided okay, I had done it right this time, so I began putting in some decor and got the some other items ready to get it in....thankfully, the black sand that I ordered hadn't arrived yet, because after a MONTH of having resealed the second time, the seal broke again. AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, I JUST WANT TO SCREAM!
I am going to give it one more shot, but I sure will sell it as a reptile tank if it doesn't hold after this! If anyone has any sure proof ways to seal, I sure would like to hear them. Good luck on your sealing job. I didn't want to discourage you, just want you to be cautious and realize that sometimes, you may think you have done it right and then.....

I would never try and reseal a tank, personally. For that reason. If I had 55 gallons of water, sand, fish, rock and broken glass explode all over my floor I would probably just curl up in a corner and cry like a little girl. It would be disastrous to say the least. If I ever bought a tank that I had any doubts about, I would only keep it outside.
 
Well, as I said, it already passed the leak test and has now been sitting outside full of water for about a week with no leaks at all.

Although, I'm having a hard time deciding wether to make it an African Cichlid tank or a tropical soft water setup.
 
Now that is a tough decision. I have very hard water with a PH of 8.2 out of the tap. Should keep Cichlids but instead I add RO water to the tap and go with soft water fishes. Sometimes emotional preferences trump common sense.
 
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