What to do with my 110gal tank.

[madhippoz]

So I previously had this tank setup about 3 years ago as a Brackish tank that held Colombian black-tipped sharks, Archerfish and Gobies. However, had a very sudden and never really explained water issue, all I know is that the fish pretty much died over night. It may have been something in the hose I was using to do water fills with.

Either way, I've got time to commit to it again and so want to redo the 110gal tank as a freshwater thank this time.

Here's the equipment list:

• 110gal tank w/ stand
• Eheim Pro II Canister filter
• Ebo-Jager heaters
• Standard flourescent lights
• Various pumps etc for creating waterflow

So the first step is to re-cycle the tank using fishless cycling as always. I have an exisint 34gal tank that I can use to help seed the filter. But my first question with the tank is this. It's been sitting empty in my basement for a few years now. What's the best approach to test the silicon seals on a tank that size. I've a concern that they may have dried out some and may leak. Any advice on testing and patching the tank would be appreciated.

So then the next topic, what am I going to put in this tank? I've struggled in the past with keeping a tank heavily planted, without algae taking over so I may stay away from that and have it just lightly planted. I certainly have plenty of driftwood and rocks to make something decorative with. So, what should I put in it?

I've never kept Cichlids and am interested in giving them a try. But I also like the idea of large groups of schooling fish, along with snails and ghost shrimp and cories for bottow dwellers.

What kinds of Cichlids stay on the smaller side, and what kind of say schooling tetra's and other types of fish may be good tank mates for them?

As always, thanks in advance for any suggestions/advice.

 

[beckyd]

Oh, what a pleasant problem to have First, I suggest you take the tank somewhere that water cannot damage and fill it. I was thinking outside, but that's because I live in Florida. Not such a good option for you right now. Will it fit in a tub? At any rate, filling it and watching it is really your only way to find out about leaks. My next idea will make you laugh too. A kiddie pool. Again, sorry, I can find anything year round in Florida. Good luck with THAT search in Canada in January

Onto the fish! Given this choice, I would either 1) try Discus, 2) add a small schooling fish- lots of them, cories and my angels or 3) just expand my ever-growing collection of livebearers. I have several tanks and I love them all, but no tank is more fun to watch than my community tank. I have blood red swords and red cobra guppies, creamsicle mollies, and yellow snakeskin guppies, velvet black mollies and black moscow guppies. These guys are all over the tank. I have a calm, mid-level school of 10 cardinal tetras, and about 10 pepper cories of varying sizes frisking about the bottom. It is mesmerizing. So, just because you have a big tank, don't discount the little fish I like to watch shrimp too. They would be fun, but I vote to skip the ghosts and go with cherry or tigers, something you can see!

Sorry, other than angels, I have no knowledge of cichlids, but others will

 

[Doomhed]

you can keep german rams in tanks with peaceful schooling fishes. they are colorful and VERY active. Your tank si also large enought aht if you made enough hiding places you could get a few pairs of convicts and set up an actual breeding community. I recommend a pair of each of albinos and a pair of regulars. Get a school of a dozen or so guppies ( top/mid ifsh, where convicts are bottom dwellers). the baby guppies will help feed the convicts and you can sell baby convicts to pet stores for some cash.

 

[madhippoz]

Thanks or the suggestions beckyd.

Heh you're right, being winter in Canada limits my options, as does the sheer size of the tank. Sadly (and yes, such a terrible problem to have I agree) is that the tank is larger than either bathtub in my house. So even if it were summer, I'd need at least one, if not two people to help me move it outside to test. It is in the basement though, so I could simply move it onto the floor near the main drain possibly.

As you say, there's no way to test it really than to just fill it up slowly and see if it starts leaking anywhere. From experience I know that sometimes leaks on the bottom or corners of the tank don't show up until you fill it with a certain amount of water, putting enough pressure on the corners to force the leak through.

I'll just proceed very slowly, filling it up little by little. and be ready to pump the water out into the utility sink I have in the basement if necessary.

As for the fish, I certainly don't want to forget about the smaller fish species, in fact its something I'm looking to concentrate on. I want a very nice community tank, but I want to start trying Cichlids as well, which is why Doomhed's suggestions sound good as well. I intend on doing lots of research and taking my time setting the tank up. Its big, and if you don't plan it out right, its a pain to change later.

 

[beckyd]

I like Doomhed's suggestion also! I don't know anything about those fish, so I have nothing to work with. I didn't know you could put guppies with them. That sounds like a really neat tank idea. Lots of activity, like mine, but more variation in the shape of the fishes. Different colors than mine too. And aren't they cave lovers? Definitely fun.

At least you have a basement. I didn't even think of that. No basements here. A definite bummer to living in Florida. Nowhere to just toss your stuff in a big heap where nobody will see it You should see my garage! Yikes. Can't find a thing out there, but you can bet your freezing britches that I can locate an aquarium need in the blink of an eye. Funny how that works...

 

[madhippoz]

Tank is half full with water and so far no leaks

I'm filling it up a quarter every 24 hours, waiting and looking for leaks.

I've also decided on a Malawi Cichlid community tank. I have to work out the numbers to ensure I don't overstock it, but for now I'm looking at:

• 6 x Electric Yellows
• 6 x Electric Blues
• 6 x Blue Dolphins
• 6 x Peacock

And upon measuring my tank again it looks to be more around 125gal/575 litres

So while it seems like a lot of cichlids in one tank, its a big tank, and none of those guys should get over 6-8" in size.

Its going to take a few months to get it all prepped how I want. But I'll be sure to take some pics along the way.

And I'm still up for suggestions on different types of fish, or the number.

 

[jjqs11]

So I previously had this tank setup about 3 years ago as a Brackish tank that held Colombian black-tipped sharks, Archerfish and Gobies. However, had a very sudden and never really explained water issue, all I know is that the fish pretty much died over night. It may have been something in the hose I was using to do water fills with.

Either way, I've got time to commit to it again and so want to redo the 110gal tank as a freshwater thank this time.

Here's the equipment list:

• 110gal tank w/ stand
• Eheim Pro II Canister filter
• Ebo-Jager heaters
• Standard flourescent lights
• Various pumps etc for creating waterflow

So the first step is to re-cycle the tank using fishless cycling as always. I have an exisint 34gal tank that I can use to help seed the filter. But my first question with the tank is this. It's been sitting empty in my basement for a few years now. What's the best approach to test the silicon seals on a tank that size. I've a concern that they may have dried out some and may leak. Any advice on testing and patching the tank would be appreciated.

So then the next topic, what am I going to put in this tank? I've struggled in the past with keeping a tank heavily planted, without algae taking over so I may stay away from that and have it just lightly planted. I certainly have plenty of driftwood and rocks to make something decorative with. So, what should I put in it?

I've never kept Cichlids and am interested in giving them a try. But I also like the idea of large groups of schooling fish, along with snails and ghost shrimp and cories for bottow dwellers.

What kinds of Cichlids stay on the smaller side, and what kind of say schooling tetra's and other types of fish may be good tank mates for them?

As always, thanks in advance for any suggestions/advice.

2 Red Tiger Oscars
And something else with that haha.

 

[Doomhed]

another option is a pair of oscars, a spined pleco and a ton of shrimp.

 

[madhippoz]

Yah was considering some larger Cichlids, as they'd be cool as well. But love the idea of a really lively Cichlid community tank of like 20-30 or so smaller cichlids. Get some really bright coloured Peacocks, along iwth the electric yellows and blues. I think that'd look pretty sweet