Me and my aquarium buddy were having a fish day yesterday and were discussing my next tank purchase. I have a 60 tall for mostly a Rainbow tank, a 55g regular for my African Cichlids, a ten community, a ten isolation/fry, etc. tank, a 20 hex for two mated black Angels and 2.G Betta tank. They are all in my den where I spend 90% of my home waking hours. I am not going to have another room with my tanks because I want them where I can see them anytime I turn my head.

I told him I wanted a new tank in the 200-300+ size as a planted show tank. He says that he'd rather have more tanks that can support his breeding programs. I am not currently a breeder but enjoy the few that happen and am hoping this pair of black, non-veil Angels he gave me will produce. (He says they will be a mix of black ones and black/gold ones, we hope.

I've priced some tanks in the 300g range and they run about $1,000 for the tank alone in Sapphire glass with a glass top. I'd probably have another grand in stand, lights, substrate,decor and filters, maybe closer to $1,500, so a total of about 2.5K $. If my floor is not strong enough, I'll reinforce it.

It seems that whatever decisions I make, I wind up wishing I had done something else or maybe in addition to whatever I've done. I was joking with Mick that we ought to open a fish store. He laughed and said that'd be the quickest way to turn 10 grand into two grand.

So, if say, three thousand dollars could be spent, what would you get?

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60g tall, all artificial plants, Rainbow tank; 55g for African Cichlids. 20g long for fry; 20g hex, 2 black Angels at my desk; 10g planted, with 50 Molly fry; 10 gal, 2x 13w cfl lightning, planted; 2g hex for "Buddy the Betta"; Wanting a 200g +, MTS getting bad.

I have 2-125g tanks and honestly think I would trade one of them in for two 40B tanks. If you wanted them planted they are perfect for it. It's a good sized tank that is short and stout. Same footprint as my 75g, but like 7inches shorter. After dealing with planting two 125s and a 75, I would love to have something that doesn't soak me all the way up to my armpit. Dealing with a planted tank, your arms are always in the tank. To top it all off....big tanks equal big cost (if you like getting quality equipment). Adding everything up with one of my 125s, just equipment cost (tank, stand, filters, lights, etc) come in around $3k each. My 75g is a good bit cheaper but comparably outfitted with Eheim and custom lighting (soon anyway).

id actually start an online fish store. there are so many horrible LFS'S out there so id start breeding and start with really cool fish that alot of people will buy then once you make uenough money you can keep on having more and more tanks and more and more breeding fish. that is what id do.

Wow, 3k for a good 120g setup. Likely 4k for a 220g. I understand the juxtaposition of having tall tanks. I like the look, more window if you will but it does make touching anything on the bottom a hassle. And if it is a real hassle, I'm less likely to do it.

I've been wanting to rearrange my 60 tall decor but getting it right is hard. Move stuff around, add stuff, stand back and look. No, that needs to go over there but then that forces this to move too, ad infinitum.


At the same time, the more stunning the look when I walk into my den, the better I like it. Right now, it's pretty cool. I just finished wc's and general maintenance and just sitting here at my desk, I have all of it in close view.

One of my most fun ideas is to get a planted 200+, fully stocked and take a small video camera, waterproofed, and slowly move it through the tank. Then run that video, looped on my TV whenever I am not watching TV.

My age and health have pretty much forced me to give up mountain climbing, which is REALLY expensive so now my toy money is going to aquariums. I have been scuba diving for just about as long as I have had fish (40 years) which really is just another way to enjoy fish. Strange, I really like to eat them too!

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60g tall, all artificial plants, Rainbow tank; 55g for African Cichlids. 20g long for fry; 20g hex, 2 black Angels at my desk; 10g planted, with 50 Molly fry; 10 gal, 2x 13w cfl lightning, planted; 2g hex for "Buddy the Betta"; Wanting a 200g +, MTS getting bad.

I my self would go for a bigger tank. But then I want to start a SA/CA Cichlid tank with a couple large fish instead of a bunch of little ones. I would set it up right across from my African tank. That way I could threaten my Mbuna when they are bad. "You better quit chasing and be good or I'll toss your little butt in here!"

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Do fish get thirsty?
How to fishless cycle your aquarium http://www.aquariumforum.com/f66/fis...cle-15036.html

Information on API FW test kit http://www.aquariumforum.com/f2/api-...ion-15347.html

I would get two fourty gallon breeders,tons of plants amazonia II substrate,CO2 systems on both,HO lights and two breeding pairs of betta macrostomas,lol.

You asked what I would do,so did you expect any different?

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http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

If I could get a 220 that was like 8ft long and a little shorter, maybe. My lights cost more than I paid for tank/stand on both of my big tanks. I'd probably settle for something less than what I got, quality-wise, to do do what I felt that was properly lighting the tank.

I may get a 40B later in the Summer once I finish doing what I want to do for my other tanks. Always changing stuff, lol.

Come on, admit it. If most of us could get away with it we would make are houses water tight and fill them up. We would then live outside and peek in the windows at our fish.

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Do fish get thirsty?
How to fishless cycle your aquarium http://www.aquariumforum.com/f66/fis...cle-15036.html

Information on API FW test kit http://www.aquariumforum.com/f2/api-...ion-15347.html

Well,I had this grand idea once.I wanted a stream running from one end of my house to the other.In the stream would be wild bettas and shrimp,and even some WCMM and CPD.It would have been awesome!

Inside,BTW,not outside.Then again,a moat of bettas would be cool....

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http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

Dang folks, you guys have some great ideas! Thank you.

rtrob said "Come on, admit it. If most of us could get away with it we would make are houses water tight and fill them up. We would then live outside and peek in the windows at our fish."

Almost. I'd like that except I'd want endless scuba and still stay in the house with them!

majerhah1 said "Well,I had this grand idea once.I wanted a stream running from one end of my house to the other.In the stream would be wild Betta's and shrimp,and even some WCMM and CPD.It would have been awesome!"

Now you're talking! My house is on three levels so the stream could have waterfalls! Which my wife loves and we go see any we can on our travels.

Part of what makes me want the 300g is that I have come to love my pair of Clown Loaches. I love to see them go sleep together on their sides. I feed them bloodworms with an eye dropper like a mother bird feeds her young. They come to the top and stick their mouths just out of the water so I can feed JUST them. They make funny smacking, sucking noises and justify their Clown name.

I know they are in the wrong tank at 60g but it is the best I can do right now. One is about 4 inches and the other is about 3 inches. I have to convince my wife that not going on a mountain trip this year will save us more than the 300g cost. Which it will. Funny, a 300g costs only about a hundred bucks more than a 200g.

This manufacture Glasscages.com - Home Is in Dickson Tennessee, which about a two hour drive. I used to go through there to get to a local cliff to practice my technical rock climbing skills. I could get a truck and be back home in an afternoon.

I have looked at a few tanks with Sapphire glass and think it looks a lot better. Have any of you noticed a difference? Worth the up charge?

The 300g is 96 x 24 x 31 which is 8 feet long. If I moved my 55g Cichlid and the 20g hex, it would fit right next to my desk. I could move the 55g over where the tens are and be done. I could reinforce the floor without much trouble. The wall is a load bearing wall and part of a remodel/addition. Let's see, 300 X 8 = 2,400 pounds plus let's say another 400 for rocks, stand, etc. and now we're at 2,800 pounds.

You know, getting it perfectly level might be an issue. I had to put a 1/4 plank under the 55g stand, right where the 300 would go. I know a professional carpenter, good friend of my sister, I'll bet he could help on all the structure issues.

Oh, and allaboutfish said to start an online store. I don't think I'm smart enough to manage that! Thanks though.

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60g tall, all artificial plants, Rainbow tank; 55g for African Cichlids. 20g long for fry; 20g hex, 2 black Angels at my desk; 10g planted, with 50 Molly fry; 10 gal, 2x 13w cfl lightning, planted; 2g hex for "Buddy the Betta"; Wanting a 200g +, MTS getting bad.