The loach idea isn't a bad because it takes them years to grow to their full potential. I've had a clown loach for about 5 years is still only about 3.5" and maybe instead of clowns you could do Yoyo's? I'm not positive but I don't think they get as large in the long run and the 55 would be able to hold a shoal of about 5 or 6 of them.
55gal Stand and tank build
- Thread starter Earthswater
- Start date
rideit6578;5071295; said:
Yoyo's get about 5" so yea, it would be a better idea. But either way as you just stated clown loaches take a very long time to grow, which is why they are so expensive at even 3". You can easily house them in the 55 for a year or 2 considering you will be getting something bigger right?
Gruntking;5071576; said:
I don't see where he said he was going bigger. Specially since we were talking about how the parents wouldn't go for 20-35 more gallons than 55. The yoyo loach is definitely a great idea though.
Yea, i am not sure if i am going to do loaches, i just liked the look of the clowns, and (for lack of a better word....well i guess bottom feeder would work) sucker fish. I just made a walmart run and picked up an air pump and some components. Along with some fake plants and a gravel vac!!! as an easter present. Mom decided to be generous for easter! Thanks mom! So i am going to try and get the PF sand and a background today. Will be passing an LFS, might stop by and see if they have any loaches or other fish i can throw into my 20 until the 55 is all done. Sadly, it is pretty crowded in their right now with the pleco. He will be very happy with his new home! Still looking for some way to naturaly keep the ph up for the cichlids since mine is at like 6.4. Trying to find some limestone or even Texas holey rock. Might just buy a bag of crushed coral and put it in a spare filter and run that. So my next bet for getting a tank would be on Tuesday when they get another shipment, after that i think that i will pretty much have everything to set up the tank. I feel like i am doing the whole process in reverse. Usually i would have started with the tank and then got all the components. As for filtration, i was planning on using the aqueon 55 that came with it along with an aqueon 20 that i have lying around. Also an 2200 cc/m air pump for circulation. Maybe in a few months i will upgrade to a canister..... i can only dream. Well here is the update. Thanks for caring 
The aqueon 55 power filter is a reliable quiet hob IME. I still have mine from my original 55 gallon starter kit back in the day and it's currently running as silent as when we first bought it on my girl friend's 40g. So you should be good on filtration.
I definitely would have gone whisper brand with the aerator though. I've dealt with other brands of aerator that start to get quite noisy after a bit of time passes. I know whispers are dead silent for as long as you own them. Again, IME with them at least.
Regular gravel vacuum?... You're crazy... 55 gallon tank, now if you do the minimal 50% wc weekly your looking at carrying 5 1/2 full 5 gallon buckets to the bathtub to dump, then fill and bring back 5 5 1/2 gallon buckets. I remember doing this back in the day. Have fun.... http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=22634
I definitely would have gone whisper brand with the aerator though. I've dealt with other brands of aerator that start to get quite noisy after a bit of time passes. I know whispers are dead silent for as long as you own them. Again, IME with them at least.
Regular gravel vacuum?... You're crazy... 55 gallon tank, now if you do the minimal 50% wc weekly your looking at carrying 5 1/2 full 5 gallon buckets to the bathtub to dump, then fill and bring back 5 5 1/2 gallon buckets. I remember doing this back in the day. Have fun.... http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=22634
Lolz something weird just happened, i also made a stand how old r u? i am 12, paint looks better on mines tho u should double lair the paint other wise construction and everything u did great! u can c the wood markings and that is not good. My stand is for a 90 gallon tank done already. with tank on it and everything look u can still see the wood. Idk lolz i got a aro, wat r u going to put in urs pics: little rascal hard to get him in the picture lolz the picture does not look too good.
Got one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To excited to write anything long now but promise some pics later tonight!!!!!!!!!!
OMGFISH;5073082; said:
.... An Arowana minimum tank size would be give or take 220g and 8ft long. MINIMUM. Your tank is not even half this and way to small to properly house an Arowana. Bring it back to whoever (shouldn't have) sold it to you knowing you planned to house it in a 90g tank.
Look forward to seeing the complete setup Earthswater.
So my mom and my sister had to run to a few stores today so i tagged along, figured why not. On the way home we stopped into Petco to see if they got any tanks in (of course we knew they didn't but it was right on the way) A guy in the store recommended that we call the Norwalk Store, he thought they had some. Well i thought this was a crazy idea cause we live in Brookfield and its like 45 mins away. But i called, they had one in stock, and to my great surprise my mom agreed to take me. Trip went smoothly and on the way home we got gas for $2.99 a gallon at this place that was having like an opening sale or something. Lucky for her. We also passed an LFS on the way home and stopped in. I couldn't resist it and i picked up a clown loach (i know they are supposed to be in groups but they only had 1 and i can never find they any where else) I also got 3 ass. African Cichlids that are currently living happily in a 5 gal. Tank was a pain getting up the stairs due to tight corners but we made it (thanks dad). I cleaned it (water only) and put up the background. It looks really good and i am very happy with it. I also set up the tubing and air stones. Also i picked up a small bag of crushed coral to take care of the ph. All i need now is substrate. Not sure if i am going to do pool filter sand with my bag of crushed coral mixed in or just all crushed coral. Not sure if any stores will be open tomorrow due to easter so not sure.. The suspense of waiting to fill it and put in the decorations is killing me. I am planning on having about 8-12 cichlids total in the tank along with my pleco and clown loach (maybe a few more if i can find em) I really like the look of the loach and he/she is getting along great with the cichlids in the 5 gal. Well i just feel like i need to say thanks to my mom again for being great in general and spending half her Saturday helping me out!! Really excited to get the substrate in and get some WATA!!!!(water) lol
Lucky for her. We also passed an LFS on the way home and stopped in. I couldn't resist it and i picked up a clown loach (i know they are supposed to be in groups but they only had 1 and i can never find they any where else) I also got 3 ass. African Cichlids that are currently living happily in a 5 gal. Tank was a pain getting up the stairs due to tight corners but we made it (thanks dad). I cleaned it (water only) and put up the background. It looks really good and i am very happy with it. I also set up the tubing and air stones. Also i picked up a small bag of crushed coral to take care of the ph. All i need now is substrate. Not sure if i am going to do pool filter sand with my bag of crushed coral mixed in or just all crushed coral. Not sure if any stores will be open tomorrow due to easter so not sure.. The suspense of waiting to fill it and put in the decorations is killing me. I am planning on having about 8-12 cichlids total in the tank along with my pleco and clown loach (maybe a few more if i can find em) I really like the look of the loach and he/she is getting along great with the cichlids in the 5 gal. Well i just feel like i need to say thanks to my mom again for being great in general and spending half her Saturday helping me out!! Really excited to get the substrate in and get some WATA!!!!(water) lol