Newbe 300 gallon tank setup

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K

Kubota

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 28, 2010
6
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Missouri
Hello all, I have finally finished piping and filling my 300 gallon. I got lucky, as this was a freebe tank, the guy didn't want it anymore, I still need to clean the outside. The stand is made of 4x4's with 2x4s for bracing. The top part of the stand is laminated plywood @ 3in thick on edge. I rounded up some bulkheads and plumbed with PVC and tubing. I filled it and checked for leaks, so far so good.

I ended up putting a valve for each filling zone, and it has came in handy, as i can dial it in just right so sump doesn't drain faster than the tank and supply it. I put a check valve right after the pump so it wouldn't backflow if the power failed. The sump looks to be a little small for the size of tank, but it doesn't overflow.

Last night, the pump started making a bad noise, i went to check it, and the impeller was totally shot, pieces were pulling apart, so i got ordered a new one. The pump is a pondmaster model 24. I was very happy at the power consumption, however i found out something odd, with all the valves open, the pump consumes more power than with them closed down. Full open pulls around 170 watts, where as reduced to the flow i am looking for, it pulls about 127w.

Not sure what to put in it yet, the wife is thinking of pacus or other other South Americans.

I am not new to fish, but new to large tanks, we currently have a 70, 55, 29, several 10's and a older walmart MARS system.

I also started a thread way back, but didn't get back to it because of our move. That tank is still in the garage, waiting to be put to use. Its a 8'x4'x4'. (Thinking its 1000 gal) I'll get back on that thread and post some pics. That thing was so dang heavy, it tipped my tractor up trying to move it, hence my user name of Kubota ;)

So, glad to be back, I have always enjoyed reading the forums!

tank1.JPG
 
I'd definatly recommend a SA tank, I love SA tanks in general.

Keep us updated and good luck with which ever route you go!
 
Unless you're planning to eventually move the pacu to that 1000 gal. tank, that 300 gal tank will be too small for them. We've got two pacu in a 300 gal tank, and find ourselves in year two of a major tank upgrade.
 
Red bellied pacu would be good in a 300 for 1-2 years. Pacu Mom has blacks, they are bigger.

I have 3 red bellied pacu currently in a 450 and I have to admit....... I am no longer sure its big enough. Last year I was sure, now I am not. If they get much bigger, I am going to need a new plan.

I really don't think you could properly house even the red bellied pacu in a 300 for life.
 
You could do a nice shoal of piranha. Put some driftwood and heavily plant it; it will look amazing
 
You could even possibly do some sort of Ray if you really wanted to... honestly, except for a few really large fish, you can get practically anything you want for that tank... just make sure not to over do it if you get young fish... don't want to re-locate monster fish...
 
Thanks for the info guys! I seen the pacu down at the Omaha zoo, those were absoutely huge, so I may have to rethink those. Once the impeller arrives, i'll figure out what to put in there, for now, i just have an airstone keeping the water circulated. I guess I could always go with some of the smaller South Americans and see how large they can get, the typical local fish store varities. I have a black skirt tetra we have had for years, and the body is about 3" I though it would also be fun to have some type of schooling fish to see their interaction in a large tank. I would ask for any ideas, and you are more than welcome to give them, but i will do my homework and read more of the threads on stocking the tanks.

I would also like to build a nice front, sides, and hood for it, but that can wait for now.
 
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