End of my 125

1115 Views 12 Replies 6 Participants Last post by NWA-Planted, Sep 7, 2012

NWA-Planted

Discussion Starter · Sep 7, 2012

I have confirmed my decision I will be ending my 125 gallon tank. lots of factors, but mostly cause I want to do something new and just outright amazing!

I know the new dimensions are going to be 48x24x18, comes out just shy of 90 gallons so not losing a whole lot there. it will be done with 3/8" crystal glass.

The goal will be to build everything from the bottom up.

The tank itself will be low light low tech, I have the co2 system already. So can setup that up at any time should I choose.

the big question is do I tear down the 125 now and use money from that as a, start to the new tank or leave it going for the time being? most of the plants in my 125 will not go into the new tank... And really the only fish I can see myself carrying across would be the discus and probably my big gold gourami.

Though it would be easier starting the project without having this thing in place :-/

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OVT

· #2 · Sep 7, 2012

You can send the plants back my way

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NWA-Planted

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 7, 2012

OVT said:
You can send the plants back my way

I can do that for sure! just trying to figure out when I am going to start taking this tank down :-/

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ramen lover

· #4 · Sep 7, 2012

if you tear it down now, then you won't have any bacteria since it will die by the time you get the new tank setup. maybe leave the 125 up until the next tank is ready, then transfer the bacteria and then tear down the 125 and sell it/get rid of the stuff?

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Jim_PA

· #5 · Sep 7, 2012

Your confused, not supposed to be going smaller. Always go bigger. Fish tank is like a boat, it never big enough, and the spending of both never ends.

With that being said, wonder how I could switch out my 125 with 225, and make it so the wife does not notice. ha

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NWA-Planted

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 7, 2012

ramen lover said:
if you tear it down now, then you won't have any bacteria since it will die by the time you get the new tank setup. maybe leave the 125 up until the next tank is ready, then transfer the bacteria and then tear down the 125 and sell it/get rid of the stuff?

true, but the setup for this tank will be fairly slow, planning it out piecing it together. that and I have plenty of friends with tanks so not a huge deal there...

Jim_PA said:
Your confused, not supposed to be going smaller. Always go bigger. Fish tank is like a boat, it never big enough, and the spending of both never ends.

With that being said, wonder how I could switch out my 125 with 225, and make it so the wife does not notice. ha

Lol. good luck with that one. the wife already told me that once we have a bigger house I can get a larger tank.... So down the road somewhere!

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DogFish

· #7 · Sep 7, 2012

You're tap dancing on the OCD line.

:hihi:

From an operational stand point you are better off keeping the 125 running until you are ready to swap out to the new tank.

I would suggest getting the new tank and stand built and leak tested 1st. You did a nice job on the 1st DIY tank build. Keep in mind the degree of difficulty increases as you go up.

From emotional stand point your going to miss the 125 the minute you drain it and mostly likely put undue metal pressure on yourself to get the next build done.

From a finical stand point it's easier to nail jello to a wall than to get a fair price for a large tank.

Would space allow pushing the depth to 30" or even 36"? That would really give a great scape foot print. That and you won't be starting this thread again in 6mos when you realize you really wanted it bigger.

:wink:

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NWA-Planted

Discussion Starter · #8 · Sep 7, 2012

DogFish said:
You're tap dancing on the OCD line.

:hihi:

From an operational stand point you are better off keeping the 125 running until you are ready to swap out to the new tank.

I would suggest getting the new tank and stand built and leak tested 1st. You did a nice job on the 1st DIY tank build. Keep in mind the degree of difficulty increases as you go up.

From emotional stand point your going to miss the 125 the minute you drain it and mostly likely put undue metal pressure on yourself to get the next build done.

From a finical stand point it's easier to nail jello to a wall than to get a fair price for a large tank.

Would space allow pushing the depth to 30" or even 36"? That would really give a great scape foot print. That and you won't be starting this thread again in 6mos when you realize you really wanted it bigger.

:wink:

dancing the ocd yes... But avoiding multitank syndrome!

This build will definitely test me, and itself will be tested thoroughly! but I really want to make a tank that people see when they walk in and just go... WOW.

Could kinda convert the current tank to more of a grow tank and try and use it to generate a little income to fund this project... Cause if anything I have a little bit of an underwater green thumb!

30"maybe... 36" might have a hard time selling the wife on it. might lower the height to 16".. right now in the write up process! Getting my ideas together and what I want etc.

I am excited and terrified at the same time!

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DogFish

· #9 · Sep 7, 2012

NWA-Planted said:
.....I really want to make a tank that people see when they walk in and just go... WOW....

I get that completely.

roud:

Gets even better when you tell people and I built that too.
:icon_mrgr

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jbrady33

· #10 · Sep 7, 2012

NWA-Planted said:
The tank itself will be low light low tech, I have the co2 system already.

Doesn't low-tech usually imply low light and NO Co2?

Oh yea - build the new tank while the old tank is up. Gives you a holding place for plants & livestock, a donor filter for cycling, and (this is a big one) keeps your space reserved. A big empty space in the house can get filled up with something other than your tank if left empty too long.

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NWA-Planted

Discussion Starter · #11 · Sep 7, 2012

jbrady33 said:
Doesn't low-tech usually imply low light and NO Co2?

Oh yea - build the new tank while the old tank is up. Gives you a holding place for plants & livestock, a donor filter for cycling, and (this is a big one) keeps your space reserved. A big empty space in the house can get filled up with something other than your tank if left empty too long.

usually yes no co2 but it couldn't hurt if I wanted to add some later lol.

That.... Is a very good / epic point!!

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jbrady33

· #12 · Sep 7, 2012

NWA-Planted said:
usually yes no co2 but it couldn't hurt if I wanted to add some later lol.

That.... Is a very good / epic point!!

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Now that I think about it - great point! I would love to have a 'reserve' Co2 system on my low tech tank (only tank really

) Any algae crops up or growth not happening add a little bit of happy gas.

Really the only thing that stopped me from going Co2 (I had a little extra $ set aside when I set it up) was the fear of broken equipment = gassed tank. Would have let me get a Ray2 light instead of the Fugeray as well.

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NWA-Planted

Discussion Starter · #13 · Sep 7, 2012

Only advice with co2, doubtl do not skimp on the important parts!!

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