Cadd’s First Community Tank

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cadd

Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Joined
May 18, 2017
Messages
36
Location
NJ
I will use this thread to document my journey of my first tank set up. I decided to start with a 50+ gallon lightly planted tank and I’m open to stocking options. I'll try to be as financially responsible as possible, searching for deals on pre-owned equipment on Craigslist if possible. I set an initial budget of $500 and hope to stick with it. I'll document the cost of everything I purchased in case there are other new hobbyists looking for an idea of what to expect budget wise.

I invite you to join me along for the ride. Your advice, ideas, guidance, suggestions and constructive criticism will be greatly appreciated!!

Over the past week, I've been slowly procuring equipment.

Rummaging through my parent's basement, I found the following items from the 80s & 90s. Not sure if any of these still work though.
20 gal tank (free):
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HOB filter (free):
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Pumps/powerheads (sponge filter???) (free):
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Holy fish poop! NOT made in China
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Heaters – two 200W and one 100W (free):
img_3444598_7_e3e51fe6ade64fccc3712f43a93dce0f.jpg

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20 gal tank with equipment above:
img_3444598_9_071fbba08a50e8607d741f7cd97c4cec.jpg


I also purchased newer equipment as well.

Penn Plax Cascade 1000 Canister filter ($79 Amazon):
img_3444598_10_35314a41f2f871d3517a61e969cd3bde.jpg


API Freshwater Aquarium Master Test Kit ($23 PetSmart):
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Running Total: $102
Remaining Budget: $398
 
That's nice to use what you have.

If you are looking into a used tank, often places like Craigslist will have people who have to move and weren't able to sell a tank, need to get rid of it at the last minute, if you are able to rush in to get it picked up often it is free or very cheap.

One other technique as long as you aren't in a hurry is to make low yet reasonable offers, like 10-25% actual payment for a good condition used item, and tell them to let you know if they end up needing to get rid of it you could give it a good home. I have seen success with that plan.

After a good rinsing on that smaller tank, you could begin cycling media to prepare for the larger tank!

My signature has a good link with info for getting started.

A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser or generic version is a wonderful tool for cleaning the scum off filters and hardwater marks, etc, with out using " chemical or ???, unsafe for fish cleaners" Best friends for cleaning are vinegar and baking soda as well, plus it is fun to use them together!!! ;) Just make sure to rinse several times and get under the rims and edges with rinsing so you don't end up with wonky pH issues.

Congrats on the new endeavor.
 
Meant to mention too about the heaters, test each one, singularly, in a 5G bucket over a few days to make sure they still work correctly and do not stick on and keep the correct temp. Some heaters have an adjustment which you might be able to check with a search with the specific brand. Need a inexpensive floating thermometer.

Say for example the 1 heater keeps the temp stable at 80F but the temp ring says 77F, sometimes there is a way to move the dial to reflect the correct number at the arrow.
 
Also find out if you have a local fish club. My best deals have come from club members. Plus some forum members have been kind in the past.

My freebie 55g tank

IMG_4068.jpg

Club members hooked me up. I did have to buy fish and a new heater and a second filter for flow.
 
Also find out if you have a local fish club. My best deals have come from club members. Plus some forum members have been kind in the past.

My freebie 55g tank

View attachment 299693

Club members hooked me up. I did have to buy fish and a new heater and a second filter for flow.

Excellent suggestion, and very nice people in our club and really helpful for people of all ages from kids to ... !
 
Thanks for the tips Autumnsky & Coursair! And Coursair, that tank is absolutely stunning!
 
Today was a good day.
img_3444760_0_592e248ce4be311a4d8810c4cc0fb985.jpg


But if something’s too good to be true, it usually is. When I got there, it was a 29 gallon tank with a HOB filter, hood & light. It was a really old grandma. I asked her how she knew it was a 50 gal tank. She said she guessed. Grrrr. But I took it home anyways. ($20 Craigslist)
img_3444760_1_87d5fe79d71d72840ea9a4340f2b74aa.jpg


The cleaning and testing begins
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The filter to the right is my dad’s old 80s/90s filter. The filter on the left is the filter that came with this 29 gal tank
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I also got notified that my tank stand came in. So, I went to pick it up ($11 Home Depot)
img_3444760_4_d862f6b348d2303391bc794c9c26f1bc.jpg


Some of my other goodies came in as well.
Aqueon gravel vac ($7 Amazon)
Seachem Prime ($13 Amazon)
Floating thermometer ($2 Amazon)
Python water changer 50ft ($60 Amazon)
img_3444760_5_95aaa2477cd9306fc4dafded3ab132c7.jpg


Ok, time to assemble the fish tank stand. Only three 2x4s were needed
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29 Gallon tank will be used for cycling until I find something larger.
img_3444760_7_bc39247c75c38ea018cf788d48287673.jpg


Oh, by the way, the old school 80s/90s HOB filter puts the newer HOB to shame.
https://youtu.be/Vx5tfo6wzW4

Running Total: $215
Remaining Budget: $285
 
Well $20 is still a good value, and a better HOB filter.

My worst purchase was still a good deal was the people put a pic up of a perfectly beautiful tank for sale. 40G breeder. When I got there the entire tank was bright green thick with algae coating everything. Water hadn't been changed in a year and the light was left on day and night and the water was sometimes filled up and the mulm on the bottom was 3-4 inches thick!!! There were only a few fish left and some I found later bottom dwellers lost in the mulm. And I drove an hour each way, lol. I did get a couple boxes of extra aquarium stuff with it though. Can't let it get you down. lol.

The tank was good and solid though.
 
Good find, even though not what advertised. Good job on the thread.

[emoji481] & :popcorn:
 
Enjoying following along. 2 of my tanks 5g and my first 29g were a regime from a co-workers spouse. I had a 10g that was thriving and he had murdered everything he ever purchased. So all his stuff became mine. HOB's, heaters, hoods and lights. At first I moved it all from the 10 to the 29. Over time all 3 ended up running. Lol.
 
Alrighty! I jumped on the $1.00/gallon sale and grabbed a 55 gal Aqueon tank ($53 with coupon Pet Supplies Plus). Although it may not look it, the 55 gal tank on the ground is longer, wider and taller than the 29 gal on the stand.
img_3445197_0_94af98a52e4b7c17b46e7076c5b4ee29.jpg


I was also messing around and setting up the Penn Plax Cascade 1000 as well. I think all I need now are bio media for the media baskets in the canister. I’ll probably toss some bio media in both HOB filters as well (unless you tell me otherwise). Any suggestions on bio media? I was thinking either:
Seachem Matrix Bio Media (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002A5VI...e=df0&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B0002A5VIO)
Or
Fluval Biomax Filter Media (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HHSG5M/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I3W4U8KJ0B0390&colid=2Z04RU952LR2R)

Does it make a difference which one I use or how I use it? I’m open to other suggestions as well.

Setting up the Penn Plax Cascade 1000 was a unique experience. Never used a canister filter before. I always like to lube everything up before I fit things together. White lithium grease or silicone grease is my go to in the garage. But since, we’re dealing with live creatures, I decided to use something a little less toxic. I applied some of this lube on the hose & plastic fittings. Slides right in!
img_3445197_1_4c6ee1e4554b2f37bcf4f2b9e6a02907.jpg


For this particular canister model, water flow is from the bottom to the top. There are 3 media trays. On the bottom tray, there’s this dark color course sponge material. The middle tray & top tray are filled with white floss pads. When I do purchase bio media, I don’t even know which tray to put them in. I look forward to your suggestions.

Those who use Penn Plax canister filters, the next time you do your cleaning maintenance, can you take a look and see if you have a “media basket joint seal”? I may be missing it. The owner’s manual shows a “media basket joint seal”
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I didn’t see anything like that (or anything that resembles an O-ring).
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I also picked up Black Diamond Blasting Sand after reading other hobbyist having success with it. ($8 Tractor Supply)

I’m not sure if I picked up the correct stuff. I selected medium grit. If you guys are using it, does this look right to you?
img_3445197_4_33311fd4e28470601ce1db1017a1c3c4.jpg

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I have doubts because I remember seeing pure black in other members’ photos. The bag I have isn’t pure black.
img_3445197_6_550653ff62e39c0715170b47d372d090.jpg


In water:
img_3445197_7_8508a2dcbd6090ffe08d876c23f55958.jpg


After rinsing:
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Running Total: $276
Remaining Budget: $224
 
Recently Tmaier had a lot of problems with the black diamond blasting sand as substrate. It is NOT actually "sand" by the way. So maybe hold off on that one. You can get sand blasting real sand which is pretty clean, pool filter sand, or childrens untreated play sand all much cleaner than other kinds of sand because of what they are used for.
Here is the recent thread it would be around page 10 or 11 post 107 and there was a video too somewhere from flip aquatics
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f70/the-nursery-353706-11.html
 
Sera siporax is hands down the best. Next in line is Eheim substrate pro. If you do not believe me on Sera siporax look up some YouTube videos on the stuff that proves how porous and good the stuff is. It beats hands down biomax and others.

I had some matrix but what I do not like is you get some worthless black/dark rocks. Apparently this is normal after contacting seachem about it and said they try to filter all the bad rocks but some get missed. Problem is it's not just some but quite a bit. For me it's overpriced. I ended up replacing all my maxtix with Sera siporax and very happy
Pic of some bad rocks from matrix
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You will be fine with bdbs. Many including myself use it and it works absolutely great. My plants thrive in it as they can root very easy in the stuff. What I like better about bdbs compared to regular sand is it doesn't kick up as easily as other sand. I have a CRS planted tank that is using the bdbs as the substrate. It's my favorite substrate.
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And that is the correct bag. Same exact I got
IMG_4340.jpgIMG_4341.jpgIMG_4342.jpg
 
I had problems with the BDS. From what I understand some are prepared differently. It's just a matter of did you get a clean bag or one with prepared with petroleum. Rinse some in really hot water and then let it sit. Look to see if there is an oily sheen on the top once it cools. One member recommended cleaning with Dawn and rinsing really well.

Another sand suggestion would be to look at water filtration media. It's inert and you know it's clean.
 
Mine was oily. Had this oily film float to the top even after 15 mins of rinsing. I only test rinsed 5 - 10lbs of it. Didn't want to deal with all 50lbs.

I don't feel comfortable with using Dawn in fear of having residual and killing off all the fish in the future. I guess I'll look into another substrate.

Would you happen to have a link to that water filtration media by any chance?
 
Pool filter sand is cheap, fairly clean, and inert. Only drawback is the color if you want dark substrate. I love mine.
 
Mine was oily. Had this oily film float to the top even after 15 mins of rinsing. I only test rinsed 5 - 10lbs of it. Didn't want to deal with all 50lbs.

I don't feel comfortable with using Dawn in fear of having residual and killing off all the fish in the future. I guess I'll look into another substrate.

Would you happen to have a link to that water filtration media by any chance?



Ya I'm with ya on using soap to rinse media. I'd rather spend a bit more $ to make sure something is safe.

Here is where I picked up mine. They are located in Hayward CA that is just a few miles from where I work. I chose the garnet but they also have anthracite and other inert sands.


http://www.kleenindustrialservices.com/water-filtration-media-well-pack.html
 
Thanks guys, I'll do more research on substrate. I rather play it safe since this is my first tank.

I tested my tap water using the API master test kit and found the following:
PH: 7.6
High PH: 7.8
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5

I also tested the water that’s in my empty 29 gal tank (with 2 HOB & 1 canister filter running) that I have been ghost feeding (a tiny pinch of flakes a day):
PH: 7.6
High PH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5

I thought perhaps I was testing incorrectly. I decided to run to the local Walmart and grabbed water out of their Guppies tank and did the test in the parking lot with the following results:
PH: 7.6
High PH: 7.8
Ammonia: 0.25
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20

I got in contact with my town’s water utility and was provided the following information
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If I’m understanding the chart correctly, it shows tap water contains 5ppm of Nitrate?

With this information, I was hoping you can help me decide on stocking. For now, I want to stick with hardy fish. Smaller, non aggressive community fish (livebearers and/or schooling fish). If you can think of anything that would thrive in my town’s water, please let me know.
 
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