New 90G tank. feedback appreciated

[FrankoQ]

my nearby aquarium had a midnight sale. 47% off everything in the store.
Got plants, rocks, driftwood. Tonight only until midnight.
The place was packed.

 

[FrankoQ]

Today's progress:
- cleaned the pool filter sand
- set the sand on the tank
- power strip attached under tank
- media rinsed and set in the canister filter
- Water heater installed in tank

 

[Evo8]

Looking good.

 

[Evo8]

You did the stand yourself? It looks really good.

 

[FrankoQ]

You did the stand yourself? It looks really good.

I did not. The stand came in bad shape. I refinished it after cleaning it up.

 

[FrankoQ]

I've been working on the driftwood piece this week. I put it in a big pot and submerged it in water until it boiled. I did this like 4 times.
I'll put the wood in the tank today and fill up the tank.
Question about air pump... where is the best location for it? I was just going to put it under the tank, but the instructions suggest to put it above it and to the side. Where do you guys have yours?

 

[FrankoQ]

Driftwood and some decorations set. Air stones set. air pump set below tank.
Adding water tonight after work.

 

[Evo8]

Can t wait for pixs:thumbs:

 

[FrankoQ]

Water added. And then... i hit an issue... the "my driftwood won't sink"!
So ended up with a floating big piece of wood.
After some research... I tried the boiling again technique. It did not work.
I ended up going to hardware store for stainless steel screws and to the LFS for pieces of slate. I drilled holes in the slate and screwed the slate to the wood.

Here is the latest and greatest. I'll add more plants later. For now, the cycling process has started.

 

[Evo8]

That looks great..maybe a few flower pots if your going the planted route?

 

[FrankoQ]

That looks great..maybe a few flower pots if your going the planted route?

Good idea. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Evo8]

any updates? cant wait to see the tank with fish! hows your cycle going?

 

[FrankoQ]

any updates? cant wait to see the tank with fish! hows your cycle going?

Not much going on.
I did some work on the stand to fit the canister filter and all other equipment.
see pic below.
The cycle process is going slow. I added the ammonia and I have been checking it every other day. 4.00 for now and steady.
Looks like the fun will start around 14-18 days.

I've been looking at what fish to add to the tank. At this rate, it looks like fish will start to come in around the Xmas time.

 

[FrankoQ]

How about this list of fish:
6 Boesemani Rainbows
4 clown loaches
2 bala sharks
1 red tail shark
1 gold nugget pleco
1 black ghostknife

Please let me know if any issues with those guys. I checked their profiles and they all could live in the same water parameters.

Not sure if I can add more so let me know if that is enough for 90gal tank or if I could add more. thanks for the feedback!

 

[Coyne]

Bala Sharks and Clown Loaches get bigger than you might be expecting. I think they grow to 12+ inches.
Were you planning on upgrading to a larger aquarium down the road?

I just looked up the Black Ghostknife and it looks like they grow to be a foot long as well.

 

[Evo8]

bala sharks i know from experience are very long term growers..meaning they dont grow big fast..ive had my bala since he was a baby and he's still only 3-3.5"..i have not had experiebce with loaches though nor the ghost knife..although i believe they require some sort of special attention and you have to be careful with stocking around them

 

[FrankoQ]

I'm yet to see a picture or someones testimony of a foot long ghostknife or clown loach.
Yes, I read they will get big, but how long will it take for them to get to a foot long?

But I do read the ghostknife is high maintenance. I might not get it.
I do not like the brown ghostknife which seems to be smaller.

 

[Evo8]

I'm yet to see a picture or someones testimony of a foot long ghostknife or clown loach.
Yes, I read they will get big, but how long will it take for them to get to a foot long?

But I do read the ghostknife is high maintenance. I might not get it.
I do not like the brown ghostknife which seems to be smaller.

yep the ghost knifes are a big of a pain! and like i said before i totally agree my bala is like 1-2 years old and guess what? he's 3-3.5" and i also think the list you gave us would only be half of what you could house in a tank that size

 

[FrankoQ]

i also think the list you gave us would only be half of what you could house in a tank that size

Good to know. thanks!
I think I'll start with that and add more later. I just hope the tank is ready mid December.

 

[FrankoQ]

I'm still thinking about the ghost knife.
A peacock eel or tire track eel is also looking good for my tank.

Anyway, Ammonia dropped to 2.00 today.