First Big Tank, First Tank Journal

[DinPerth]

Hi All,

I have decided to do a tank log of my first big tank.

Background
I have had a small tank only 1.5ft for about 4+ months now, I know now after a few posts on here, my current stock is not suitable, for this size tank and also not suitable for each other. So although I currently have 1 Rainbow Shark (Craig) 2 x rosy barbs and 2 x tiger barbs. The tiger barbs are be re-homed and the rosy barbs as well.

The Plan
Purchase a new 6ft tank, this will be a plain glass tank.
Equipment and stats:
6ft x 14" x 18" Full glass tank, 297litres
Eheim 2215 Canister Filter rated for 350L tanks, 620L per hour (will be using old media ceramic noodles)
Adding new external filter around 1000L per hour (exact model to come)
1 x 150W Aqua One Heater (thinking about getting another so I can have one each end)
Adding 2 x 300W heater (exact model to come)
20KG of play sand from Bunnings (Australian version of B&Q)
A few ornaments and fake plants (not had success with real ones but will look into later on)
Air pump and 1ft air stone.

Stocking
Craig the Rainbow Shark currently 1.5 inches Max size 6" (from what I read) Temp 24-27 Ph 6.8-7.4 (mine out of the tap is 7.4)

Craig is the only one coming from the other tank and everything else needs to be planned around him.

Stocking Options - This is what I am currently thinking of having with Craig and I hope some one knowledgeable will be able to let me know if it looks OK.
12 x Peppered Corys - Max Size 3" Temp 25-28 Ph 6-8
15 x Rummy Nose Tetras Max Size 2" Temp 23-26 Ph 6.5-7
Adding 4 x Electric Yellows 3xF & 1xM - Max Size 6" Temp 24-28 Ph 7.4-8.6

I am thinking of keeping my water temp at around 25-26 so everyone should be happy but as above I am concerned about the Ph for the Rummy Nose, if these will not be happy in a higher Ph can someone suggest a suitable schooling fish.

I hope to be getting the tank at the weekend so photos and videos will follow.

To start with I will let Craig the Rainbow Shark in the tank on his own for a week before stocking further unless that is not a good idea.

Any help, advice or criticism is more than welcome, I am trying to read as much as possible but so many posts and so little time.

Cheers

Duncan

 

[dbanner]

Only thing I would suggest so far is get a filter rated for tank volume of around 1000L, that way if you get any bigger fish at some point you know the filter can handle it. The other thing would be because this will be a long tank I would get 2 heaters as 1 won't heat both sides of the rank properly. Get 2 150 watt or 2 200 watts to be safe. If you look at the pic of my new tank you'll see I got 2 300 watt heaters.

 

[DinPerth]

Cheers DB I will look into that.

 

[AXIS]

Hey you're from Perth, me too.

Actually this is quite a coincidence, I picked up the exact same size tank as the one you want (got it cheap off gumtree)

(currently sitting in my shed as I make the stand for it.

I'll be quite curious to see how you go with this as I'm basically doing the same thing as you.

 

[DinPerth]

Hey Axis,

nice to here from another Perthite, strangely enough I was reading you setup thread just last night, great looking stand your building there.

Ref: my stocking everyone, anyone got any info if the rummy nose will be OK with my Ph at 7.4???
Also I have been looking this week at Electric Yellow & Blue Cichlids, anyone know if the will fit with my current idea for stocking or will there not be enough room? was just thinking of 2 of each hopefully a male and a female.

Cheers

Duncan

 

[pirate monkey]

I have a suggestion, if you haven't already purchased your tank: get one a little wider.

The reason being if you chose to change yr stock sometime down the road, you will not be limited in choice. It would be a shame to have a tank long enough to keep some larger species but not wide enough for them.

However if you're happy that won't happen it sounds like a good plan.

I speak from experience of having a silly shaped tank btw

I also agree on the filter advice, bigger is generally better, within reason. I have a 1200 lph filter on my 350l as well as an internal. You're looking for about 4-5 times turnover IIRC (please correct me if I'm wrong).

 

[DinPerth]

Hi Pirate Monkey,

Thanks for the advice but the price difference is over double $179 for 6'x14"x18" or $559 for 6'x24"X24" and I can't find anything in between.

Also as its only my first big tank, probably the biggest I have seen that I would be interested in are Electric yellows which from what I read only get to about 6" so they should be ok I hope.

Thats as long as my stocking list above not over stocking that size tank.

I have updated 1st post to include new stock and new equipment.

Cheers

Duncan

 

[Zikofski]

not sure how it works out in australia but the price difference will be base on the glass thickness and this is from the height, if you have a 6ft by say 20" but still 18" high you won't need to increase the glass thickness so the price shouldn't be that big, $179 for that size tank is a bargin nice one i got mine 54"x20"x19" for around £300 over here in the uk this has about 10mm thick glass

as i said in your other post i would recommend two heaters and two filters tbh more filtration the better also its adds a level of redundancy just in that blue moon something fails , you can never have to much filtration

 

[pirate monkey]

Hi Pirate Monkey,

Thanks for the advice but the price difference is over double $179 for 6'x14"x18" or $559 for 6'x24"X24" and I can't find anything in between.

Also as its only my first big tank, probably the biggest I have seen that I would be interested in are Electric yellows which from what I read only get to about 6" so they should be ok I hope.

Well that sure is a price difference!

I might also suggest looking at pool filter sand instead of play sand. It's still cheap but the grain size is slightly larger and as such is a heavier sand so it doesn't stay in the water column. I found play sand was so light it would end up in my filters and that's not good! It also doesn't compact so much which means less chance of anaerobic gases forming, they are potentially harmful to fish.

Mind you your play sand might be better than from Argos!

 

[AXIS]

New aquarium prices are ridiculous in Perth, and the prices go up fast for the larger tanks.