I just picked up a free 13.5 tank w/ stand

nanu156

Large Fish
Mar 8, 2010
745
0
0
Detroit, Mi
#21
really I used a fine toothed saw once and was successful....

what kind of filter do you have? what are you going to buy? Go aquaclear :)
 

Alex2290

Large Fish
Oct 20, 2010
159
0
0
Jacksonville, FL
#23
I have a marineland penguin 100 but it is about 1" too high for the hood.

I don't think I'm going to find a t8 12" bulb lol. What else couldn't use to grow plants then? Everyone has T5s that at 6 or 8 watt and I'm not so sure that would grow much.

Going to clean the sand and dump it in...
 

Alex2290

Large Fish
Oct 20, 2010
159
0
0
Jacksonville, FL
#25
Do you have a light fixture? The fixture will determine what type of light it will run. Or are you looking to build your own?
Yeah it's for a t5 bulb but I was just gonna change out the ballasts and it would work fine. Noun have to think of something else.


I went with the aquaclear 20. I have a similar (if not the same) one on my fluval edge and it works great. Not completely silent, but whatever. It should fit. If the pads are the same, that means I can use my other filters in this one for quick cycling. :)
 

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Alex2290

Large Fish
Oct 20, 2010
159
0
0
Jacksonville, FL
#27
If you go CFL, you might use this kit:

18 or 24 Watt Kits

I've used their kits on larger aquariums with no problems (in stock hoods and DIY enclosures.

I don't really want to spend that much money on lighting since this is a temporary aquarium. :eek:

It's all set up. I switched foam filters with my fluval edge so I have my old filter running in with this one. I also added some nutrafin cycle to it. The tank is pretty cloudy from the sand, so I hope it clears up soon...
 

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Alex2290

Large Fish
Oct 20, 2010
159
0
0
Jacksonville, FL
#28
So apparently I misspoke when I said it was 13.5g :p It's 13.2. I knew that at the beginning but I guess the 5 got stuck in my head. No big deal, either way.

Anyway, I got 3 kuhli loaches. They seem to be doing fine and they're eating well. I added a nice piece of driftwood and put some Egeria Densa stems on it. Hopefully it will do well with low light like I've read on some sites before buying. I plan to add some Red Cherry Shrimp in a day or so. The juvies are growing nicely. Should I add juvies or adults? The kuhlis are so shy there needs to be some activity. :p


Question, how do I stop the driftwood from leeching whatever it is leeching? The water is not discolored in either tank, but both my 6g and this one has a film on top of the water. Not a big deal, just wondering.

Oh, and for some reason the water in this aquarium has a smell. I hope that's not a bad sign. I am wondering if a few water changes won't get rid of it.
 

nanu156

Large Fish
Mar 8, 2010
745
0
0
Detroit, Mi
#29
stinky water means need water change asap.

you have a hob right? the hob should be keeping the film off the top of the water, the drift leeches tannis and salt generally. Both are ok for your fish.

you can reduce the leech effect by boiling the drift for a while or soaking it in really hot water if you don't have a pot big enough to actually boil. Or just wait it out
 

Alex2290

Large Fish
Oct 20, 2010
159
0
0
Jacksonville, FL
#30
stinky water means need water change asap.
Figured as much. Will do.

you have a hob right? the hob should be keeping the film off the top of the water, the drift leeches tannis and salt generally. Both are ok for your fish.

you can reduce the leech effect by boiling the drift for a while or soaking it in really hot water if you don't have a pot big enough to actually boil. Or just wait it out
The driftwood in my 6gallon has been in there for months and there is still a film on top of the water. The filter does nothing to get rid of it. I read about boiling the wood, but I'm just going to be lazy and not do anything about it right now as long as it doesn't do any harm. Lol.
 

Alex2290

Large Fish
Oct 20, 2010
159
0
0
Jacksonville, FL
#32
Film on top of the water can sometimes be from oils in the air or on your hands or equipment that then get into the water. It may not be related to your driftwood at all . . ..
It has to be from the driftwood or some other aquarium chemical. I do not stick my hands in the 6g often and it has a cloudy film on the surface all the time. The 13.2 gallon did not have any sort of film on top until after I put the driftwood in. I do not spray anything near the aquariums, and whenever I stick my hands in I usually scrub em beforehand. Hmmm! I unno.


I'm sure more frequent water changes would get rid of it, though. I have not done one in the 6g tank recently because I was Afraid to suck up a baby shrimp. They are growing bigger now so I'll probably work on that tomorrow.
 

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Alex2290

Large Fish
Oct 20, 2010
159
0
0
Jacksonville, FL
#33
I want to add RCS to this tank from my 6 gallon. Should I add juvies or adults? I want to add juvies .. but I'm worried that the kuhli loaches might eat them. Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks!

(also, I ordered some Pellia and Co2 tablets from someone on aquabid. I'll let ya know later on if the Co2 tablets help or not.)
 

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nanu156

Large Fish
Mar 8, 2010
745
0
0
Detroit, Mi
#34
my filter question was directed at the agitation at the surface. do you have a hob? because they agitate the surface, if you have a canister the surface could be getting stagnant.