240 Gallon Build thread

[M@T!@$]

I have read good things about matrix and surface space for both nitrifying and denitrifying BB. It's relatively less if you buy more. 4liters for $38 on Amazon. Seachem recommends 1liter/100,gallon. Im not sure how much room you have available in the canister?

I've got to fill up 6 whole trays in the canisters, plus about half a tray in an fx6

 

[jaws7777]

I got some pond matrix recently to enable anaerobic BB. How about matrix or pond matrix?

I figured you're only going to buy it once for biological filtration. It's a bit pricier but may be worth it long term.

How are you setting up the media for anerobic bb

 

[M@T!@$]

I'm thinking of just doing lava rock. It is pretty cheap, but will it be efficient enough?

 

[jaws7777]

tarheel96 was thinking of the same and felt it wasnt porus enough.

I'm thinking of just doing lava rock. It is pretty cheap, but will it be efficient enough?

 

[millerkid519]

I've heard people say biohome is pretty good..although pricey. I will keep eheim in mind. I need to fill up the two aquatics with media and one basket on the fx6. If it becomes too pricey I may just go with rings and lava rock

I have bio home it is expensive but works good. Personally I would go with lava rock, crush it up into smaller chunks and put it in media bags. All I use is 100 percent natural charcoal

 

[DN328]

How are you setting up the media for anerobic bb

Im still contemplating that. I really got it to experiment first hands if it will make a dent in nitrate, and, Im not concerned with nitrifying bacteria since have the submerged bioballs.

I thought about some sort of slow flowing reactor. Im now thinking if I should submerged in my sump. I have a tray area below my felt pads where i want to try. I guess the idea is to keep submerged, slow flow, and depriving oxygen where the bb will form within the matrix. I know many have also said it doesnt work for nitrate...but im willing to give it a try. Aside from that, I understand it's quite porous comapred to many other bio media.

To be honest I thing for aerobic, almost any reasonable bio media will work.

Add: At some point it's diminishing returns.

 

[M@T!@$]

I have bio home it is expensive but works good. Personally I would go with lava rock, crush it up into smaller chunks and put it in media bags. All I use is 100 percent natural charcoal

Yeah, plus it's very cheap.. I may also put some bio rings under the tray like pond guru said to help disperse flow.



Heading to some plumbing stores to pick up the bulkheads, so I can plumb everything up and leak test..

If it doesn't rain this week stand will start to be built

 

[jaws7777]

Im still contemplating that. I really got it to experiment first hands if it will make a dent in nitrate, and, Im not concerned with nitrifying bacteria since have the submerged bioballs.

I thought about some sort of slow flowing reactor. Im now thinking if I should submerged in my sump. I have a tray area below my felt pads where i want to try. I guess the idea is to keep submerged, slow flow, and depriving oxygen where the bb will form within the matrix. I know many have also said it doesnt work for nitrate...but im willing to give it a try. Aside from that, I understand it's quite porous comapred to many other bio media.

To be honest I thing for aerobic, almost any reasonable bio media will work.

Add: At some point it's diminishing returns.

Agreed. But definitly worth a try. Even if it cuts nitrates in half its worth it imo

 

[M@T!@$]

Anyone have some advice on what plants to keep in this tank? Need something hardy I guess and easy to grow/take care

 

[Lepisosteus]

So I decided to set up a 240 gallon I've had in storage for 8months or so now.

Thread will be slow as I am starting a new job, due to saving up for a much larger tank for the new house. Don't wanna talk to much about that right now, but it will be around 3 times more gallon age than this *fingers crossed*

Back to the build, tank is 8' X 2' X 2'
2 holes drilled at the moment for canisters and got the top and base finished

Things to be done-

Drill 2 more holes on the recently capped off ones, plus one on the top
Finish stand
Purchase bulkheads
Paint the back black

Water changes-
Purchasing two blue barrels

-one for new water, other for getting right amount of water out of tank to drain.
Gonna try 50 gallons every 2-3 days

Filtration-
Fx6
2 aquatop cf500uv


Heating-
2 300 watt hydor inline heaters

Air pump ect-
Need help on what to buy, will be running 2 air disks

Substrate-
Pool filter sand

Decor-
Drift wood, some plants

Intended stock-

Already have- 5" fire eel, 5" rtc (growing it out for a lfs display tank)

Looking to add- looking to grow out 1-2 rays, jardini, datnoids

Also, do you guys think I should reinforce the bottom seams? Tank is roughly half inch thick acrylic

Starting to build the stand this week, I will update this thread as I go, any recommendations are appreciated

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Shhhhhhhh