Getting a 90 gallon, NEED HELP DECIDING PLEASE!

[lennon]

got it. Ok, I will do alot of reading on the subject. I just read before about the venemous tail and such. ouch!

[drfong]

Hi, I just wanted to say that I have a 90 gal that I was planing on doing salt so I have a light with 2 10000 bulbs and 2 blue. Then due to Katrina we had a pond emergancy and it turned into a FW setup. While the blue lights aren't needed for the fresh water fish I have them set to come on 1 hour before the 10K's and go off 1 hour after. I think it gives the tank a really nice look. When the blue and whites are on at the same time it looks great.

[lennon]

Originally Posted by drfong

When the blue and whites are on at the same time it looks great.

Thanks for the input. I thought maybe it would look nice. I guess it is a matter of opinion. Now that you said that, I am going to try it.

Thanks again!!

Oh, I had another thread somewhere else and I was getting discouraged due to opinions about me being over my head in getting a 90 gallon. But the only reason I was doing 90 instead of 75 is because I wanted more fish and I was told the bigger the better.

How has it been for you? What is your maintenance schedule and what do you do?

Thanks so much for the help!!!I truly appreciate it.

Bella

[drfong]

Well as for a maintanance schedule, it has changed. When I first set it up it was under much less than ideal conditions. I had two large koi and several gold fish, pretty good size ones in the pond and it sprung a leak after the hurricane. I pumped the tank full of pond water and some of the filter material out of the pond into the 90 and dumped in the fish. Koi put out alot of waste so I had to clean the filters 2 times a week and replace them every 2 weeks. I only had 2 over the back filters that hold 4 rite-size "c" filters. It is suposed to work up to about 120 gal. This is not what I was planing on using for the salt water set up, but I was in a hurry and they were cheep enough for a temp set up. Eventually I got the pond up and running again and put a few fish in the tank. 2 gold fish and some alge eaters. 2 of the alge eaters are about 6 inchs long. While the tank was cycling they had plenty to eat. After the koi were out, the filters kept up great. I think the 2 back filters would suffice for a reasonable amount of tropical fish for the 90 gal. Still not what I would recomend, but I have them now. Currently the tank is in my garage as we just moved last month. I just finished puting in hardwood floors in the new house and will be bringing the tank in and seting it back up next week. My 2 fan tails have been in a 10 gal since the move (about a month now) and I think I'll just get some compatable fish and put them all in it. Just a few. We are planing on moving again as soon as we build a house so I don't want to set up a salt tank now or buy any expensive tropical.
As far as you starting with a smaller tank, I don't really see the difference and once it's set up, I believe that a larger tank is more stable. Just don't think that just because it's bigger you can throw whatever you want inside. You still need to make sure not to over populate and use compatable fish. Eventualy I'll get my salt tank, but I may just get another and have both. Good luck and enjoy. I think the 90 gal is a great size. Not too long, but gives good depth. It allowed me to use some really nice river rock that wouldn't fit in a 55/75 front to back. You can also put in some nice plants that look good but don't take up too much of the tank.

[lennon]

[QUOTE=drfong
As far as you starting with a smaller tank, I don't really see the difference and once it's set up, I believe that a larger tank is more stable. [/QUOTE]



THANK YOU! That is what I felt and got as advise 90% of the time. I just couldn't see myself spending hundreds of dollars on a smaller set up when I KNOW I will end up bigger.

What I am going to do is have someone come help me set it up and then maintain it for a few months. That way I can watch and learn.

I don't want to keep too much in the beginning. Just a few. If I have great success, then I would add alittle more.

What do you recommend as a great filter for the inside of the tank. So far I purchased the Fluval 405. But that is all I have right now as far as filtration.

Thanks again for all your time and help.

p.s. You sound like you were extremely busy for a bit there. YOu must be so anxious to get your SW going. I would LOVE to have SW...but I will be ok with the FW too. thanks

[aar4545]

hay lennon do u know what a good fish tank should look like

[lennon]

Is that a trick question??lol

I have seen some beautiful ones before. Did you want to show me?

I would love to see.