I just picked up a free 13.5 tank w/ stand

Alex2290

Large Fish
Oct 20, 2010
159
0
0
Jacksonville, FL
#1
Got it from a friend. Apparently it's older than I am. :p It has calcium buildup and the bottom is pretty nasty from never being cleaned after it was used. What should I do to clean it? I heard the best way is to get a scrubbing pad and use a lot of salt and vinegar. What's the best way to test if it holds water or needs to be re-caulked? I know, fill it up, but still what if it needs to be re-caulked? I have never done that before.

The tank is 13" by 13" and 18.5" height. It came with a hood, power filter, and undergravel filter.Should I use those if I could, or should I buy new filters? I want to put some cherry shrimp, a few bamboo shrimp, and maybe a few snails in the tank along with fish that I haven't decided on (something that's not hard to come by, perhaps!).
 

Aug 13, 2010
870
0
0
Sicklerville, NJ
#2
Congrats on the free tank! Fill it up with water outside and see if it holds water....for about a week. If it needs to be resealed, we can cross that bridge when we come to it. After it sits for a week or so with water in it, you can take a razor blade and scrape the build up off.
 

bassbonediva

Superstar Fish
Oct 15, 2009
2,010
0
0
Northern Arizona
#3
+1 on what Dylandrewsdad said about checking to see if it needs to be resealed.

As far as cleaning it, HOT water (as hot as you can stand it), vinegar and a razor blade are your best bet.

As far as stocking...a "few bamboo shrimp" won't work in a smaller tank. Each bamboo shrimp needs 10 gallons to itself. They are filter feeders and there isn't enough room in a smaller tank for them to compete for food if there are multiples.
 

Alex2290

Large Fish
Oct 20, 2010
159
0
0
Jacksonville, FL
#6
Awesome. I'll pick up the scraping tool next time I'm near a hardware store (maybe walmart has it too?) and I'll fill up the tank and put it on my back porch tonight. Thanks for the advice, guys. Even if it does hold water, I may want to reseal it anyway because in all likelyhood it's probably older than I am.

Does anyone know of any eel that would comfortably live in a 13.5 gallon tank? I will be upgrading when I find a cheap/free bigger aquarium.
 

Alex2290

Large Fish
Oct 20, 2010
159
0
0
Jacksonville, FL
#10
Finally got around to cleaning the tank today. Glass came out pretty clean but the hood and stand there's not much more I can do to make them look better. Going to pick up a HOB filter tomorrow for it. Would anyone recommend an UGF? Also gonna grab a T8 bulb.

New question... Where can I get sand for an aquarium? I haven't seen any in LFSs. I am thinking of doing sand with lava rock it another type of rock in the middle.
 

nanu156

Large Fish
Mar 8, 2010
745
0
0
Detroit, Mi
#12
yeah or pea gravel for three bucks will do the whole tank too :)

on the topic of resealing the tank honestly it will cost you as much to seal that tank as it would to buy a new one (they run about fifteen bucks for just the glass tank) so if it leaks have three fives ready to be spent on a new tank lol :)

you can use black permanant marker on the hood to make it look clean :)

do you have pet supplies plus in your area? if so check the Sunday paper there will be a thirty percent coupon in there go there for a filter if you decide to buy new (get the aquaclear twenty if you can :))
 

Alex2290

Large Fish
Oct 20, 2010
159
0
0
Jacksonville, FL
#14
Ok. Ive decided against sand unless I can get a black sand. I am going to put RCS in there and I don't want them to lose color. I'll call around today to see if anyone locally sells black sand, but if not I will go with natural colored gravel.

On that topic of gravel: UGF or not? Would the current be too much for shrimp and smaller fish?
 

nanu156

Large Fish
Mar 8, 2010
745
0
0
Detroit, Mi
#16
neutral gravel (for three dollars a bag) at home depot would be great

i do ugf but i think i am the only one here who does and likes it if you do that you need power-heads on the posts not air lines

i dont know much about shrimp but i have always loved ugfs the power-heads create a cross tank current and the ugf provides additional mechanical and biological filtration

you cant do ugf with sand
 

Alex2290

Large Fish
Oct 20, 2010
159
0
0
Jacksonville, FL
#17
Just picked up Tahitian moon black sand so I guess a UGF is out of the question now. I think I'll be happy with this though. I'll probably pick up a rock(what kind with black sand???) or a driftwood with plant.

I'm having an extremely hard time finding a 12" T8 bulb though. Who sells them??