New to this forum....have a couple questions

[RYU583]

Hey everybody....
this is my first post and have to say that this site is great!

I recently purchased a 155 Bowfront tank which wasnt in great shape on the outide.....
so I spray primed it and gave it a nice new coat.....

my idea to prevent any overspray from getting inside the tank...was to fill it with water... which worked well since all the excess is floating..
I will be cleaning it soon....

my question is......1. what do you guys recemmend to clean the INSIDE of the tank?
2. I was told spray paint dissolves silicone.....did I just ruin my tank?


the spray paint is floating and clings to the corners......i hope i dont have to resilicone


Thanks!

 

[RYU583]

im also rattling my brain on the best setup......
i have a W/D.....but dont think i will need it since i plan on using biomax.....

and what type of fish i should house...
I would love the idea of oscars and such...but i dont think my tank is big enough to house them.

I also made myself a promise i would keep Pictus cats....i love em...so any ideas of brilliant fish to keep with em would be great...

Thanks!

 

[WyldFya]

Umm... oscars can live in a 155 for life easily. For filtration, you can run canisters, wet/dry, FBF, flow throughs, sand, foam, HOB, or virtually anything else. Wet dry filters don't have to be run with bio-balls, they can be run on biomax just fine.

 

[Dr Joe]

Clean the inside of the tank with heavily salted water or vinegar.

What kind of paint did you use?

Next time use masking tape and newspaper, cleanup is way easier.

Dr Joe

.

 

[RYU583]

wow....great advice...

I was gonna buy that "Allsafe" or whatever cleaner that the LFS sells.
another guy told me to use hot water......which i didnt wanna use with the silicone and all.

I used Chalk Board spray paint to paint the trim of the tank...it was originally oak color and didnt match my stand....
I am now contimplating if i should put a clear coat of enamel or whatnot to give it a stronger resistance to chipping.

Bout the Oscars.....I knew they could get by in my tank....but when they grow...they have to be housed with species of similar size....
i was told pictus cats dont go past 5in and i was told again they grow to 10 1/2...

on another note....do you guys suggest painting the back of the aquarium or getting those roll sheets?


THANKS!

 

[Fish on Fire]

I think pictus cats remain relatively small. Instead of painting the back of the tank. Y not make a rock face out of foam or something like that for the back of your tank? I forgot what the exact materials used were though, but there should be plenty of DIY threads on here about that.

As far as a fish that can stay with a pictus cat, that I would probably get myself, would be various species of geo's and the nic cichlid, rok. severums, bichirs, salvinis, stuff that are rather colorful but not big enough to consider making a meal out of your pictus cats.

 

[Mystix212]

You could have 2 Oscars in your 155 gallon.

For filtration, consider a sump or large canisters, or both.
Hot water does not ruin silicone. Use salty water and vinegar to clean the inside. After cleaning, rinse well with dechlorinated water. Then fill.

 

[RYU583]

hhhmmm....i was looking into those foam resin backgrounds....but they take up a good portion of the tank.....and i would liuke to have as much swimming room as possible.
and as far as the fish you mentioned......i will have to do some research....i have no experience with any of these fish whatsoever

but i have seen a photo on this site that showed some [pictus with a grown oscar...so thats a plus
I also love the look of Rams......since they grow to like 4 in......they too big for an oscar or no?

and for filtration...i ahve a fluval 404, and a FX5 and W/D.....so i should be great

you mention cleaning out the tnak with dechlorinated water......
is this a must?

i have the chemical stuff that LFS sell to dechlorinate the water.....but i was under the impression it wouldnt matter unless it somes in direct contact with the fish
thanks!

 

[Demonfish]

So your first aquarium ever is a 155 gallon monster tank? Lucky you! I started with a 2 and half gallon when I was about 8. Over twenty years ago! then i went to a 10 and I've had a 55 as my biggest for most of the last 13 years. I had an 80 very briefly, but it was a custom build and very awkward. As far as what too put in there... Well, just about anything you will see in the pet store will work. Stay away from Pacu's, so I hear. Other than that, just read as much as you can and ask plenty of questions. The most important thing is going to be fish compatability as to what you choose. Good luck.

 

[ShadowBass]

i have the chemical stuff that LFS sell to dechlorinate the water.....but i was under the impression it wouldnt matter unless it somes in direct contact with the fish
thanks!

You can clean the tank with chlorinated water.