Fish gods I need some input asap. thanks!

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

is300soon

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 20, 2008
112
0
0
san jose ca
Ok so here is the deal, I have an 85g tank is 63 inches in length.

I bought it with the eclipse hoods but im going to ditch those.

The tank is not up and going, so I have some questions on getting it going.

1. The heater, im looking at a jager 200 watt, 15 inches long for 25$
1. Will the heater only having 1 work? My house gets cold but my smaller tanks does fine at keeping a balance of heat. Can someone give me better advice on a heater or will this work ok? Im on a budget.

2. Filter, im getting a Fluval 405 and have no room for a HOB filter, will this cut it? Does anyone know the hose diam for the hoses on the fluval? Instead of having the cheap plastic on the back of the glass lids that you cut out, some friends are going to make 2 piece tops with a hinge in the middle and just drill holes for the tubes of the fluval, getting the hose diam would be great as im trying to get the glass this week and the filter in 2 weeks.

3. Hinges for the glass lids, none of the big chain fish stores seem to have these, if i measured correctly i need 30 inch hinges x2. How thick is the glass for the lids? Where is a good place online to get these, and wait there is more in question 4.

4. Lighting, im not doing anything crazy with plants and like i said budget. So im looking for some straight forward lights. 2 bulbs now like i said if i measured correctly, the tank is 63 inches long, so if im going to get 1 light it needs to be 63in long with the case so it doesn't teeter on the middle brace of the tank. Or I could get 2x30 inch lights with case so the bulb would be 24in? So back to question 3, where would be a good place on line to get the lights and heater at once?

I think thats it for now. So here is the stock list on the fish, and what substrate im using.

2 cons
2 jds
or 2 GT's

And maybe something that stays on the bottom.

My decor is Slate, black slate, river slate, and my gravel is LA PAZ pebble, sitting on egg crate.

thanks again, and with xmas coming your help would be great as i need to price watch, but get my items in time.

David
 
is300soon;2535784; said:
Ok so here is the deal, I have an 85g tank is 63 inches in length.

I bought it with the eclipse hoods but im going to ditch those.

The tank is not up and going, so I have some questions on getting it going.

1. The heater, im looking at a jager 200 watt, 15 inches long for 25$
1. Will the heater only having 1 work? My house gets cold but my smaller tanks does fine at keeping a balance of heat. Can someone give me better advice on a heater or will this work ok? Im on a budget.

2. Filter, im getting a Fluval 405 and have no room for a HOB filter, will this cut it? Does anyone know the hose diam for the hoses on the fluval? Instead of having the cheap plastic on the back of the glass lids that you cut out, some friends are going to make 2 piece tops with a hinge in the middle and just drill holes for the tubes of the fluval, getting the hose diam would be great as im trying to get the glass this week and the filter in 2 weeks.
3. Hinges for the glass lids, none of the big chain fish stores seem to have these, if i measured correctly i need 30 inch hinges x2. How thick is the glass for the lids? Where is a good place online to get these, and wait there is more in question 4.
4. Lighting, im not doing anything crazy with plants and like i said budget. So im looking for some straight forward lights. 2 bulbs now like i said if i measured correctly, the tank is 63 inches long, so if im going to get 1 light it needs to be 63in long with the case so it doesn't teeter on the middle brace of the tank. Or I could get 2x30 inch lights with case so the bulb would be 24in? So back to question 3, where would be a good place on line to get the lights and heater at once?
I think thats it for now. So here is the stock list on the fish, and what substrate im using.

2 cons
2 jds
or 2 GT's

And maybe something that stays on the bottom.

My decor is Slate, black slate, river slate, and my gravel is LA PAZ pebble, sitting on egg crate.

thanks again, and with xmas coming your help would be great as i need to price watch, but get my items in time.

David
Click to expand...

The rule for heaters is 3-5 watts per gallon.
The filter is fine as long as you keep up with water changes, and dont over stock or over feed. Fluval uses special hoses and adapters to hook up, you will need fluval tubing.
Buy a 48" flourescent shop fix from Home Depot and hang it over the tank that would be the cheapest and easiest.
For the hinge http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=13819
 
The shop light is a good idea, but i wanted to place something on the tank like when u buy a 55g starter kit. My wife isn't up to the idea of a shop light in her kitchen/hallway area. I would going to hang track lighting from the celing and have it around .5-1 inch off the glass, but no time.
D
 
Since you are seeking for my advice I shall answer,

1. If the tank is inside your living area, and not in the garage, you are fine with one heater.

2. One Fluval is fine in your situation but you must fill it with only foams and ceramic rings. No active carbon or other chemical removal crap. And yes, you must do WC 50% per week.

3. Why do you need expensive hinges? Just go to Orchard or Home Depot to get those ceiling lights cover. They are cheap and you can cut to dimensions of whatever to your liking as tank cover.

4. Forget lightings. They are a waste of money and electricity bill. They will also decrease your fish's lifespan due to stress.

5.Your fish selection is intriguing. Put them together and find out the consequences. It's ok to lose a fishmate here and there.

6. Your decor is fine. If they cost money I say leave your tank bare.

In return for my response you must sacrifice a goldfish and place a burning incense on it to thank me.
 
LOL

im not sure how to take all of that but ok.

Ive had cons and Gt before in a 55, made living areas and had 0 issues. Same with the cons and JD's still no issues. Who knows.

So your saying with a fluval 405 id have to do a 50% change a week?

2. One Fluval is fine in your situation but you must fill it with only foams and ceramic rings. No active carbon or other chemical removal crap. And yes, you must do WC 50% per week.

So it will come with bags of the charcoal right? I cannot use that? Im willing to learn and have spent hours reading on this site nightly, but still so much more to learn. Ive owned and ran forums before, so im not trying to get info without putting work in, im just down to the specifics that some of the posts aren't answering.

D
 
Yeah sure GTs and Convicts can get along, as you said just need to define their territorys clearly.

I think 50% weekly water changes are a bit overkill. Mabye every two weeks. It's only 6 fish you know. If you need to increase it then increase it, easy.

I don't see what would be so wrong with adding activated carbon to your filters? I do and my water clear as (with the exception of slight tannins from bogwood). Other than that it's just ceramic rings and sponge.

Cheers.
 
6 fish is not a lot for a 85 gal : ) filter should be fine..... cheapest (new ) light should be from aquatrader ( odyssea) dont recommend em though, try findin lights offa craiglist or somethin , ive got some great deals from craiglist before....
heater... i would spend the extra money to invest in a vistherm stealth instead, a lot more safer since its unbreakable : )
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom