For a beginer.

noahwnw · #1 12-13-2010, 07:05 PM

I am looking at a 55 gallon fish tank, and was wondering if this would be suitable

for a beginner with no experience. Or would it be too much of a tank for

someone like me to start off with. I've been all over the web and youtube.com

researching with amazement. Anyways any tips would be apreciated.

Thanks in advance. Me the newbie.

Oh and by the way tank and stand is free. Just havent heard back from the

owner yet.

jason_sps · #2 12-13-2010, 07:58 PM

My first project is a 30 gallon long and I added 2 more feet of plexi to the top. I don't really think there is a specific size for beginners or professionals. I think it just matters on what you want to do with it or what you plan on putting into it. It also depends on how much time and money you'd like to put into your project. I'd definitely take advantage of the free tank though. Now its up to your imagination to come up with the right environment and right critters for it. Most of all, have fun with it.

noahwnw · #3 12-13-2010, 08:23 PM

Hey thanks for the positive feed back. Good stuff to know before I start.

Ozymandias · #4 12-13-2010, 08:54 PM

ya no real size but i find that testing out on a smaller scale, especially with back ground methods always helps.

sweetriden76 · #5 12-14-2010, 08:30 PM

yeah, I agree on testing things out, also you can do it a bit at a time, If you look at my thread you can see the changes I have made to my first viv over the past weeks, not shown is the first waterfall attempt which sucked but it's a good example that you can do a little then improve and learn from what you tried first if you don't like the result

noahwnw · #6 12-14-2010, 09:14 PM

Great to know. My biggest fear is that I will be NOT able to get ALL the adhesives, great

stuff, silicone etc etc off the glass to a brite squeaky residue free surface again if I

completely fail??

sweetriden76 · #7 12-14-2010, 09:31 PM

I have seen people cut foam to fit the back and sides and glue to that, I also didn't like the thought of gluing stuff to the tank since it was a brand new exo-terra...so there is nothing thats glued to the glass in my tank at all...I also plan to pin a bunch of air plants to the background and waterfall to blend things in a bit more

Ozymandias · #8 12-14-2010, 09:32 PM

o you can get it off, but takes alot of elbow grease and razor blades.

noahwnw · #9 12-16-2010, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetriden76

I have seen people cut foam to fit the back and sides and glue to that, I also didn't like the thought of gluing stuff to the tank since it was a brand new exo-terra...so there is nothing thats glued to the glass in my tank at all...I also plan to pin a bunch of air plants to the background and waterfall to blend things in a bit more

So then how do you keep everything stuck to the back and walls without some sort of adheasive to the glass? Ill search the forums more I just havent found the answer to that specific question yet.

sweetriden76 · #10 12-16-2010, 10:03 PM

well, the back piece of foam in mine is the exo background which I'm eventually gonna make more natural looking just by disguising it...but it's just held by a tight fit and is slightly buried in the dirt, then the waterfall I made from GS foam and siliconed over it, then used hardwood dowels to pin the waterfall to the background...with a standard aquarium you may have to glue some places but it's strong adhesive so I doubt you'd have to glue the entire thing like I've seen some do