Hi guys.
I currently have a large stock in a 5ft x 2ft x 2ft glass tank around 130 UK Gallon.
My current stock (taking the TSN out of the equation) needs 3 x the size they currently have once they are mature.
I have space for a tank with the external dimensions of 7ft x 3ft.
I contacted a builder who has quoted £750 to build me a glass 12mm tank at 7x3x3.
I believe this will give me around 390 UK gallons which is what my current stock needs.
If I was able to increase the hight of the tank to 4ft this would take me past the magical 500 gallon mark to allow for the last couple of fish I would like to keep, and to give my current stock (minus any small losses from my TSN lol) enough space to have a good life.
I have spent the last week I had off work, and all of this weekend (minus a little sleep and a bit of hanky panky) researching the idea of a plywood tank.
But more on that in a minute.
My first question is this.
What size sump will I need to effectively run a 400 and 500 gallon tank?
I have a 44 UK gallon tank, and the 130 gallon tank the fish are currently homed in.
I would like to keep the 130 as a grow tank if possible, but if the sump needs to be bigger, this is the tank I will be forced to use.
My second question is regarding water changes.
I currently do a 40% water change ever three days, as i say I am pretty highly stocked with some large Cichlids.
I would like to create an overflow and trickle system straight from the mains.
Is it a case of adding heaters to the sump, and having the fresh water enter the sump?
Also, how do you get around the issue with water conditioning?
Then getting back to the Plywood tank questions.
a) How long will they last without internal maintenance?
b) How thick would the glass need to be for a 7ft (h) x 3ft (d) x 4ft (h)?
c) How do insurance companies feel about a self built aquarium?
d) Which would be stronger, a well built plywood tank or a Plywood tank.
The floor is going to need to be reenforced as I do not think it would handle two ton, so I have some convincing to achieve with the wife, so would appreciate any advice on the above before I bring it up with her.
Thanks in advance.
I currently have a large stock in a 5ft x 2ft x 2ft glass tank around 130 UK Gallon.
My current stock (taking the TSN out of the equation) needs 3 x the size they currently have once they are mature.
I have space for a tank with the external dimensions of 7ft x 3ft.
I contacted a builder who has quoted £750 to build me a glass 12mm tank at 7x3x3.
I believe this will give me around 390 UK gallons which is what my current stock needs.
If I was able to increase the hight of the tank to 4ft this would take me past the magical 500 gallon mark to allow for the last couple of fish I would like to keep, and to give my current stock (minus any small losses from my TSN lol) enough space to have a good life.
I have spent the last week I had off work, and all of this weekend (minus a little sleep and a bit of hanky panky) researching the idea of a plywood tank.
But more on that in a minute.
My first question is this.
What size sump will I need to effectively run a 400 and 500 gallon tank?
I have a 44 UK gallon tank, and the 130 gallon tank the fish are currently homed in.
I would like to keep the 130 as a grow tank if possible, but if the sump needs to be bigger, this is the tank I will be forced to use.
My second question is regarding water changes.
I currently do a 40% water change ever three days, as i say I am pretty highly stocked with some large Cichlids.
I would like to create an overflow and trickle system straight from the mains.
Is it a case of adding heaters to the sump, and having the fresh water enter the sump?
Also, how do you get around the issue with water conditioning?
Then getting back to the Plywood tank questions.
a) How long will they last without internal maintenance?
b) How thick would the glass need to be for a 7ft (h) x 3ft (d) x 4ft (h)?
c) How do insurance companies feel about a self built aquarium?
d) Which would be stronger, a well built plywood tank or a Plywood tank.
The floor is going to need to be reenforced as I do not think it would handle two ton, so I have some convincing to achieve with the wife, so would appreciate any advice on the above before I bring it up with her.
Thanks in advance.
