Big Up-grade....help Needed!

divegirl · Sep 14, 2009

Hi, I have just become the proud owner of a 55''x24''x24 137 US gallon tank! And would appreciate some advice.
To get this tank this going is going to be a long slow process.....first I have to build the stand [but I have the plan in place for that :good:

], next thing is going to be kitting it out.....funds are pretty low atm [I'm sure we all know that feeling :crazy:

], but I had to have this tank or I was going to have to re-home my clown loaches....and there was no way that was going to happen!!!!!
So....so far all I have is a Eheim 2213 and a set of lights....though I have no cover for the top of the tank [not planning on planting it out, so that's not too much of an issue yet!
I'm thinking two heaters? What total wattage will I need?
And another filter...what lph would I need to run with the Eheim?
I'm going to take the plunge and go for a sand substrate....how many kilos will I need?

Think that covers it for now :blink:

Lisa x

divegirl · Sep 14, 2009

Also....does the other filter have to be an external?

Lisa x

Geoff1991 · Sep 14, 2009

If youre not planting, then lighting doesn't matter although certain colour temperatures will enhance the colour of your fish,

And, and internal filter wouldn't really be much use unless you got a huge space hogging one, id get another external myself

divegirl · Sep 14, 2009

'ello my little 'leccy mate

. I've got the lighting set....just no way of fixing it to the top of the tank....need to do some research on Diy hoods....or something.....lol. I know the lights are not a major issue, but my clowns do tend to fade out if they don't have the lights on

.....so gonna have to sort it before I move them over!
As for the filter....sort of thought that would be the answer....just going to have spend lots of time on the Bay that is Evil!!!!!

Any thoughts on the heaters?

Lisa x

waterdrop · Sep 14, 2009

Well if you go by the rough 5 watts per US gallon guideline, your 137 US gallons puts you up above 600 watts needed but not that much over so perhaps 2 300 watt heaters (which is a pretty common wattage I believe). In fact, that brings up the fact that a couple of 300w Hydor inline heaters could be spliced in to the return hoses of your (now two needed, lol) filters. The Hydors are powerful heaters and the fact that the filter flow distributes their heat I think makes them more effective. Hopefully there will be other opinions.. I -assume- you just keep multiplying that wattage up but I've never had a tank that big!

By the way, I agree with a big tank like that you're going to need a second external cannister or even a sump filter. Assuming you're not going to way-understock, it will need significant filtration.

~~waterdrop~~

Davo86 · Sep 14, 2009

The eheim 2213 only runs at 440LPH. As your tank is 519 Litres the turnover won't even be 1x per hour,
Ideally you should be looking at close to 5x per hour, meaning you should be looking at filtration closer to 2600LPH

IMO the 2213 will really struggle, even as a secondary filter

My tank for example is just under 500L and i run a FX5 (2000LPH) and a eheim 2217 (1000LPH)

divegirl · Sep 15, 2009

OK.......what have I let myself in for :crazy:

Should be up and running by 2011 :good:

Thanks for all you input.

Lisa x

divegirl · Sep 15, 2009

What about these heaters?

http

/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Lisa x

Davo86 · Sep 15, 2009

Well they do come with a 3 year guarantee (or so it says) so you would expect them to be ok,

Personally I always go with Fluval Tronics, which have never let me down, even though they are a bit pricey.

I would simply have one main 300W heater set to whatever you desire the temp to be and then run another heater (I have a 200W for this purpose) which is set to one or two degrees lower, so that it is only used in emergency situations or on very cold nights etc.

divegirl · Sep 15, 2009

See.....that's the word I hate 'pricey' :lol:

......maybe go for one decent one and one 'cheaper' one....using the fluval as the back up [purely 'cos that's the one less likely to let me down].
I've had a pretty productive morning :nod:

I have got two Fx5's in my sights....so hopefully should get one of them! With my Eheim as a second filter.
Just got most of the wood for the stand for free and am just off out to walk my doggies and get a price on the rest of the wood.
Thank heavens for Argos play sand.....that'll work out to be the bargain buy of the month!!!!!
Just spoke to the guy that I'm getting the tank off and he's just finished building a hood for his new tank and said he'll show me a really easy way to make one for this tank :good:

All this woodwork!!!! Makes me wish I still had a man in my life sometimes :lol:

Second thoughts.....maybe not! :lol:

Lisa x

divegirl · Sep 15, 2009

Evening!
Well got the rest of the wood for the stand priced up....£17 for 12mm MDF [55''x24''] x2. Do you think 12mm is overkill? I prefered the look of the 9mm....but hey, what do I know....I'm female!!!!
And get what else I got when I was at the hardware shop

Another fish tank :hyper:

Got chatting to the guy about what I was building and my other tanks and he said he had a tank in his loft I could have [sounds like a 3']. I'm not going to set it up, but I have some bits and bobs laying around, so I'll try to turn it into a set up and sell it on!!!

Lisa x

indigoj · Sep 15, 2009

Just to let you know I use 1x300w and 1x150w heaters in my 6x2x2 tank (approx 150 uk gal) and they maintain it at a steady 25deg. Not a particularly warm room or part of the country either so depending on where you are/climate you may get away with 2x smaller heaters but better quality ones?