8'x4'x2' for Coldwater Oddballs

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FLESHY

Polypterus
MFK Member
Jan 7, 2006
5,542
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Central Wisconsin
Hey guys - I have been "given" the funds to go ahead with this tank (some is money the university owes me, some is my bosses personal money, and some other money is being moved around for us to do this. We are also being "sponsored" by the aquarium club of the university)

Approximate gallons looks like its going to be about 480g - but the top will have some space obviously - wont be entirely full.

It will eventually be a coldwater oddball tank. Stock will include: American Eel, Carp, sheepshead, bowfin, burbot, longnose, shortnose, spotted, florida, aligator (gars), australian murray cod, chinese hi-fin (ours died today of mystery reasons - but we might get another), shovelnose sturgeon...and anything else you guys can dream up. It just has to be a sweet cold water species!

I have never built an acrylic tank - so any advice would be appreciated.

Going to start building the stand here over winter break.

I have a very large external pump I am planning on using for a return - and doing a DIY spraybar sort of thing. Now might be a good place to start brainstorming filtration stuff with you guys - I have built filtration system that worked very well on my 6000g or so pool - but we are working on a budget, and have space constraints here (no settling tank with hydroponic rafts)

Any and all comments and ideas are welcome. I know nothing (adside from basic concepts) - so literally start teaching me anything you know.
 
guanl23 said:
have you thought of pickerels?
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My boss would love that - not certain how long they would be around however with the other stock. Some of these guys at full size are pretty mean - and the pickerels would be tiny compared to most everything.
 
It wont be big enough for gator at full size - with 4' width - it might be large enough for a pike. We generally speaking want to stay away from "Gamefish" or more common things. Sticking to things that people dont see often, or dont look for.

That being said - a pike could work in a tank this size. Ideally you would want one about a foot wider and a couple feet longer at the least though IMO.
 
Like I said - staying away from "Game" fishes and fishes that are more commonly recognized.

Any tips on tank building guys?
 
Bump - Will 1/8th inch be good enough for the bottom if completely supported by 1" plywood backed with two by four grid?
 
FLESHY said:
Bump - Will 1/8th inch be good enough for the bottom if completely supported by 1" plywood backed with two by four grid?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't do it; that's pretty darn thin for such a large aquarium. You're looking more at 1.25" for the sides and something a little bit thicker for the bottom (maybe 1.5") at minimum.

As far as filtration goes, what do you have as far as the footprint to work with? I was thinking that a sump as well as live plants (both submerged and emergent) will get you pretty far for the heavy stock that you have planned.

As for the stock, I wouldn't do the carp for multiple reasons with the major issue being the large amount of waste that it will produce. The rest of the stock should work until they get too big. Also, make sure that the alligator gar is the smallest fish if at all possible since they can be bullies when they get larger (although that one was pretty docile for me).
 
The carp is already in the tank. There is no way I am getting rid of him, have had him since he was a fry. (Adorable) He is staying.

Everything else will most likely be in grow out till I think its big enough to run with the big dogs. I wont be getting anything over 10" to start with. I like to raise my monsters from babies.
 
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