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Thai · Jul 5, 2007

Hey all,

I just recently got an aquarium for my home. Let's use this thread to show aquarium(s) in your home.

Water: fresh water

Tank size: 135 gallons

Fishes include: cichlids (different colors), 2 arowana, and a sucker (aka fish that gets rid of algae) = 28 fishes

Filters: Eheim 2262 (external) + Whisper Power Filter 60 (hang-on-back) + Undergravel filters w/ 2 air tubes

Wood: maple

Thai · Jul 5, 2007

Pic #2

Thai · Jul 5, 2007

Pics #3

Sac State · Jul 5, 2007

Cool, do you have a professional cleaning service? For a tank that big it is almost impossible to clean it yourself.

I had red-eared turtles and aquatic frogs along with the atypical freshwater fishes. I could stare at it for hours, very relaxing.

Thai · Jul 5, 2007

Sac State said:
Cool, do you have a professional cleaning service? For a tank that big it is almost impossible to clean it yourself.

I had red-eared turtles and aquatic frogs along with the atypical freshwater fishes. I could stare at it for hours, very relaxing.

Well, i am actually going to do it on my own. I just bought a 70 feet Python to clean. The Eheim should be relatively easy to maintain, along with my hang-on-the-back filter. My first cleaning is next week...so, we will see then if i can do this monthly.

Two reasons why we got it: relaxing and Feng Shui. In Oriental/Asian cultures, it's good luck to have a fish tank...thus, you see this in most asian restaurants.

Jaebster · Jul 5, 2007

Silver or Australian? Looks like silvers to me but can't tell too much from the picture. In about a year, don't expect to see anymore of your cichlids. :bugeye:

Not to be critical but sounds like your filter systems may be a little weak for a 135g, especially for a cichild tank and 2 arowanas. Which Eheim is it? and which Hang-on?

Looks very nice, btw

Jaebster · Jul 5, 2007

Jaebster said:
Silver or Australian? Looks like silvers to me but can't tell too much from the picture. In about a year, don't expect to see anymore of your cichlids. :bugeye:

Not to be critical but sounds like your filter systems may be a little weak for a 135g, especially for a cichild tank and 2 arowanas. Which Eheim is it? and which Hang-on?

Looks very nice, btw

Oops, Saw that you had posted the filter models already.

Thai · Jul 5, 2007

Well, the Eheim that i have is about as powerful as you can get (usually good for 500 gallon tank as i have been told). The hang-on-the-back filter (good for 60 gallon tanks) is basically a backup system for me and provides more oxygenation to the water. I also have undergravel filter with two tubes for air bubbles.

The arowanas are silver. The cichlids that i have in there now are decent size...unless the arowana grows extremely fast, i doubt that the cichlids can fit in their mouth.

RonMAIDEN · Jul 5, 2007

I'll post up some pics of our 180g saltwater and I'm using a 60 gallon sump as a filter. I love the animals you can keep in saltwater but a saltwater aquarium is a bit of a chore to maintain and may go back to fresh sometime in the near future.

Raddogz · Jul 5, 2007

Nice tank Thai.

Are those plants real, or plastic? I hear planted tanks are all the rage now.

Ron: nice sized tank - reef or fowlr?

Me - too many reef tanks and counting. 155g tank here at work plus 7g for desk, 120g display, and 58g at home.

Too much diy stuff for this hobby and not enough mods on my runner -

RonMAIDEN · Jul 5, 2007

Reef;we got a portion of the Finding Nemo cast and an anenome for the clown to host in.

Thai · Jul 5, 2007

Ron, i am truly jealous of your saltwater tank! A friend of mine at work has a 120 gallon saltwater tank with awesome big fishes, eel, and reefs in it...nothing beats saltwater fish colors! His tank was actually my inspiration into getting a tank. My wife and I actually bought a 10 gallon Walmart tank first to train ourselves on how to feed (we tend to overfeed!), clean, and maintain the tank.

For us, we chose freshwater because it is easier to maintain (main reason). We also hear stories of how the salt can evaporate onto furniture and outlets. Ron, have you experience the this?? I just don't see it and my friend states that it's not much of an issue.

My wife and I drool over the saltwater fishes everytime we go to the fish store.

They are just so darn beautiful compared to the relatively plain freshwater fishes.

Oh yeah, the plants are fake.

Raddogz · Jul 5, 2007

If you are ever interested Thai - the Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston area has two huge clubs that can get you started in saltwater.

I hear there are really nice stores out there.

Thai · Jul 5, 2007

Raddogz said:
I hear there are really nice stores out there.

I have been to most in Houston already. "Fishland" has a very nice collection of saltwater fishes (and decent price too) if anyone is in Houston area.

Jaebster · Jul 6, 2007

Thai said:
...We also hear stories of how the salt can evaporate onto furniture and outlets...

Thai, The salt does not evaporate from the water. The water evaporates from the salt. Therefore, whether its a saltwater tank or freshwater tank, the evaporative rate will likely be the same (with all things being equal... i.e. lighting, filteration system, etc.). This is why in a salt water tank, you replenish the evaporated water with fresh (RO) water.
What others are talking about is salt creep??? sometimes if you have things (i.e. hangon filter, heater cords and such) in the water but hanging outside of the tank, you get what they call salt creep. The water will defy gravity and "climb" up the equipment. Then when the water evaporates, it leaves a coating of moist salt along the edges and on equipment and cords.
If Saltwater Fish or Reef is what you really want, I say go for it. I've been doing reef for about 13 years now.