More about 40 gallon tank?

Question

Ok as you may know from my last question, I am getting ready to get a used 40 gallon corner tank. What should my procedure be as far as setting it up?
Im thinking ill get it home, filll it up in the driveway, let it sit a day, if no leaks ill drain then the next day ill clean it and then the day after that I can set it up(with rinsed gravel and declor water) Then put the filter cartridge from the established ten gal into the hob filter of the 40, wait a week, add 2 fish, keep an eye on water params

So my question is for cleaning.......how much bleach then how much xtra declor should I add after

anything else im forgetting?

I said I will wait a week then im going to do a quiet fish cycle with plants
thats not right away......

and a duck???what?

Answer 1

I clean my used tanks with a 8-10% bleach solution (1 cup of bleach for every 10-12 cups of water). This on any surface for 15 minutes is enough to sterilize it. Don't let it sit in the tank for too long, or it may cause problems with the silicon in the seams.

Rinse it out well 2-3 times. When you fill the tank for the first time (when it's in place where it will be used) I'd only add enough dechlorinator for another 1-2 gallons. Most of the chlorine will be gone with the rinsing.

PS - you can add the filter (except for the motor) and any of the other stuff you get with your tank to the bleach solution and stir it up a few times - this wall all will be sterilized at the same time. To do the motor, fill the hole where the impeller sits and wipe down the rest.

Answer 2

It's amazing how well people don't read isn't it?

Just something to eliminate a step, once you've figured out if it leaks or not, pour a bit of bleach (the mixture above sounds about right to me) into the tank and scrub it there.
I wouldn't worry too much about adding extra dechlor. As long as you rinse it well, the dechlor that you are going to use with the water you're adding will be plenty since you're going to let it sit for a week.

Something that I do when I set up a new tank is to vacuum the gravel from another tank and add that water to the new tank. I usually scoop out a bit of gravel and scatter that in the new one too. I've never cycled tanks by letting them sit for more than a couple days, and I've never had any troubles doing it that way, (but that could just be my luck), but since you're waiting a week anyways, that will just help move things on a bit faster.

(Don't follow the 1 inch of fish per gallon rule, it just causes more problems than anything.)

Answer 3

i have the 44G corner tank, but my version is saltwater.

remember, for freshwater, about 1 gallon per adult inch of fish. for example, i think bala sharks can be 6" long, so you'd be at about max capacity with four of those and two pleco's. its the ADULT! length that counts.

as for water, this might seem expensive, but tap water is sooo bad for fish, why not get one or 3 gallon containers--dont just by the walmart water (at .70-80 a gallon, thats a lot!) but they usually have a culligan water reverse osmosis filter up front, and those run around .30-.40 a gallon.

you may even find a good saltwater lfs (local fish store)--they sell reverse osmosis/deionized water, and usually for about .25-.50 a gallon. the good things: the water is better, and you can use 5 gallon buckets :)

the old way of leaving water out for chlorine to evaporate is out of date: they use chloramines now, and they dont evaporate.

water testing is a very good practice.


make sure the stand and tank are level--you may want to put a piece of plywood with shims underneath is if you are putting it on carpet.

if you have a 10g established tank, you can also put 2-3 gallons of that water from your next water change into the new tank--that will help the cycle some.

you can use bleach, but you just have to rinse like mad. after all that, rinse with dechlorinated or reverse osmosis water too.

decide on which fish you want ahead of time, and then ask the lfs what the hardiest of those are, and then just add that one.

keep an eye on temp too.


good luck!

Answer 4

I would not advise it. Even ball pythons can cannibalize. It's much less most probably, however viable. They too can breed with out you being capable to maintain eggs/toddlers. Then there is the danger of parasite/sickness switch. If one will get in poor health, each get in poor health, and that is two times the volume of vet fees. Keep the feminine in a forty gallon breeder. The male will probably be good enough in a 20 gallon lengthy, however it is satisfactory to have a higher tank for him, as good.

Answer 5

All of that sounds good except for adding fish right away. I find it's a lot more successful to wait a week or two before adding the first fish. Then add them slowly as you've stated.

I would not wash it with bleach- I'd use vinegar.

The amount of dechlor you use will depend on the brand, so read the label and it will tell you how much to use.

Answer 6

A duck? lol