I am planning to set up a ~120 gallon biotopic discus tank. This is what i was planning:
The Tank:
120 gallon (4x2x2) or similar size and shaped aquarium
The Sump:
55 Gallon (4x1x1.66), with water level around 4" above the display tank, with waterfall type overflow into display tank
The Water:
pH 7.2
6 degrees german hardness
^These values are out of tap. I plan to filter with peat, but am unsure of what the exact pH and hardness will be after peat filtration
Temperature of 82F
I plan to perform 40-50% water changes 2-3 times per week
The Fish:
10 Discus
12 Corydoras
6 Otocinclus - will remove if a problem w/ the discus occurs
4 Blue Rams
25 Tetras - would like neons, but am unsure if they can take higher temps. If not neons, then lemon tetras
Ghost shrimp - i plan to introduce them long before the fish, so that a population can be established, and then slowly picked off by the fish for food.
The Decorations:
Substrate - White Sand
Background - I plan on constructing one from styrofoam and then covering it with white sand and then some fish safe waterproofing product
Decorations - Driftwood: one large "stump" peice extending out of the water
Other Decor: Numeorus leaves and small sticks, which i plan to coat in a clear fish safe water proofing product to protect from rotting
The Plants - Aquatic: Water Lilies, Amazon Swords, Anacharis
Floating: Duckweed or Frogbit
Terrestrial: Numerous, on driftwood described above
The Equipment:
2x 300 watt submerged heaters in sump
Fluval FX5 for water flow through sump and extra filtration
Above is the setup as i have planned it thus far, what follows are the questions i have regarding the tank:
1. Are their any problems with the above plan?
2. Assuming i suspended the lighting around 1' above the tank from the ceiling, how much light would i need to grow the plants i mentioned above?
3. Can neons take temperatures of 82F?
4. Has anyone tried coating leaves and small sticks with some sort of clear water proofing for use in a display tank? Did it work? Any considerations?
5. What should be used to waterproof backgrounds, the sticks/leaves described above, etc, for use in a display tank?
6. Would placing the sump in direct sunlight cause problems? I was thinking that the light would promote algae growth, which in the sump would be a good thing, as it would help clean the water. Or am i wrong?
Sorry for the excessively long post. Thanks for reading, and thanks for helping me
Also, if this is in the wrong forum, please move it.
The Tank:
120 gallon (4x2x2) or similar size and shaped aquarium
The Sump:
55 Gallon (4x1x1.66), with water level around 4" above the display tank, with waterfall type overflow into display tank
The Water:
pH 7.2
6 degrees german hardness
^These values are out of tap. I plan to filter with peat, but am unsure of what the exact pH and hardness will be after peat filtration
Temperature of 82F
I plan to perform 40-50% water changes 2-3 times per week
The Fish:
10 Discus
12 Corydoras
6 Otocinclus - will remove if a problem w/ the discus occurs
4 Blue Rams
25 Tetras - would like neons, but am unsure if they can take higher temps. If not neons, then lemon tetras
Ghost shrimp - i plan to introduce them long before the fish, so that a population can be established, and then slowly picked off by the fish for food.
The Decorations:
Substrate - White Sand
Background - I plan on constructing one from styrofoam and then covering it with white sand and then some fish safe waterproofing product
Decorations - Driftwood: one large "stump" peice extending out of the water
Other Decor: Numeorus leaves and small sticks, which i plan to coat in a clear fish safe water proofing product to protect from rotting
The Plants - Aquatic: Water Lilies, Amazon Swords, Anacharis
Floating: Duckweed or Frogbit
Terrestrial: Numerous, on driftwood described above
The Equipment:
2x 300 watt submerged heaters in sump
Fluval FX5 for water flow through sump and extra filtration
Above is the setup as i have planned it thus far, what follows are the questions i have regarding the tank:
1. Are their any problems with the above plan?
2. Assuming i suspended the lighting around 1' above the tank from the ceiling, how much light would i need to grow the plants i mentioned above?
3. Can neons take temperatures of 82F?
4. Has anyone tried coating leaves and small sticks with some sort of clear water proofing for use in a display tank? Did it work? Any considerations?
5. What should be used to waterproof backgrounds, the sticks/leaves described above, etc, for use in a display tank?
6. Would placing the sump in direct sunlight cause problems? I was thinking that the light would promote algae growth, which in the sump would be a good thing, as it would help clean the water. Or am i wrong?
Sorry for the excessively long post. Thanks for reading, and thanks for helping me
Also, if this is in the wrong forum, please move it.
