Brand new tank, lots of questions about setting it up.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
O

oii

Candiru
MFK Member
Oct 22, 2007
489
2
46
Michigan
First off, what should I clean it with? I scrubbed it down with a potato brush and some water but I was wondering if theres something I could use to get it cleaner?

Here are some pictures of the tank.
b175e1d1.jpg

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here is the list of things I am going to need.

hood- where should I get a lid/light? I haven't looked at my LFS yet but I've never really seen any lids that look like they'd fit this tank. I measured the inside and it has two spots for about 17" x 16" lids.

heater- not looking to spend a ton of money but I want a budget heater that I can trust.

filtration- I was going to go with a marineland emperor 400 and a large sponge filter. Let me know if I should use something different.

ornaments/gravel- I want to go with a some crushed coral but I don't think my midas will like it as much as he likes to move around his gravel. Whats your opinion? I was also going to go to my local stone shop and pick up some large rocks to put in his tank. I did this with my 20gallon and everything seems fine but I want to make sure there isn't any kinds of bad material I should be looking out for when picking out rocks. I wanted to do something like this just with not as many.
55RockKribTank.jpg

Maybe some clay flowering pots, I see lots of people with these in their tank and always wonder if they are serving a purpose or if they are just for looks. Either way I have no idea what I am going to fill this tank with. I am going to be keeping my 1' midas in this tank by himself. (I know its not big enough but it's better than the 30g I have him in now)

Anything you can recommend that would help me set up this tank would be appreciated.
 
Your RD is going to love the 18"!!!! Good for you. You need to sanitize the tank if it was not running when you bought it. Fill it up and add about 3/4 cup of bleach scrub it with your brush and let it sit. Drain,scrub and fill at least three more times with plain water.


The outside, I have found that the texture of my white T-shirts works best or news paper, just use water. The harder stains could be removed with vinegar, but it would not be necessary.


Good luck and how are you going to cycle it?


The decor is the least of your worries as you will change it a hundred times over time.



The substrate I would use either real fine or real big, the medium stuff will be spit against the glass and become an annoying sound. Watch out though I just read of a RD that spits fine gravel into intakes! lol Good luck hope some of this helps....
 
The filtration you picked out is great...

Crushed coral comes in several grades....if you go with #3 then your RD will have a blast moving it around...

Only use the upper section of intake pipe on the E400 to avoid picking up the substrait...

Hydrogen Peroxide and baking soda mixed and allowed to foam will create a very good tank clenser. You should run a razor blade over any heavy deposits first however to help it penetrate the crud.

You can save a lot of money in the long run by picking up a set of SC6 supercartrages for your Emporer. Extra bio capacity and a washable perminate pad add up to a great addition to an already efficiant filter.
 
when I order my emperor 400 off of amazon I will make sure to pick up the sc6 super cartridges. I still have no idea where I am going to find a lid but I will keep looking. No suggestions on a heater or will any 150watt do?
 
Bderick67;1230809; said:
I would go with a stealth heater, less likely to be broken by your big fish

http://www.petsolutions.com/Visi-Therm-Stealth-Submersible-Heaters+I51303053+C1021.aspx

Also here are glass tops for your tank, 6th one down on the list

http://www.petsolutions.com/All-Glass-Twin-Tube-Glass-Covers+I15929350+C35.aspx
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thank you, I'm just glad my fish isn't going to have to look like the one in your avatar anymore.

and theres only 3 glass tops listed on the link you sent me..?
 
I would spend the extra 15 bucks for the visatherm stealth. I would hate to have a dead fish because I was to cheap to buy decent equipment.
 
Bderick67;1230890; said:
I would spend the extra 15 bucks for the visatherm stealth. I would hate to have a dead fish because I was to cheap to buy decent equipment.
Click to expand...

thats what I figured, I don't know the heater differences. I am assuming the more expensive the more reliable.
 
oii;1230897; said:
thats what I figured, I don't know the heater differences. I am assuming the more expensive the more reliable.
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That is the case with ALL thing in life sadly......Stealth is the way to go if you do not want to fork over dough for an ebo Jaeger or something like that....Good luck to you again.....
 
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