New baby Bala Shark!

[Krusty56]

They grow bigger than 6inch walmart lies bala sharks are really peaceful i kept mine with birchirs

Yeah, I noticed that balas looked peaceful, mine was. The stores are not able to inform people about fish, which I knew, I do check the internet and sometimes get different answers. The stores don't offer any type of guide for beginners or the general public. I even ask employees how big a fish gets, or what they like in their environment, and often they say "I really don't know". So, I also was thinking of getting a book about tropical fish, I have one on sharks but am not wealthy enough to own a shark and I don't live near an ocean. Plus, the house would not be large enough to keep one here. I have shark sculptures and pictures, I've always wanted to go in a shark tank and will never have the chance.

 

[okapizebra]

I think Petco and Petsmart are the only ones that do the dollar per gallon sale, correct me if I'm wrong. You can get a 55 gal tank for 55 dollars, 29 gal tank for 29 dollars, ect. Just the plain tank.

 

[Calypso77]

I think Petco and Petsmart are the only ones that do the dollar per gallon sale, correct me if I'm wrong. You can get a 55 gal tank for 55 dollars, 29 gal tank for 29 dollars, ect. Just the plain tank.

That is a great deal. Anyone know if that deal is still on? I am headed to the states this wkend.

 

[echoDreamz]

Yeah, I noticed that balas looked peaceful, mine was. The stores are not able to inform people about fish, which I knew, I do check the internet and sometimes get different answers. The stores don't offer any type of guide for beginners or the general public. I even ask employees how big a fish gets, or what they like in their environment, and often they say "I really don't know". So, I also was thinking of getting a book about tropical fish, I have one on sharks but am not wealthy enough to own a shark and I don't live near an ocean. Plus, the house would not be large enough to keep one here. I have shark sculptures and pictures, I've always wanted to go in a shark tank and will never have the chance.

Your best bet is to use the Internet. Sites like this, WikiPedia, Aquarium Fish: Tropical Freshwater Fish and Saltwater Fish for Home Aquariums has very good info on them. Places like PetCo, PetSmart (at least the ones around me) cannot tell a fish from a ferret. They were the ones that told me that glass catfish do best by themselves - yet everyone online says they are a schooling fish, along with countless other times of bad advice / info. I only shop there if I need chemicals etc. The local place I shop at here (a local only non-franchise / non-corporate store) they are sharp as needles when it comes to fish. The PetCo / PetSmart places here, you get "Uh......." and "Hmmmm....." and "Let me go ask a coworker." type responses.

 

[echoDreamz]

That is a great deal. Anyone know if that deal is still on? I am headed to the states this wkend.

I called my local PetCo, they stated it is still going. I know the manager well, so I am going to get a deal on a 135 gallon tank this weekend. Should be fun

Oh, where I live the larger the tank the more expensive, unless I check WalMart.

The Wal-Mart around me stops at 55 gallon, unless you go to the website. The place I shop at locally though carries as big as I want to pay for. Which hurts my wallet

 

[Coel]

Yeah the petco sale is on select tanks 10, 20H, 20L, 29, 40B, and 55 I believe. It's a great way to get a second tank or a sump etc

 

[Calypso77]

Yeah the petco sale is on select tanks 10, 20H, 20L, 29, 40B, and 55 I believe. It's a great way to get a second tank or a sump etc

Do you know how long they are on for?

 

[echoDreamz]

Do you know how long they are on for?

Their site says it expires Oct 10th for my local PetCo.

 

[Krusty56]

I think Petco and Petsmart are the only ones that do the dollar per gallon sale, correct me if I'm wrong. You can get a 55 gal tank for 55 dollars, 29 gal tank for 29 dollars, ect. Just the plain tank.

Oh, at our Pet Supplies Plus they wanted $30 for a 10 gal with a lid. I bought a 5.5 gallon tank for my RCC's and found the right screened lid at Petco for $7 and it was less than $30 but I got a smaller tank, I have it brackish with live plants, rocks, driftwood, a tree house, sand in the bottom, a heater, then I added a small clay pot for one to claim as territory. They wait lined up on the driftwood late at night because maybe they know dinner is coming? I don't think they see that well.

 

[echoDreamz]

Yeah, I got our 55 gallon during this sale, the hoods / lights cost more the **** tank itself . But I am happy with the purchase, and the fish love the new tank. Though the tank was dirty as hell when I got it, tape all over it, dirt, dust, hand prints etc. This weekend though, a few lucky ones may get to transition over to the 135

 

[Coel]

I wish I was allowed a 135 girl says I need to buy her a house first. I have my 55 that I've drilled to add a sump to so it will be about 70 gallons

 

[Krusty56]

Yeah, I got our 55 gallon during this sale, the hoods / lights cost more the **** tank itself . But I am happy with the purchase, and the fish love the new tank. Though the tank was dirty as hell when I got it, tape all over it, dirt, dust, hand prints etc. This weekend though, a few lucky ones may get to transition over to the 135

Where do you place such a large tank? Do you have a stand? I've seen used large tanks w/stand for sale in our newspaper and they are at least $400 but that's a good price if it has a hood and a stand. I put my aquariums on top of a table, we have a buffet table at the end of the dining room by a window and I normally have plants on it. When I put the RCC tank there I just moved the plants somewhere else. My fish tank is in the livingroom where I am, and it is on an end table, and this is where I type, watch tv and fish tank.

 

[Coel]

Stands are easy to buy or build. For example my stand for a 55 has a sump area and could easily hold any tank up to 48"x 18". I think it cost me like 30$ to build it will be like 60 when I make it look perfect via stain and finished board

 

[echoDreamz]

Where do you place such a large tank? Do you have a stand? I've seen used large tanks w/stand for sale in our newspaper and they are at least $400 but that's a good price if it has a hood and a stand. I put my aquariums on top of a table, we have a buffet table at the end of the dining room by a window and I normally have plants on it. When I put the RCC tank there I just moved the plants somewhere else. My fish tank is in the livingroom where I am, and it is on an end table, and this is where I type, watch tv and fish tank.

Our 55g is in master bedroom. Yes I have a stand , a tank that large, weighing in around 600lbs, yeah, you want a stand .


We will be moving sometime next year - so we will move it to the living room or the entertainment room. As for the stand, we built our own, using cinder blocks and 2x4s. We painted the cinder blocks and the wood, it looks really good, and it is strong as hell and only cost ~$30.

 

[Krusty56]

Stands are easy to buy or build. For example my stand for a 55 has a sump area and could easily hold any tank up to 48"x 18". I think it cost me like 30$ to build it will be like 60 when I make it look perfect via stain and finished board

Oh, you take aquariums seriously if you are building this. I have mine on a buffet top and a table top, there is too much furniture here for me to have a stand, the tables work out better in our house. Sometimes the larger tank set-ups and a stand can get expensive, depending on how nice you want it to look. I have seen some set up in stores and they're beautiful but cost plenty. I guess if you are a serious tank owner, this is popular. For me though, I'm happy with my tanks.

 

[echoDreamz]

It is not about being a "serious" owner. It is about safety for the tank, the inhabitants and you / your kids / your home .

Proper support structure for a tank is VITAL. While certain support structures will work for smaller tanks, once you get into the bigger tanks that are in the hundreds of thousands of pounds, you will want a strong sturdy support system .

There is no need in my mind to get one of those $500 crazy expensive stands, when if you have any small level of knowledge with tools, you can build your own for MUCH cheaper and get the same if not better results.

The cinder blocks / 2x4 idea I got off the Internet was DIRT cheap and is strong as hell. The idea I got it from was a 135 gallon tank I saw sitting on them, if it can hold that much weight, then I am happy .

http://virtuallyamy.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/tank-stand-29-front.jpg

This is not my tank, but it is the same idea. I have 3 columns of 3 blocks with 2x4s on the top, and 2x4s in the middle to form a shelf. Works very very well, and is extremely sturdy.

 

[Krusty56]

It is not about being a "serious" owner. It is about safety for the tank, the inhabitants and you / your kids / your home .

Proper support structure for a tank is VITAL. While certain support structures will work for smaller tanks, once you get into the bigger tanks that are in the hundreds of thousands of pounds, you will want a strong sturdy support system .

There is no need in my mind to get one of those $500 crazy expensive stands, when if you have any small level of knowledge with tools, you can build your own for MUCH cheaper and get the same if not better results.

The cinder blocks / 2x4 idea I got off the Internet was DIRT cheap and is strong as hell. The idea I got it from was a 135 gallon tank I saw sitting on them, if it can hold that much weight, then I am happy .

http://virtuallyamy.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/tank-stand-29-front.jpg

This is not my tank, but it is the same idea. I have 3 columns of 3 blocks with 2x4s on the top, and 2x4s in the middle to form a shelf. Works very very well, and is extremely sturdy.

I am not sure if you were writing to me about the wasted stuff or not, but I see you are talking about your tank and the stand. What I meant about a serious owner is not the same to me as structure and safety of building your tank and stand. Yes, when you are building your own it is a safety issue because of the weight of the tank plus the water, that I know. If someone is willing or chooses to spend like $500 or more on a tank or a stand, that tells me that person is serious about keeping the aqarium long term, like years. They really enjoy the hobby. For me, with my tanks, I don't need a stand. Mine are fine where they are because I like looking at my fish while in the livingroom, typing.

With the blocks you described, I would think it would be sturdy, that is what you want to hold a large tank. I did not know what you meant by wasted stuff, thought you meant my tank decorations. Only other way to make it really sturdy is if you used cement and permanently placed that tank in a designated area to stay there, heck, if you did that it might remain if you had a tornado. But I think cement would not be a choice for a tank stand, all depends on what you really want.

 

[echoDreamz]

It is not about that either. If I had 500$ to drop into a super nice shelf I would. I love doing this and enjoy every moment. I am not rich though. I would gladly take my blocks over a 500$ stand, others may think it is trashy or ghetto and are willing to pay. You do get doors, nice shelves some even have dresser drawers. I see that and I assume you have $$$. Or planned it as an expense.

 

[okapizebra]

Just because people spend a lot of money doesn't mean they are a serious aquarist. It just means they have extra money to spend lol. The serious aquarists are the ones who are smart about how they spend. You don't have to have a stand, you just have to have something sturdy to hold and support the tank. You can do whatever you like and whatever you think looks the best in your house, it's just super important for it to be able to hold hundreds of pounds. You don't wanna 55 gallons of water flooding your living room lol.

 

[Calypso77]

I think weather you have a good stand or not you should be serious about keeping fish. If you put up a tank and cycle it and put fish into it you should be serious about doing the hobby. It's not a small task and shouldnt be taken lightly at all. You have to keep those fish happy and healthy same as the tank and be prepared for any and all health problems that could come your way.