My Tank "Spaghetti" <G>

[Shellie]

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c149/MichelleBogart/0607160001.jpg

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http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c149/MichelleBogart/0607160003.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c149/MichelleBogart/0607160004.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c149/MichelleBogart/0607160005.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c149/MichelleBogart/0607160006.jpg

I got another bubble bar so I have two now. I think I have arranged them really neat, they are diagonal on the two ends of the tank.

[Catmakemebark]

Are undergravel filters better than filters above water like Wisper, or what about in-water filters? Which is the best kind?

Thats a really nice tank by the way. It will be spotless with all of thoughs filters.

[Shellie]

Undergravel filters aren't good by themselves. You should use them with other filters. I just know the golds are messy and want to use all the filtration I can.

[Catmakemebark]

Everyone says golds are messy but I have personally never had a problem with a dirty tank. My tanks are always spotless and clear. I only have one filter for each tank too.

I have Wisper filters. Are thoughs any good? They have worked very well for my goldies.

[Sorathien]

its not just about how much poop you suck out of the gravel. its about how much ammonia they produce. which is directly connected to how high and fast your nitrAtes rise. goldfish produce a lot of ammonia, so you need a lot of surface area in your filters to allow for all the beneficial bacteria to colonize and support a healthy tank. its reccomended to have enough filtration to support a tank twice as large as the one you actually have.

[mynoven]

ok, you cabinet looks like what this one did only with doors...I am going to have to go look at your other pics now!! it is coming along great!!

[Catmakemebark]

I find it intresting that my filter dosnt suck up the feces but the gold fish eat it. It might be the plants too. I think my filter is for a 40 gallon or 50 gallon. Its not that big but it works.

I have to many fish in my tank (all will be going to a bigger home soon) and I am amazed the ammonia levels are not sky rocketing. I should probably start changing the water more often to make sure they stay constant.

[Sorathien]

do you check nitrate? that's what you have to look out for. nitrate is the end product of the nitrogen cycle. the bacteria process ammonia and nitrite as its made, so in a cycled tank, you shouldn't ever get a reading, but nitrate builds and builds until you do a water change to remove it.

[Catmakemebark]

Yeah I do nitrate test and they all come out good but when it is a little off I change the water. I hardly ever have to change it though. I did have to one time when my water turned colors. I was changing it daily that time.

[Sorathien]

you should do weekly water changes regardless of what any test says. and nitrate should stay below 30ppm. its not just nitrate that you are trying to balance out, its many other nutritents that you don't usually test for that build up or get depleted. nitrate is just an easy and obvious one to test for that helps signify that the others might be out of w too. however, even in a heavily planted tank where you may end up with 0 nitrate because the plants use it all, you still have to do water changes to replace all the micronutritents the plants use as well, and to remove some other chemicals they and the fish secrete.

[Shellie]

Sora, what did you think of my tank spaghetti? lol Dad was tired tonight guys, he worked nine hours laying carpet so no notch. I pouted and everything but first thing in the morning will have to be soon enough to start.

[Sorathien]

it looks....like a tank under construction...lol. i don't really know what to say, but that's what they end up looking like. lots of cords and tubes everywhere.

[Catmakemebark]

Sora, Sorry I ment that I rarely have to change it twice a week. I take out 20 percent every week. Should I make it 30?

I am going to make it tropical after the goldies are gone so I'll let it run fishless for a week to just clean it and then I will get it tested.

Do you know if pet stores test it for every kind of chemical? I have nitrate ammonia and something else that i cant remember test kits.

Shellie, post pictures in the morning after you get up because I want to see your set up with the fishies in it. You have been teasing us with the pictures of an unfinished tank, now I want to see the real thing!

[Sorathien]

don't let it run empty for a week. that will just starve the bacteria. just add a heater. you can dose ammonia to keep the bacteria alive if you can't get the tropical fish right away though.

and pet stores usually test for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, alkalinity. i believe that's it.

[Shellie]

lol, don't worry, I won't post anymore till the water, gravel and plants are in.

I have been posting because its taking so long and I want to show I really am working on it. lol

Just teasing you Sora, I know there really isn't much to say about it.

[Catmakemebark]

Now I remember the other test thing I have. It is pH. So I should NOT let it run empty. I have a heater so I'll just turn it up higher. For the ammonia should I give in the amount to start a tank or just boost it. I know I shouldnt get tropical fish right away, but what would be a good time to do that?

Shellie, you make starting an aquarium look hard, lol.

[Sorathien]

get the ammonia up to about 2ppm and try to keep it there. probably good idea to dose every 24 hours. throwing all the ammonia in at once, you will be able to get a reading right after you dose it. but it will start to dissapear pretty quickly and should be gone within 24 hours. and i have no idea why you would not be able to add tropical fish right away?

[Catmakemebark]

The water needs to heat up for the fish and I need to clean it out and get ride of any thing potential dangerous. I can add the fish right when the gold fish are gone? Dont tropical fish need a different kind of ammonia or nitrate level. Its something like goldfish are 30.0 and tropical are 30.1 or something like that. All I know is its something with a decimal of 1. I am always paranoide about the extra slim in the tank from the gold fish although it probably wont affect it any so I guess its pointless.

I'll probably put my danios in it right after the goldies are gone so its all good.

[Shellie]

Um, starting a new tank from scratch that big IS hard! :p

[Catmakemebark]

You also had to fix and take it appart...I have to do that with my 55 gallon. Ug, I dont want toooo...

But it has a pretty marble stand.

[mr gerbil]

Fish with an ammonia level of 30? :rolleyes:

Good luck with the setup, Shellie, can't wait until it's filled...

[WTFFroggerFE16]

I just wanted to let you know Good luck with your tank i am sure you will be a good hobbyist ....i am leaving forums after i say good bye to someone

[Cottontail]

*cough*

Nice progress Shell!! :yes: I'd probably be lost in a tank that large :p.

[Shellie]

I'm getting my notch cut right now guys! The tank will have water TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, I am excited anyway. lol

[Cottontail]

Yay!!! Except, your tonight is 4 hours later than my tonight :(. I'll probably see it in the morning.

[Shellie]

Actually its only 2:23 here, just not sure how long it will take to cut the piece. As for filling it, that is NOT going to be fun. lol 20 some trips with a 2 gal bucket. :eek:

[mr gerbil]

I'm not sure, but I think that your tonight is my tomorrow morning.

[Shellie]

lol, you are right MG My evening will be your early morning. Eight hours difference. Of course your morning is your afternoon anyway. :p

[Cottontail]

Get to work Shellie!! I wanna see it! Just kidding...it'll be here tomorrow too. Unless they revamp the site again :grumpy:.

Let's see, it's 10:30pm, right mr g?

[mr gerbil]

It's 10.30 here.

"Of course your morning is your afternoon anyway. "

I was up at 7.30 today, actually. It was like waking up into my own personal hell.

[Shellie]

Quick question, I forgot to put something over the tank for the sawdust. Will the sawdust hurt the tank? Please tell me I can leave the stuff in the bottom and don't have to try to vacuum the darn thing. lol

[Shellie]

OMG MG, what the heck were you doing up during your version of night? lol

[Cottontail]

Sadly, I think you're going to have to evict the sawdust. How much is there?

[Shellie]

Aw nuts, I already have my undergravel in there. Let me go see how much.

[mr gerbil]

[B]"OMG MG, what the heck were you doing up during your version of night? lol"[B]

Being attacked by cute furry animals. Don't joke.

[Shellie]

Sorry for posting all over the place about the sawdust guys, I just wanted to make sure you guys saw it before you got offline. I am anxious to get it filled!

[Cottontail]

No problem Shellie. I think it'll be ok.

Mr. G, *snickers* :goof: