Suggestions for new tank ... All possible help required ....

[vizkid2005]

Hi guys ...
I am new here .. This is my first post ...


I have 5 small discus
I am making a new tank
4feet height
38 inches length and
1 feet width
Calculated upto 95 gallons(US)
Its going to be bare bottom tank .. atleast for now ...

Currently the tank is not complete .. my poor fishes are cramped up in a small 30 litre tank for past one month ... The new tank will be complete in 2-3 days ...

I have a filtration system that I made my self using some house hold items ...

Drilled two holes one top and one bottom in an air tight container(8 inches height X 9 inches length X 4 inches width ) with lid (Its like Hang on back type) ....
I only have 2 layers of glass wool acting as filter ... Is working good ... At least no debris
Water goes from top (from power head) and goes into tank from bottom of container ...

I am going to use the box type filter I made for my new tank ... I want to know what modifications I need to make in the filter ???
Do I need activated carbon ??? Do I need bio media ???

I am using a heater .. Works good and I am not planning to change ...

I need suggestions for a nice power head that will do good for my tank ....
Also bio media and activated carbon .... I stay in India ... So please take that into account ...

I am open to new suggestions that I might not have taken into account ...

Please help me ..
Thank You ....

[Skip]

the eight gallon tank you have them in now is kind of small..

BUT the 90 gallon tank you want to put them in will be very large.. they have trouble finding the food.. IF you could put a screen or a divider in there to corral them in half the tank or so, it could be helpful :)

just my 2cents :)

[TNT77]

4' high? Thats one TALL tank. Also don't need any carbon if you have plenty of good bio media.

[Glenn36]

Why so high? That`s going to be a pain to clean IMO. My 90 is 24"H x 18"W x 48" L.

[vizkid2005]

@warlock , tnt , glen : thanks for your replies ...

Yeah its TALL ... Mainly because I have made it as a part of my wall ... It will be a see through tank ... Will post pictures as soon as I get it up and running ...

Is boyu bio media any good ... I have never used any bio media earlier ...
I used activated carbon until it got useless ...
I used this layering system ...

from top to bottom :
1. Fine fibre glass wool (mechanical filter)
2.Activated carbon (chemical filter)
3.Coarse fibre glass wool (another layer for mechanical filter)

Please correct me if I am wrong in setting up the order of the layers ... Where should I add the bio media layer ???

Please also suggest a sufficient and good power head to direct water in the filter .... budget : $20

Ho do I control the amount of water that flows out from the bottom of the filter ...

Thank you guys ...

[TNT77]

If your going to use those layers I would suggest switching 1 and 3. You want the coarse to filter out all the big stuff and the fine to polish. The way you have it the fine pad will clog up rather quickly. I am assuming that the water will filter through from top to bottom and exit the filter, is this correct? And if you add a bio layer add it between 1 and 2 or 2 and 3.

[vizkid2005]

@tnt : absolutely correct .. water goes from top to bottom ...
Any suggestions for a good power head .... and bio filter media ???

[TNT77]

I believe Azoo makes both. I can't atest to how good they are though. What brand names are available where you are?

[BoiseDiscusGuy]

I prefer to have my bio media the last in line. The theory is to mechanically filter as much as possible first so the bio media does not get covered in detritus and reduce its efficiency. SeaChem Matrix is a great bio media. Its versatile and has a ton of surface area. There are also ceramic cylinder shaped media that work well too. I also have a theory about carbon or other chemical filtration media...when it's new it works fine but after a while in use it can unpredictably leech minerals and toxins back into your water. Personally, I do not use it. Powerheads are fine and nothing too high tech is needed. IMO discus do not prefer high currents and the filter outlet current seems to be plenty in my case.

[Stag]

*Cough* photos *Cough*

[vizkid2005]

@tnt : I have been using boyu powerheads for a long time . I went to some fish shops and he suggested some powerhead from RESUN .. Is it a reputed brand ???
@stag : dude the tank hasnt been built yet ... The guy will come tomorrow .... Will post tank pics as soon as possible and will take reviews from you guys ....

BOYU a gud brand ??? if yes then please suggest an apt model number also ...

Thanks ...

[vizkid2005]

Hi guys I got my tank built and completed yesterday ....
Please comment and let me know what you guys think ...

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/3281/dsc00648uw.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/843/dsc00648uw.jpg/)

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/7312/dsc00647te.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/535/dsc00647te.jpg/)

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/3646/dsc00646by.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/443/dsc00646by.jpg/)


Will set up today .... And post the final pics ASAP ...

Thanks ....

[shoveltrash]

WOW that is one TALL tank! and I though my 40g high (30 inches tall) was tall.....it will be impressive, although I'd hate to be the one having to clean the bottom & moving stuff around in it LOL.


the 90 gallon tank you want to put them in will be very large.. they have trouble finding the food.because this tank has a smaller 'footprint,' would that not make it easier for juvies to find the food?

I can't wait to see the finished product! good luck with it and do post more pics :)

[Glenn36]

Is boyu bio media any good ... I have never used any bio media earlier ...
I used activated carbon until it got useless ...
I used this layering system ...

from top to bottom :
1. Fine fibre glass wool (mechanical filter)
2.Activated carbon (chemical filter)
3.Coarse fibre glass wool (another layer for mechanical filter)

Please correct me if I am wrong in setting up the order of the layers ... Where should I add the bio media layer ???

Please also suggest a sufficient and good power head to direct water in the filter .... budget : $20

Ho do I control the amount of water that flows out from the bottom of the filter ...

Thank you guys ...[/QUOTE]

I wouldn`t use activated carbon if I were you. Maybe once since it`s new to remove any impurities. After your tank is fully cycled you`ll only need bio and mechanical filtration. The chemical will disrupt your good bio-film and may throw your no2 and nh3 out of whack. Just a head`s up and my personal opinion. Good luck. Tank does look cool though.

[Second Hand Pat]

Hi vizkid2005, I would suggest filling this tank outside with water. Water applies more pressure the taller the tank so taller tanks are made from thicker glass and acrylic then shorter tanks. My 230 gallon 31 inch tall tank is made from 3/4 inch acrylic.

[dbfzurowski]

How thick is that glass?

[Altum Nut]

Hey Vizkid,

Pretty interesting tank.
I'm sure you have already thought about it...but is that tank going to be sitting on a stand? and how high?
It's going to be a pain cleaning the bottom. How are you going to wipe the inside walls and bottom?
I agree with Pat on the pressure being applied to seams. No bracing at all????

...Ralph

[vizkid2005]

Hey All ....
The silicone hasn`t dried fully yet ... so couldn`t setup today ... will do so mostly on monday ... But I have placed it in its place ... Will post pics tomorrow .. too tired now ...

For filling up the tank, I won`t fill up all at once ... I`ll fill in 3 installments of 33% each successive day ... This will allow the tank to handle the pressure step by step ....

The glass is 12mm thick , I think that will handle the pressure ...

For the filtration ... I`m sticking with this ...
1st layer : Mechanical : coarse glass wool .
2nd layer : Mechanical : fine glass wool.
3rd : Bio : plastic scrub pads from local store ...
No chemical filtration

Cleaning : I will get my self a pair of magnetic cleaners ... using this once in a while will help keep the walls clean ... and for bottom cleaning I`ll get a long stick with a scrubber attached at the bottom ... I`ll also make a long shaft out of pvc and attach a syphon to it so that I can get to the bottom of tank to suck out leftovers ...

BUT ... All this is theory ... This will take time to realize ... first I have to fill my tank and get it running so that I can put my fish in ... I will keep posting updates and pics and of course Queries !!! I`m a total noob ... So please help me out guys ... Thank for all your help till now ...

You know guys ... I`m imagining this .. but is it possible ???
When water leaves the filter on top .. It should fall like a small even waterfall fashion ... I don`t want water falling just like that from a circular pvc pipe .. It should be a uniform flow ... I believe this will also provide good aeration to the water.

It is what I think and imagine .. is it possible ??? How ???

[dbfzurowski]

Hm, 12mm= <1/2".
My next project will be a 4x4x4 and I found this one, aquarium glass thickness calculator. It came up to something a little over 1in, which is super damn thick.

I hope your tank holds and I'm sure it will look great!

[vizkid2005]

UPDATE :

Here are pics after placing the tank in its position ... Hope you guys like it ....


http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/9558/dsc00652p.jpg

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/7735/dsc00651d.jpg

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/6325/dsc00650bx.jpg

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/9131/dsc00649or.jpg

[Skip]

its cool.. but dang.. its going to be hard to clean that tank bottom.. lol

[vizkid2005]

its cool.. but dang.. its going to be hard to clean that tank bottom.. lol

Yup I know .. Any suggestions for cleaning ???

[Skip]

long piece of PVC pipe with a hose sticking out the end.. i guess

[vizkid2005]

Exactly what I thought ... any other for taking out pebbles or sand I may put ?? how will I remove the fish if I need to at some point of time ... little rascals dart so fast in the water ... and with so much height I can`t reach them more than 2 feet deeper ... then how will I get them out !!!!!!!

[Skip]

Exactly what I thought ... any other for taking out pebbles or sand I may put ?? how will I remove the fish if I need to at some point of time ... little rascals dart so fast in the water ... and with so much height I can`t reach them more than 2 feet deeper ... then how will I get them out !!!!!!!

maybe these should have been thoughts before tank build.. LOL>>

[vizkid2005]

I know its an ambitious project ... I will figure it out some how ... was just asking for you guys to help ...

[shoveltrash]

any other for taking out pebbles or sand I may put ?? how will I remove the fish if I need to at some point of time ... little rascals dart so fast in the water ... and with so much height I can`t reach them more than 2 feet deeper ... then how will I get them out !!!!!!!arm yourself with LONG poles that you can attach a net and a scrubber to! also, if it were me, I would opt for bare bottom, no substrate (JMHO). you can always add substrate later during a WC if you want.......perhaps thru a long wide pvc pipe with funnel top to pour it in? if you are dead-set on substrate, use sand (everyone here recommends 'pool filter sand'). you could mount some KILLER long/tall manzanita wood in that tank!!!

I LOVE the setup, with 'tank in wall'. it will be an impressive thing, when it's all done :).

[vizkid2005]

Yup ...for cleaning and maintenance I have to put my :idea:Engineering skills:idea: to work ...

I am also planning to put a tall and wide driftwood piece in the tank ... But will have to search a lot ... Any idea of what other types of woods will do ??? I stay in India ....

[Second Hand Pat]

Hey Vizkid, interesting build you have going. Guessing you have about 12 inches of clearance above the tank. Whatever tools you design for cleaning, maintaining and netting fish may need bendable handles for getting them into and out of the tank.

[vizkid2005]

^^ I have around 8 inches of clearance ..
Any I ideas on how do I get sand OUT(while cleaning and maintenance once I get it in ???
Any Pumps ??? Or any clever ideas ???

[Second Hand Pat]

A small diameter tube to create very strong siphon may do the trick.

[vizkid2005]

Won`t the sand get stuck because of small diameter .. I have had experience with sand ...
It was granular kind of sand .. while siphoning out particles used to get stuck all the time ..

I don`t have experience with pool filter sand .. will it cause the same problem ???
How much does it cost per kg ???

[Second Hand Pat]

If you can get pool filter sand it is a very fine sand and I have siphoned it out before. I would consider leaving this tank BB until you are comfortable with the maintenance aspects of this tank. Here in the US a 50 pound bag is about 5 to 10 USD.

[vizkid2005]

Yup .. Even I`m thinking of leaving the tank BB until I`m comfortable cleaning it ....

Will keep posting updates ...

Any more suggestions guys ????

[vizkid2005]

Hi guys ...
Since I`m making a new tank I don`t want calcium to build up on the glass of my tank .. This happened to my previuos tank ...
How do I prevent calcium from building up ??
I`ll be using tap water only ... I`ve seen seachem neutralizer on the net but I cant find it in India ....
Any other home remedy or something like that ???

[chiligum]

A 4 foot tall tank is ok.....As long as your arms are 6 foot!

[vizkid2005]

UPDATE :

Filled the tank 1/3rd with normal tap water ... Will completely fill the tank in 3 days .. 1/3 rd each day ....

Also,
Using my :idea: :idea: " Engineering Skills ":idea: :idea: ;) ;) , I built a long shaft for cleaning the bottom ..
Here are the pics ...

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/9670/dsc00655y.jpg
http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/2475/dsc00654al.jpg
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9353/dsc00653ut.jpg



I used two inter attachable shafts which come with the vaccum cleaner and tied a not-much-used body scrubber from my bathroom to it ....

How do you guys like it ???

[chiligum]

You have to make life as easy as you can for yourself with the amount of maintenece a Discus tank needs and i dont think i could this tank with all the best will in the world, it still looks like a hell of a job to me!...JMO!

[vizkid2005]

UPDATE :

Filled the tank completely today and got the air pump and filter running ... Will let it run for today and will introduce fish tomorrow ....

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/6707/dsc00658o.jpg
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/9590/dsc00657hb.jpg
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/2669/dsc00656q.jpg