PaleoShrimp

My advice would be to make the tank the way you like it. I see people ask for advice on how to arrange things in the tank (which I respect), but for a beginner, put together a tank that you like. You are the one who will see it the most. If you think the tank looks awesome, you’ll have fun and keep going in the hobby and then keep trying new things.

@nabokovfan87 I was planning on building my own stand out of 2x4s. How much room would you leave past the tank? my plan is to use the 2x4s vertically, so they would only be 1.5” wide. Then have the tank sit directly over the 2x4 frame. My plan was to have a 1/4” space on each side between the tank and the edge of the stand. Do you think that is enough room? I also plan to put a rubber mat under the tank now after reading all the replies.

Ah ok. Well we’ll see how it goes for me as I’m working to set up a 55 gal right now which will be my first tank with a middle support and with live plants in the way!

I’ve seen Cory use this technique in some videos. I haven’t been able to do it well yet, but want to try and do it this way when I need to catch fish moving forward.

@Lennie Thanks for the picture and explanation! @nabokovfan87 Thanks for that thread! I missed it. I’ve got some ideas to work with on trying to make my tanks as ready as possible.

I live in an area where earthquakes occur and I’d like to secur my tanks. I know this isn’t something a lot of people have to think about, but I’m wondering if anyone has ever done this/thought about this. If you have, I’d love to see pictures.

I had a fish that looked like it had some fungus, so I put it in a quarantine tank and added salt. The fish improved and I have moved it to another tank. I am wondering how you all clean your quarantine tank to avoid cross-contamination when you put the next fish in the tank? The tank had some decorations (fake plant, rocks, and real wood) that I would like to move to another tank, so I am wondering how you would clean those too.

Thanks @Biotope Biologist. After all the comments I decided to post on a rehoming FB group for my area. If I don't hear back soon I'm going to ask the LFSs in my area if one of them will take it. I wanted to try and keep him for a little while to experience a fish I've never had before, but I want him to get the proper conditions.

Thanks for the help. I got some wood and plants in there.

Here is a video clip of his behavior. This is pretty much what he looks like all day. I have a big HOB filter that came with the tank going and a small sponge filter, so I don't think oxygen is an issue. Do you have any suggestions of a good pellet food for a Bala shark?

I found a good deal on a used 55gal. The guy who sold it to me had a Bala shark in it and didn't have anywhere to put it, so I said I'd take it with the tank. The seller gave me a packet of frozen bloodworms he was feeding the fish. I've had the tank set up for a couple days now and when I feed the bloodworms, the shark goes after them aggressively. But then, each time it takes one in its mouth, it looks like it just works it for a little while and then spits it out again. I don't think I've seen it swallow one yet. I've also tried flake food and see the same behavior. Does anyone have any ideas of what's going on? (This is only a temporary situation until after Christmas)

I have been wanting to eventually keep some angels in a second tank that’s larger than the 29gal. Would they be ok in something like a 40gal breeder or would they need the deeper 55gal to be ok?

My wife and I used something like these under our couch when we were in an apartment with vinyl floors. Maybe you could find something like that?

I'm going to be setting up a 29gal (and possibly 55 gal) tank after Christmas. This would be my first planted tank. I don't have a big budget to do this with. I am wondering if anyone has any experience with the BeamsWork DA FSPEC LED? From my research, it looks like the BeamsWork or Finnex Stingray are both well recommended lights that won't break the bank. Right now, it looks like I could get either light for about the same price in a 29gal size. The plants I want to grow would be things like Amazon Sword, Java fern and moss, vallisneria, crypts, and anubias. My hope is to set up the 29gal, and let the vallisneria and anything else propagate and then take the extra plants to set up another planted tank down the road.