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  • Questions about 50+ gallon tanks

    I've been active in the hobby for the past few years, but I've never had a tank over 20 gallons. I'm looking to upgrade to a bigger tank, probably 55 gallons, and would like some pointers. My questions are more about what to get as far as hardware. I know more about the chemistry, algae, water cycling, etc. topics but I'm not familiar with larger hardware. Can someone point me in the right direction?

    Also,
    Where is the best place to find a tank, hardware, etc. in Houston (other than craigslist)? I've only been to 1 or 2 stores and their selections were mediocre at best.

  • #2
    Re: Questions about 50+ gallon tanks

    A 55 gallon tank is a nice sized tank to have, it's been a favorite of many aquarist for decades.
    I feel they are maybe the easiest to care for. Check out the LFS section of this site for a shop/store near you.

    The mods maybe able to provide a link or two to other similar threads for your research.

    Good Luck

    CF
    Truth is the cement that holds the bricks and stones of a sane and civilized society together. Remove the former and the latter will crumble.

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    • #3
      Re: Questions about 50+ gallon tanks

      I like the 55's but I'm really partial to a 75 for aquascaping potential.  There is just so much more depth to the tank in my opinion.  Keep your eyes peeled on Craigs as well as here and Marsh to find good tank deals.  It really depends on what you plan to keep as far as your supporting hardware goes.  What part of town are you in and how far will you drive are factors of what stores you should hit I would say?

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      • #4
        Re: Questions about 50+ gallon tanks

        Originally posted by glamp88";p="
        Where is the best place to find a tank, hardware, etc. in Houston (other than craigslist)? I've only been to 1 or 2 stores and their selections were mediocre at best.
        other than craigslist ? here ! Lots of members here have extra stuff that doesnt go to the selling/buying forum.
        Just ask and you should find one.  
        My name is Andri, and I'm an Ikoholic ! Back in the game !

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        • #5
          Re: Questions about 50+ gallon tanks

          City Pets - Fishland - Fish Ranch - Aquarium World - T & T

          It really depends on what part of town your from....There's also a good online selection of dry goods as well.

          CF
          Truth is the cement that holds the bricks and stones of a sane and civilized society together. Remove the former and the latter will crumble.

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          • #6
            Re: Questions about 50+ gallon tanks

            Check out petco (or was it petsmart?) .. sometimes they have their $1 per gal sale.
            Dunno when the next one will be though.
            www.ventralfins.com

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            • #7
              Re: Questions about 50+ gallon tanks

              glamp88 --

              I am agreeing with Hanson77...  you really for 99% of all the good reasons go with a tank that has at least an 18" depth.  (a std 55g is 12")
              A 3ft tank with an 18" bottom -- 58/68/70 -- they are my absolutely favorite 3ft tank.
              A 4ft tank with an 18" bottom -- 75/90/110 (110 is REALLY tall and therefore not always an easy tank to work on)

              Now lets talk about what you want to put in your tank.
               What kind of tank are you looking to build ?  To plant or not to plant.
               If you go with a heavy planted tank then you want something that has a good filtration of the water for visible particles, but not taking out all the biological loads because the plants need them.
               If you go with something that looks more like the African Lakes then you are going to want Filtration for both the visible particles and also the biological filtration to ensure that those a removed from the tank.  Some fish needs more than others.  Once this can be answered, our input to you will be more precise.

              Now hardware --
              Wet/dry for large tanks...  a 55 I would just go with Canister filtration, and a power head filter.  For a 75 I would go with the same as a 55 just a bigger version of that.   If you decide on going to a 90g and you want keep like heavy stock of African Cichlids, a wet/dry would most likely be the best option there.   Fshfrk and others can show/explain to you how to make and build you own wet/dry a lot cheaper than any other filtration system out there.  
              What Canister to get... If you decide to go with a 55, I personally would install either an Eheim 2215 + Fluval3 plus or a Eheim 2217 + a Fluval4 Plus.. (with a 75 the second set is the better of the two options) the sponge filtration gives you also a higher water movement in your tank which your fish will tend to like for the most part, and unless you have plants this is what I would go with.  If you have plants I would NOT install the Fluval Plus filters but then go with the eheim 2215 or 2217.   Rena XP3 will be other peoples choice, but since I have never used this pump I cannot tell you much about it.  I will leave that up to you which one you like personally the best.
              Heater -- Marineland visi-stealth heaters.. why -- everyone whom I have spoken to who owns one including the 5 I own, have never had a single problem with them.
              Supplemental air -- I dont know.  Everytime I get a pump I find a way to break them.  If you have a power head/filtration (like the fluval plus series there will never be a need for supplemental air as it can and will throw air into the water column.  (I went to powerhead filtration to add air into my tanks and stop using supplemental air.)
              Lighting.  Again depending on what you want to light up.  If no plants a single light will most likely suffice, but if you want plants to grow, add more light to it.  Since I primary have African Cichlids I tend to use 50/50 lights (or hagen power glo light bulbs) to display my tanks.    They do a good job.

              What fish do Jesper have
              180 WC T. Moorii Chilambo +1 Petro trewavasae.
              110
              Cyps, WC Xeno Spilopterus Kipili WC/F1/F2 T. sp red Kiku
              58 S. Decorus

              "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." -Margaret Thatcher

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              • #8
                Re: Questions about 50+ gallon tanks

                Thanks for all the helpful response. I went and visited Dan at the Houston Aquarium Warehouse today. What a great guy. He really knows what he's doing. But he got me set up with a 75 gallon aquarium. Hanson and Zulaab, I totally agreed with your posts about the depth of the 75 gallon tanks when I started to compare the 55 gallon and 75 gallon side by side.

                I forgot to talk to Dan about lighting. For right now, I don't want to do a planted tank. Does anyone have any suggestions for types and brands of lighting. Also, I'm going to get a filter tomorrow and will ultimately have to cycle the tank. I do have some gravel from my pond and from my other tank which will help. I've never cycled a tank this big though. Does anyone know what type of fish I should get and how many? I plan on ultimately turning this into a native tank.

                Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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                • #9
                  Re: Questions about 50+ gallon tanks

                  if you do not want a planted tank then lighting is an easy decision, to see the fish and the tank you can pretty much have any standard fluorescent lighting found in any generic aquarium hoods found in lfs or petco/smart

                  i am not sure what type of native fish you want, there are many kinds of native fish, usually to cycle any tank, certain livebearers, zebra danios, white clouds, and certain tetras can be used, maybe you can get some native mollies from the bayou and cycle!  

                  i know there are some here that have specific knowledge about native species
                  65 gallon - ADA 120p - planted
                  55 gallon - AGA standard - mix cichlid
                  30 gallon tall - eclipse acrylic - semi-planted

                  live and let live

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                  • #10
                    Re: Questions about 50+ gallon tanks

                    I don't know if your still lookin for a tank but dan at houston aquarium sells them wholesale he doesn't keep them in stock but he can order anything you want he also sells eheims for cheaper than I can find them online

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                    • #11
                      Re: Questions about 50+ gallon tanks

                      The 75 gallon is the most adaptible tank to all kinds of setups.

                      Filtration I would run either Aqua Clear 110 or Rena XP3 canister, or Eheim 2217 canister.  When I kept 75's I would run (2) Aqua Clear 110's on the tank.

                      Unless your going to do planted or reef, then the best lighting is a Double or Sinlge 48" Flouresecent Light Strip in my opinion, but that really depends on you.
                      380G For Sale $3000 Acrylic tank & stand
                      300G Petrochromis Trewavasae and Tropheus mpimbwe Red Cheek & Duboisi
                      180G For Sale $1,100 Oceanic Cherry with Stand, T5HO Lights, (2) Eheim 2262
                      150G Tropheus Annectens Kekese & Ikola

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                      • #12
                        Re: Questions about 50+ gallon tanks

                        Some of my favorite tanks are 36x18x18 (breeder 40g) with dual 60 HOB filters.
                        easy to landscape and easy to maintain, but you cant get cheap shoplights  that fit
                        'Dear Lord,' the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. 'Without you, we are but dust ...'
                        He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter who was listening leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little four-year old girl voice, 'Mom, what is butt dust?'

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                        • #13
                          Re: Questions about 50+ gallon tanks

                          If you look at my earlier posts here on the fishbox you'll see that I had a 55 cycling and decided to get a 75.  That 13 in front to back is hard to work with even if you are just going to throw in some rocks.
                          Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man, and he'll eat for weeks!

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                          • #14
                            Re: Questions about 50+ gallon tanks

                            Sooner or later you will find yourself saying...."75 gallons seems to be getting a little tight, maybe a 100 gallon would be better".

                            If you're lucky, you'll just end up with a 100 gallon and a few 55's.
                            If you're really lucky, you'll end up with a monster tank, a few 100's, a couple of 75's and a 55 for a "sick tank".  
                            Help support (C)atfish (A)nd (K)ool Pleco's; Houston's premier fish club
                            Alexa Rae
                            Co-President of CAK
                            MAY THE GOD OF YOUR CHOICE BLESS YOU.

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