Wasnt able to do it. The person who was going to haul it backed out. Going to try again this weekend. I already rearranged my living room for it. I have a big bare spot that i hope to have a 220 sitting in.
Getting ready to jump in
- Thread starter tbrown7552
- Start date
The tank has landed. It near killed me but i got it. Ill post pics tonight. I wish i could fill it but i need to brace the joists under it first. Im very excited.
I will put a background on it. It's actually the only place the tank can go without risking a floor failure. The blinds stay closed on that window all the time. If it becomes an issue I'll put a black sheet over the window
Having a hell of a time. I said i was jumping in and boy did i. Im trying to cycle the tank by starting it off of a friends. Having issues with it cooperating. At this point its a waiting game to see if it takes off or if its going to crash. I felt like i did alot of research but im getting into situations where i feel like im clueless. Definitely learning some but still feeling ignorant and have so much more to learn. Luckily i didnt buy the bass at the LFS. If it does end up crashing im just out of the water and a pleco(i hope i dont lose him). At which point ill put myself back on the bench.
I wouldn't have started it off a friends, I would have done the fishless ammonia method, but it's a little too late now. You may find the that fx6 is not enough to filter that tank. I know what it says it's rated for, but I always take that and cut it in half because with head pressure and buildup plus age it will never run to capacity. If you grab another one that would work well I would say. Nice tank though, you'll for sure be fine while the bass are small. Whether or not it is too big for your fish to eat or not all depends on the personality of your fish. If they are outgoing and great you at the tank and swim to the top for food you'll be fine. If you have to coax em out, not so much. Depends on the specific bass, but they definitely do better in groups.
Definitely cover that window better. Get some substrate if you haven't already. You will need decorations too if you're starting small or wild caught. The pet store probably wanted you to get it so it didn't have to go through their process for a fish they don't usually carry, probably worried about where to put it and what it would eat.
Pleco's are pretty hardy, but don't be surprised if you lose him. I don't think you will, but you might. At this point you just have to wait, it's a pain. Get a good testing kit and not strips. Make sure you keep the lids on, bass do jump. Do a bit more research before buying the bass, make sure to try to get some that are already eating well, such as pellets or shrimp or smelt. It's easy to get not what you paid for when it comes to juvie bass.
Definitely cover that window better. Get some substrate if you haven't already. You will need decorations too if you're starting small or wild caught. The pet store probably wanted you to get it so it didn't have to go through their process for a fish they don't usually carry, probably worried about where to put it and what it would eat.
Pleco's are pretty hardy, but don't be surprised if you lose him. I don't think you will, but you might. At this point you just have to wait, it's a pain. Get a good testing kit and not strips. Make sure you keep the lids on, bass do jump. Do a bit more research before buying the bass, make sure to try to get some that are already eating well, such as pellets or shrimp or smelt. It's easy to get not what you paid for when it comes to juvie bass.
Its running on a single Fluval 404 and 2 powerheads at half full. If the tank cycles then ill leave it like this and add and FX5/6 then phase out the 404 for a FX5/6. They had 2 sets of bass at the LFS. They had a pair of 2-3 inch bass that one for sure had ich. In another tank they had 4 baby 1 inch bass with a bunch of minnows that looked to be healthy. I was going to buy all 4 of the small ones but decided against it when going to get the pleco because i was paranoid and didnt want to jump to far. This would have been the same day within hours of putting my friends water with his filters shaken out in it in the tank. So i went with just the pleco to help give the BB something so it doesnt die.
The window has proven to be an issue yet but im not doubting it may happen. Sun is only on it for about 2 hours during the day. After that its over the roof on the other side of the house. I do have 2 fake plant decorations that came with the tank. Ill definitely put those in when i get the bass. The pet store honestly doesnt care to be honest. The pet store that i mentioned that wouldnt keep them was another one. The one i almost bought the bass from have been known to have cichla every now and again.
I hope the pleco does alright. He was stressed when i put him in cause i rushed it. I didnt get him enough time to acclimate 100% which ill never do again. He changed to alot brighter colors. After i added 20 gallons last night and did a 30 gallon water change this morning hes colored back up almost to when i got him. Im sure the slight discoloration area he has now is cause of the parameters. I got the master freshwater kit with the tubes and bottles to test with. Those strips suck. Ive used them with my moms hot tub. I feel most of my research has been with the bass and not the beginning of setting up aquarium/nitrogen cycle stuff. If i bought those bass i wouldnt have cared what they were. I would have still bought a batch of Kelberi from FL in a few months.
I got river rock from home depot to put in the bottom. I want to do a hybrid of a couple tiles in the middle with rock bordering all around it with alot of rock on the side. Im thinking i may put that in on saturday and fill it all the way up if it cycles.
My parameters are
PH 8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 80ppm.
Here are pics. The pleco is almost all black now with white dots.
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What are you starting off of a friends?
To get your fish in the water safe fill your tank which you did let it run a day with some aeration.
Next put a fish or fishes in the tank then get your buddies filter and put it on your tank along with your own filter. Let his bacteria seed into your filter.
Very important to not put friends filter on the tank BEFORE fish are in tank.
To get your fish in the water safe fill your tank which you did let it run a day with some aeration.
Next put a fish or fishes in the tank then get your buddies filter and put it on your tank along with your own filter. Let his bacteria seed into your filter.
Very important to not put friends filter on the tank BEFORE fish are in tank.
