My 50 gallon setup

[fishinwilly]

Going to start documenting my setup process on the 50 gallon.

First step was to build a stand for it, not pretty but extremely strong, took only an hour with a friend and some beer.

I have it in my basement living room next to the wet bar, will make water changes and gravel vac super easy.

Now I want to do a very natural looking set up, thinking about going to find some gravel and rocks by the river tonite, maybe even some driftwood if I'm lucky, this will be a fully planted tank, a jungle with some open areas for my fish to get a workout.

Here's a picture of what I'm starting with, sorry for the terrible quality, the wife and kids are using the good digital camera at the lake with grandma, so I'm stuck with my awesome blackberry phone and its awesome camera.

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/302992_10150835004185335_659730334_21236941_372856 672_n.jpg

[CACAdmin]

Only an hour to build a stand. Good work! The beer must have been a great motivator.:wink:

The top of the stand looks whitish. Is it arborite?

[fishinwilly]

Thanks! Beer was required as the temp outside was 27, a very welcome climate for september in Saskatchewan. Having skilled friends is the main reason though, he's my glass-cutter, supplier, and woodworking expert in general. The white top is a piece of countertop leftover from my kitchen remodel that I did 3 years ago, the legs and frame are 2x4 with 7/8ths plywood top and the countertop over that. Should be quite strong, I had a shop table made of similar materials that I use to rebuild engines, supported my brothers cummins short block for a month while it waited for parts and I needed my engine stand for other things. :eek:

[CACAdmin]

Awesome idea to use the countertop. :yes: That way spills are not an issue at all.

[mollybawn]

It's great to have friends who are mechanically enclined :)

[fishinwilly]

Good point, although technically I'm the mechanical madman, my friends are good at the stuff I'm not so skilled at, woodworking, glass work. But when someone's truck or car is down I'm the guy they call, I don't mind as I love all things mechanical and electrical. :cool:

What would be the best for plant growth? I'm thinking about ditching the flourescents and going to a HID metal halide or high pressure sodium, I can get either or, just want to know what's best for growing aquarium plants.

[Pamelajo]

Sounds like a good sturdy stand. Like the counter top idea. Looking forward to seeing the progress.

[fishinwilly]

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/320080_10150836777735335_659730334_21246242_253732 914_n.jpg

I'm getting excited about this build, will post pics of the rocks I found soon.

[Kimr]

Its coming along nicely! And its so exciting to create something. Even now for myself, I still get excited about re-doing a tank, or changing one up, or even switching one over.

Do you know what kind of fish you will put in it?

For the weather there, yes my daughter is bragging about how warm it is there, while here in BC its been good, but not the hotter weather you are enjoying. However, I reply back to her, well in a month I won't be sitting at -20 degrees!!!

[fishinwilly]

My plan for this tank is to do a community of sorts, gonna start with a few large (4 1/2"+) swordtails, maybe a larger bristlenose or whiptail catfish, and eventually when they become available some pike livebearers.

Driftwood, flourite plant substrate, floating plants, java moss and java ferns, some anubias and some tall vals for the back.

Double filter it with a thermostatic heater, homemade c02 system, still debating between replacing the weak fluorescents for them fancy marineland led strips or a good old metal halide setup :GEEK:

And I don't mind the -20 weather, I love ice fishing! Any colder than that and I'll most likely be indoors appreciating my tropical fish!

[vince0]

I've got celebes halfbeaks if your ever in the calgary area.

[fishinwilly]

Thanks Vince! I may take you up on that offer, I probably shouldn't mix them with a pike killifish though eh?

[Kimr]

My plan for this tank is to do a community of sorts, gonna start with a few large (4 1/2"+) swordtails, maybe a larger bristlenose or whiptail catfish, and eventually when they become available some pike livebearers.

Driftwood, flourite plant substrate, floating plants, java moss and java ferns, some anubias and some tall vals for the back.

Double filter it with a thermostatic heater, homemade c02 system, still debating between replacing the weak fluorescents for them fancy marineland led strips or a good old metal halide setup :GEEK:

And I don't mind the -20 weather, I love ice fishing! Any colder than that and I'll most likely be indoors appreciating my tropical fish!


Certainly seems like you got it all organized, excellent ideas, thats great. Keep posting updates!

At anything over -20 I would be indoors watching my fish too!

[vince0]

I kept wild type xiphophorus alvarezi with the original pair i was given, and TBH its probably because i was keep said pair with swordtail that I have so many halfbeaks now. The female was regularly fed brine shrimp, white worms, and swordtail fry and would drop every three weeks. On the other hand, only the smart or fast swordtail fry made it to adulthood lol. At the moment, I have them with x. mayei and pachypanchax omanolotus, which are pretty much pike killifish, except meatier and don't hang out in the same area. i even have a large (5in+) male bristlenose pleco in this tank.

[fishinwilly]

Thanks for the info, those wild type swords are beautiful fish.

I'm very interested in xiphophorus montezumae as I've heard they are the largest type of swordtail, but something like that should really deserve its own tank without fear of its fry being slowly picked off. I suppose it really would be survival of the fittest.

[fishinwilly]

Waiting for the silt to settle, going to pick some more rocks!
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/299462_10150863983140335_659730334_21439077_190670 439_n.jpg

[fishinwilly]

Got my heater, filters, and aeration going strong, fishless cycle is going well.

Does dead plant matter do the job just as well as ammonia? There was a little leaf litter in my gravel bucket.

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/300894_10150868342395335_659730334_21461591_140787 9703_n.jpg

[CACAdmin]

Looking good!

Does dead plant matter do the job just as well as ammonia? There was a little leaf litter in my gravel bucket.

Any decaying matter (plants, food, fish poo, etc.) produces ammonia. However, plant matter decays slowly so I don't think it would compare to adding ammonia directly to the tank.

[fishinwilly]

Good info, thanks. I will be going out of town next week so this may cycle away for 2 weeks before I'll have a chance to stock it. I have a wonderful wife and kids who help with maintenace when I'm on the road working.

[fishinwilly]

I was just at the LPS and they have golden wonder killies (aplocheilus lineatus), took all of my willpower to bring myself to only buying driftwood. Don't wanna rush this tank into production, but they looked sooooooooooooooooo cool.

[CACAdmin]

Cool, it's not often that you'll find a LFS with killies.