New Tank Setup Questions

[saroberts]

After reviewing many of the posts and especially the slicky 'How do I set up my first discus tank' from Carol (and everyone else), I finally feel comfortable with moving forward with putting together a bare bottom (bb) grow out tank.

My goal is to grow out 8 healthy juvenile discus and after this is completed, move them to a planted show tank which I hope to startup in 6 to 8 months.

I have ordered my tank and it should be available for pickup in approximately 10 days. I went with the largest tank I could order for the wall space I have available. This tank is a 65 gallon (36x18x24) All-Glass. Before anyone makes comments, I do have the long arms needed to keep it clean.

In Carol's post, she sugguests using an Aqua clear 500 which to my understanding is an over the edge filter. Since I hope to reuse this tank as a breeder tank in the future will it hurt to use two 40 gallon sponge filters instead? I see these type of filters mentioned most often in the breeders section.

At to my wife's request I will be setting up in the basement. Based on the high side of the watts per gallon calculation I found on the jehmco (www.jehmco.com) web site (5 watts per gallon = 305), I will be purchasing 2 - 150 Watt heaters for this tank. Should I go with a higher wattage?

One piece of information I have not been able to find is lighting on a bare bottom tank. Would a normal single Fluorescent tube light be enough?

I know there will be other supplies that I will need, but these for now are my main worries.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Steve

[Bainbridge Mike]

Hi Steve:

I have ordered my tank and it should be available for pickup in approximately 10 days. I went with the largest tank I could order for the wall space I have available. This tank is a 65 gallon (36x18x24) All-Glass. Before anyone makes comments, I do have the long arms needed to keep it clean.

65 is a good tank--lots of surface area for gas exchange.

In Carol's post, she sugguests using an Aqua clear 500 which to my understanding is an over the edge filter. Since I hope to reuse this tank as a breeder tank in the future will it hurt to use two 40 gallon sponge filters instead? I see these type of filters mentioned most often in the breeders section.

I would recommend using the biggest aquaclear filter you can find--and adding in two of the "hydro V" sponge filters. You can get them from Jemco. It is always nice to have a little extra filtration. Then if you need to move a fish to a separate tank--you can take one of the hydro V's out to filter the other tank.

At to my wife's request I will be setting up in the basement. Based on the high side of the watts per gallon calculation I found on the jehmco web site (5 watts per gallon = 305), I will be purchasing 2 - 150 Watt heaters for this tank. Should I go with a higher wattage?

300 watts should be fine unless your basement gets really, really cold in the winter!

One piece of information I have not been able to find is lighting on a bare bottom tank. Would a normal single Fluorescent tube light be enough?

A single flourescent is fine for fish viewing. You would only need more if you wanted to keep plants in the tank. Good luck!


Mike

[GrillMaster]

In Carol's post, she sugguests using an Aqua clear 500 which to my understanding is an over the edge filter. Since I hope to reuse this tank as a breeder tank in the future will it hurt to use two 40 gallon sponge filters instead? I see these type of filters mentioned most often in the breeders section.

Better to use both the sponge filters an the AC 500..


At to my wife's request I will be setting up in the basement. Based on the high side of the watts per gallon calculation I found on the jehmco web site (5 watts per gallon = 305), I will be purchasing 2 - 150 Watt heaters for this tank. Should I go with a higher wattage?

Why not just buy one 300 watt heater, or one 500 watt heater? It will be cheaper on you.


One piece of information I have not been able to find is lighting on a bare bottom tank. Would a normal single Fluorescent tube light be enough?

That will be plenty of light. As long as you can see the fish, an see what yer doin that is enough light.

[GrillMaster]

Hi Steve:

I have ordered my tank and it should be available for pickup in approximately 10 days. I went with the largest tank I could order for the wall space I have available. This tank is a 65 gallon (36x18x24) All-Glass. Before anyone makes comments, I do have the long arms needed to keep it clean.

65 is a good tank--lots of surface area for gas exchange.

In Carol's post, she sugguests using an Aqua clear 500 which to my understanding is an over the edge filter. Since I hope to reuse this tank as a breeder tank in the future will it hurt to use two 40 gallon sponge filters instead? I see these type of filters mentioned most often in the breeders section.

I would recommend using the biggest aquaclear filter you can find--and adding in two of the "hydro V" sponge filters. You can get them from Jemco. It is always nice to have a little extra filtration. Then if you need to move a fish to a separate tank--you can take one of the hydro V's out to filter the other tank.

At to my wife's request I will be setting up in the basement. Based on the high side of the watts per gallon calculation I found on the jehmco web site (5 watts per gallon = 305), I will be purchasing 2 - 150 Watt heaters for this tank. Should I go with a higher wattage?

300 watts should be fine unless your basement gets really, really cold in the winter!

One piece of information I have not been able to find is lighting on a bare bottom tank. Would a normal single Fluorescent tube light be enough?

A single flourescent is fine for fish viewing. You would only need more if you wanted to keep plants in the tank. Good luck!


Mike

Ninja posted me Mike!! :D

[Polar_Bear]

I have four 75 gallon tanks, they each have a 300 watt heater and never deviate more than 0.2F so IMO most of your heaters are over kill. I'm not a big fan of over filtration and I think two Hydro V's would be fine in your case. btw my tanks are also in my basement. I do like the idea of two heaters though, if one fails you should still be fine, but I would go with two 150 watt heaters.

[Bainbridge Mike]

Ninja posted me Mike!! :D

when you can snatch the pebble from my hand . . .

[Armandi_Fishcarer]

Steve, you have gotten very good advice. I would just like
to add about lighting: Discus can get scattered for a number
of reasons and one of those is when lighting is exceeded. One
fluro light in a BB tank is good enough, extra can be added if
planting aquaria.

"Discus are the foundation of aquarium entertainment,
and are the best and most respected aquaria fish
in the industry.":love:(Armandi_Fishcarer)

[GrillMaster]

when you can snatch the pebble from my hand . . .

:bandana: