we are thinking about getting a 55 gallon aquarium.and i was wondering what plants would be good to put in there that would help the fish and what fish would be good as well?but mainly the plants is what i was wanting help on. i dont know if petsmart would have any or walmart would but would rather have real plants then plastic ones,arent they suppose to help keep water clean and the fish eat them just like in a pond? or am i worng on this? plmk and any help would be greatly appriciated thxs
moretz
aquarium-is this where i post?
If your fish are eating your plants in an aquarium, you're going to have water quality control issues because of the mess, remember it's much smaller than a pond and your swings will be quick so the cleaner you can keep it the better. You want to match fish that don't destroy the plants with live plants. Anacharis and vallisneria are great beginner plants for aquariums, they're very easy to take care, are very good oxygenators (the cleaning you mentioned), and readily available at all stores that carry live plants. Generally, most people pick out what sort of fish they want first. You may decide you have to have a certain fish that moves stuff around a lot, and that means uprooting plants.
Just converted a 75 gal goldfish tank to a planted tank with C02. It is cycling well with zebra danios. No ammonia, nitrite, nitrate or phosphorous, 3 watts light per gallon. Lights and C02 on a timer together and run 9 hours a day. Having some water chemistry issues. Azreno have you any idea how you can raise Kh without increasing alkilinity? Kh on tap water is a whopping 2, Gh is 7 and Ph is 8.5. Run the Co2 system, add acid buffer to bring the Ph to 7.0 and Kh drops to 0! Gh stays stuck at 7. I think I am in over my head. The tank is 40% planted at this time and I have driftwood curing to add probably this weekend. Beard alage is showing up on the cryptocorine. Like I said, I think I am in over my head. I'll post this wherever appropriate.
Mary
Moretz;
Don't know what kind of fish you want.
I just enjoy watching them We have a 55 gal aquarium that we some times place some of the small koi that have hatched in a smaller tank, in with the other fish. When they get big enough they go out to the pond or are taken to the pet store or I give a lot away. we have Three tropical cats, two algae eaters, 4 dannos think that what they are called. plus several of the koi babies. As azreno said the anacharis. I even use the common millfoil from the lake. the koi like that just as well. but koi being a heavy pooper I just run an external filter part time. It is a rather large filter when you are thinking aquarium. Its made by little giant it is an in line presurized tank it has the filter bag with the beads. and bentonite to help remove amonia and such. but I still use water from the aquarium to water house plants. That helps for partial water changes.
The pump is just a small pump. so no big flow. Clean that filter as the water slows down. The I add more of the white granuals that I called bentonite and some charcoal. an it's good for about another month.
Pet smart would be a better choice as for plant selection over wally world. They only at times have some, but not as a rule. Pet Smart on the other hand seem to have a small selection at all times. Oh and I use one of those siphon cleaners to pick up what the cat fish and the koi don't. May be a little more work than just tropicals. but if it is what you enjoy---------- That's part of the reason for an aquarium. one thing tho with that combo of fish it's a waste for me to try to keep snails to clean up algae. as they get eaten. either by the koi or the algae eaters.or both.
Right tonight yet I have two koi in the aquarium that are 6" and need to go out in the pond.
But one of them looks just like one that was listed for $600.00. I am enjoying watching my lookalike $600.00 koi in my own liveing room. LOL
Russ
Hey Russ, been there done that. I have overwintered in the house aquarium many bargain small koi snapped up at the pond stores in September because the pond store didnt want to house them over the long long cold winter. This year I have a half black, half yellow koi that is stunning that I picked up last september for 50% off. The front half is black with a little yellow and the back half is yellow with a little black. The pond store where I bought it last fall really regrets not keeping this one. One thing about koi in a house aquarium though, they are huge poop machines. You gotta keep that water changed and that filter clean.
Mary
Wow, I wish I could help, I never braved such waters as adjusting ph without a buffer already present- our water here is really hard :-( There's a lot of chemistry to consider, because everything affects everything else. Good luck!
Yep" Mary, I too watch the pet stores but only for ones I seem to think I can't do without LOL. and only if they are the little ones as those bigger ones do crimp your cash flow.
I am trying to get a few more buterfly koi. Then I can put the ones together with good form and color. and watch for them to spawn. Harvest all the eggs I can. I have made a floating tub with 3/8" holes in the sides. the big ones can't get at them. and the little fellers can venture out when the feel safe. They grow faster in there than the aquaium. But I still like to watch a few hatch out. watch as an almost clear wiggley thing with a pair of tiny black eys, quickly grows and gets some colors and master the art of swiming.
It's definatly understandable why many go for goldfish. But all in all I think I have more invested in the power company charges, than in the koi. But then after 8 almost 9 years of running one or two pumps 24-7 . I don't have an exact figure on the electricity but I'm relativley sure that it has added at a minimum $10. - $15.a month. But I believe we get more enjoyment out of the ponds and fish than what it costs.
I've had aquariums for many years... I have never had success with balancing fish needs, live plant needs and my needs (clear water with little algea !)
I am sure it can be done and there may be those out there that have done it. For me, if I had enough light to keep the plants happy , I ended with way too much algea.
Good Luck though...
charlotte
Hey Charlotte. We know " it ain't easy" sometimes we have to improvise a little here and a little there.LOL
I know of one person who has about 8 or 9 aquariums in her basement( walk-in) she has lights big filters UVfilters and the like also a pond out on the patio. I don't know how she handles it either but her aquariums are all sparkeling clean, She even has some of the heavy poopers (koi) in one of the aquariums. But that is just untill they get to a certian size. I could contact her if you had an interest in how she does it.
Moretz try this http://www.aquabid.com/
randbponder
i wish i lived near you,i would love some of your fish that you just "give away" lol i wanted koi but havent yet made that big step into letting the money go lol
thxs to everyone else for the info i will be reading and seeing what i can learn before we get this aquarium in here and make sure i can do this
we had a 10 gallon years ago and we had so much fun and now my daughter wants one too, 12 years old and is really excited about getting one.
dont you have to run the aquarium for like 2 days before you put fish in there to make sure there is enough oxygen in the water? well thxs again for all the info
moretz
moretz:
We have our own well. Part of the story of leting the aquarium run for 2 days was in fact getting rid of the chlorimines, and gases of the like, to make it fish safe. It would also let the water get closer to room temp. So you could use chlorine remover tablet or powder, whichever. and put fish in in the same day. Don't however skip the part of climatizing or aclamateing the fish to the water temp. This is done by keeping the fish in the bag of water which you brought them home in, and floating the bag, fish and all. in the aquarium untill the two different water temps are the same. This usually takes 15-30 min. Then it should be safe to release the little ones. Other wise the shock of the temp change would kill them. You may have known this, but I thought it could be of help.
Now if the price of gas goes back down some, Barb and I would like to go down to Sanford NC. to visit my brothers widow, DSL. in the spring. It is in our plans yet. Depending on our health and price of gas. I would be able to transport small ones, that far. but I wouldn't want to try anything larger than 4 or 5" babys. even with raising the salt level.
Just don't like losing fish that way. If our plans come together we can let you know as Hickory is not that far out of the way. Times can be set later.
Russ.
Russ,
that would be awesome, i would love that and you both can see if you want any plants while your here lol.that would be great, i hope you can.please keep me posted on that ok?WOW alot to learn on the aquarium lol,but the pond was easy so i am hoping this will be as well just have to do reading and research
thxs again everyone for the info it has really helped me
moretz
We have creeks and a natural spring here but its enough trouble getting water into the ponds that I normally use city water with pond start instead.
I love the "idea" of koi but realized when I first built my pond that I just dont realistically have enough room/filter to meet their needs. I've stuck with reg goldfish/shubunkins. The "varmits" seem to like them just as well.. LOL
Charlotteda;
I think we can all say 10-4 on the varmits. Knock on wood tho. The varmit problem has tapered off, now that the vacant lots to the South of us, has been cleaned up. All the scrub trees taken down. all the tall weeds burned off. He even had the old house burned. had a scraper come in and leveled things up and put in new grass. a nice tall fence; Farm type. woven wire and barbed at the top. That has stopped the cyotes.. Cleaning up the brush. made the raccoons move to a different area. I lost 4 or 5 big koi to them one night. needless
to say since the back half of our acre is agricultural, I did slip out at night an got rid of a couple.
I did have had a heron visit one morning, I hurried out and scaried it off. Haven't seen it since.
there is a big hawk that comes and sits in a tree for a while but I've seen it swoop down an get snakes and mice. I watch him but so far I leave him alone.
Happy ponding Russ
Moretz, funny you should mention it, but I have been thinking about a 55 gallon tank myself. Except that I want a salt water tank. I have been researching on the web and have ordered a couple of books. Knowing that saltwater is more difficult and time consuming as well as more expensive.
I had saltwater once myself and it was very interesting (and expensive).
All the salt water fish seem to be more colorfull. The temptatioms are great, but my pocket book aint.LOL
At times I think We are over our heads with the pond. Been tempted to rig up a wind mill to pump the water so we could save on electricity.
This fixed imcome bit cramps your style a lot. Ah the golden years, but it aint us with the gold. LOL
yes i wanted to do salt water too but i know how exspensive it can be,even the fresh water is exspensive but not as much,but i have loved aquariums and havent had one for a long time, so we agreed on a 55 gallon and that really made me happy,plus(if the woman calls me back)i can get a 55 gallon tank and stand, and more then 20 fish plus 2 filter pumps for 175.00 maybe,thought it was a good deal but dont know how to get the fish here and keep them alive until i get the aquarium going for them, any ideas? i hope i can figure this out but no luck as of yet thxs everyone your info has been very helpfull
moretz
Plastic may not be the best, but for moving little koi 200 miles or so I usually use the clear plastic storage containers; Wal-mart type with the lids. I also put a little extra stress coat in the water to guard against , stress- shock. But for here by the pond I have several ways to store them, I have two galvanized stock tanks. which has been working. Then I also have a big 8' diameter water tank for live stock, 2' deep. But I need something that big to hold all the big koi while cleaning the pond, That is a poly whatever I call it plastic.
But that I have to cover with net or the big ones will jump out.
Depending on the type of fish, The tropical fish are not as tough as Golsfish.
That is something I'm not sure of, how well they would do for any extend time.
But $175 for a 55gal aquarium and stand and filter pumps I would say is a great deal. We gave $250. for just the 50 gal and a small filter. But then that was at a pet store.
randbponder
i wish i had something like that but all i have is the 10 gallon aquarium and my pond but these fish are not for the pond aquarium only. i am going to try my best to keep them alive,thxs
moretz
I understand the delema.
Wal-Mart, here any way has just a bare bones 10gal aquarium for just under $10.00. maybe that wouild help. Just threw that out just in case. That would double the space for keeping the fish. Wish you well. Russ
Russ,
what i am planning on doing is getting bubble wonds and putting them in the buckets that the fish will be in,only be in there 24 hours until the pond had enough "air" for them and then they willbe put in there, i have the stress stuff for them too lol if some die that will be fine as long as all 17 dont die,but for 175.00 i dont think i did bad at all.thxs
moretz
No your right you did great. I think you will be ok with the buckets, I'm sure You have cleaned every thing. Sounds as though you pretty much know what your doing.
Thanks for sharing.
I think if I found a deal like that, I would have to find room for another aquarium. Even making a stand with one above the other, LOL Hmmmm. Maybe set one up in the garage for the baby koi. and one in the house for the tropicals.
Was just out to the pond working on the UV filter as the darn, high priced non-kinking hose came apart again. I swear that sump drain hose holds up better. Anyway as I was working on that I had a young bull frog contentedly watching me. He was so close, and he just turned back and forth as I moved, re-connecting the hoses . Certianly wasn't afraid of me. Then as I watched a while to make sure I didn't have any leaks, I was watching the fish swim around and saw at least 40 little 2-4" koi darting all over, some even geting half their body out of the water by the falls getting at the moss that had formed there. All the while the bull frog never moved more than a couple inches. I just had to smile and enjoy the whole sinerio. And now I will have plenty of little koi to chose from to get some good ones for Maxine from WI. as she is planing on comming to the IA Water garden round up In May. It will be held in Cedar Rapids. We have made arangement that I'll bring her a couple.
Oh well may all your fishes wait patiently while you get their home ready.
Russ
Russ,
awesome,i hope to have babies in the future,i wish i lived closer to come and get some that size,do you know how old they have to be to lay eggs?i have heard 6 months and then 1 year,so now i have to do research on that as well lol, i love learning in my old age heheheheh,thxs i hope they survive for me as well,i am so excited that you have babies good luck on them and i want to go yard saling to find me some more "small" aquariums for the babies that i hope to have in the future,yard sales are awesome to find "just" waht youre looking for thxs for all your help and happy ponding
moretz
'
Sister in law called the other night. Just to check and see how we were doing. We discussed the posibility of a spring trip to Sanford. She was all excited. Think she probably will have some work for me, but is ok. Usually one her sisters, usually shows up and we get up a card game or two. Have a few laughs. I said before, it wouldn't be any trouble to drop some off. Best part they would be free. The small ones don't take up much room.
If you are asking about koi or goldfish. probably 2 years should cover it. They usually are about 6"-7" long before they will spawn. Gold fish a little sooner. I don't know on any of the tropicals. Guess that is something I too would have to learn, But as you said it is fun. Especially if you can do some browsing on the webb and get just about any info you want. The remembering part that gives the trouble , heh heh heh K????
yes same here but that is why i use the "print" button lol that way i can make a book but then i cant find the book lol but it is hard to try to find it again on the net unless you put it into favs.lol well if you do come this way i can meet you some where that it would be closer since i live in the boonies lol i would be more then glad to take as many off your hands as you would want to bring to me lol and if you have time you could come to the house and pick out some plants thxs
moretz
well we got the aquarium today and it is set up and the fish are already in there and they act like they are alright will know by tomorrow i guess to make sure,dont want to "count my chickens before they hatch" lol but so far so good,i will take a pic of it and post on here soon thxs everyone for the info,i hope i can do it
"i know i can"
"i know i can"
"i know i can"
lol
moretz
You crack me up. I went out and bought my aquarium today too. But I am doing a saltwater 55 gallon. I mixed the water tonight in a large tub and will let it sit. I set up the tank with the filter, protein skimmer, heater, and power heads. Tomorrow I will put the water in and start cycling. In about a week or two, I will add the live rock and the coral substrate. Fish wont go in for a month or so, depending on how long it takes to cycle.
ralaff;
Boy I sure didn't know anything about salt water fish. With all that, I'm not sure I'de make the grade. LOL
But just incase please post. I am some what interested, as I've always heard that saltwater fish have way more color than fresh. I don't know though.
Do you have to be really accurate on the salt content????
Yea, saltwater fish are more colorful and interesting (Nemo?) but is a little more labor intensive and more exprensive. However, saltwater tanks are fascinating. With a little extra equipment and one or two extra things to keep an eye on, one can have their own coral reef in their home. You do have to wait longer until you add your fish. you have to let the tank "mature"
You have a small range of specific gravity (how much salt is in the water), so you have to check on that.
They are pretty sensitive to tempature changes and toxins in the water. Good circulation and filtration is a must. Therefore , I have two powerheads to move the water, a protein skimmer to remove waste by products, and an external filter (combo mechanical/biological/chemical). I also have a decent heater which is thermostatically controlled.
So, a little more time consuming and a bit more expensive=very colorful and unusual fish swimming around some live rocks.
Well through no fault of ours I could not have that then.
In this area we can almost depend on power failiers every winter. Some have lasted 4 days. Primarely due to wind and ice. I do have an extra. gas heater, that don't need electricicty. It don,t keep the whole house warm though.
randbponder,
i need some help right now.please read the post about the pond from me ok? thxs
moretz
Okay. I mixed the salt water last night, got it to just the right specific gravity. Today I set up the pumps and filters and skimmer. It will cycle for a week or two, then I will add the crushed coral substrate and live rock. I ordered special lights but they will take a few days to get here. Eventually I will have a reef with things growing on it, some unusually shrimp cleaning the reef, and some really vivid fish.
Great ! looking forward to seeing the fish. ((*-*))
I visited a place, in Plano TX The guy had a 6' shark. But he didn't take care of it he had profesionals come in and take care of everything. Course I don't think I would want to take care of one of those either.
here you go,i hope you like it thxs
moretz
They are some beutiful fish, got a lot of ( sparkle) , like that backgroung too. Yup; you fell into a deal there! You haven't really come up with any good solution to the pond yet??? I was really sorry you lost all the fish in that deal.
Whynot just post a pic of pond, There could be some hope there yet.
When I dug our pond, I had too much fun, "Went bigger than DW had invisioned" But then that may not have been a bad thing either. as Comparatively we haven't had any of the problems of a smaller pond. Having a quicker temp swing and so on. All the bad things seem to happen faster in a small pond. With the fish overload that I'm having, I think that the depth, is helping me. as at 3&1/2 feet there is a temp difference. which will help guard against oxygen dep. Our neighbor about 6 miles from here has a smaller pond and the water is warmer than ours. Enough so that she can really grow the lettuce. and the same lettuce in our pond don't do as well. Both ponds are in full sun. Her pond is 3 feet deep.
well i took a sample to petsmart and they told me thatit could be a parasite from the bluegill that killed them and recommends me to empty pond and start over and clean every thing so i guess that is what i will do thxs for helping
moretz
I was kind of shying away from the bluegill thing but could be it. I had given our grandson some goldfish koi cross breeds., an they were doing fine, Till his Dad put a regular river crawdaddy in with them. and they all died just about the same way. But that was a 5 gal aquarium. Course if came from a river or lake, it should be held in quarantine, and treated for paracites. Don't know if a cradaddy could be successfully treated though because of it's diet. Imaterial though as I don't plan on raising crawdaddys. heh heh heh
well i know now not to put any more "lake" fish in the pond,i will go drain it and clean everything as good as i can thxs for your help though
moretz