Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: greg y on September 25, 2015, 01:03:27 PM
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I want a new tank. In the past I would just watch craigslist and the forums for deals to pop up but I'm worried about my bad luck with used glass tanks. I have had at least 4 glass tanks pop in my lifetime and after the last one failed I think my wife would kill me if that ever happened again. So I'm wanting acrylic or new. And I want to do this as cheap as possible.
So here's where I'm at.
I want to use as much of my old equipment as possible, I have ...
4 ac110's, plenty of heaters, a couple canister filters, two 36"x18" lids, two 40 gal breeders, their lights and a metal 48"x24" stand etc..
What size tanks fit this stand? 48x24"
What is my best bet for a new tank and how much is it going to cost?
Can I buy an used acrylic tank and put it on this stand?
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Back to the drawing board I guess.
I was looking at new tank prices and they were about 8 times higher than I'd ever imagined.
Scratch that idea.
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I know how you feel.....how about using plastic barrels, plastic totes and then there's 5 gallon buckets. I had at one time a tank break and put everyone in a plastic trash barrel and ran a filter on it and the fish were fine. Being lazy(had other things happen) the fish were in there 9 months. They even bred. I've used totes too....so anything goes. Just do those water changes. Hang in there....
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You could put a piece of plywood on top of the metal stand to
accommodate a different sized tank such as a 90 gallon. You need a flat surface for an acrylic tank anyways.
Get a used glass tank and reseal it. It is not terribly hard to do.
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Hmm, I wouldn't trust the plywood not to give way. The edges of the stand need to support the weight. I have also had a 90 gal fail years ago after I revealed it. Small tanks are fine but I wouldn't trust my self with any larger tank. A lot of the time they need a complete breakdown and reveal, not just the inner silicone. Imho
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Good 3/4 inch plywood that is sealed isn't going to break:)
I have cleaned/removed old silicone and re-sealed many tanks and never had an issue. The largest one that I did was a 110 (4 feet) so maybe bigger ones are different.
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I've resealed 200 and down its not hard to do time consuming yes. What you put into it is what your end result will be if you do a quick tear out and reseal sometimes you get lucky and it doesn't leak but other times it won't in the long run its better to take your time
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All I know is......no matter how correctly you do it....a 265g needs both seals done, not just the inner. Ask me how I know ;D ;)
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I still feel bad about your 265 issues. That tank looked so awesome until it leaked......again:(
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I still feel bad about your 265 issues. That tank looked so awesome until it leaked......again:(
Shhhhhh ...this is never too be talked about again young Skywalker....
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What's the going rate on a average used 100g tank? I think I found something that fits my 48x24 stand
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Dollar per gallon
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So I'm looking into possibly getting a 120g.
I was looking at the pics and there isn't a center brace. Is that bad?
It is currently being used as a sump so I would need to remove the chambers, that should be easy right?
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It should be easy, just cut the silicone to remove the panels.
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As mibwb said should be easy.
You can glue in a piece of glass for the center brace.
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Hit up over the edge for the brave even
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I'm probably going to pass on the 120g sump tank.
The guy cut the center brace out, voiding the warranty and aga will not sell me a replacement frame because of this.
Plus at at $250 obo who knows if he would have come down as much as I'm willing to spend etc. . .
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Can you put an 18" wide tank "75 or 90g" on a w4" wide metal stand?
Anyone do that?
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You could if you put a sturdy top on it.
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I'm looking at a 6 foot tank today that has been set up for 31 years she says.
Should I assume it needs a complete re-silicone job?
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No
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If it doesn't leak now it sure shouldn't in the future:)
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back to the drawing board, I waited too long on one deal and she wouldn't take my offer on the other. Oh well.
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I'm looking at a 6 foot tank today that has been set up for 31 years she says.
Should I assume it needs a complete re-silicone job?
The 55 gallon my convicts are in, has been in use for 40 years....no leaks
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Today is my birthday and I picked up a new tank. I'm very happy with it :-)
It's a 5' long 100 gallon.
It's really nice and less than a year old. Really nice stand too.
Thanks for the help guys, I'll post a few pics once it's all set up but here's what it looked like in the ad.
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Happy B-Day and glad you finally got a tank..good luck
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Nice:)
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Good for you man glad you found one. Good size as well. Not too small and yet not so big it would be hard to maintain either. So what's the plan for it stocking/decor wise?
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My plan is to lightly dirt the bottom with some soil and a little clay. Then I'll transfer my heavily planted 40 breeder contents into it. Lots of driftwood, rocks and crypts, using it's substrate to cap the dirt layer. I want to try to keep the plants in the background so the fish can swim the whole length of the tank. I haven't decided if I should cap all that with the nice fancy river gravel that came with the tank or if I should just use more pool filter sand.
As for stock I plan to move my current fish into the big tank asap. Stock will include a pair or two of electric blue acaras, schools of rosey and odessa barbs and congo tetras.
In the future I'll add maybe some denison barbs and rainbow fish.
these are the 40's that I'll be using the contents as decor.
(https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/12074585_1681025962143315_8402501578186936361_n.jpg?oh=905e65f3690697d355c9c950b4f3e0cc&oe=569CE10A)
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So, I set it up tonight. It's a work in progress
(http://oi65.tinypic.com/14ih8a0.jpg)
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That looks phenomenal :)
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Very nice:)
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Thanks.
The plan is to hook up the heater and the large established canister filter tomorrow. Then I guess I'll do a water test. If everything checks out, then my theory is to add a bit of pure ammonia and see if the tank can convert it safely?
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Looking good!!
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https://youtu.be/5zDdSJjN29s (https://youtu.be/5zDdSJjN29s)
took some video today
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Outstanding!!
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Plants look really healthy. Using an O2 system on the tank? Cories are so cute, I've always liked them.
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Beautiful job.
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Thanks.
No co2, no ferts.
Just lot's of time.
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Nice tank Greg. The plants are gorgeous and You have created awesome aqua scape.
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Beautiful tank!