Ok I see now, my phone is too small or my eyes are too old...
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David R's 2000L tank build
- Thread starter David R
- Start date
Bit of an update on the sump, I gave the Poret foam its first "proper" clean today. In the month-or-so the tank has been running it has only had one light rinse when I had to remove it to install some egg-crate behind it to help support the sheets. It didn't need to be cleaned yet, though the water was building up in the high side about 3-4cm above the level on the low side, showing there is a fair increase in the restriction of flow as it clogs up. Cleaning wasn't too bad, I didn't bother trying to get it spotless, in fact I intentionally didn't clean the last 30ppi sheet very thoroughly as I feel the more clogged it is the more effective it will be at catching fine particles. The first two sheets (10ppi and 20ppi) both had a fair amount of crap in them, so it is obviously doing it's job. The water clarity has been good enough for me, skilled photographers and gin-clear-water-fanatics wouldn't be happy with it, but given the messy fish I have (that are still nowhere near grown!) I am loving having a filter system that doesn't need attention every few days. The settling chamber is working fairly well too, it has been about a week and there's a fair bit of muck in there. I'm leaving it for now to try provide some food for my pothos, so far I have barely been able to get a detectable level of nitrate, nitrite has been zero right through and although I have had a couple of small ammonia spikes (up to 1ppm) they have only been after a heavy feeding of veg for the plecs and didn't last long. I'll take pics to show the accumulation of waste next time I clean it out.
Lights have arrived!! Just got the call to say they've been delivered to work so I'm heading into town very shortly to pick them up. Two more night-shifts so plenty of time at home (albeit in a slightly zombie-like state) then a three day weekend, hopefully I'll have them running very soon!!
awesome tank! I love the driftwood stump. I always love the flooded rainforest look. and the geos are awesome 
I've just finished the "temporary" set up of the new lighting, the Current units have a metal adjustable "foot" at each end designed to sit the light on the edge of the tank, but as I'm putting a 3' and 4' unit together to make a 7' length over an 8' tank it required a bit of modification. I also wanted to attach them to some aluminium C-channel so they could be lifted up above the top of the tank to allow better spread over the 1200mm width. Here's a side on shot showing how slim the units are, and the wire foot on each end;
To join the two units together I removed the support out of one, then cut the bends off another so it could be inserted into the adjacent unit. Fairly straightforward, but unfortunately not rigid enough to support the whole length as I had hoped for, so it will need to be attached to the C-channel in the centre too. No biggie.
I've experimented around and found that raising them 150mm off the top of the tank gives good spread without losing too much over the side. I have also angled the front unit ever so slightly to help prevent the light spilling over the front of the tank.
I'm thrilled with how they look and the colours of the fish, and the quality of the lights too. Can't recommend them enough, worth every cent over the cheaper units I looked at, and even more so when the programmable timers come out. I'm going to get out the DSLR and try take some decent pics of the fish tonight!
More info on the lights here; http://www.current-usa.com/aquarium-led-lights/satellite-freshwater-led-plus
Now I have to decide if I join the C-channels together to make a rectangular frame and suspend that either from the ceiling or a couple of supports above the tank, or if I build an open topped wooden fascia around the top (and bottom) of the tank to house and support the lights. Suggestions???
To join the two units together I removed the support out of one, then cut the bends off another so it could be inserted into the adjacent unit. Fairly straightforward, but unfortunately not rigid enough to support the whole length as I had hoped for, so it will need to be attached to the C-channel in the centre too. No biggie.
I've experimented around and found that raising them 150mm off the top of the tank gives good spread without losing too much over the side. I have also angled the front unit ever so slightly to help prevent the light spilling over the front of the tank.
I'm thrilled with how they look and the colours of the fish, and the quality of the lights too. Can't recommend them enough, worth every cent over the cheaper units I looked at, and even more so when the programmable timers come out. I'm going to get out the DSLR and try take some decent pics of the fish tonight!
More info on the lights here; http://www.current-usa.com/aquarium-led-lights/satellite-freshwater-led-plus
Now I have to decide if I join the C-channels together to make a rectangular frame and suspend that either from the ceiling or a couple of supports above the tank, or if I build an open topped wooden fascia around the top (and bottom) of the tank to house and support the lights. Suggestions???
David i just came across this thread. What a magnificent set up!! I really appreciate u taking time to post on my thread. I see ur very experienced and have been busy lol. I want bigger than the 125g im upgrading to after looking at ur tank! Lol nice job!
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Thanks! I'm always too busy to be posting on the internet but still seem to find time! 
With your upgrade and the kind of fish you're keeping (uaru, geos etc) footprint is as important (if not more so) important than over-all gallons. I'd take a lower wider tank with a bigger footprint than a tall narrow one with the same or larger volume any day. They are harder to find though, but well worth it IMO.
With your upgrade and the kind of fish you're keeping (uaru, geos etc) footprint is as important (if not more so) important than over-all gallons. I'd take a lower wider tank with a bigger footprint than a tall narrow one with the same or larger volume any day. They are harder to find though, but well worth it IMO.
Got a bit busy this evening and remembered I was going to take photos just after putting my home made pizza in the oven before sitting down to watch a chick-flick with my wife (she helped with the lights this afternoon so there's gotta be a bit of give and take!). Still managed to snap a few half-decent photos despite struggling to remember how to use the camera, and forgetting to clean the glass...
FTS
Aro
I noticed the left side of his jaw looks a little bung (for lack of a better word), perhaps damaged from jumping and hitting the glass when younger. Hopefully it becomes less noticeable as it grows, the right side still looks good tho!
Altifrons
L128
Had to zoom right in on him, surprised at how well that pic turned out given that he was about 3' away from the camera, as you can see here;
Biggest L190
And I put the camera on a tripod (balanced on the couch, thus the slightly crooked angle!) and flicked thru a couple of the different presets with the lights. I can't recall which is which, but you get the idea.
It's been a while since I've put any effort into taking pics of the fish and I definitely need to brush up on my skills. I am very happy with the lights though, and the pics don't do them justice (of course). The pics above just show the pre-set modes, the difference is far greater in person, and you can adjust the intensity of the red, green, blue, violet and white lights to come up with just about any colour you want, and also the right level of intensity.
Given the amount of ambient light in the room (I was really struggling with reflection on the glass) I'm thinking for the sake of taking pics building a hood around the top of the tank will be the best option to help contain the light. It's going to have to wait though, I've already blown the budget on this one and we've got a wedding in the US in March to attend, so until then all non-essential fish-related spending is on hold.
of course more fish come under the 'essential' category IMO!!
FTS
Aro
I noticed the left side of his jaw looks a little bung (for lack of a better word), perhaps damaged from jumping and hitting the glass when younger. Hopefully it becomes less noticeable as it grows, the right side still looks good tho!
Altifrons
L128
Had to zoom right in on him, surprised at how well that pic turned out given that he was about 3' away from the camera, as you can see here;
Biggest L190
And I put the camera on a tripod (balanced on the couch, thus the slightly crooked angle!) and flicked thru a couple of the different presets with the lights. I can't recall which is which, but you get the idea.
It's been a while since I've put any effort into taking pics of the fish and I definitely need to brush up on my skills. I am very happy with the lights though, and the pics don't do them justice (of course). The pics above just show the pre-set modes, the difference is far greater in person, and you can adjust the intensity of the red, green, blue, violet and white lights to come up with just about any colour you want, and also the right level of intensity.
Given the amount of ambient light in the room (I was really struggling with reflection on the glass) I'm thinking for the sake of taking pics building a hood around the top of the tank will be the best option to help contain the light. It's going to have to wait though, I've already blown the budget on this one and we've got a wedding in the US in March to attend, so until then all non-essential fish-related spending is on hold.
of course more fish come under the 'essential' category IMO!!
Looking good mate, that black arow 
do you find the lights can cover the full width of your tank well? they seem to be doing a great job.
do you find the lights can cover the full width of your tank well? they seem to be doing a great job.
