The new 55g project (56k warning) - Aquarium Advice

cbk.o4 · 04-25-2006, 02:42 PM

So i got a new 55g (first tank i have had since a kid, and definately the biggest). I just learned about the whole cycling thing and all that. It is going to be a planted tank with some nice driftwood and i dont know what kind of fish yet. But im going to use this thread to track my test readings and track the development of the tank with pictures and other things. (Sorry in advance for the quality of some of the pictures, new camera and im not all that familiar with all the settings and everthing yet.)

4/21/06

Day 1:

Night i got the tank and got it set up and everything.

Tank all set up and sittin there waiting for to get filled for a leak check.

Using Python to fill up my tank (love that thing, filled it up alot quicker than 5g bucket trips would have)

Tank filled with hood light on.

Close up of tank filled with hood light on.

Close up of tank filled with hood light on and room lights off.

4-24 (filling of tank with eco and water):

Left side of tank, showing eco slope.

Right side of tank, showing eco slope.

Cloudy water while filling the tank back up.

Tank filled up again.

4-25:

Starting of cycle. Water much clearer than yesterday. No leaks so far.

Test results:

pH: 8.0
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 0
Nitrite: 0

Added 10mL of ammonia a little bit ago, will check around 4 to see what the new ammonia reading is.

TomK2 · 04-25-2006, 03:59 PM

Nice looking stand and canopy. thats the 4ft by 1 ft 55 gal version? I have one myself. Ahhhh... that new tank feeling!

cbk.o4 · 04-25-2006, 04:04 PM

yeah 48x12x18

04-25-2006, 04:09 PM

i agree ..nice setup

Jaybird · 04-25-2006, 05:09 PM

My girlfriend and I were looking at a tank almost exactly like that one. They had a 55G version and a 90G version.

I'm still trying to convince her on the 90G

cbk.o4 · 04-25-2006, 05:57 PM

lol actually i was going to get the 90 but i had already gotten only enough eco for the 55 so i just stuck with it. i liked the 90 cuz it wasnt much longer but was wider. i dont really have enough space in my room for the 90 anyways the 55 fits perfect so im glad i stuck with the 55. if u two have the space though go with the 90, very very nice stand and canopy imo

TomK2 · 04-25-2006, 09:37 PM

Yep, that 6 inches or so of extra depth really makes the tank stick out into a room, so the 90 gal is larger to fit in a room. I have the 4 ft 55 gal precisely because it fits so close to the wall that it doesn't take over a room. Especially small rooms. But it sure is hard to walk away from extra capacity!

**Zagz** · 04-25-2006, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaybird

My girlfriend and I were looking at a tank almost exactly like that one. They had a 55G version and a 90G version.

I'm still trying to convince her on the 90G

Explain to her a bigger tank is easier to care for as far as stable parameters and water changes go.

cbk.o4 · 04-26-2006, 06:28 PM

4-26:

pH:8.0
Ammonia: 4-8ppm (test kit is awesome with that nice big range there)
Nitrite:0ppm
Nitrate:0ppm

cbk.o4 · 04-28-2006, 02:42 PM

4-28:

pH:8.0
Ammonia: 1.0 (didnt dose any yesterday..and i didnt do a test either..was preoccupied)
Nitrite: 2.0ppm
Nitrate:5-10ppm (more orange than yellow but not as dark an orange as 10ppm)

so i been dosing ammonia for a few days..thought it would take longer to see nitrates show up..which makes me think i may have done the test wrong...

nitirites seem kind of high to me, but since there are no fish i guess it isnt a problem

pH is still high but im going to be adding some driftwood soon and i hope that will drop it a lil bit so i have a wider selection of fish to choose from other than just chichlids (sp?)

im going to dose 5mL of ammonia in a few minutes and then update with the new result.

04-25-2006, 02:42 PM	#1
cbk.o4 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 209	The new 55g project (56k warning) So i got a new 55g (first tank i have had since a kid, and definately the biggest). I just learned about the whole cycling thing and all that. It is going to be a planted tank with some nice driftwood and i dont know what kind of fish yet. But im going to use this thread to track my test readings and track the development of the tank with pictures and other things. (Sorry in advance for the quality of some of the pictures, new camera and im not all that familiar with all the settings and everthing yet.) 4/21/06 Day 1: Night i got the tank and got it set up and everything. Tank all set up and sittin there waiting for to get filled for a leak check. Using Python to fill up my tank (love that thing, filled it up alot quicker than 5g bucket trips would have) Tank filled with hood light on. Close up of tank filled with hood light on. Close up of tank filled with hood light on and room lights off. 4-24 (filling of tank with eco and water): Left side of tank, showing eco slope. Right side of tank, showing eco slope. Cloudy water while filling the tank back up. Tank filled up again. 4-25: Starting of cycle. Water much clearer than yesterday. No leaks so far. Test results: pH: 8.0 Ammonia: 0 Nitrate: 0 Nitrite: 0 Added 10mL of ammonia a little bit ago, will check around 4 to see what the new ammonia reading is.

04-25-2006, 03:59 PM	#2
TomK2 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Glen Ellyn, IL Posts: 1,953 Images: 2	Nice looking stand and canopy. thats the 4ft by 1 ft 55 gal version? I have one myself. Ahhhh... that new tank feeling! __________________ Tom's Tank - The web's best (only?) Motorcycling, trap shootin', aquarium site - IS BACK! With a new url. Oceanic 55+,two Fluval 404's,In-line 300W heater,Moderately planted with Polyvinylus Chloridus sp.=the only plants that last in my tank

04-25-2006, 09:37 PM	#7
TomK2 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Glen Ellyn, IL Posts: 1,953 Images: 2	Yep, that 6 inches or so of extra depth really makes the tank stick out into a room, so the 90 gal is larger to fit in a room. I have the 4 ft 55 gal precisely because it fits so close to the wall that it doesn't take over a room. Especially small rooms. But it sure is hard to walk away from extra capacity! __________________ Tom's Tank - The web's best (only?) Motorcycling, trap shootin', aquarium site - IS BACK! With a new url. Oceanic 55+,two Fluval 404's,In-line 300W heater,Moderately planted with Polyvinylus Chloridus sp.=the only plants that last in my tank

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04-25-2006, 04:04 PM	#3
cbk.o4 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 209	yeah 48x12x18

04-25-2006, 05:09 PM	#5
Jaybird Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Nairobi, Kenya Posts: 289 Images: 5	My girlfriend and I were looking at a tank almost exactly like that one. They had a 55G version and a 90G version. I'm still trying to convince her on the 90G

04-25-2006, 05:57 PM	#6
cbk.o4 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 209	lol actually i was going to get the 90 but i had already gotten only enough eco for the 55 so i just stuck with it. i liked the 90 cuz it wasnt much longer but was wider. i dont really have enough space in my room for the 90 anyways the 55 fits perfect so im glad i stuck with the 55. if u two have the space though go with the 90, very very nice stand and canopy imo

04-26-2006, 06:28 PM	#9
cbk.o4 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 209	4-26: pH:8.0 Ammonia: 4-8ppm (test kit is awesome with that nice big range there) Nitrite:0ppm Nitrate:0ppm

04-28-2006, 02:42 PM	#10
cbk.o4 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 209	4-28: pH:8.0 Ammonia: 1.0 (didnt dose any yesterday..and i didnt do a test either..was preoccupied) Nitrite: 2.0ppm Nitrate:5-10ppm (more orange than yellow but not as dark an orange as 10ppm) so i been dosing ammonia for a few days..thought it would take longer to see nitrates show up..which makes me think i may have done the test wrong... nitirites seem kind of high to me, but since there are no fish i guess it isnt a problem pH is still high but im going to be adding some driftwood soon and i hope that will drop it a lil bit so i have a wider selection of fish to choose from other than just chichlids (sp?) im going to dose 5mL of ammonia in a few minutes and then update with the new result.