Heating and filtration for a 345gal tank

[simonbrown403]

Once you have crossed the 100g barrier nothing is cheap anymore, even putting a substrate into the tank is going to cost an arm and a leg and you don't even want to think of the cost of water conditioner and electricity bills Then comes the decor, those little £4.99 bits of bogwood look silly in huge tanks so its time to start looking at the larger bits which start at £20 a time, unless you are going for rocks in which case you'd better get a mortgage out

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There some cheep stuff around if you look, our local garden center sells large pieces of slate, granite, and loads of other types of rock for as little as £2.50 each they even have large pieces of drift wood, there's play sand for a substrate, even tescos sells that these days for £2.49 for 12.5kg or there abouts.

There's loads of places to look, stone masons always have loags of slate etc lieing aroud they will sell or give, garden centers (rockeries, gravel, wood and sand), reclaimer yards (rock of all types), builders yards, that's just to name a few.

Have fun sounds like a good project

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Thanks for all the replys everyone !
The tank is going to be 6ft long, 4ft wide and 2ft high- the tank is going to be custom made as while its easy to find 6, 2, 2 tanks its very difficult to find 6, 4, 2 tanks. I have 2 common plecs and a small sailfin(although i think she is actually a chocolate plec because of how her colors and patterns are maturing but for now im guessing she's a sailfin to be on the safe side for now) which all need bigger tanks very soon which is why im opting for so much surface area in the tank so they all get enough space to themselves .
Other than the large plecs the tank is just going to stocked with a variety of small plecs(none exceeding 6inchs each, most will be smaller) and a couple of peaceful tetra species, corys, some clown loachs and of course my livebearers and black khuli loachs. I may opt for some more different small species of fish but i havn't decided on any yet.
I know that common and sailfin plecs although being some of the most peaceful plecs out there can get a little terotorial over food so if things don't work out for them i have plans to build an indoor pond in just under year or so from now where one of them can be moved if it turns into a bully or gets picked on itself too much.

I've never heard of pressurised filters and Algae Turf Scrubbers up until now so i will do some research on them- are they hard to come by or set up/maintain? My knolege on sumps is quite poor so i will do some research on those too. I would have got my tank sooner but couldn't due to house issues(bought a new house) and a lousy lfs i was entrusting to order my tank but i am know glad it is a bit late as i still have so much more to decide on and research ! Thanks for all the help and info everyone

 

[colen]

That is one hell of a tank.

Make sure that both the stand, and the floor can hold 2991.0106 lb. (1357.9188 kg) Aproxmately

 

[Vivid-Dawn]

I have a 210 tank waiting to be set up. I was just going to use a couple of the largest Fluval filters, and however many higher watt heaters are needed (haven't started looking at that, since I have no money now).
But this post is a big help, in choosing filters for me, too!
Thanks Tokis-Phoenix (and everybody else)!

 

[CFC]

On another note how are you planning on getting the tank into the house? The weight of a tank that size is more than can be carried by 4 men, which is the maximum number of people you can reasonably expect to be able to have their hands on the tank as it goes through doors, around corners etc. The shape will also make it very awkward to fit through doors, it will go through on its edge (the 2 foot side) but will be difficult to manoevure being 4 foot tall as it will need to be carried at knee height to fit under door frames.
Tanks of this size are usually constructed in place rather than built and then delivered, at the manufacturers end they can load the tank with a forklift truck, you probably dont have the same luxury.

 

[colen]

CFC, since I have read Tokis's post I have been trying to figure out how I would go about moving a tank that size into my own house. I figure it is just not possible (for my house that is). There is no way it could come in my backdoor innless it was to go down my stairs into my finished basement (which would be ideal so weight is not an issue) however there would be no room to maneuver it at the bottom or ever get it completely down the stairs.

If it were to come in my front door it would be stuck in the 3 main rooms, not sure how my floors would like all that weight

As you said, the only way I could think of would be to have it built and setup in my house, and I could only imagine the bill for that one.

 

[The-Wolf]

The tank is going to be 6ft long, 4ft wide and 2ft high

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ok according to tankmaster
volume (air) =359.31 US Gallons
surface area =3456 Square Inches
water weight (fresh) =2982.27 Pounds
Recommended Water Circulation: = 3233.79 Gallons per hour (GPH)
Recommended Water Changes: = 71.86 To 89.82 gallons every 2 weeks
Recommended Lighting Intensity: = 1437.24 To 1868.41 Watts
Recommended Heater Size = 1077.93 To 1796.55 Watts.

Just For Fun:
it takes 91983.36 tablespoons of water to fill your tank!

 

[andywg]

Here's a link to a pretty in depth post I made a while ago on Algae Turf Scrubbers:

ATS

As a precis they work by flushing water across a tray which algae grows in and on. The algae absorbs ammonia neat as well as other nasties (phosphates etc) which can be removed from your system by regularly "harvesting" or "mowing" the turf by taking excess algae growth out.

If you want more info than I can give you send me a pm and I can point you in the way.

Must admit, with a tank that size you would probably looking at around 3 or 4 150 or 250 Watt metal Halide lights, or possibly even Sodium discharge (far greater lumens per watt than even MH).

Andy

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Ok i have just had some bad and some good news- i can't stay long on here as i've got glandular fever thus feeling pretty aweful ;

Good news;
1. The petshop im relying on ordering my tank said they found a company with a good reputation(i resarched the company and they seem to be pretty together with it) to make my tank.
2. The price they are offering for the tank is alot cheeper than any other lfs i've spoken to.

Bad news;
1. The tank has to be 6ft, 3ft, 2ft and not 6ft, 4ft, 2ft due to the companys regulations, if it was an extra foot wider the tank would fall into the risky zone- meaning i would be running a risk of it cracking/breaking under the pressure of the water...
.... .... ....

This is the first i have heard about the riskyness of the tank dimensions but i was wondering it myself although i am disapointed in all the other lfs's i have spoken to no one has mentioned this to me before- either this lfs is more experienced with these things and had the decency to tell me about the safety of the tank in question or either that the other lfs's are right in not worrying and not telling me either.
Im going with this lfs because i'd rather not take risks with things that are going to cost me so much money, i rather not lose it all and have a big mess to tidy up and lots of dead fish on the floor. I also think they are a better lfs as they are the only one that told me about stocking and cycling tanks all those years ago when i first started out in fish keeping- they have also apperently been working with the company i could posibly be ordering my tank from for 30yrs.
Ah well.... .....Im terible with maths, how many gallons would a 6, 3, 2 tank be roughly do you know....? Sorry to be a pain, its a bummer im ill and now i hear its dangerous to get the tank of my dreams.
A 6, 3, 2 tank is going to cost me £760's, the glass will be 12mm thick and the stand is going to have to be made out of brick.

 

[The-Wolf]

according to Tankmaster
Volume Empty 179.65 us gallons/ 680.04ltr
Water Surface Area 1728 Square Inches/ 11148.36 Square Centimetres
Water Weight (Freshwater) 1491.09 Pounds
Recommended Water Circulation 1616.85 Gallons per hour (GPH)
Recommended Water Changes 35.93 To 44.91 gallons every 2 weeks
Recommended Lighting Intensity 718.6 To 934.18 Watts
Recommended Heater Size 538.95 To 898.25 Watts

I have a feeling that the companys insurance won't cover them for making a tank as big as you want, possibly due to the weight of each piece of glass and the total weight of the finished unit ( have to protect your employees )

have you considered trying to find an acryilic tankmaker for a 6x4?

 

[CFC]

Actually its 224 gallons

http/users.bluecarrots.com/dave.mann/pet...in/tankcalc.htm

If you want a 6x4x2 then contact BOSS aquarium manufactureres on 01324 814203 and ask for a quote for a on site build.

These guys are the best there is for over sized tanks, give them a call and discuss what you would like and they will give you the best options and price.

 

[The-Wolf]

Actually its 224 gallons

Actually its not
even on that link you posted (6' x 2' x 2')it is
679.6 ltr/ 179.53 US gal

 

[CFC]

look again wolfy boy she said 6x3x2

If she were paying £760 for a standard 180g tank i'd go round and bash the shop owner for her free of charge

That said that is still a extreemly high price when you consider that my 66x30x24" only cost £240 to have custom built, id shop around a bit more.

 

[colen]

Tokis-Phoenix:

I hope you are going to be alright. Please keep us updated on how you are feeling / doing.

Get well soon.

Colen.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Thanks for all the info and help everyone, i realy appreiciate it- ah glorius caffine and paracetamol is allowing me some time on here before "the feeling of impending doom" and then "feeling of 2week hang over" after 3weeks of being asleep and then "feeling of need to smoke 30 cigerettes". Or at least that was it how it was for me last time
I will try to keep you guys updated as much as i can and when i get the tank, hopefully 6, 4, 2ft big and not 6, 3, 2ft big, i will definatly do a picture diary for you guys to see