It's Stocking Decision Time For My 700L

[jkilby]

Ok then, I have agreed a cabinet design for my new 700 litre and my carpenter friend is starting to make it for me, so it is getting real now. I have decided that I am going to do another community tank like my 200 litre but to a larger scale. I want some ideas on stocking from you all, but I do want one very large schoal of fish and I didn't know how big to go in this size tank. Is it feasable to have a schoal of up to 100 cardinals?, or are their alternatives that would look better in large quantities. Come on people, let you minds run wild on this one, I want it to be a real wow factor tank when finished.

 

[mattbleasby]

My mind would go crazy with ideas if i had a 700L Id go crazy haha i found stocking a 120l mentally exciting haha

and 100 cardinals would look AMAZING!!! Seriously wow. Looking forward to pics of this if it happens

 

[micko]

I prefer the penguin tetras myself, think a big group of them would be great.

 

[jkilby]

My mind would go crazy with ideas if i had a 700L Id go crazy haha i found stocking a 120l mentally exciting haha

and 100 cardinals would look AMAZING!!! Seriously wow. Looking forward to pics of this if it happens

As things start to get installed there will be work in progress pictures posted. My friend has a LOT of work to do on the housing for the tank, due to shear weight and all the technical gadgets required as I want to see as little of the 'reality' of home fishkeeping as possible, the stars of the show are definately to be the fish.

 

[mattbleasby]

That is exactly how a tank can be. Sometimes the most amazing tanks are the simplest i love seeing fish in a tank more than decoration or surroundings what gadgets you got going in there?

 

[jkilby]

It's being built into a fake wall between my lounge and office area, so most of the gizmos will be in the office cabinets and under the tank. It is being built on a steel sub frame due to the weight and then a fancy oak outer around the tank, so it will look like it is on a wooden cabinet, but in reality it is a heavy gauge steel stand. I am also looking at carrying the cabinet up to the ceiling, so the entire thing looks like it is inside a wall. I will be running Eheim Professionel 3e filters on the tank, that is a definate I have decided on, which will be linked to the office PC so I can monitor the tank from there, the rest I am currently seeing what is around and which tickles my fancy really as it is only just starting to get ready for installation. I am not in a huge rush on this project, I would rather spend more time planning and getting it right from the word go.

 

[james_fish]

Would love to be in your position! I would go for a huge shoal of Characin, a huge shoal of Corydoras and then several of the more peaceful Cichlids (Keyhole's, Ram's). A few L-number Pleco's and then Shrimp/Snails

 

[mattbleasby]

That sounds awesome mate, I love the idea of the old cabinet What can you monitor from the PC never heard of that?

Really looking forward to seeing more

 

[jkilby]

For the Eheim Pro 3e filters you can get the ControlCenter with USB connection to your PC, which allows you to adjust, control and update your filter and inform you about the flow rate, cleaning intervals, running times etc.

 

[mattbleasby]

Oh! My! God! I want one... That is amazing, i love it. Does it show Temp or anything like that aswell? That would be perfect for me. May have to invest

 

[mattbleasby]

just had a look at this promo video for itHere this looks awesome, some of the things it has on it is just pure genius! i want one.

 

[jkilby]

They are an impressive piece of kit, I currently run an Eheim Ecco Pro 300 in my 200L tank which is great, it just doesn't have the power needed for the big tank. They aren't cheap (range from £260-£320) depending on which size you go for, but I think something that is SO important for your tank, it's the thing your shouldn't compromise on

The thing I am dreading is cleaning the sand. I always go for silca sand, I love the natural look and my corys love it, I have over 15kgs of it in the 200L and that took ages to clean, I dread to think how much I will need for a tank that is longer than my bath !!!.

 

[mattbleasby]

I agree these guys sound very worth the money for what you get, They look awesome, Im going to be looking into them now big style

How do you clean your sand? just hover a syphon above it? Im building a 60ltr planted that will have sand in it, and this will be the first time i have got sand.

 

[jkilby]

I agree these guys sound very worth the money for what you get, They look awesome, Im going to be looking into them now big style

How do you clean your sand? just hover a syphon above it? Im building a 60ltr planted that will have sand in it, and this will be the first time i have got sand.

It is a knack to cleaning the sand, but it is picked up quickly, I hold my cleaner about an inch above the sand and move it in circular motions, it creates a little whirlpool of sorts and the (excuse the wording) poo and muck lifts off the sand and then is pulled into the suction leaving the sand behind.

 

[mattbleasby]

I guess it will be trail and error for me then im sure ill be fine with it though