I am finally getting ready to do a full on setup with my 60 gallon standard tank. I know compared to many many.... many... tanks on MFK this would be too small to even be considered a grow out tank but as the saying goes, "One step at a time, my steps are just baby size..."
Some of you may recall my debacle with a water change that... was quite sad... but some good news is I got my 70 gallon setup and the Oscar, Jack Dempsey and Redear are all quite happy in their new, deeper and more spacious accommodations and all have finally started to eat again.
A little history:
Once upon a time many years ago I started a small 10 or 20 gallon aquarium when I was like 13, everyone in my family were pro's at fishing, being raised the in the "Great Lakes" and "Land of a 1000 lakes", etc, fishing was in my blood but no one new the first thing about keeping them... So needless to say... I was not the greatest fish keeper and got rid of the tank a few months later after killing more fish than I care to mention
About 2 years ago, we (my wife, 3 kids and I) moved into our current house and had big dreams of finishing the basement and thought it would be cool to get a fish aquarium. We got a pretty sweet closeout deal (or so we thought at the time) on a 60 gallon from Petsmart and put it in the garage for when we finished the basement. Well, 15 months later we finally got the basement finished enough to move it in, we decided to make it a native tank. All was well, we got a Marineland 350 filter, river pebble substrate, a few fake plants, added water and dechlorinator and vuala we had a fish tank but it started the itch..bad. A few weeks ago I picked up some used 10s with a shelf for breeding convict feeders, then I found MFK and I had to get a used 70 gallon I was going to setup in the bedroom then a few days later disaster struck. I had just rescued a 10" Oscar and 7" Jack Dempsey and was doing the first water change since their addition to the 60 and something went wrong. I think it was a combination of a nitrite spike and increased water temp from the water change and stirring/vacuuming the gravel but I lost two fish and barely saved three... So for a few days I had the Oscar, Jack Dempsey and Redear crammed into a little 10 gallon tank... They where not happy but they where alive! I setup the 70 gallon (after much much much! scrubbing) and put in some used filters into the Penguin 350 that came with it, let it cycle a bit and when the water tested ok I introduced them into their new home and I swear they actually smile at me when I go into the garage now...
Currently my 60 is bare bottom and occupied by a few clay pots, a few chunks of 4" PVC pipe and about 10 Convicts. That is where this saga is to continue from!
Plans for the 60:
The stand - When I got the aquarium from Petsmart it came with a cool black stand that I really want to replace, its made out of laminated particle board and actually scares me... I am planning on putting this in the bedroom and the wife wants a "piece of furniture" so I have to build a new stand, which should be interesting since I never did any finishing work before. I also want to add a nice hood to the tank as right now is has dual 24" lights.
The tank - This is a tempered glass tank so where won't be much modding directly to the tank.
The lighting - I have heard really cool things about LED light but the price is really scaring me off so I think, as I want to do plants, I am going to go with some curly compact florescent bulbs in a custom rig going the full length of the tank, yet to determine exactly which ones.
The filtration - This is one section I am kind of excited about, I am planning on using a Aquatop CF-500UV Canister Filter for mechanical and, when needed, chemical filtering and an Algae Scrubber for my bio-filter. If I get this setup right and the pro's dont think I need a mechanical filter, I may skip the Aquatop and just keep an OTB for any chem filtering.
Aquascaping and Background - Another area I am REALLY excited about, This is going to be where I put it all in, my first major setup. Custom build 3D background, blended substrate, live plants, the works! I still have a lot of research to compile on plants but my designs are moving along for the background!
Stocking - Everyone's favorite portion I think... This is going to be primarily an over populated community tank of mini-fish. No beasts are going into this tank, my wife likes the peaceful, flowing nature of schooling fish and bright colors. Looking at a little bit of everything to help balance it out:
Bottom to Mid: Convicts (thinned as needed but have some really pretty pairs atm), 3-4 Peppered Cory Cats, 2-3 Bristlenose Pleco and maybe another type small cat.
Mid to Upper: The colorful variety starts here, Various Swordtails, Fancy Guppies, Dwarf Gouramis, Angelfish, Platy's, Congo Tetras, Blackskirt Tetras, and some larger breed Mollies. Mostly common, I know, but this is the "gateway tank" leading to the bigger and better. If I can keep the wife happy, she keeps off me about buying more tanks
Setup and Documentation - Thats what I have MFK for
I will be posting pictures and updates of my (slow) progress and setbacks as I work though this to get it setup. Like I said, it will be slower and I want to really make sure I am doing it right... I am always open to suggestion or constructive criticism.
So, lets get to the schedule:
Priority number 1! Filtration! I really want to get the algae scrubber up and running and see how effective it is while I continue onto the rest of the steps.
The stand! Priority number 2, designing and building a stand to replace the current, housing a canister, algae scrubber, the attached plumbing and some dry fish food.
I know, many things wrong with these pictures but I had to emergancy move them out of the house and into the garage for the sake of my marriage (tank went sour after the WC ordeal so either it had to go or I go...) but I am restoring faith day by day
Old factory stock stand has gotta go!
Of course the hood would be built at the same time.
Next comes the background, I am planning/designing it to be "low profile" to the back of the tank so as to not take up too much swimming room but still have adequate hiding/plant potting places.
Then moving the current fish (convicts) into a temp home while I dry fit and finalize the background and then move the tank into position after curing.
Then begin the aquascaping, this part, pending no major issues should only be a few hour ordeal.
Add water, Stabilize cycle, make sure everything is back in working order and not leaking, give it some time to sit then...
Ready Set Stock!
Ok, so I might be a little but I am really excited about this and want to make "3rd times the charm" on this setup.
Jack and Oscar say "Hi" even though they where being a little shy
[
Future filtration ideas? Hmmm... I sense something bigger coming...
I know its a long post but I wanted to put a little something about myself out there as I plan on being a long time member 
Already planning ideas for disassembling Jack and Oscars home and using it for windows on a 700g...
Some of you may recall my debacle with a water change that... was quite sad... but some good news is I got my 70 gallon setup and the Oscar, Jack Dempsey and Redear are all quite happy in their new, deeper and more spacious accommodations and all have finally started to eat again.
A little history:
Once upon a time many years ago I started a small 10 or 20 gallon aquarium when I was like 13, everyone in my family were pro's at fishing, being raised the in the "Great Lakes" and "Land of a 1000 lakes", etc, fishing was in my blood but no one new the first thing about keeping them... So needless to say... I was not the greatest fish keeper and got rid of the tank a few months later after killing more fish than I care to mention
About 2 years ago, we (my wife, 3 kids and I) moved into our current house and had big dreams of finishing the basement and thought it would be cool to get a fish aquarium. We got a pretty sweet closeout deal (or so we thought at the time) on a 60 gallon from Petsmart and put it in the garage for when we finished the basement. Well, 15 months later we finally got the basement finished enough to move it in, we decided to make it a native tank. All was well, we got a Marineland 350 filter, river pebble substrate, a few fake plants, added water and dechlorinator and vuala we had a fish tank but it started the itch..bad. A few weeks ago I picked up some used 10s with a shelf for breeding convict feeders, then I found MFK and I had to get a used 70 gallon I was going to setup in the bedroom then a few days later disaster struck. I had just rescued a 10" Oscar and 7" Jack Dempsey and was doing the first water change since their addition to the 60 and something went wrong. I think it was a combination of a nitrite spike and increased water temp from the water change and stirring/vacuuming the gravel but I lost two fish and barely saved three... So for a few days I had the Oscar, Jack Dempsey and Redear crammed into a little 10 gallon tank... They where not happy but they where alive! I setup the 70 gallon (after much much much! scrubbing) and put in some used filters into the Penguin 350 that came with it, let it cycle a bit and when the water tested ok I introduced them into their new home and I swear they actually smile at me when I go into the garage now...
Currently my 60 is bare bottom and occupied by a few clay pots, a few chunks of 4" PVC pipe and about 10 Convicts. That is where this saga is to continue from!Plans for the 60:
The stand - When I got the aquarium from Petsmart it came with a cool black stand that I really want to replace, its made out of laminated particle board and actually scares me... I am planning on putting this in the bedroom and the wife wants a "piece of furniture" so I have to build a new stand, which should be interesting since I never did any finishing work before. I also want to add a nice hood to the tank as right now is has dual 24" lights.
The tank - This is a tempered glass tank so where won't be much modding directly to the tank.
The lighting - I have heard really cool things about LED light but the price is really scaring me off so I think, as I want to do plants, I am going to go with some curly compact florescent bulbs in a custom rig going the full length of the tank, yet to determine exactly which ones.
The filtration - This is one section I am kind of excited about, I am planning on using a Aquatop CF-500UV Canister Filter for mechanical and, when needed, chemical filtering and an Algae Scrubber for my bio-filter. If I get this setup right and the pro's dont think I need a mechanical filter, I may skip the Aquatop and just keep an OTB for any chem filtering.
Aquascaping and Background - Another area I am REALLY excited about, This is going to be where I put it all in, my first major setup. Custom build 3D background, blended substrate, live plants, the works! I still have a lot of research to compile on plants but my designs are moving along for the background!
Stocking - Everyone's favorite portion I think... This is going to be primarily an over populated community tank of mini-fish. No beasts are going into this tank, my wife likes the peaceful, flowing nature of schooling fish and bright colors. Looking at a little bit of everything to help balance it out:
Bottom to Mid: Convicts (thinned as needed but have some really pretty pairs atm), 3-4 Peppered Cory Cats, 2-3 Bristlenose Pleco and maybe another type small cat.
Mid to Upper: The colorful variety starts here, Various Swordtails, Fancy Guppies, Dwarf Gouramis, Angelfish, Platy's, Congo Tetras, Blackskirt Tetras, and some larger breed Mollies. Mostly common, I know, but this is the "gateway tank" leading to the bigger and better. If I can keep the wife happy, she keeps off me about buying more tanks
Setup and Documentation - Thats what I have MFK for
I will be posting pictures and updates of my (slow) progress and setbacks as I work though this to get it setup. Like I said, it will be slower and I want to really make sure I am doing it right... I am always open to suggestion or constructive criticism. So, lets get to the schedule:
Priority number 1! Filtration! I really want to get the algae scrubber up and running and see how effective it is while I continue onto the rest of the steps.
The stand! Priority number 2, designing and building a stand to replace the current, housing a canister, algae scrubber, the attached plumbing and some dry fish food.
I know, many things wrong with these pictures but I had to emergancy move them out of the house and into the garage for the sake of my marriage (tank went sour after the WC ordeal so either it had to go or I go...) but I am restoring faith day by day
Old factory stock stand has gotta go!
Of course the hood would be built at the same time.
Next comes the background, I am planning/designing it to be "low profile" to the back of the tank so as to not take up too much swimming room but still have adequate hiding/plant potting places.
Then moving the current fish (convicts) into a temp home while I dry fit and finalize the background and then move the tank into position after curing.
Then begin the aquascaping, this part, pending no major issues should only be a few hour ordeal.
Add water, Stabilize cycle, make sure everything is back in working order and not leaking, give it some time to sit then...
Ready Set Stock!
Ok, so I might be a little
but I am really excited about this and want to make "3rd times the charm" on this setup. Jack and Oscar say "Hi" even though they where being a little shy
[
Future filtration ideas? Hmmm... I sense something bigger coming...
I know its a long post but I wanted to put a little something about myself out there as I plan on being a long time member
Already planning ideas for disassembling Jack and Oscars home and using it for windows on a 700g...