Aquarium owners
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- calcium
What is your set up?
Fresh water? Salt water? Reef tank?
My girlfriends brother is setting up a 175 gallon tank right now to put an African Tiger Fish in it. I was inspired by that to set up a 25gallon tank in my house. Definitely want to go reef if anyone has any suggestions / pointers it would be appreciated.
Oh, and this is the African Tiger Fish. Evil.
- keiTai0
that's a nasty piece of lunch
- nocomply0
Some pics from my 20 gallon setup. These are before I had to tear it down when I moved.
I've only done freshwater aquariums. I prefer it to saltwater because it's less expensive and less maintenance. If people try to tell you that you can't find beautiful, exotic, bright colored freshwater fish they're wrong.
Growing plants is actually a lot harder than keeping the fish alive.
- calcium0
I heard maintenance on a reef is actually easier. That a reef tank v. salt or freshwater is like it's own established eco system so everything is feeding everything and cleaning itself as well.
Those are excellent pictures though. That tank is beautiful. I wouldn't mind doing freshwater either. Do you buy the plants small or large?
- Jaline0
I never thought this thread would get a real response...
- canuck0
My beta fish just died... I think. He's been gasping for couple weeks now.
- nocomply0
All tanks have an eco-system.
Any tank is easy to maintain once you get the equilibrium of the eco-system set up. The problem is getting there. When it's out of whack you get problems like algae, dead fish, discolored water, etc...
I've read a lot about it so I guess that makes me kind of a nerd.
I buy the plants when they're small either from a reputable local shop or from other enthusiasts I've met on aquarium forums. They actually ship pretty well if they are packed correctly. I have a ghetto-rigged, home-made co2 injection system that helps the plants to grow. You need to get special, more expensive lights to grow plants as well.
Good luck with the tank if you decide to go for it.
- Lloydscunt0
Llyod's an expert on this
- benfal990
i dump mine in the trash. black algea was everywhere, all the time.
and my fishes sucked.
- cuke4260
i had a 20-gal with three piranha, it was awesome. my wife made me get rid of them.
- driftlab0
hey nocomply, beautiful tank. I've just set up a 29g with a Fluval canister. It will be a dutch planted tank, similar to your's just on a slightly bigger scale. The problem is I just got a massive bacterial bloom and it's not going away. Suggestions?
- Oh and can I get the name of some of those small and large cryptocrynes you have in there?driftlab
- calcium0
I'm def. going to give it a go at a reef tank. I know it will be expensive, but I plan to take my time establishing everything so hopefully that will help offset the pain to my wallet.
Here are a few critters I'm excited to get in there. Not sure what kind of fish I would want yet. My girlfriend I'm sure will want a clown fish.
- driftlab0
nocomply, I'm also interested in knowing what kind of lighting you are using on that tank. Thanks!
- calcium0
You guys are starting to persuade me to go with a freshwater.
- imnotadesigner0
i thought Aquariums were for virgins?
- a lot of doing it is just trial and error. be persistent. and do a lot of researchnocomply
- nocomply0
The tank in those pics is using this light:
http://www.hellolights.com/index…However that light comes stock with a 50/50 bulb which needs to be replaced with something different if you want to grow freshwater plants. I ordered it from Hello Lights and their customer service has been good to me so far.
I leave the lights on around 8 hours a day, set on a timer.
I just set up the tank in my new place about 2 months ago. Right now I'm actually battling an algae bloom myself.
Growing plants and reducing algae is about getting the right balance between all the nutrients in your tank. I think I have too many fish creating too much shit, which in turn acts as too much fertilizer for all the algae to grow.
- I'll get back to you guys with the plant names in a bit. got a deadline to meet right now.nocomply
- JonnyPompa0
- that looks fantastic, is that really yours?Meeklo
- nah,..google Takashi AmanoJonnyPompa
- that is indeed beautifulpeterorpete
- invisiblechamber0
- you got an algae problemJonnyPompa
- wow great effects.. you got that on video?janne76
- Ranger0
QBN is a secret society of aquarium owners? I used to have a big freshwater one but had to leave it behind when I moved to London.
Here are some nice pics.