Brand New Acrylic Tank

[Vinni Smith]

So, I have a new tank being made and should be done this week sometime, hopefully.

Acrylic. 30x30x36
140 gallons.

We have not had acrylic since our saltwater days.
I love the look of the acrylic.

I do have a question for you all that have these tanks...
If we have to medicate with any blue or green medication, will it stain the tank as it does an air line tubing?
I don't remember it doing that, but I thought I would ask.
Sure don't want that to happen!

Thanks for any info you can give me on this.

VincenZo

[captainandy]

No it won’t.
But, I cannot ever remember using methylene blue on discus. Or malachite green.

I’ve never had an ich outbreak.

I only use acrylic tanks and never had an issue with dyes in other systems

[Willie]

Methylene blue will stain the glue in all glass tanks, so I presume the same would happen to the glue in acrylic tanks, although I've never used acrylic ones.

[Vinni Smith]

Thanks for the replies.
I hope I find no need to use these things either, but it was in my mind.
I have heard Gabe likes to use Acriflavine.
I think that has a strong dye to it. Yeah?

Thanks again

V

[Iminit]

Hey Vinni. No idea why I can’t add pics in the pm section. Just curious why you picked your dimensions for your tank? I have 2 acrylic tanks. A 90 and a 125. My discus is the 125 and it’s 5’ long by 24deep and 18 wide. I find discus do like to swim :). Ok this is my water changing filter instead of prime.127774127775127776.

[Vinni Smith]

Thank you for the pic of your filter. That helps a lot.
One question, does that filter eliminate chlorine or reduce it.
All I can find at the stores are ones that reduce chlorine.

I chose the dimensions of the tank because that is the only wall/corner I can put the tank in. The rest of our rooms are either taken up by windows, TV or piano.

36 long - 30 tall - 30 deep (front to back). I have always wanted a deep tank like that. It looks good to me when the fish are farther away when viewing. Much like in a public aquaria.

We are making the tank of 3/8" and are pretty confident it will be strong enough because there are not long strips over 36". If it were 4-5 feet, we then would have used 1/2"

Thanks again

[Iminit]

Vinni it says reduces the chlorine taste. I do50% water changes 3 times a week with no problems. May want to get a scuba mask to reach the bottom of that tank :). Good luck with it ! Looking forward to seeing pictures of it.

[Vinni Smith]

127783

Here is a pic of my current tank.
56 gal.
12 juvenile Discus and some rummies,neons corys and a pleco.
Largest one is maybe 3 1/2"
Smallest about the size of a 50 cent coin.
No adults at this time.

Keeping it 88 degrees.
PH is 6.8 here in Nashville.
Very old established tank and filters.

Note: Dark fish behind Pigeon just came off of a hunger strike for about 2 weeks.
Before I knew any better, I mixed fish from different dealers and different areas.
Seems to be eating well now, but very thin and dark.


Hoping the new tank will be done this week.

[Pardal]

Methylene blue will stain the glue in all glass tanks, so I presume the same would happen to the glue in acrylic tanks, although I've never used acrylic ones.
There is not glue in an acrylic tank is a chemical weld like bond, and I have acrylic's tanks medication will not permanently stain the tank, the only disadvantage of an acrylic tank is the easier to scratch plus price , and then is easier to remove scratches from acrylic than glass, so overall acrylic always be far superior to glass , glass is used more because initial price being cheaper.

[Vinni Smith]

There is not glue in an acrylic tank is a chemical weld like bond, and I have acrylic's tanks medication will not permanently stain the tank, the only disadvantage of an acrylic tank is the easier to scratch plus price , and then is easier to remove scratches from acrylic than glass, so overall acrylic always be far superior to glass , glass is used more because initial price being cheaper.

Another plus is the weight. Probably less than 1/3 the weight of a glass tank.

[Iminit]

Nice looking discus. Where did you get them. Was the hunger strike fish added first. Or came later? Did you buy 2 groups of 6? My acrylics are both 3/8”. Some fish stop eating from stress of moving. Usually raising the temp gets them eating. But your allready pretty high. I would drop it down to 86 or 84. Gives you some room to raise it if there’s a problem. How often are you water changing. At that age it’s crucial to change water. Looks like your doing good cause they alllook healthy.

[Vinni Smith]

Nice looking discus. Where did you get them. Was the hunger strike fish added first. Or came later? Did you buy 2 groups of 6? My acrylics are both 3/8”. Some fish stop eating from stress of moving. Usually raising the temp gets them eating. But your allready pretty high. I would drop it down to 86 or 84. Gives you some room to raise it if there’s a problem. How often are you water changing. At that age it’s crucial to change water. Looks like your doing good cause they alllook healthy.

Thanks. We like them.

1st batch of 5 came from an online dealer. (No name mention). 1 died and another stopped eating. I am not happy at all with this purchase. 2 of the 5 fish look and act fantastic. 1 died and 2 are probably culls. They were not cheap either.

2nd batch came from Macs Discus. All doing extremely well. They are the 5 small red ones. I really like that guy and his fish seem very strong.

3rd batch came from Aquatic Critter. They carry Hans' fish. 2 Blue Diamonds at first and then one Red Pigeonblood Checkerboard. This one stopped eating after 2 days in the tank. I think maybe just stress? I did not know about mixing breeders and how to add them. I found this forum just days ago.

Changing 50% water every other day if not every day.

PH here is 6.8 and water is hard.

Very established 8 year old tank. Had KOI Angelfish in it for years. Then fancy guppies for quite some time.

Have not kept discus since the 70s. Most every fish in the tank right now are voracious eaters. I am feeding them everything the lfs has to offer. They seem happy. Except for the two of them.

Other tanks are all filled with guppies and mollies at this time so I don't have a QTN tank. But this one will become my QTN when the new one arrives. Hopefully this week!

[Vinni Smith]

Nice looking discus. Where did you get them. Was the hunger strike fish added first. Or came later? Did you buy 2 groups of 6? My acrylics are both 3/8”. Some fish stop eating from stress of moving. Usually raising the temp gets them eating. But your allready pretty high. I would drop it down to 86 or 84. Gives you some room to raise it if there’s a problem. How often are you water changing. At that age it’s crucial to change water. Looks like your doing good cause they alllook healthy.


This is the tank that I now buy my fish from. They are all Hans' fish.

127804

[captainandy]

Who’s making the tank?

That’s a great size

[Vinni Smith]

Who’s making the tank?

That’s a great size

It is a local company here in Nashville called Plastic Supply. They are a plastic warehouse that also makes project for companies.

[Vinni Smith]

Hey all.
Probably just as well the tank will take another week to get here.

We think my fish may have hex.
So, it looks like 12 days of metro.
Good thing I have some on hand.
A new friend here on the forum helped me figure it out.
You know who you are. Thanks!

I had guppies in that tank for about 5 years.
Bet that's where it came from.
The fish all looked healthy when they came here.

I am so glad I found this forum!
So many nice folks here ready and willing to help.
I don't think I would have recognized this on my own.

Vinni

[Vinni Smith]

Who’s making the tank?

That’s a great size

Well, wifey talked some sense into me yesterday.
The new tank will only be 24" tall.
I am 5'3". She had me stand on my step stool and reach into the current tank.
Yes, I have trouble reaching the bottom.
If it were 6 inches taller, with an acrylic tank with the tops made they way they are, it would have been impossible.

So, the new dimensions are
36" long
30" front to back
24" tall
112 gallons.

Also, the sick fish is now up and eating voraciously! Looking and acting great. On our 4th day of metro and 90 degrees. Just a miracle!
Thank you again Simply Discus Forum! I am so glad we found you.

[Vinni Smith]

They said I can pick up the new acrylic tank tomorrow, Friday!

There has been one adjustment made on the tank. I decided to go with 24" tall instead of 30"
Nancy talked a little sense into me the other day.
She had me stand on a stool and try to reach in the bottom of our current tank and I could barely do that.
She then drew my attention to the thought about it being 6" taller.

SO now the tank is going to hold 112 gallons instead of 140.
That is ok with me. Easier water changes!

36 x 30 x 24

Should give a good home to our current 10 tenants plus some room for a couple more.

V

[Vinni Smith]

Went to pick up the tank on Friday.
Not done yet.
That was a bummer but really not a big deal.
I know these guys and they will not release anything until they are 100% happy with it.
So the wait goes on!
V

[Vinni Smith]

Exploring their new digs. I think they like it.

Those fish looked kind of big before! This big tank really put things into perspective.

The new background came in today but I did not have time to put it on.

BTW, I transferred the filters, wood and water from the old tank.

Those rummy nose were hard to catch!

127984

[danotaylor]

Looking good mate!

[Iminit]

Nice tank!!!

[Vinni Smith]

Thanks guys.

Today I set up the QT downstairs. 56 gallons.
I used one of the old filters on my main tank.
I originally had three on that one.

I am all set up now for a new shipment of fish next week from Miranda at Chicago Discus!

127995

[Vinni Smith]

I think it is looking better each day.


https://www.facebook.com/vinni.picks/videos/10217312193977510/

[danotaylor]

Tank is looking sweet, fish seem happy and active :thumbsup:

[Vinni Smith]

Tank is looking sweet, fish seem happy and active :thumbsup:

Thanks Dano.

Nice thing about this setup is the poop all collects in the right front. SO, I vacuum it out 2xs per day. Some water change with it of course.

How's that for squeaky clean? ; ^ )

[danotaylor]

Bloody marvelous mate...I can hear it squeak from Ohio! :thumbsup:

[Vinni Smith]

I had them make sliding tops, both 14"x14"x3/8".
They slip around nicely because of the moisture.
This tank is next to a window, but it does not get any direct sunlight because it is on a North corner wall.
I am saying this to explain why it is much easier to do maintenance on it than the old tank.
Just slide the top back, insert the gravel siphon (even though I don't have any gravel), clean the pile of poop and then let the water come down to the top of the heater.
Just takes a short time really.
Doing it once or twice daily.

Easy peasy

[peewee1]

Well played, as they say, Vinni! Your cousins would be proud I suspect.