So I had a tiny 10 gallon freshwater some years ago and then moved and had to get rid of it. This past weekend at a garage sale, I found a 55 gal tank with some equipment and stand for $40! Could not pass up the deal. The owner said they used it primarily to store their pond fish during the winter months. They were a bit lax on why they downgraded to a bowed 35 gal tank, but I'm not judging. They also said they've had both salt and freshwater in the tank at some time. Got it home and started looking a bit more and I need a bit of help with some general fish safety and restoration.
I'm not sure if I want to do salt or fresh water. I've never done a saltwater tank so I"d like the experience; I just don't know what I want to do at the moment so It'll go into storage for a few weeks until I can talk the wife into one or the other
First off, the tank is a bit dirty. Now it has the usual/typical garage dust and cobwebs. I'm not worried about those. The biggest thing is the hard/saltwater stains or reside. I know not to use dish soap in the tank, so I just ran some tap water over the glass and scrubbed with a clean washcloth. Is there anymore I can do to clean up the glass and filters? Also there's some sort of foam along the bottom edges of the tank and along the cracked bracket at the top. It almost looks like that foam-in-a-can stuff you can buy for insulation. Is this harmful to fish if I cannot find a way to remove it all? What is the best way to remove it without tearing up the silicon? And don't worry about the bracket. I've already got a replacement top ordered
Next is the equipment. Included with the tank was some Marineland accessories. A Magnum 350 Canister filter and 2 over the edge filters, a Penguin pf0200b and a model pf0330b. In my experience this seems a bit excessive for a regular tank, but I know pond tanks are quite a bit dirtier. Is this a bit of overkill? I'm not 100% sure if I'm going to do a saltwater or freshwater tank yet. I'm still deciding. Secondly, how do I tell if this equipment is in good working order without filling my tank up with water? Even if this equipment is in good working order, is there anything you'd recommend I absolutely replace (such as filters?)
Lastly, what do you recommend I do with this tank? I don't have millions of dollars to throw into it (even though I'd love to!) But, I am looking for something budget-friendly, low-medium maintenance, and yet a beautiful addition to any room. As far as freshwater goes, I am thinking Cichlids with some live plants or some driftwood. If saltwater I would like a smaller reef tank with some reef-friendly fish. The wife is along the same lines but she has her heart set on a lion fish. Taking tank size into account, we were looking at a dwarf lion fish, but i just don't know enough about saltwater compatibility to know if our ideas would mesh. just let me know what you think and any help to the questions would be great!
Tank below after some light washcloth scrubbing
I'm not sure if I want to do salt or fresh water. I've never done a saltwater tank so I"d like the experience; I just don't know what I want to do at the moment so It'll go into storage for a few weeks until I can talk the wife into one or the other
First off, the tank is a bit dirty. Now it has the usual/typical garage dust and cobwebs. I'm not worried about those. The biggest thing is the hard/saltwater stains or reside. I know not to use dish soap in the tank, so I just ran some tap water over the glass and scrubbed with a clean washcloth. Is there anymore I can do to clean up the glass and filters? Also there's some sort of foam along the bottom edges of the tank and along the cracked bracket at the top. It almost looks like that foam-in-a-can stuff you can buy for insulation. Is this harmful to fish if I cannot find a way to remove it all? What is the best way to remove it without tearing up the silicon? And don't worry about the bracket. I've already got a replacement top ordered
Next is the equipment. Included with the tank was some Marineland accessories. A Magnum 350 Canister filter and 2 over the edge filters, a Penguin pf0200b and a model pf0330b. In my experience this seems a bit excessive for a regular tank, but I know pond tanks are quite a bit dirtier. Is this a bit of overkill? I'm not 100% sure if I'm going to do a saltwater or freshwater tank yet. I'm still deciding. Secondly, how do I tell if this equipment is in good working order without filling my tank up with water? Even if this equipment is in good working order, is there anything you'd recommend I absolutely replace (such as filters?)
Lastly, what do you recommend I do with this tank? I don't have millions of dollars to throw into it (even though I'd love to!) But, I am looking for something budget-friendly, low-medium maintenance, and yet a beautiful addition to any room. As far as freshwater goes, I am thinking Cichlids with some live plants or some driftwood. If saltwater I would like a smaller reef tank with some reef-friendly fish. The wife is along the same lines but she has her heart set on a lion fish. Taking tank size into account, we were looking at a dwarf lion fish, but i just don't know enough about saltwater compatibility to know if our ideas would mesh. just let me know what you think and any help to the questions would be great!
Tank below after some light washcloth scrubbing