Hey guys! I'm about to launch into a very weird request, so bear with me here. A friend suggested I post here to get advice so here goes!
I'm not actually a fish keeper, per se. I run a company called Court of Mermaids which specializes in professional mermaid performers. We just acquired a gorgeous new tank to use at events for displaying a "live mermaid exhibit" of sorts. It's glass, 8 feet long by 3 feet wide and 4 feet high (720 gallons). Was an actual fish tank at one point, though I know nothing about what was kept in it. Guy who sold it to me gave me a bunch of PVC pips and some hoses which he said came from whatever old filter it used, but couldn't provide more details (he had just bought it himself and no filter was included; it was too big for him so he resold to us).
What I'm looking for is recommendations for filtration and heating for the sake of the girls swimming in it. In an ideal world I'd want a salt water system with salinity matched to that of the human body (so the water doesn't irritate the eyes and nose of the performer) and a heater that can get it to between 85-90 degrees F. I'm willing to look at fresh water filter systems. Must be decently portable and bonus points if it can be removed just prior to the performance pretty easily (i.e. pulling out the pipes after turning it off) but I understand if this isn't possible, and in that case a more discrete setup is ideal. The purpose of it is to keep things like dirt and dust out of the water for clear performances. The filtration system can be raised to any level of the tank since it will be behind a curtain, but if it could be kept on the ground and pump the four feet required that would be amazing!
I've looked at portable hot tub heaters, above ground pool filters, and other cheap fixes for filtration and heating, but I want to do this the right and safe way and advice or recommendations would be appreciated!
I'm not actually a fish keeper, per se. I run a company called Court of Mermaids which specializes in professional mermaid performers. We just acquired a gorgeous new tank to use at events for displaying a "live mermaid exhibit" of sorts. It's glass, 8 feet long by 3 feet wide and 4 feet high (720 gallons). Was an actual fish tank at one point, though I know nothing about what was kept in it. Guy who sold it to me gave me a bunch of PVC pips and some hoses which he said came from whatever old filter it used, but couldn't provide more details (he had just bought it himself and no filter was included; it was too big for him so he resold to us).
What I'm looking for is recommendations for filtration and heating for the sake of the girls swimming in it. In an ideal world I'd want a salt water system with salinity matched to that of the human body (so the water doesn't irritate the eyes and nose of the performer) and a heater that can get it to between 85-90 degrees F. I'm willing to look at fresh water filter systems. Must be decently portable and bonus points if it can be removed just prior to the performance pretty easily (i.e. pulling out the pipes after turning it off) but I understand if this isn't possible, and in that case a more discrete setup is ideal. The purpose of it is to keep things like dirt and dust out of the water for clear performances. The filtration system can be raised to any level of the tank since it will be behind a curtain, but if it could be kept on the ground and pump the four feet required that would be amazing!
I've looked at portable hot tub heaters, above ground pool filters, and other cheap fixes for filtration and heating, but I want to do this the right and safe way and advice or recommendations would be appreciated!
