My husband is getting "paid" for helping clean out a dance club the other night, by giving him a 125 gallon tank, previously used for saltwater fish at another dance club that closed down. Of course we haven't seen it yet, and don't know what equipment it'll come with, but it'll be here next week.

I'm still considered a fish-keeping newbie - My 55 gallon has only been set up for 4-5 weeks. I have no idea what I'm going to do with the tank, or where I'll put it....but what I do know, is by the time I figure it out, it'll be a month before I set it up, and another couple of months before I add fish.

Since I was a little girl, I had always wanted sea horses, but I don't know if that's a far-fetched dream or a possibility now that half the battle is getting the equipment. I know I would have so much to learn - and there is some people I could ask for help from, but I don't know if it would just be too much trouble or what. A tank that size would probably be better suited for saltwater, if it was a self-contained environment. I can't imagine the time it would take to take care of a freshwater tank that size. My 55 gal. is enough trouble as it is. I enjoy it and all, but I don't want fishkeeping to become my life.

I figure I'll decide in a month if I want to use it or sell it.

What would YOU do with such a gift??

Personally, my brain is screaming goldfish paradise!!!!!!
I have wanted a tank that big so I could get a nice selection of fancies, but that is just me and there is no way I can do it unless I got a free tank too
I hope it comes to you in good condition and you enjoy it no matter what you decide to do

Saltwater tanks take just about as much "care" and time as a freshwater tank does..... The big difference I see is that the fish tend to be, generally, more expensive! If this tank is already configured for salt - with the skimmers and such, it is much easier to make it salt than it is to convert a fresh to a salt tank....

Do not be in a rush to set it up or sell it. A tank like that is a true treasure. Take your time and find out how you like the care of the 55 you have.

Except for the sheer volume of the water that you would be changing, the larger the tank, the easier the care in most ways. The more water volume gives you more time to react to just about anything that happens in a tank. So do not let the volume scare you off. There is the size and weight to contend with - and if you must treat such a tank it can be expensive. A good UV and a separate qt tank is essential....

There are many many good salt water fish stores. I would suggest that you talk to those people. Do a bunch of reading. Ask a bunch of questions. From what I hear, some people have great success with the sea horses, but the majority do not. I think they are wonderous creatures, too. I would love to have a "herd".

Earning things like this for "side" work is soooooo much fun. I remember when we cleaned and repaired electronic equipment from a factory that burned. We got parts for 10 computers and such! It was true found treasure. COngratulations!

Here's my thoughts on the tank, tanks can be as easy or as hard to maintain as you make them. It's all about stocking levels. The less fish you have and the more filtration you have the easier a tank is to maintain. I have a 55 gallon with 2 goldies and a BN plecp and 660 gphs of filtration and I (knock on wood) haven't had a bit of trouble with water params or anything, I do weekly waterchanges eventhough my nirates stay under 20, because with a python it is so easy. If you don't already have one I strongly reccomend it, it pays for it's self very quickly in saved work. Anyway, it's all up to you I thought that saltwater take a lot moreday to day maintance, but I've never kept one, let us know what you decide.

Just as I've studied about goldfish keeping, I will study the pros and cons of a saltwater tank. I do own a python (bought it when I bought the tank I have now), and it's such a lovely invention! I couldn't go through the trouble of weekly water changes without it. Although from what I hear, it's better to have a python for each tank to eliminate the possibility of contamination between tanks.

I'm definately not going to rush into anything, and I will absolutely have to get a generator for the house because it's not even going to make sense having these tanks during a hurricane with the possibility of losing power for days on end.

Lots to think about. I know saltwater tanks are really hard to set up initially, and I don't even have a clue about maintenance yet.

Thank you for your input!

to tell you the truth, a saltwater tank takes more care and its wwwwwwaaaaayyyyyyy more expensive. Plus the fish are more sensitive. I think it would make a great goldfish tank

I think you should give it to ME!! (Just an idea!)

Don't be afraid of the size!! I was the same way! Once you get that bad boy home & cleaned up!! LOOK OUT!!! You are in for a real jump in your hobby!!

I don't know about saltwater, I am just now considering salt for my 29 gal tank. I am at the reading everything stage!! As for freshwater my 100 gal after the initial cleaning & set up is really not much more effort that the other tank!! Actually maybe EASIER!!

Let us know!

Hubby found out today there is no equipment with it. Darn. Oh well. I can get what I want now, I guess!

Still don't know if it has a stand. I hope so! I told him to find out already, geesh.

It's good to know I needn't be afraid of the size. Maybe one day I can turn my 55 gal. into a saltwater setup, and convert the 125 to freshwater. I couldn't get new fish for a while though. I love my current babies too much, and don't want to share their attention quite yet.

Guess I need for hubby to help out a fish store next!

Lola, the SAME thing happened to me....I was supposed to get the tank, stand with all lights & filters......just all kinds of stuff. When the tank was picked up I got the tank, stand & that was it! They were going to "get the other stuff right over to me!" I have yet to see it! You should have seen my little HOB filters on this big tank!!! LOL!! My son went out and got me an AQ110 as a gift. We both thought WOW THAT BIG FILTER WILL DO THE TRICK! Later I got ANOTHER AQ110......STILL not enough! Later a sweet goldie friend traded me & I got a Fluval....F I N A L L Y I was above minimum!!!!! WHEW!! I even got the light from a local "hardware" store!!!

But I LOVE MY BIG TANK!!! Wish i had ANOTHER!!!

I went by the club this afternoon to look at the tank. No stand either. Just a very grubby tank. But as long as the glass is good (I couldn't see all the sides, it was on the floor against a wall in a dark room), it should clean up well. There was an old guy there helping to shampoo the carpeting, and turns out, he owns a Koi pond, so we talked goldfish for a while. The tank used to be up on the bar, which is why it didn't have a stand to begin with.

Hubby and I refinished an antique 6 drawer dresser and turned it into an entertainment center recently, but it could easily be used as a tank stand. All in all, it'll be a nice little project. I'm not sure it's a whole 125 gal, it looked more along the lines of 100-110 to me....

Can you believe we just picked it up today? They were supposed to deliver it, and never did. But today is my birthday, so I made my dh promise he would get it today.

Seems to be okay so far...no broken/cracked glass, but the top middle supporting piece for the hood has been damaged slightly due to a heavy object being stored on top of it. Nice going people. But dh said he can fix it easily.

Will be a couple weeks before I can start cleaning it, and figure out where to put it. But I'm happy now! I got my free tank!!

happy birthday! what a nice gift I can't wait to see pics!

Happy Birthday Lola!!! You get a wonderful gift... You can have a lot of fish w/ 125 g tank

i would turn it into a goldfish tank!!
you can build your own stand.
and happy B-day

I just bought a new digital camera too (my birthday present to myself), so should be able to get some awesome pics now. Cuz ya know we gotta start with the BEFORE photos.......

Happy birthday Lola!! What a great present. I am sooo jealous....

me want pics

First things first (pics coming...the camera isn't even out of the box yet ), here are the dimensions:

60" long, 25.5" tall, 18.5" wide

I put the numbers into the volume calc, and it came out to 122.5. Subtract 5 gallons, and it's around 117. Probably call it even at 115 gallons. So my guestimation when I eye-balled it was close. Cool!

Awesome! Happy Birthday, Lola!!!

I can't wait to see pics!

Here she is. Now, all I need is the time to clean it up.

well that is a fixer uper alright

good luck on cleaning it :

Once it is all cleaned out I am sure it will be a thing of beauty. Can't wait to see the progress!

DH was bored today, and got a head start on the cleaning...




After it's sterilized, we'll relaminate the top and bottom "wood" areas. I need them dark to match the stand I made.