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IHateAlgae's 55 Gallon Tank

Started by Guest_IHateAlgae_* , Sep 24 2014 10:02 PM

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15 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_IHateAlgae_*

Guests

Posted 24 September 2014 - 10:02 PM

THIS IS NOT FINISHED.

This is the start of my 55 gallon half-aquascape tank. Like an aquascape but it's construction will be a bit more leisurely.

This is the start so far.
Posted Image

The camera contrast made it look ugly, it's just a bit awkward in concept setup but I'm working on it.

I will be soaking the real driftwood (the light decorations) thoroughly and then preceding to use my leftover gravel then steal from the 30 gallon. Especially since I've spent 240$ already on this tank alone. Not including original purchases.

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#2 al10

NANFA Guest

North Carolina

Posted 25 September 2014 - 08:09 AM

Looks good, driftwood never looks good in pics, unless under water, I hope the fish like the new tank, what other fish do you plan to get?

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#3 Guest_jblaylock_*

Guests

Posted 26 September 2014 - 09:25 AM

Looks good, driftwood never looks good in pics, unless under water, I hope the fish like the new tank, what other fish do you plan to get?

I agree. When I setup my 125, it looked strange until I got water in it. Once you get gravel, rocks, and water in it, it will look better.

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#4 Guest_IHateAlgae_*

Guests

Posted 27 September 2014 - 09:29 AM

It has started. And I am nervous to even try starting the EHEIM + RUGF mix I got.
Posted Image

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#5 Guest_Yeahson421_*

Guests

Posted 27 September 2014 - 04:27 PM

Why do you have the canister filter up so high?

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#6 Guest_IHateAlgae_*

Guests

Posted 27 September 2014 - 06:11 PM

Because the only other option is to remove the 30 gallon entirely. And I don't have containers big enough for keeping the fish lol.

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#7 Guest_IHateAlgae_*

Guests

Posted 28 September 2014 - 07:41 PM

0

So, to recap, can an EHEIM 2217 be started this way?
>shut valves and disconnect input & output tubes.
>Fill canister to the tip with water then put on lid letting excess water and bubbles splash down the sides onto a towel.
>Fill tubes with water as much as possible.
>Reconnect tubes and open valves.
>Turn on filter and shake.

Right now it is filled with water and one UGF is running, the other side (being seperate from the other) will be a RUGF. And I do wish I had soaked the black & water-staining driftwood a bit more.

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#8 al10

NANFA Guest

North Carolina

Posted 28 September 2014 - 07:59 PM

Haha, you copyed the thumbs up thing. Sounds good.

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#9 Guest_IHateAlgae_*

Guests

Posted 29 September 2014 - 02:12 PM

So, just to be sure, do you know if the method described above for starting the EHEIM will work? I'm scared I may turn it on and it will break or something.

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#10 Guest_Yeahson421_*

Guests

Posted 29 September 2014 - 06:07 PM

I think the issue is the height, but you can try it. It won't break instantly.

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#11 Guest_IHateAlgae_*

Guests

Posted 03 October 2014 - 06:40 PM

Hello, I found a suck-free way to start the EHEIM very smoothly, but when I did, I think I saw brown particles, most likely from the media I thought I had thoroughly washed, cascading into the water.

It could be bubbles from my splash looking like detritus from the tannin+likely infusoria mix I got in the water, but it looks weird and I am not sure about just leaving it and watching the results, so I stopped it.

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#12 Guest_gzeiger_*

Guests

Posted 04 October 2014 - 07:26 AM

Nothing in your filter media is going to hurt your fish. It may look weird, but I would just run it. It can't release that much.

I recommend learning to enjoy the black water look. Your fish will.

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#13 Guest_IHateAlgae_*

Guests

Posted 04 October 2014 - 09:17 AM

I just accidentally gave the media the best rinse it can get. I tried running in the tub to troubleshoot, but it wouldn't start multiple times. After hearing a different noise that was either air or a struggling motor, I decided to dump the water out the can. Well, half the media and the lid fell into the tub. So, I retrieved the lid first and went over it with my mom's hair dryer, and now it should be dry. Hopefully the motor wouldn't be waterlogged anyway because the lid is where the water flows after all.
The filter is now assembled again, and I will try it one more time.
If it's dead, I will look into a fluval self primer filter.

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#14 Guest_IHateAlgae_*

Guests

Posted 29 October 2014 - 09:47 AM

So, the tank is nearing completion. After this mini-poll, I will test the water with mosquito fish. Then if the water isn't absolutely poisonous I'll toss in plants and then the other critters and move the 30 gallon downstairs as a quarantine tank.

POLL: WHICH SETUP DUST THOU PREFER:
Rocks but little room for plants
Posted Image

No rocks but plenty of room for plants
Posted Image

I can't decide on my own because I don't like the clutter and the clashing with the driftwood but at the same time I need a third cave. So I decided to go to the interwebs for help.

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#15 Guest_Skipjack_*

Guests

Posted 01 November 2014 - 01:16 AM

Well the way things are, I would go all rock, and regular water changes. Gravel alone is crap substrate for plants. And if you have test kits, go with a fishless cycle. Just google it. Good luck.

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#16 Guest_IHateAlgae_*

Guests

Posted 04 November 2014 - 09:18 PM

I think I will get smaller and rounder rocks at gardening center in order for mental sanity and not releasing rust into the water.
And BTW I do siphon weekly at 50% to rule out all possibility of disease.