This tank was purchased from Acrylic Tank Manufacturers in October of 2008 for use as a quarantine tank to observe and treat some of the Koi from the office pond that made it through the cycling nightmare of nitrite poisoning. Initially, the setup was plumbed by LeMar. The design was a catastrophe waiting to happen and I would not wish this type of plumbing on my worst enemy. The cabinet houses a 15 gallon wet / dry filter and is plumbed with a built in overflow, drainage with a ball valve and union, and a check valve from the pump back into the tank. This plumbing was the result of a great deal of trial and error … and one power outage that resulted in back flow; hence, the one-way check valve from the pump back to the tank. Seasoned tank owners know this is a mistake that is only made once. The check valve prohibits the backflow of water from the line into the tank once a siphon is created and the pump loses power. The $1.89 investment saves a mess.

Initially, the tank was home to 2 koi. Pippi was a very small (1 inch) becko who coexisted with a 3 inch platimum Ogon. Both of the koi had suffered a tremendous amount of internal damage and gill damage from the effects of new tank syndrome from the office pond. In mid-November, Pippi expired. In an effort to provide companionship for the platinum Ogon, I added four additional 3 inch koi to the mix.

The ensuing 2 months was an absolute nightmare in the world of fish husbandry. Despite numerous attempts to isolate the sick Ogon, treatments with salt to .03, Pimafix, Melafix, and nursery boxes to sustain a calm environment, this ill fish finally expired. The last of the initial office gang.

Despite the use of bacteria additives, the tank required water changes to almost 60% several times each week in order to combat nitrite readings sometimes in excess of 1.0. However, during this period, the 4 fish enjoyed meals of pellets, peas, shrimp, and oatmeal. They thrived and continued to grow.

On January 14, 2009, the water tested no detectable ammonia, nitrites, and low nitrates. Finally, victory in tank 2! The nitrite cycle has completed and the feeding frenzy is on! Now, the next plan is to add a pleco for some basic housekeeping.