ddarko2215
07-05-2012, 02:42 PM
Well, recently my sister’s 55 gallon tank was up for grabs. It was purchased in 92 by my mother and my sister eventually got it and kept it the same. Anyway, her husband said it has to go. Getting into the hobby myself, figured it would be a good project. She said that if I didn't take it, her brother in law wanted to take it and put a large mouth bass in the tank. The stocking on the tank is kind of strange, but my sister made me promise to keep all the fish, since they've worked well together. Again, not my stocking, but to my sisters defense she took in some of these fish from friends.
Stock:
1. Common Pleco purchased in 1995. It is only 12inchs and growth was obviously stunted due to the water conditions that it had to endure. I doubt it will grow anymore because of its age, so I will be keeping it.
2. A huge Female Kenyi about 5 years old maybe 7inch long.
3. A 15 year old Stripped Rafael Catfish
4. 2 Red tailed sharks one male and one female...to be separated, although she said they are fine.
5. 6 various tetras
6. 1 Female BN
Filtration:
1 wisper 60
1 Undergravel filter
Process: Updating this tank was very difficult. Luckily, I had a 29gallon to hold these fish in the mean time. What made this difficult was that the Wisper 60 was so clogged that I believe just about all of the bacteria resided in the gravel\decorations...none of which I was keeping. After transporting all the equiptment and fish through Tropical Storm Debby, I was able to fit about half of the gravel and decorations into the 29gallon. The wisper HOB and half of the undergravel filter was setup in the tank. It wasn't cycing full, so I put in some Nutrafin Cycle, and a a Fluval C4, from then on it was properly cycling throughout the remainder of the process. The fish were pretty crammed, the Cichild became very aggressive, trying to eat all the tetras and succeeding with 1. The stand to the 55 gallon was stained over three days. I Re siliconed the tank because it had a slow leak. I also bonded a new peace of plastic over the center brace for extra strength. After getting everything setup with new decorations I moved the Wisper 60 in with all the Tetra's, new tank was cycling fine. After two days I moved the Fluval c4 and the large fish. It is still cycling fine. Was able to shut down temp tank and call the project complete!
Before
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fishpictures/data/1184/thumbs/MayJune2012_281.JPG (http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fishpictures/showphoto.php?photo=22506)
Temp Tank
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fishpictures/data/1184/thumbs/temp.JPG (http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fishpictures/showphoto.php?photo=22508)
After
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fishpictures/data/1184/thumbs/After.JPG (http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fishpictures/showphoto.php?photo=22507)
Total Cost: $150 and about 20hrs in time
Stock:
1. Common Pleco purchased in 1995. It is only 12inchs and growth was obviously stunted due to the water conditions that it had to endure. I doubt it will grow anymore because of its age, so I will be keeping it.
2. A huge Female Kenyi about 5 years old maybe 7inch long.
3. A 15 year old Stripped Rafael Catfish
4. 2 Red tailed sharks one male and one female...to be separated, although she said they are fine.
5. 6 various tetras
6. 1 Female BN
Filtration:
1 wisper 60
1 Undergravel filter
Process: Updating this tank was very difficult. Luckily, I had a 29gallon to hold these fish in the mean time. What made this difficult was that the Wisper 60 was so clogged that I believe just about all of the bacteria resided in the gravel\decorations...none of which I was keeping. After transporting all the equiptment and fish through Tropical Storm Debby, I was able to fit about half of the gravel and decorations into the 29gallon. The wisper HOB and half of the undergravel filter was setup in the tank. It wasn't cycing full, so I put in some Nutrafin Cycle, and a a Fluval C4, from then on it was properly cycling throughout the remainder of the process. The fish were pretty crammed, the Cichild became very aggressive, trying to eat all the tetras and succeeding with 1. The stand to the 55 gallon was stained over three days. I Re siliconed the tank because it had a slow leak. I also bonded a new peace of plastic over the center brace for extra strength. After getting everything setup with new decorations I moved the Wisper 60 in with all the Tetra's, new tank was cycling fine. After two days I moved the Fluval c4 and the large fish. It is still cycling fine. Was able to shut down temp tank and call the project complete!
Before
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fishpictures/data/1184/thumbs/MayJune2012_281.JPG (http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fishpictures/showphoto.php?photo=22506)
Temp Tank
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fishpictures/data/1184/thumbs/temp.JPG (http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fishpictures/showphoto.php?photo=22508)
After
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fishpictures/data/1184/thumbs/After.JPG (http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fishpictures/showphoto.php?photo=22507)
Total Cost: $150 and about 20hrs in time