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Help make this used aquarium into something good?
By lomelindi from the industrious department, Section Diaries Posted on Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 01:30:12 PM PST Tags: (all tags)

Just a rundown of the supplies I've been given, along with the tank, and a couple of problems I have stuck between me and a working tank... any help would be hugely appreciated.

In return for a few months of babysitting, I was given...

-a 21(ish) gallon bowfront aquarium
-the stand to match
-various foods and water conditioners
-an assortment of fake plants and decorations
-a Topfin 10 basic waterfall-type filter identical to the one on my 10-gallon
-an Emperor 280 "biowheel" type filter
-heater, spare cartriges for both filters, and a wicked awesome master test kit which monitors PH, high-range pH, ammonia, nitrite, GH, and KH.

I have, however, run across a few problems as I tr y to set the guy up.

-The thing has no lid. It's a TopFin brand, as are most of the things he's given me, meaning it's a Petsmart brand. The ever-helpful employees there were stalwart over not having any replacement hoods. Anywhere in the world. Blah. I can't find anything like the aquarium on their website, and nor could I find the hoods on the shelves. I was of half a mind to swipe one from a display tank and run. The top is 12 x 24, with an extra two inches of "bow" added at its largest point. My question is... where would I find such a thing? It seems to be a nonexistant monster.

-I want to use this filter. It's really, really nice by my standards. However, it's absolutely filthy. I know it can't be submerged into water, but the entire inside is coated with brown flakes of fish muck. Any helpful hints on how best to make sure it's up to par?

I'm looking forward to this. Since I have a second matching Topfin 10, and it's about time to change the filter in my other tank, I figure I'll just put the old filter in this new tank to help jumpstart the cycling. Also, I have these funky floating black star-looking things in both my tanks that are supposed to help such matters. Can't remember what they're called...

I think I'm just going to toss the foods. I don't trust them.

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Help make this used aquarium into something good? | 4 comments (4 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Help make this used aquarium into (none / 0) (#4)
by Nancy4Fishes on Tue Apr 18, 2006 at 12:23:09 PM PST

i dont know anything about the lid, but i wish i could help you.

i just wanted to remind you to ask the person who payed you in these supplies why they gave up fish...there could still be a deadly disease in that tank in an endospore form.

good luck!

Re: used aquarium into something good? (none / 0) (#1)
by miskairal on Tue Apr 18, 2006 at 12:38:58 AM PST

Do you really want a hood for your tank? I don't have any hoods here just glass on top with a light in it's own reflector. In summer I can remove the glass all together and allow heat to escape. It leaves the top of the tank nice and open and easy to access and do water changes.

Do you mean that filter has brown flakes like old, dry algae? I have a similar filter (different brand) and can remove the motor/impellor part from the bottom so that the whole lot can then go in the water. If you can't do that, and I can't quite tell from the pic, maybe you could run it on a bucket of water or some other suitably sized container with some vinegar added. Once moistened you should be able to remove the junk with a soft scourer or chux maybe.
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Re: used aquarium into something good? (none / 0) (#3)
by lomelindi on Tue Apr 18, 2006 at 03:09:07 AM PST

I said hood, I meant the hinged glass. Since I posted this, I've been harassing Petsmart through their website and getting in touch with fish stores I didn't even know existed, and more than one has offered to order for me.

No, unfortunately the electrical bits don't come off any way that I can see. I guess it's old-fashioned scrubbing for me. :) I suppose that yes, it probably is algae/algea/however it's spelled because all of a sudden I doubt myself. :)

Thanks!

[ Parent ]

Re: used aquarium into something good? (none / 0) (#2)
by Jaymi on Tue Apr 18, 2006 at 01:12:47 AM PST

Or you could just do what I do in my female betta tank. Poke some holes in a piece of cling wrap, and use that.
Of course, that only works if you don't need a light.

[ Parent ]

Help make this used aquarium into something good? | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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