123 replies to this topic

[AXIS]

** EDIT TITLE NAME CHANGE, TO MORE FIT THE JOURNAL LOCATION**

Okay so I've been keeping a 50L (13 US gallons approx) tank for a while now, which I've been really enjoying. Nice little fresh water community going on.

So I decided I'd like to try a bigger tank as well seeing as I was enjoying it so much, even managed to get the idea past the wife.


So I managed to pick up a larger second hand tank, thinking that I'd slowly over the next while, buy the filter/ornaments etc etc, as I didn't want to lay out on everything at once.

So I managed to get a 183cm x 36cm x 45.5cm (LxWxH) glass tank for cheap. (72in x 14in x 18in)

Now I figure that's probably something like 280-300L (75-80 US Gallons) approximate.

Now while I'm working on building the new stand for it, I figure I should work out filtering needs and possible stocking ideas.

I'd like to try some bigger fish in this one, not just community schools.

So I'm needing some suggestions, as the advice out there seems all over the shop.

I've been back and forth over ideas of cichlids and knifes, and loaches and its all getting a bit confusing.

Edited by AXIS, 29 November 2012 - 05:51 PM.

[simmoman]

It's pretty difficult to suggest fish that you might like cause everyone has there own taste, so might I suggest you pay a visit to Malaga or Morley Aquarium shops as they have displays of adult cichlids, catfish, loaches and the like, not sure about other aquarium shops. That way you might get a better idea and of course ask about suitable tank mates as you not wish to have avoidable aggression in the tank.

Good luck with it.

[Bowdy]

One of the joys of fish keeping, deciding what you want to keep
So many options. What do you want the overall look to be ?

[dazzabozza]

Americans
http://www.perthcich...showtopic=44251
http://www.perthcich...showtopic=21849

Malawis
http://www.perthcich...showtopic=37153
http://www.perthcich...showtopic=37229

Tangs
http://www.perthcich...x...st&p=162301
http://www.perthcich...x...st&p=212630

[AXIS]

Dazza your photo skills are really quite impressive.


I've been doing a ton of googling, trying to find fish that tickle my fancy I might like to see swimming around.


I think I'd like a couple of bigger show fish, accompanied by some smaller schools maybe?

I know tanks size is a big kicker of course andI 'm not sure if these guys could go together or anything. But as an idea of the kind of fish I am liking the following have jumped out at me.

Severums
Blue Acara
Clown Loaches
Gouramis/Dwarf Gouramis


Actually looking through the photos of Daz's, I really like that marbled peacock too. Basically more colour the better I think.


I'm having a lot of trouble working out what might be suitable for the tank size. I definitely don't want just a solitary buig fish, but some smaller ones as well.

Edited by AXIS, 18 November 2011 - 01:10 PM.

[AXIS]

Well I just ordered two SunSun 404A cannister filters off ebay.

Bit of a gamble on the "chinese knockoff" but we'll see how they go.


Does anyone thing using both of these at once will be overkill? or will I be just right?


See how the flow goes I suppose when its full up of media



Just about finalised the design plan for the stand too.

[Westie]

Should be good for a 300L tank. Just get good media for it. If you get the "media pack" included with them, don't bother using the bio-balls. They're a good filter for the price, just be REALLY careful with the plastic fittings, they break easy and are impossible to replace.

[AXIS]

Yeah there is a "free media pack" coming with them.

I figured I'd probably have to add some additional media beyond what it comes with.

[AXIS]

Here's the pic of the tank. Long and skinny.



Hopefully should go nice against a wall.

[Westie]

decent size

[AXIS]

Sunsuns turned up and seem pretty good, haven't hooked them up or anything, still under my desk. But they seem the business.


Okay to the question of the day.

Now I'm nearly finished the design phase for my stand build. However there's one thing I'm not sure about.

Now the tank I'm going to be using, is a glass aquarium (see photo)

That does NOT have any trim around the bottom, its all just glass.

Now should the bottom of this tank be just supported around the perimeter like I was intending. (and like the crappy stand the tank is already on from the person I got it from)

Or does it need a full flat support over the whole thing on the top of the stand?


I keep seeing conflicting ideas on the subject.



I kinda want to get that bit right.

[sandgroper]

Some put the foam straight onto the stand so that the outer edge and any cross bracing is all that supports the tank. I how ever always have a solid top then the foam for better support. cheers Steve

[AXIS]

Yeah those are the two options I'm looking at, but I just cannot see a straight answer out there for a tank without a rim.

It seems if you do have a rim, then don't put a solid top down, but I just can't find a straight answer about a rimless one.

maybe it doesn't matter

[Neakit]

all my metal stands only get poly on the top. The tubing goes around the edge and there is a few ribs in the centre for support, i have used some mdf in the past on top of the stands but its not necessary. Just a thought as well, the reason i have gone away from mdf on top of the stand is it swells and then it all turns rather sour.

[AXIS]

So I had a look through the sunsuns which come prefilled with some media.

And they have the following

Top level (thin filter pad)


Second level (thin filter pad + ceramic noodles)


Third level (thin filter pad + some bio balls)


Fourth level (thin filter pad + activated charcoal)



So I'm thinking there must be some more media I could use, and rearrange etc than this for sure. What do you guys think?

[Westie]

ditch the bio balls and get some seachem matrix or eheim substrat
oh and rinse the carbon off before putting in the filter

Edited by Jason82, 15 December 2011 - 03:42 PM.

[AXIS]

Well I finally got around to finding some time to get started on the Stand.

Build is going well so far, I got the frame all done.

Now to move onto skinning and trimming next weekend hopefully.

This is the Plan I've come up with



And here's where I got to this weekend









Exciting to be finally actually building after so much planning for the last couple months.

[spite333]

Looking good mate, So have you decided on what fish to put in the tank??? Tangs are the go man!!!! IMO could have a nice colony of tropheus or feather fins and some shellies chill on the bottom

Cheers Mike

[Westie]

you're a handy little vegemite!

[AXIS]

No still not really decided on what do get yet. Tossing a few ideas around, but I keep going in circles a bit.


I'm very happy with how the actual building is going given that I've never built anything at all before. But the time I've put into planning it seems to be helping to muddle through.

Turning out to be quite the fun little project to do with the help of my father-in-law. Good fun working together on it.