My first "big" aquarium
- Thread starter jtalley
- Start date
I just installed the suction side and spray painted the return lines. Once the paint dries those will go in, also ordered replacement bulbs for the lights and also more media for the FX5 and some Purigen. Rocks have been re-arranged, probably still going to change, but going out of town for a week in a couple of days, so trying to get it up to start cycling while gone.
Finished installing the FX5, filled up the overflows and everything looks good. Also put the 2 250W heaters in the overflow regions. Currently running the FX5 with carbon in the top basket, and biomax in the bottom two with a water polisher also on the bottom tray. Will add Purigen when it arrives. Will take pictures tomorrow when I have sunlight to help, since bulb replacements have been ordered.
Ok, here is the promised update with pictures. I found a really small leak in one of the bulkhead fittings that I haven't been able to fix by tightening or using more tape, so probably just going to RTV it. Its about 1 drop every minute or so.
The rock work will most likely change, I am planning on Mbuna's, so I am going to add a lot more rock. Thinking about filling in the entire back area between the overflows with a rock wall that goes about half way up the tank, then decreasing the height as the rock wall wraps towards the side walls. Kind of give it a rounded C-shape? Any comments on how that might look?
I am using the 2 overflows to house 2 250W stealth heaters which are oriented vertically, but the temperature seems to be a near steady 78 F right now. So the only equipment visible in the tank is the two return lines, but they are oriented to break the surface and also give a bit of a flickering light effect.
Finally a shot of the cabinet shows the FX5 and the clear tube plumbing. Yes, that is a breadpan behind it to catch the small drip. I will hopefully be able to RTV that today. It has been running with conditioned water for about 12 hours and everything but that small drip looks good. Plan is to start putting in a couple of fish to get the cycling started, this volume should be large enough to not have any problems with say 2-3 2" cichlids? I still need to verify all the water parameters for this tank, but on my others they are pretty hard and high pH from the tap.
The rock work will most likely change, I am planning on Mbuna's, so I am going to add a lot more rock. Thinking about filling in the entire back area between the overflows with a rock wall that goes about half way up the tank, then decreasing the height as the rock wall wraps towards the side walls. Kind of give it a rounded C-shape? Any comments on how that might look?
I am using the 2 overflows to house 2 250W stealth heaters which are oriented vertically, but the temperature seems to be a near steady 78 F right now. So the only equipment visible in the tank is the two return lines, but they are oriented to break the surface and also give a bit of a flickering light effect.
Finally a shot of the cabinet shows the FX5 and the clear tube plumbing. Yes, that is a breadpan behind it to catch the small drip. I will hopefully be able to RTV that today. It has been running with conditioned water for about 12 hours and everything but that small drip looks good. Plan is to start putting in a couple of fish to get the cycling started, this volume should be large enough to not have any problems with say 2-3 2" cichlids? I still need to verify all the water parameters for this tank, but on my others they are pretty hard and high pH from the tap.
Got 3 small electric yellows today, already had one jump into the overflow. Anyone have a simple solution to covering the overflows? If you can just cover with netting or if better to make the overflow taller somehow (i.e. if the fish wouldn't flip off of the netting)?
I actually just saw one of the cichlids swim through the overflow slit, they are only 1-1.5" long right now so very skinny and short, so I think netting over the slits may be the only option.
Congrats on the tank. It's looking good. I would suggest simple screen to keep them out of the overflow. It's worked for me to keep baby snails out of my sump.
Even though the rock work is going to change, the cichlids seem to love it. Many times I have looked at the tank and they are swimming through the rocks. Going out of town tomorrow morning for a week, so I will let my friend watching the tank have fun getting them out of the overflows if they keep swimming into it. Planning to add 100-150 lbs more rock when I return (rock wall between the overflows), as well as add the Purigen that I ordered, and probably add ~5-10 more fish (depending on the ammonia and nitrate levels). I think I may also need to add a powerhead to create a little more water movement. Otherwise, off to a good start.
