got my new 220! but need ALOT of help

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Acura_RSX

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 30, 2008
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Newfoundland, Canada
Picked up my new 220 gallon glass tank yesterday (72"x 24"Wx 30") which is drilled in the bottom. pretty excited about it and i really like the stand thats with it .. it needs a good cleaning which i am planning on doing today .. its not set up on the stand or anything yet as i dont have the room made in my bed room yet (need to sell or temp move my 50 gallon tank). I have taken a few pictures so far but will post all of them up with the full progress of the tank in a couple of weeks. (included in the buy was.. tank .. stand .. light .. sump w/ pvc and valves)

In the mean time i need alot of help ... so ill number the things i need help with. and would appriciate some somewhat elaborate answers explaining ur opinion etc.

Note: I'm on a tight budget .. well im negative money from the tank at the moment so the less money the better ..

#1 (tops) - the previous owner used this tank as a saltwater set up so didnt have any top on the tank at all but im using it for freshwater (including a silver aro) .. so im oviously going need the tops for the tank .. on a budget im wondering what my best bet is (i do have a hook up in the glass business so can get it cheaper then normal but if theres a better sollution thats what im looking for) .. also with an aro in the tank whats my best route to go with a top?

#2 (sump) - well the sump that i was given is a fiberglass 100 gal weird shaped custom sump .. its ugly as hell and doesnt fit in the stand etc .. so i need to make a new sump i guess .. seems to be my best option. im wondering what is the smallest size tank i could use for this set-up .. 55 gal's etc arent dirt cheap around here like in mainland canada and even better in the states. so i need to know what the smallest option i can go with is .. or if i could use a rubbermaid container (as i already have a couple, not sure of the size) ... also dont know how to build a sump so if someone could send me to a great video or a veryyy detailed step-by-step process of how to build one it would be great.

another note on this sump topic .. he included some pvc piping he used etc most of it is set up somewhat still but almost seems as if one part is cut . the pvc that goes in the tank etc is still there and then teh piece that goes through the hole (and screw in on the bottom to keep tight) but after that it appears that a piece is cut as it seems to be glued with some type of yellow tough glue on either side .. well those short pieces connect to a valve (controlling pressure etc i guess) .. he hasnt answered the email yet but im wondering how this could be re-hooked up as he said thats all i should have to do with the tank .. also the tank has two black round pieces in the back corners of the tank with the two set of slips in them (one half way up and one on the top .. these leak water into the corners where the pipes for the sump go .. just mainly used as a cover for the pvc but is there a way i could get rid of these and optimize tank space a bit more (for arowana etc)

#3 - i need to know what heaters i have to get to heat this tank appropriatly .. 2x 3x or 4x ___ watt heaters .. etc i have no idea what i need to heat the tank.

i need all the help i can get .. #2 is the most important. i need to know how to figure out the filtration in this tank .. help greatly appriciated
 
Congrats on finally getting the tank!
For number one I'm not sure of many options. Your hookup in the glass business may be your best bet.
#2: I'm pretty much a sump newb as well but instead of selling your 50 gallon why not just turn that into your sump!
#3: Hydor makes a 300 watt inline heater, I'd personally go with a couple of those!
Stealth heaters also work wonders and can be placed directly in your sump.
Either way, there's no unsightly heaters actually in your tank!

Good luck man!
 
Gratz on the tank.

Depending on long you're willing to wait, I would suggest keeping an eye on craigslist for free windows and stuff like that. Something sumpable can probably be found too. I always see free windows... then you can easily cut your own top pieces.

BTW- Honda's rule!
 
smpage;3701324; said:
Congrats on finally getting the tank!
For number one I'm not sure of many options. Your hookup in the glass business may be your best bet.
#2: I'm pretty much a sump newb as well but instead of selling your 50 gallon why not just turn that into your sump!
#3: Hydor makes a 300 watt inline heater, I'd personally go with a couple of those!
Stealth heaters also work wonders and can be placed directly in your sump.
Either way, there's no unsightly heaters actually in your tank!

Good luck man!
Click to expand...

haha thanks .. yah a big tank has deffinatly been a while comming .. took a while to find one and have it worked out but im happy with this so waiting it out was a good idea.
as for the 50 gal .. i was hoping to sell that full set up together then just re-buy another tank as if i use the tank for the sump then i have to try to sell the stand (custom made) .. almost new coralife light and fluval etc all seperate so just wud be easier to sell full set up then find another used tank itself for sale .. or use a rubbermade container or something instead if possible.
and for heaters .. do you know how many watts etc i would need in total (ill probably just be picking these up at a lfs or something so not sure of brand names or anything.) and also yes im planning to have the heaters in my sump to avoid them being in the tank

and also i forgot to mention the two black things in the tank are the full height of the tank. you guys probably already know what im talking about.
 
The black things are overflows.

rubbermaid totes can work just as well for sumps if designed correctly.

Lids- Just get some cheap 1/4" glass from the hardware store and cut yourself some lids.

As far as the sump design, there are tons of DIY builds on here. Have a look around. Use them all to come up with a design that you like.
 
be smart and get 2 250 watt ebo jagers!
thats what i have on my setup
they have auto shutoff and are very hardy and safe!
as for filtration if a rubbermaid can fit in your stand then use it!!
Tops can be made at a glass shop or bought from a LFS
 
Pharaoh;3701362; said:
The black things are overflows.

rubbermaid totes can work just as well for sumps if designed correctly.

Lids- Just get some cheap 1/4" glass from the hardware store and cut yourself some lids.

As far as the sump design, there are tons of DIY builds on here. Have a look around. Use them all to come up with a design that you like.
Click to expand...

yah i just realised how the black "overflows" work .. only the top grid actually lets water into the corners .. so worst come to worst ever the water wudnt empty out of my tank .. just go to the bottom of those which is pretty good .. they arent that inconvenient i guess. i was just wondering if theres a way to take them off and use the drilled holes in teh bottom a different way so that i cud optimize the small bit of space they cut off from the fish.

the cutting part of hte glass isnt a big deal .. i cud get that done from probably free or close to it. but if theres a cheap way of doing a decent job of lids besides glass im wondering.

and i still would like to know how small of a sump i could get away with if i was to use a glass aquarium instead ..

also have a new question .. cleaning the tank now. which isnt fun .. but he left it pretty dirty from salt water and alot of grass type stuff stuck onto the back .. any suggestions a better/different way of cleaning this tank to get it done well. im just using a scrubber thing i had with the 50 gallon for scrubbing the glass inside but its not super tough or anything


edit: keeping in mind for these lids i have to find a way to set them up .. keeping an arowana inside. the top frame has slots comming out to lay the tops on .. but nothing to secure them down with or anything
 
TheCanuck;3701542; said:
homedepo sells acrylic and cuts it , and there you go . And dont cut out the overflows .... they will save you from having 220 gallons of water on your floor ... cut those out and if your pump ever fails , so will your floor.
Click to expand...

yah im planning on just keeping them .. they arent that bad .. with a black background to match itll look alright.

so still need to know what min size tank or rubbermaid container i should go with for the size of tank i have ...

and also how should i secure the top to keep the aro and others inside
 
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