set up for 300 gallon tank

[curraghman]

hi, this is my first post. I have been preparing now for some time a 300 gallon south american tank setup. I have had smaller tanks for most of my life, so I understand the fundamentals but I have a few questions,

1/ how many heaters should I have and what size/brand is best? looking to have tank in the 75f-78f range.

2/ in terms of filteration, I intend to use a canister filter. XP5 fluval or the eheim 2260 ( I think!) are two that I hear work well for larger tanks. any opinions as to which one is better?

3/ would you recommend I use a UV sterilizer as well?

4/ back to filtieration, as well as the canister, I would be using two existing emperor 400 bio wheel filters, for surface agitation. Would this be sufficent?

5/ I intended to use the gravel from an existing 55 gallon tank to seed the bacterial colony for the cycling of the new tank. Would using the gravel (and some of the water) from the established tank, be enough to jumpstart the new tank?

6/ Has anyone here experienced using bio-spira to cycle new tanks? whats your viewpoint of it?

That's all I can think of for now. I intend to keep a few large cichlids, maybe some silver dollars, a catfish or two... havent fully decided yet as to exact stock. Any responses to any of my questions would be greatly appreciated

 

[fishnut]

1/ two heater. I used visitherm glass and stealth. Stealth is good for large fish, but glass heat hotter and faster.

2/ I have fluval fx5 and its good. I have not use eheim so I do not know.

3/ You can, but you do not 'need' it.

4/ depend on your bio load. I prefer wet/dry because its easier to clean and has a larger bio capacity. I think you will be fine.

5/ yes, but also give it some time before you add fish. You will need about 6x of water from your 55 gallon to fill up the 300 gallon tank.

6/ Bio spira is live bacteria from the frig and it works, but make sure you look at the expiration date on the package.

 

[davidtcb1]

The amount of water from an existing tank will be less beneficial to "jumpstarting" a new tank than will be the gravel and/or existing mechanical and biological media from an existing tank. If you've got 55 gallons of "dirty" water to contribute to the new tank, great though. But you should still wait a while until the tank cycles, although it will certainly be quicker if you use pre-existing media and gravel.

The large canister with the two emperors will be a great idea. Either that or the large canister with another canister. Definitely have two filters though.

 

[nguyenz]

you should use UV later on once your tank is established. Trust me your tank will be clear. You can also use black carbon later on too.

I used bio spira before also to setup my 330 gallons. It works well. But make sure your new water has no chlorine and temperature up so your fish and the bio spira bacteria dont die.

Good luck.

 

[Toby_H]

1/ I also use Stealth heaters... 2x Stealth 250s might be enough... 3 would definately work. Hydor makes a 400W heaters, 2 of them should work well. I don't have personal experience with them though

2/ I hear nothing but great things about both of them... but have never used either...

3/ UV's are not at all 'necessary', but I use them on several of my tanks. They are a fantastic asset. I agree with the above though, I wouldn't add it until the tank is established.

4/ Yes the two Emps will be sufficient for surface agitation... But you will still need at least one canister, two will keep the tank cleaner.

5/ I start 'new tanks' with old filters/sand/decor all the time. It workds great. Old water is of little value though, I start new tanks with all new water. What takes cycling so long is wating for the new bacteria to appear out of no where. Adding established gravel/filters will mean you already have the bacteria in the tank, so you just have to wait for it to multiply.

If your long term goal is to have (for example) 10 fish in this tank, and you wish to start it with 10 juvis... 10 juvi fish in a 300 gal tank offers very little waste. With the established gravel and old filters you should be able to add all 10 juvis from the start and not worry about 'cycling'. But if you were to stock it with all 10 adult fish you will definately want to add them one or two at a time a couple weeks apart (which may not work so well concerning aggression/territories).

6/ I've heard a lot of mixed reviews on it. It never hurts to use, but I wouldn't bet my stock on it...

 

[DiverDan]

Welcome to MFK!!! Hope you like it here.

I just wanted to chime in on the UV Sterilizer. I think at this point it is too early and you won't benefit. I don't think you'll ever have to have it, but may get some benefit later.

I guess it might be good to get now so you can get everything setup and in its place, but I'd prioritize elsewhere first.

 

[Cross127]

1) You should have at least 700-800 watts of heating but you can get away with a tiny bit less. I have a Hydor 400watt heater and it does a fairly decent job of keep the tank warm. They are kinda unreliable though.
Visi-therms are better and will last longer but they do about the same adequet job of heating as the Hydor. Ebo-Jager is the best money can buy.

2) For filters go with Eheim 2260. It is a TANK. I have had SOOO many problems with my Fluval FX5 and i hate the thing. The media baskets don't seal adequately and there is ALOT of bypass in it so nothing is really being filtered. Eheim is the BEST filter brand I have ever bought and I have an Eheim that has been running for 15 years and still strong. It's a 2217. Eheims have just the right GPH and no bypass what so ever. Very strong. Rena XP5's are great filters but I would still rather go Eheim.

3) Don't worry about a UV. You do not really need one and they are too expensive to be wasteful. It's more of an Accessory than a necessity.

4) Yes surface agitation would be greatly helped by the Emp's but instead I would go with two AC110's filled entirely with Bio-Media. Does the Job of a Emp plus more powerful. All the Emp 400's I have owned make too much noise and really suck for GPH.

5) Gravel from the 55 would be great to jump start. Water doesn't really matter so I wouldn't even recommend it as it doesn't hold as much beneficial bacteria as the gravel would. Also to seed your new filter just take your existing media in your current filter and just put it in the new filter along with some new fresh media and it will culture greatly!

6) Bio-Spira is amazing stuff. Highly recommend it. I cycled all my tanks in almost 24 hours with Bio-Spira and a little help with seeded media in the filters with brand new substrate ( brand new substrate no bacteria = Bio-Spira's greatness). Never once did I ever have an Ammonia spike or anything.

With the Eheim 2260 and Ac110's you'll turn over your tank about 5 times an hour which is pretty decent.

Welcome and nice to see another fellow CT member.

 

[Bosa]

I'd go with 2 Hydor 400watts, definitly a UV sterilizer but like suggested earlier i wouldn't set that up till after the tank is cycled it'll definitly make that water a whole lot clearer, go with the Eheim 2260 you won't regret going with eheim, I would also go with Aqua Clear 110's for mechanical filtration as well as more bio filtration and surface agitation. Show some pics too?

 

[javielents]

hell ya you use a uv

 

[svtim]

On my 265 gal im running a fx-5 full of bio and a 405 with bio and polishing pad flowing through a 36 watt uv turbotwist along with two 1160 power heads with sponges on them for air and current. my basement is about 68 degrees and i use a 500 watt titaniume heater set to 80 degrees. ive had no problems yet but i do plan on adding another fx-5 as my fish grow. im have about 20 ca sa fish in it now.