i was lucky and pretty much managed to get a pre cycled tank in place, i got the tank and frame very cheap, it had only been used to keep ciclids(sp?) i also got a filter and the gravel and rocks and shells from the same guy. only things i really added was the single ornament, water, plants and fish. i;ve always used live plants in every tank i've had, i like the way they behave and help the fish etc.

at the moment my tank is only about 33 gallons. i know that this is very inadequite to keep 2 oscars and a spotted talking catfish, but i've got my eye on one in the back of the petshop where i get all my bits n bobs from, he's a local pet shop too, not a big super-market petshop. so im sure if push comes to show he'd part with it. It's about 6 ft long, about 2.5ft tall and i'd say to 2ft back (roughly, i not measured it). what sort of gallons would we be talking there? im fully aware i'd after to alter my heating, lighting and filtration arrangement and im quite willing.

the size of the tank is approximate, its previously been used to keep reptiles.

any help or advice always is and will be much appreciated.

thats pretty sweet, yr o's will grow so fast ul be going to get that upgrade sooner rather than later!!

i always have used real plants, and still do in all my tanks now...bar my oscars tank!! cos everytime i added one they would rip it to bits..swines lol so use fake ones in there now lol looks nowhere near as good mind

The measurements that you mentioned work out to around 180 gallons, or may be a little less. However, I suspect the tank holds considerably less because even though it's 2 1/2 feet high, the water probably doesn't come up quite that far. With the tank that size, a 400 W heater would be adequate. Couple of decent canister filters, or maybe one large filter would be fine. Definitely good for a couple of Oscars and some Tankmates, lovely tank, you should go for it

Check for scratches before buying.
I got one tank that's been badly scratched by some bearded dragons.
That came to mind when you said there were reptiles in it.
Nice tanksize.

hmmm... scratched. good point. will have to pop in on my lunch break tommorow and have a peek. although i could just replace one side of the tank if it is, its not too difficult i also have a friend who's good at that. he built his own, but the pangasius he had cracked it lol.

You better not get into that unless it's really an emergency.
If it's not broken, don't try to fix it!lol
Oh well, the tank will probably be fine.
Pangasius Tankbusters to the rescue!lol

mattyboy wrote:


little (well big) shits lol

yeah def check for cracks etc but if yr lucky enough to av ppl who can replace bits its not a biggy.

ok an update, the tank in the back of the petshop would have been ideal, its 6ft long x18" high x12" back i think he said, so it 3ft longer then the one i already have. unfortunately it's got a massive crack in the bottom of it that is a biggy to replace as it compromises the whole structure. also there is lots of other cracks and chips in the supporting glass. too much work really. he's gone to his wholesaler tonight and is gonna get me a price of a tank at the same size as that or as close as. He estimates the tank alone should stand me at £150's. lighting upgrade another 30, he's got a stand for the tank in the back he's willing to sell me, will try get that off him for 20 quid if he can hook me up with a tank of the same size, its a pretty common size then just need to worry about a filter and a lid for it. anyone from uk know any good places for good but low cost external filters? and lids of good quality but low cost? i can get free gravel and stones for it no problems, i'll just go back ot the guy i got this tank and gravel etc from

take a leaf out of mine n tonyt's book and check out the site we got our tanks from.

type aquatic fanatics (classifieds) into google.

i just got a 5 ft tank with heaters rocks and so many other extras for £40! no cracks or anything, serious bargains on there mate

i can find the website, but not the classifieds thing your on about, or do i just contact them people and tell em what im after?

www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/

there u go mate ust enter yr region

thanks pal! appreciate that. maybe an administrator should make a thread some where (if there isn't one already) of all places world wide (categorised in to continent's/countrys) that are good for very low cost aquatic supplies, compile an almighty list