DVAN & CAL: Thanx for your views. I am planning on a120gal when I can find a steel stand that will hold two 120';s, piggyback that is evidently strong enough, will not distort with time (as I've cautioned DOES happen), and a price tag I can live with. Currently I'm off to a slow start, thinking about my aquaria at age 12 & that area of time seventy years back. So far, I have two 10's & one 29 Gal in my exersize room, plus two 55 gal & another 29 in the llving room with three steel stands...so there is room for two more 55's. The proposed 120 (or thereabouts) will also go into my exercise room. I am barely started but have a lot of new technology to digest (& afford). Recently, ...well actually ALL of the above is VERY RECENT, I have had difficulties understanding water problems & serious losses of my piscine friends...three Koi angel of breeding size, several fancy guppies, a sailfin dalmation molly male...& others.. I have never before witnessed such bullying amongst those several varieties, as witness the remaining misnamed angel who blinded both eyes of a tankmate angel, and eating away the operculum of one side...inflicting large bare spots on a second tankmate angel, finally dieing himself (I am certain of the gender). I found all THAT within the first 48 hours I had them! I've seen pearl gouramis, normally a tranquil sort of neighbor, bullying smaller tankmates...dalnmation mollies bullying...even friendly guppies. Amongst the latter, a couple of males seemed to be trying to dismember other males. You must know that I have been running myself ragged setting up fish infirmaries or putting threatened members into protective custody.
However, these incidents are NOT my primary concern. The quality of tank water IS. I keep getting a kind of film on the surface that might impinge on oxygenation (without aerators), and soaks flake food, prevents it from spreading-out. I have been and always AM a most cautious guy with ALL of my household, which also includes two Certified Service Dogs....BUT, discouragement being normally foreign to me, I thought that by now I'd have a good start towards the kind of Planted Aquaria I was noted for as a kid, and here I am, tearing-DOWN some beautiful arrangements.
Fellows, I heartily commend each of you for your own successes and will follow your supplements to STEAL AWAY your best ideas. If, in passing, you happen to be familiar with any of the issues I bring to our table, I'd be much obliged for any & all suggestions.