My 45 Gallon gateway back into fish keeping

OrangeCones · 09-27-2009, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrParker

Also, to everyone, I would like your opinions. I live in an 4 plex on the second floor. a 97 year old lady lives below me. I currently have my tank in my garage ( which is on the first floor attached to my apartment ) because I am afraid to put the 45 gallon tank in the spare room for fear of accident. If there was an accident, it would ruin her apartment. My mother ( who lives over 1000 miles away) says its a very bad idea. What do you all think?

I had a 110gallon reef with a 40 gallon sump on a 3rd floor apartment for over 4 years with no issues (but they did make me buy a renter's policy that would cover water damage if the tank leaked, as well as for my waterbed).

The weight of a tank is spread out over a large area. With 45 gallons, and taking into account the rocks/sand, you will likely have about 600pounds total weight. If you and 3 friends can stand in the area that the stand takes up, I'd say you'd be safe, as long as the tank is level. If you are adding any large rocks, make sure there is no way they could shift and fall against the sides of the tank (common way to get cracks). Some people silicone them together.

Whether the 4-plex's owner will have an issue...that's another thing.

bmoraski · 09-28-2009, 06:43 AM

Hey OrangeCones
do you know how many gallons your water bed took ?
im just curious

homebunnyj · 09-28-2009, 09:21 AM

Yeah, a tank in an apartment is not a big deal as long as it is well-maintained and you don't live in a dump with rotten floors.

Just check with management and abide by the rules... either they allow aquariums or they don't. Also, I tend to place tanks net to load-bearing walls. Hey, it can't hurt.

If you are doing a fish-in cycle you have to keep ammonia (and nitrites) below 1.0. It does take longer, but that is how you keep your fish alive. Killing the fish is NOT 'needed for the process'. I cannot disagree enough with that statement.

My advice is, first, leave the pH alone. Then, test daily for ammonia. Once it peaks and begins to subside, also test daily for nitrites. Do water changes as necessary to maintain fish health. When they are both down to zero, begin testing weekly for nitrates, ammonia, and nitrites. The nitrate test will help you ascertain the best water change schedule for your tank. The other two will alert you to problems developing in your tank.

bmoraski · 09-28-2009, 09:43 AM

My nephew put a water bed in his first apartment and floors ended up sagging leading to a major structural problem ! LOL
its funny now but it wasnt then ! lol
he obviously didnt talk to the owner and the owner wasnt to concerned until after the fact !
anyway
good luck

Newman · 09-28-2009, 11:17 AM

Who said fish should die for water cycling? I sure didnt...WAIT what am i smoking? i did say that, but i said what i didnt exactly meant. I mean to say if a fish dies, try to fix the problem, but it might just happen.

That should be better.

bmoraski · 09-28-2009, 11:31 AM

???????????

MrParker · 09-28-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmoraski

What do you have wrapped around your intake ?

Its sponge or actually padding that you put in quilts. It filters out any sand/dirt big chunks getting into the filter that i prefer not to, while they are floating around. it'll come off soon.

Newman · 09-28-2009, 02:30 PM

LOL I gues i confused people even more by saying that. Let me simplify it even more: I DO NOT ADVOCATE KILLING FISH..for anything.What i said was just a vomit of words and should be ignored.

OrangeCones · 09-28-2009, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmoraski

Hey OrangeCones
do you know how many gallons your water bed took ?
im just curious

No idea. It was 20 yrs ago!

MrParker · 09-30-2009, 08:10 PM

I'll be the first to admit, I am very impatient when it comes to the setup process. But my little platy, is starting to come out from hiding more. And I just saw a long strand of poop hanging from it, so I know it's eating (when I'm not looking) I thought it was a he, but i think its a she, as it seems to have a growing belly. Although it might just look fat next to the tetras.

Anyways, when I had my old 10 gallon, I think I cycled it in like 2 weeks, with fish. That was 10 gallons though. I'm now feeding my 5 fish once a day, and there are some decaying plant leaves but my ammonia is at maybe .15, its hard to tell but its closer to 0 than to .25. For a 45 gallon tank, I dont know how many days/ weeks it takes for the ammonia spike to happen. I know its only been 3 days since the fish have been in there. Does anyone have a link to a cycle time chart?

09-28-2009, 06:43 AM	#22
bmoraski Medium Fish Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 571	Hey OrangeCones do you know how many gallons your water bed took ? im just curious __________________ 2.6G Fry ( snails + water spider ) 10G Guppies 20G Guppies, Pleco + ( Hornwort ) http://mysite.verizon.net/vzet42j1/index.html Bryan......................

09-28-2009, 09:21 AM	#23
homebunnyj Super Fish Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,299	Yeah, a tank in an apartment is not a big deal as long as it is well-maintained and you don't live in a dump with rotten floors. Just check with management and abide by the rules... either they allow aquariums or they don't. Also, I tend to place tanks net to load-bearing walls. Hey, it can't hurt. If you are doing a fish-in cycle you have to keep ammonia (and nitrites) below 1.0. It does take longer, but that is how you keep your fish alive. Killing the fish is NOT 'needed for the process'. I cannot disagree enough with that statement. My advice is, first, leave the pH alone. Then, test daily for ammonia. Once it peaks and begins to subside, also test daily for nitrites. Do water changes as necessary to maintain fish health. When they are both down to zero, begin testing weekly for nitrates, ammonia, and nitrites. The nitrate test will help you ascertain the best water change schedule for your tank. The other two will alert you to problems developing in your tank. __________________ Judy Down to 3 tanks... from 7!! 29g: 3 goldfish (temporary)... thinking of convicts instead 55g: 12 glowlight tetras, 3 yoyo loaches (planning for another school of tetras, some more yoyo's, and maybe a pair of rams... any suggestions?) 2g: 3 guppies waiting for a bigger home and a few more buddies

09-28-2009, 09:43 AM	#24
bmoraski Medium Fish Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 571	My nephew put a water bed in his first apartment and floors ended up sagging leading to a major structural problem ! LOL its funny now but it wasnt then ! lol he obviously didnt talk to the owner and the owner wasnt to concerned until after the fact ! anyway good luck __________________ 2.6G Fry ( snails + water spider ) 10G Guppies 20G Guppies, Pleco + ( Hornwort ) http://mysite.verizon.net/vzet42j1/index.html Bryan......................

09-28-2009, 11:17 AM	#25
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,787	Who said fish should die for water cycling? I sure didnt...WAIT what am i smoking? i did say that, but i said what i didnt exactly meant. I mean to say if a fish dies, try to fix the problem, but it might just happen. That should be better. __________________ Credit goes to Lludu Last edited by Newman; 09-28-2009 at 11:20 AM..

09-28-2009, 11:31 AM	#26
bmoraski Medium Fish Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 571	??????????? __________________ 2.6G Fry ( snails + water spider ) 10G Guppies 20G Guppies, Pleco + ( Hornwort ) http://mysite.verizon.net/vzet42j1/index.html Bryan......................

09-28-2009, 02:30 PM	#28
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,787	LOL I gues i confused people even more by saying that. Let me simplify it even more: I DO NOT ADVOCATE KILLING FISH..for anything.What i said was just a vomit of words and should be ignored. __________________ Credit goes to Lludu

09-30-2009, 08:10 PM	#30
MrParker Medium Fish Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: So Cal Posts: 419	I'll be the first to admit, I am very impatient when it comes to the setup process. But my little platy, is starting to come out from hiding more. And I just saw a long strand of poop hanging from it, so I know it's eating (when I'm not looking) I thought it was a he, but i think its a she, as it seems to have a growing belly. Although it might just look fat next to the tetras. Anyways, when I had my old 10 gallon, I think I cycled it in like 2 weeks, with fish. That was 10 gallons though. I'm now feeding my 5 fish once a day, and there are some decaying plant leaves but my ammonia is at maybe .15, its hard to tell but its closer to 0 than to .25. For a 45 gallon tank, I dont know how many days/ weeks it takes for the ammonia spike to happen. I know its only been 3 days since the fish have been in there. Does anyone have a link to a cycle time chart? __________________ Current - 45 Gallon :: 3 otos :: 1 Chinese Algae eater :: 16 neon tetras :: 1M & 3F Fancy Guppies :: 5 Ghost Shrimp :: 2x32WATT T8 6500K :: DIY CO2 :: Substrate From SandDunes :: Wisteria :: 4 Melon Sword :: Microsword 3 10 Gallon Tanks Empty 2004 - 10 Gallon ::9guppy fry(4 weeks old)::5Ghost shrimp, 1 amano::2 SAE::3 otos::4 neon tetras:: 2 Redwag Platies :: DIY CO2::My own Substrate:: ::anacharis::Wisteria::Ovalis::Lilaeopsis brasiliensis(Microsword)::Limnophila indica(ambulia)::