I might be getting a free 55g

[Moloch]

*fingers crossed*

The ad popped up on CL last night for a 55g & 2 stands (don't need the stands, but I'll take them if it means I get the tank). He says it holds water but its been sitting outside for a couple months so needs some cleaning, and the plastic trim at the top is pulling away from the tank. No biggie...little water & vinegar, little silicone, should be back in business.

Now, this is a HUGE relief for me if it works out; I'm right on the verge of having to give away my Jack Dempsey due to territorial aggression in my 65 (anybody who feels like it can now chime in with 'I told you so'). Its not TOO bad, but she (he? still not sure) is stressing out my pictus cats and bichirs. I'd just feel better having her in her own tank.

But, cost is a huge issue, I'm flat broke:\. I'm probably going to use an existing desk lamp with a regular house bulb for now to give it some amount of light, probably gonna wait on a hood (I shouldn't need to worry about jumping right?) and gotta figure out the filter. I'm thinking save a couple bucks from the next few checks, go get an AC70 and call it good with that. Other option would be to spare a few coins, get an ac30 or ac50 for my 20g and move the magnum hot250 to the new 55. Not sure if that would be enough filtration though and I'm really satisfied with the way my 20 is running.

So... to sum up the questions out of that ramble...
ac70: best bang for buck filter & fully capable of handling a 55g with light to regular stock?
Jack Dempsey in a 55g: What else might I try keeping with her that won't flare her territorial issues? She hasn't ever bothered my tiger barbs, but I don't want two tanks of tiger barbs... Pleco? This tank will be going in my bedroom, so I want to keep it to 'nice, pretty' fish to keep my wife as happy as possible with it... (she's not a big fan of the idea)

And...a nice sturdy wooden dresser (6 drawer, 54" long, waist'ish high) shouldn't have any problem holding a 55g right?

 

[jsethcole]

As for filtration, I think you should be fine with the AC. Other option would be the Marineland 350. Its 350gph, as opposed to 300 with the AC70 for a little less cash:

AC:
http://www.petco.com/product/4051/AquaClear-Aquarium-Power-Filters.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

ML:
http://www.petco.com/product/2402/M...Wheel-Power-Filters.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

Either way, should be a-okay.

As far as stocking...

I have my JD with a green texas cichlid and they do just fine. They are both juvies but the JD is a good inch and a half bigger than the tex. Once he got passed the curiosity stage, they are like brothers now. I recently added a firemouth and three geo's as well with no problems. All very colorful fish.

Keep in mind, all the fish are young and small. The largest is the JD and he is under 4 inches. This is a temporary setup until I move them into my 280

 

[Moloch]

Yeah, I'm planning this as if its this tank for life. Hopefully in the next year or two I'll be moving into a house and upgrading to a 180+ but right now thats a lot of wishful thinking.

Of course the other option is leave the JD in the 65 and move the bichirs & pictus cats to the 55. That leaves 2 female convicts and 8 tiger barbs to go in either tank. Might be better on my poly's to have the extra foot of length in the 55 than it would be for the JD...

 

[jsethcole]

And the dresser should be fine, depending on quality of wood. Sound fairly sturdy though.

 

[jsethcole]

That sounds like a better plan to me.

 

[Moloch]

I'll have to run it through my head...I really like sitting on the couch watching the bichirs

Thats the only thing thats going to blow about having to put the tank in the bedroom...I only go in there to use the bed and get dressed in the morning. Oh well I guess...in another year I should be in a house and be able to consolidate them all back to the same room.

She (wife) probably would be happier having the (pretty) jack dempsey out in the main room than the (ugly) bichirs

I think for now when I get it set up I'm going to stick with the plan to move the JD out into the 55. She's still only 4 or so inches long and the larger bichir is only 5-6, the smaller about half that size. So either setup will be fine for a while.

 

[k0y0te]

i would leave the JD in the 65 and move the bichirs & cats to the 55. The dresser could posibly hold the tank depending on how study it is. 55 gallon tank is over 500 pounds not including gravel and deco. I had a 55 on my dresser for many years before i got a stand so it is possible. Just depends on how sturdy the dresser is.

 

[Moloch]

Its a solid dresser I think it'll be fine. I'll pile a bunch of weight on before hand just to make sure, but I'm not too worried about it...(famous last words)

And of course...HOPEFULLY the dude emails me back and I do indeed get this tank.

 

[K626]

I would try to avoid stressing out the bichir and cat. I'd move the JD. (That's only my opinion, I think the JD would stress less then the others). If you lived closer I'd throw you one of my tanks, I'm getting rid 3 55's and a 30 long with lights and tops lol. Not to mention a few emperor filters.

 

[Moloch]

****...whats your zip? I might convince the wife on a weekend trip to the south

(probably not...although, it'd be worth the gas & a stay in a cheap motel to get a tank thats probably in a lot better condition than this, that has its lights & hood & filter........ugh)

Ah well. I'm still waiting on this guy to email me back Shouldn't cost me much more than 60 or 70 bucks to get it running (without lights or heater for the short term) I'm just not sure how much cleaning & work its going to need before it can get to that point:\