aquariums... - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

stiff tip · 11-23-2006, 05:13 AM

i,m lookin to buy a fish tank 4 xmas. 4 the house,bow front 40 to 50 gal w/ stand and all the etc new.... does any have any ideas or sug. would like to get started in it again...stores or web ????? thanks dave

Raven · 11-23-2006, 06:49 AM

yeah ...keep your fish population low (fish to gallons ratio) and your filtration capability high and you'll have less fish mortality and a really clean tank.
Also if you buy a really big pleeko (mispelled) it'll clean the algae off the glass. this is assuming your not talkin a salt water tank. those tanks cost a fortune. my friend spent like 12,000 bucks and then the tank imploded the first week and flooded the house.

stiff tip · 11-23-2006, 07:36 AM

ya got ya ...what i need is a good location to start lookin for one... 40 to 50 gals fresh water..... new w/ etc..got any leads???any one

vineyardblues · 11-23-2006, 07:48 AM

Dave,
We got one at petco 2 years ago 55 gal.
It's funny because my daughter and I cleaned it yesterday,,lol
I can't remember how much,but less then 300.00 I think. We went to Petco yesterday and they still had the same one, MAKE sure you get a iron stand for it

We still have a few fish from 2 years ago. Afriican Cichlid's The only fish I ever had, Years ago I raised and sold them,many colors but very aggressive !

VB

stiff tip · 11-23-2006, 08:04 AM

v-b thats funny ....thats the type of fished i planed to get..... lookin 4 bow front 46 gal w/ all the goodies .... or 1 sz lgr.all about money.....o-btw had afr. cic. b-4....lots of colors n movement,w good tank life .btw wifeiepo wants me to wait.... no way..... marry xmas to me.....

niko · 11-23-2006, 08:09 AM

st, uncle neds fish factory is a good place i think it's in millis. there used to be a good place in quincy center but i can't remember the name of it. i used to manage a giant pet store (now out of business). a few reccomendations. the larger the tank, the easier it is to manage the water quality. like the man said most people overpopulate thier tanks. the want advertiser is a good place to find used tanks. what type of fish do you want? this will effect the type of tank you get. african cichlids are some of my favorites, the colors are close to saltwater fish w/o the price of them, though nothing is cheap about aquariums. don't be afraid of saltwater tanks, unless you want invertibrates, they are not as difficult as people make them out to be. good luck and post some pix of your tank when you get it set up, paul , arrowannas (sp) = tarpon fishing in the living room

niko · 11-23-2006, 08:14 AM

if you want a/c get a tank w/ more bottom area than the bow. they r very territorial

vineyardblues · 11-23-2006, 08:30 AM

http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Prod...List1-_-897787
Not sure if this link will work,but it's petco.com
Again, please do not buy a wood stand,you will thank me every year you take me tuna fishing

Happy Holidays and be safe
VB

RockLobsta · 11-23-2006, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vineyardblues

http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Prod...List1-_-897787
Not sure if this link will work,but it's petco.com
Again, please do not buy a wood stand,you will thank me every year you take me tuna fishing

Happy Holidays and be safe
VB

Not sure what you mean by that, I had a reef on a wood stand for twelve years....then sold it and it looked as good as the day i bought it??

"That fish place" on the web for dry goods.....

Uncle Neds for cichlids--http://www.unclenedsfishfactory.com/index.html

Saulosi are great for starters--I had 8 two years ago now there are around 20 or so in the tank. Great for the kids to watch them breeding and caring for thier young..

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/p_saulosi.php

If you can fit it I would try and get a bigger "footprint" on the tank...like a 55...

Happy Thanksgiving.....

vineyardblues · 11-23-2006, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockLobsta

Not sure what you mean by that, I had a reef on a wood stand for twelve years....then sold it and it looked as good as the day i bought it??

"That fish place" on the web for dry goods.....

Uncle Neds for cichlids--http://www.unclenedsfishfactory.com/index.html

Saulosi are great for starters--I had 8 two years ago now there are around 20 or so in the tank. Great for the kids to watch them breeding and caring for thier young..

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/p_saulosi.php

If you can fit it I would try and get a bigger "footprint" on the tank...like a 55...

Happy Thanksgiving.....

Just a peace of mind,is all I am saying

I am sure now a days they make them better, But I have had several
in the past that fell a part after years . Metal/steal will last for 120 years a lot longer then wood

VB

Squid kids Dad · 11-23-2006, 08:31 AM

Try Paradise Gardens in Whitman..They a lot of tanks and many fish..If you want a # let me know..

Nebe · 11-23-2006, 09:00 AM

If you know a person who can weld aluminum or steel, you can make a pissah tank out of 1/2 inch plate glass. all you need is 2 frames, 5 pieces of glass and some good clear silicone.

I made one when i was in artschool to quell my fish withdrawals... i think it held around 150 gallons and only cost me a few bucks to make it, since i found the glass.

striprman · 11-23-2006, 09:28 AM

Petsmart in Brockton on route 123 across from the high school/fairgrounds or the Raynham pet store on route 44 at the Taunton/Raynham line (near globe liquors)

striperman36 · 11-23-2006, 09:41 AM

Uncle Neds is good for exotic species. www.unclenedsfishfactory.com
I will tell you , you will spend alot of money on it, if you want it to be what you describe
Don't buy major priced fish until it cycles.
Anything smaller than a 55 can turn in a a tragedy real fast you have to know what you are doing. I have had ich and other nasties flip it in a day!!!
I have a South American tank with cory's, Apisto's and Tetras. Lots of color and all but the Apisto's can be had at any local shop.

Christian · 11-23-2006, 10:52 AM

go out and catch a couple of tiny perch, and bass, and sunfish, maybe a little cat, and have a ball. ive got a baby snapping turtle right now..so no fishies left.

Tagger · 11-23-2006, 11:23 AM

most interresting tank I've seen was a crayfish a painted turtle and a bunch of gold fish . Just keep adding goldfish .. Crayfish would just freeze motionless while gold fish swam closer and closer .. Really enjoyed watching that .. kinda sick I guess.

striprman · 11-24-2006, 01:25 PM

I keep longfin blue, zebra and spotted danios in my 10 gallon with some live plants and a small upside down catfish. I use a power filter and a undergravel filter and use coffee filters and "ammo carb" to filter the water. A 10 watt heater and a themometer and a little porcilin temple ornament under the flourscent hood complete the tank. It's own little perfect world.

I also enjoy watching the behavior of these little guys. I think it has given me a better idea how fishes feed and interact with each other.

ProfessorM · 11-24-2006, 04:42 PM

Dave when I lived in Centerville there was a place on Rt 28 on the right after strawberrry hill rd. I think it was a grain and feed store type place but they carried a lot of fish, Not sure if it is there anymore but might be worth a shot.

stiff tip · 11-24-2006, 06:13 PM

thanks guys ... never knew how many of u take care of tanks .... i had tanks 20 yrs ago.. i know the work involved... its not cheep to get started .n i want a good sz tank... but i got a unexpeded xmas presant to day of some xtra cash .... soooooo looks like capt cupcake buying a indoor pool for some fish... i wonder if i can raise blue back herrin.........

niko · 11-24-2006, 07:47 PM

i had a good size salt water tank w/ triggers, lions,morays, etc... one fall i put a few eels in it and they lasted til the spring and were used for bait. now you've got me thinking of setting up a tank

teaser · 11-24-2006, 10:47 PM

I've got some pogies in my saltwater tank right now, had them for 4 months already. They are babies right now but after a good winter's fattening up they should be about 8 - 10 inches long come spring time, YUMMY!!!!

They are in a 120 gal. tank right now, but will hit the 300 gal. tank in Feb. I think I hear the bass drooling already

LT. DAN 2 · 11-25-2006, 08:03 AM

Teaser,
Do you keep the pogies by themselves or are they mixed with other non aggressive fishies like the mumichaugs and killis? What do you feed the pogies since they are filter feeders?
Lt

MakoMike · 11-27-2006, 08:00 AM

Your best bet if you want to minimize the $$ is to forget about the bowfront and go with a standard 55 gal. If you search the net and the newspapers you should be able to find one, locally, for about 1/2 of what you would pay in any pet shop. Local is a must, since shipping will kill the deal. Ofetn they'll come with lights, filters ect. Don't be afraid to make a guy a low ball offer, lots of them don't realize how much of a discount off of new the market is. Generally you should get about 50% off.

stiff tip · 11-29-2006, 04:45 PM

well... found what i was lookin for 46 bow front w/ oak stand about 3oo bucks w/ all etc. comes to about 600bannans... i,m nuts but i,m gonna do it.... screw it you only come this way once.. ill call it therapy 4 my old age.....

taJon · 11-29-2006, 07:06 PM

there is an awsome aquarium place in Framingham on RT9 I think it is. If its still there, its the place.

A tip: never ever put the water from the store into your tank water. Not good. You really need to make sure that the salinity and all the other stuff is good before the fish are put in or the water will be toxic to them. Damsels are real good starters then move up to the yellow tangs or clown fish. thats what I did

vineyardblues · 11-29-2006, 07:59 PM

capt CC, if they have babies u will need another tank ...lol
good luck and let us know
VB

bloocrab · 11-30-2006, 10:36 PM

Good Luck with your aquarium - They can be a lot of fun.
Place a LOT of focus on your filtration system and it will literally run itself. Don't sit on water changes too long, vacuum your gravel - but dont' vacuum too much. Plecos are over - rated, they don't do as much as people think. With aggressive fish (cichlids), when you add a new member...change your landscape-ing, monitor the tank closely until they've learned to live together (3-5 days) -

I like saltwater tanks, but the maintenance can take away the fun factor - more testing, salt-buildup/etc...
Piranha's were fun, while they were little...very aggressive eaters, as they mature/grow they become less active. There were times when I dropped 6 feeder/fish in the tank and watched for about 45 minutes, and nada...the adult piranha did nothing. I'd walk out of the room grab a cold one...and when I returned, there were only 2 left, watched again for awhile....and nada. Strange feeders as adults, vicious little bastards when small.

There's definately more to keeping a tank then putting fish in some water and feeding them. To keep a well balanced aquarium one must do his homework. There are a lot of good tips in this thread - mix your tank water with the store water but not the store water with the tank water

...let me rephrase that, take a small tupperware container, fill 1/3 with your tank water, fill 1/3 with the store water, leave 1/3 empty...snap the lid on and float it in your tank for an hour (not too long - as your not oxygenating the water) - then scoop the fish out of the container into the tank, discard the tupperware water. Acrylic will disappoint you in the long run in my opinion. just my .02 -

Again - Good Luck and have fun with it.

P.S. - don't do what I did and drop a bluecrab in there......yellow tang appetizer followed by some clownfish pudding

...a free bluecrab cost me lots a money

rjinhull · 11-30-2006, 09:12 PM

had a 55 gal tank what ever you do.... do not put a largemouth bass in it..........i did it and it ate all in the tank......
bet i had $200 - $300 just in feeder fish that i feed him by the time i released him....he started about 6" when i released him he was
12-13"..... was kinda cool .... drag a set of keys on the top of the tank and he would hit with a big splash

stiff tip · 12-04-2006, 05:29 AM

thanks guys for the good info ,,, gona pick up 46 gal glass tank w/ all the goodies this wk ..... what about a under gravel filters...

Slipknot · 12-04-2006, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stiff tip

i,m lookin to buy a fish tank 4 xmas. 4 the house,bow front 40 to 50 gal w/ stand and all the etc new.... does any have any ideas or sug. would like to get started in it again...stores or web ????? thanks dave

Dave, I have a 50 gallon I don't need anymore
come get it

with stand and filter