I have a 29 gal. freshwater tank, and we're looking to add a second, much larger tank. We LOVE our aquarium! It's been set up for about 3 years now, and it's been pretty successful (until my spotted catfish got bored one day and ate all the neons).
I would like to keep the 29 gal. as a semi-aggressive tank with catfish, gouramis, sharks, etc. and use the bigger tank for community fish, like mollies, neons and tetras. Have any of you had a community freshwater tank this big with these species? Can I use a few seashells from the ocean in a freshwater tank of that size? Is it harder to maintain than a 29 gal? And it's going to be on the second level of the home (1st level is a finished basement). Will my floorboards hold that much weight?
I appreciate any tips and advice.
2007-01-20 15:08:37 · 4 answers · asked by dansaremm 4 in Pets ➔ Fish
75 gallons is a great size, you can do a lot with it. You would be better off using the 75 as your semi-aggressive tank as the species you mentioned need more room than a 29 gallon to be happy (especially the sharks, but I also wouldn't keep more than 1 gourami in a 29, unless you have dwarfs). Seashells will gradually dissolve and raise the pH and hardness levels in your tank, which would not be ideal for the fish you mentioned. If you wanted to do an african cichlid tank the shells would be fine. As far as the weight, you should calculate 10 pounds for each gallon, so approximately 750 pounds. I'm not sure how solidly your house is built, but I would think it would be fine.
Make sure you cycle the tank before adding fish, you can fishless cycle by adding ammonia until you have about 5ppm, then wait until you get a nitrite spike. When the ammonia and nitrite both reach 0ppm the tank is cycled, then do a 80% water change and start adding fish. If you use filter media or gravel from your other tank it will greatly speed up the process.
2007-01-20 15:19:58 · answer #1 · answered by Carson 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do't put anything foreign in the tank. No sea shells. Use ornaments that are bought at the fish store. Just set up the tank and let it cycle then add a few fish at a time.
2007-01-20 15:15:51 · answer #2 · answered by gizmo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
chek on http://www.fishinthe.net/html/fishguide/index.php?nt=1
it is a graet fisf site but in truth the semi agresive r the fish that need more spase a 29 is a littel smal 4 the cat and e3xeta but that is some thing on the site about5 the floor i have had tanks that big on upper floors the floor holleding is not a problen but think twise if u may ever have 2 move it up or down staers 2 chang homes
2007-01-20 15:19:57 · answer #3 · answered by joewarmbody 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I can't answer to the community fish part that well, but I do have a link for tank size and weight....
2007-01-20 18:23:22 · answer #4 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋