75 gallon tank setup

[sangi1a]

i just got a 75 gallon tank with everything from my neighbor for free. i just set it up and it has a cascade 700 filter and a 200watt heater, im new to the hobby so please tell me if there is anything wrong with my setup.

thanks in advance for the advice!

 

[davidtcb1]

Well it all depends on what you are planning to stock in there. If it will be a modestly stocked community tank, you should be fine with that filter and heater although I would suggest some sort of secondary filter. It would be your backup in case something goes wrong with the Cascade and you had nothing else to put on there while you were getting the canister back up and running short term, etc. Plus, you can't over filter. I suggest something simple like an Emperor, Aqua Clear or Penguin HOB filter. It would be great for biological and mechanical filtration as well as surface agitation while your canister is handling the big work. You could always consider an undergravel with a powerhead in each corner. Would do the same basic work, just more "junk" to be seen in the tank.

If you're doing saltwater, that's another matter...!

 

[dragonfish]

What are stocking plans for tank?

 

[bmthomps84]

What kind of lights did the tank come with? If you plan to keep anything other than fish you will need decent lighting.

You should keep a few materials on hand also. Water conditioner and a variety of "cures" for your fish are essential (there are a number of good threads on this forum discussing how to stock your fish medicine cabinet). You should have a thermometer and various methods for testing your water parameters (Ammonia & pH chief among them) A net is also a necessity.

Depending on your plans for the aquarium you may need a variety of other additives, you will need to research your intended animals and group them accordingly. Do they get along with one another? Do they prefer hard (alkaline) or soft (acid) water? (Most tap water is quite hard but that can be countered with the addition of driftwood or store-bought buffers) Do they require hiding places? open swimming area? etc.

Depending on your stock, you will need to frequently change a portion of the water in your tank. Do yourself a favor and assemble a self-siphoning hose with a gravel vacuum that will run directly from your faucet to your tank. The exact parts and plans are easy to find anywhere on the net including this forum. You can get all the parts at any hardware store and assemble one for under $20. You'll also need a tool to remove algae from your decorations and the glass (beware if your tank is acrylic it will easily scratch).

Fish consume food and excrete harmful chemicals that must be remove. Nature does this for you by way of beneficial bacteria that will convert the poisonous byproduct into a less harmful substance. The bacteria will develop in your tank almost immediately after adding water but will take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months to propagate. You can speed the process up by borrowing some gravel from another established aquarium or by purchasing a "cycle" additive. The bacteria can only handle a certain amount of toxins and therefore you must be careful not to over stock your tank and leave time between additions to allow your system to adjust.

Beware you are about to venture into a very addicting and sometimes costly hobby however the rewards are tremendous! With the right amount of research, planning, and careful maintenance, you'll have a beautiful addition to your home and a fascinating variety of behaviors to keep your attention for hours.