Adrienne

the bottom pic is the one of the sump. I know in theory how it works but don't know how to connect it up or whether or not all the pieces are there. It also came with a heater and thermostat and inside the cabinet is a 6 pin multi plug. The cabinet is lined with polystyrene.

I picked up my new tank (secondhand) today. 450 litres. Here are some pics but I don't know what all the bits and pieces are for. It was a marine tank but I want to use it for freshwater. Any help greatly appreciated. the full shot - my husband at the left is 6ft so gives you some idea of the size piping - uses? a are these powerheads, what is the one on the right? how does this work - it goes right to the bottom of the tank inside - looks like a filter intake, on the outside it looks like a hose can be attached. the sump - divided into three sections - the pipes are on one end only there is also a large piece of clear perspex with fairly large holes all over it, don't have a clue what it would be used for. One of the braces on the top - the centre one is broken and needs to be replaced. Suggestions, sites etc - I'm prepared to read about it but not very mechanically? minded.

Asked this in freshwater and then realised it should have been posted here. Picked up my 450 litre tank today. Need to do some work so there will be a few questions appearing with pics under technical for a while I think. Thinking of 5? biggish discus 10cm+, 4-6 kribs, 4 blue rams and some sort of catfish or cory. Not in a hurry to set this up , may spend months getting it right. Does this sound about right? Your thoughts

Just got back from picking up the tank in Hastings - 6hrs each way. Need to clean it up, varnish it etc and I'll be posting some pics and asking questions about the bits that came with it under technical. Am thinking 5? discus, 6 kribs, 2-4 rams, and some sort of cat fish. Are they compatible.

thanks for this, I know there are great discus up here! What do you call lightly stocked, I have read several times that it should be one discus for every 50 litres of water so that would mean about 8 but would they be talking big discus?

dimebag, both jollijolli and you have said this, what is classed as adult for a discus and what is lightly stocked?

nice pics, can we see some full tank shots?

jolliljolli - whats lightly stocked for a discus tank - how many discus?

Finally, after months of thinking about it I have finally purchased a 450 litre tank. Now what to put in it - my husband likes discus but not the thought of daily water changes, I thought cichlids but would quite like some plants as well. There is a sump that goes with the tank and cabinet but no pump. I want it to make a statement, be out there in the tank world. Suggestions/ideas/recommendations anyone?

its possible you have a short finned male in the tank that has been sold as a female, try putting the troublesome female? in a clear container in the tank with the females and see if he/she blows a bubble nest.

I have a single male in tanks with multiple females and yes sometimes the males tails/fins do get nibbled at. I also have tanks of just females and they also do occassionally have a scuffle. However a planted tank full of different coloured females looks really good. I have kept female fighters and gourami together and also the occasional male without hassle but sometimes it just doesn't work out. I have also had guppies, platties, angels and fighters together without a real issue. It depends on the individual fishes nature (like humans they can't always get along). I find its not usually the male causing a problem in the community tank but often the other fish like to nibble at it.

not yet, possibly around the end of January or during Feb.

Thought I'd post a few pics of the fighters I'll be using for breeding next year. Hope you like them. The majority I have bred myself so know their gene pool back a couple of generations. Double tail (near perfect split) and one of my many females

yep, yep. I finish work for the year on Thursday so driving to Hastings on Friday and back the same day to collect said tank. How many people do you think it will take to lift it and what is the safest way. Its 1.5 metres x 50cm wide and 60cm high. Thats the tank. The stand is somewhat larger but is less likely to break.

Wasn't sur where to post this so if its in the wrong place can the mods please move it. I need to get a 5ft (slightly more) tank and cabinet from Hastings to Auckland. Who is the best to use and the most reasonable price - doesn't have to be the cheapest - but I don't really want it broken.

I agree with Barrie, bbs does work out really cheap and so do microworms.

depending on what else you have in your tank a male siamese fighter will give you good colour and pretty much constant movement where it can be seen. You also need a clear passage along the front of the tank for it to swim from side to side.

I'll most likely be going with wood so yes that would be great.

Anyone have some good tank stand plans that I could use for a 250litre cichlid tank.. Am wanting a nice looking 4ft tank stand made. My husband fancies something quite nice, I am happy with a tidy basic solid stand.

once your guppies start breeding you'll soon be over-run with them. They drop babies like an Upper Hutt teenager. Ooooh, thats not very polite now is it!

My pair are fine until the eggs are about 3 days into the hatching process and then the female turns naaasty!! I have to take the poor old male out. Can't even have a catfish in with her. :roll:

If you think theres only about 30 theres probably about 90 of them. I have this number of 6 week old fighters in 2 4ft tanks and at this stage they are not big enough to decide which to keep and which to cull. You need more tanks

I use bleach for everything - filters, media, gravel etc. I just fill the sink with water and pour enough in until I can smell it, soak everything for a couple of hours or overnight, rinse really well and leave in the sun to dry. Never had a problem yet, I have fighters, guppies, kribs, bristlenose etc in my tanks.

great shots

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