NEW TANK!!

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

Krisneel

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 17, 2013
25
0
0
Sechelt, BC
Hey guys, so I just picked up my new 180 Gal tank today. It was used for freshwater before, which is what I plan to use it for. I need to clean it before I set it up just because I want to make sure its clean. I've read up alot, and what I've gathered is to use vinegar, but I don't know exactly what kind of vinegar or if it makes any difference. Now onto stock, once I've cleaned and cycled the tank, I plan on adding my current stock plus a few new fish. Heres my list, please let me know what you guys think. Thanks:)

Current Stock that will be transferred into new tank:
1 female Blood Parrot 5"
2 Clown Loaches 4" each
1 Nicaraguan Cichlid 4-5"
1 Common Pleco 7"
1 Jack Dempsey 6"

White Sand
Driftwood
Rocks

New Fish to be introduced: all will be juvenile or less than 3"
1 Electric Blue Jack Dempsey
2 Gold Severum
2 Clown Loaches
6 Geophagus Altifrons or 3 altifrons and 3 heckellii (can i keep the two different kinds together?)
fish tank.jpgthis isnt my tank, but its EXACTLY the same tank and stand.

fish tank.jpg
 
Nice! Any vinegar will work. I go with the cheapest stuff in the half gallon white bottles. The best way is to lay the tank on it's side with the front of the tank down then fill the tank with vinegar . You can get about 1/4" of vinegar across the whole piece of glass and let that soak over night. That front piece of glass will be crystal clear after that.
 
Krisneel said:
Hey guys, so I just picked up my new 180 Gal tank today. It was used for freshwater before, which is what I plan to use it for. I need to clean it before I set it up just because I want to make sure its clean. I've read up alot, and what I've gathered is to use vinegar, but I don't know exactly what kind of vinegar or if it makes any difference. Now onto stock, once I've cleaned and cycled the tank, I plan on adding my current stock plus a few new fish. Heres my list, please let me know what you guys think. Thanks:)

Current Stock that will be transferred into new tank:
1 female Blood Parrot 5"
2 Clown Loaches 4" each
1 Nicaraguan Cichlid 4-5"
1 Common Pleco 7"
1 Jack Dempsey 6"

White Sand
Driftwood
Rocks

New Fish to be introduced: all will be juvenile or less than 3"
1 Electric Blue Jack Dempsey
2 Gold Severum
2 Clown Loaches
6 Geophagus Altifrons or 3 altifrons and 3 heckellii (can i keep the two different kinds together?)
View attachment 917173this isnt my tank, but its EXACTLY the same tank and stand.
Click to expand...

White distiller vinegar is perfectly fine. You can buy it at any grocery store.

Careful with the Nic. It will likely be the bully of the tank. EBJD and sevs are more along the lines of gentle giants and might not be able to stand up to the aggression a Nic can dish out. Just something to keep watch for. Won't be an issue until the are all reaching adult sizes.

As for the geos, either one of those should work. Altifrons and Heckelli have been kept together in the past without issue. Of course nothing in this hobby is guaranteed since it all boils down to the personality of the individual fish.


Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Egon said:
Nice! Any vinegar will work. I go with the cheapest stuff in the half gallon white bottles. The best way is to lay the tank on it's side with the front of the tank down then fill the tank with vinegar . You can get about 1/4" of vinegar across the whole piece of glass and let that soak over night. That front piece of glass will be crystal clear after that.
Click to expand...

I like that idea of soaking the panel in vinegar. Will definitely have to try that on my next used tank I buy. Does it have any negative effects on the silicone seals?


Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Congrats on the new tank!

I use the gallon bottle of Heinz white distilled vinegar from the grocery store. It's good at removing crud on the glass and also on any plastic pieces (built-in overflow boxes, tank trim, filters, etc.).

I actually bought a cheap spray bottle at the dollar store, filled it with vinegar, set it to Mist, and just sprayed down the inside of my last used tank. I let it sit for about 10 minutes, then went back with a razor/glass scraper and all the hard water deposits scraped right off.

If you want to disinfect the tank while it's running, you can use potassium permanganate. I like this because it will basically oxidize anything organic in the tank, and then you can neutralize it with hydrogen peroxide before emptying and refilling the tank. Unlike bleach which may require tons of refills/drains or rinses, PP is gone as soon as you neutralize it and change the water once. I do this any time I am preparing a tank for new fish just to be sure there are no nasties left behind from the previous inhabitants.
 
I should mention that potassium permanganate is not something to play with. You can find it at most pool supply stores or even Sears has it in their water treatment/water softener department, but please read the MSDS before you decide to buy it and use it. I should probably handle it more carefully but I've never had a problem with it. That doesn't mean it isn't serious stuff.
 
Hey guys, thanks for all the feedback, really appreciate it, so I'll be cleaning with vinegar, now what kind of paint can I use to paint the back panel of the tank?
 
Krisneel said:
Hey guys, thanks for all the feedback, really appreciate it, so I'll be cleaning with vinegar, now what kind of paint can I use to paint the back panel of the tank?
Click to expand...

Any paint works if you paint the outside. I just rattle-can 1 or 2 coats of flat black. It looks great.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom