700l tank ideas

HI all just a week ago got my self a 700L (1500x600x800H).
have some ideas what i want 2 do but need some ideas and also info will help!
2x 54w fluorescent T5 bulbs, will this be fine?

filter: still in progress: any ideas, and what will work best!
heater:1x200w jager and 1x300w jager: already have a 200w jager
air: not sure what root 2 go or how much is needed, need help!
gravel:will like 2 go with pool filter sand, any comment on this will help (any problems or things i must nou)
extras: fake plants, rocks from the garden,like a more natural look.

livestock will come from my 250L tank:jag,vieja and two long fin plecos.

will only start cleaning this weekend and start 2 setup the tank end of the month.

please comment on any of the above all help will help me 2 get my tank rite.
thank u. (thanks for the tank blomhj)

 

Morning... Glad you got the tank. That jag of yours will need the room soon. Also remember South and Central Americans don't like too much light. Especially if there won't be any live plants in it.

As for the look (scape) google a couple of amazon biotope designs. I love them they even use some live plants higher in the tank so you don't have to go crazy with the light and your tank got the height. Also allot of wood. Floating pieces and all.

 

If you aren't gonna keep plants in the tank then i would suggest you get lower powered lights to save energy and to lower stress in the fish (you would be surprised how many fish dislike bright lights) (The 'T' stands for tube,the number at the back is the diameter,T5's are 1.6cm in diameter)If the tanks hood only supports T5's then i would go for some with a lower wattage.

If you have the space the Canister like always is a good option though a bit expensive,pleco's are pretty messy so more filtration is always better.

Heater wattage should be the same as your tank volume though you can go a bit higher,if you have more then one then place them on opposite ends of the tank for equal heating.

Air isn't really a problem,what you want is something that breaks the surface.Things like the canister filters return breaking the surface if it has a spray bar or a simple airstone hooked up to a small air pump/compressor.

Pool filter sand needs to be washed thoroughly,you might take as long as one hour just to clean one bag.The best way to clean it is to pur it in a bucket and pushing the hose pipe to the bottom while stirring the sand with your hand.Throw out the dirty water every minute.Once it's clear you need to repeat for about 10min more.2x40kg bags should be enough but you can go a bit deeper with 3 bags.When you first add it the water will be a bit cloudy.these are just the finer particles still drifting around.Remember to leave your filters off for a day or so it can settle on the bottom.

I wouldn't go with garden rocks,you don't know where it's been or how long it's been there.River rocks look similar to garden rocks and they are smooth so it won't hurt the fish.Remember to do the the vinegar test.I've also read somewhere that it's a bad idea to boil rocks unless you want shrapnel flying in every direction.

Hope this helps.

 

Hi
I think you should get 1 more 200w heater as winter is upon us and I don't think 500w is enough for the tank.

Filtration: I know canisters are very good but I don't know models sins there way to costly for me.
Fluval and sunsun have good filters as far I know.
I think the lighting is fine,just get cool day light bulbs as the bluish light looks better than warm and cool white.

 

will look in 2 the amazon biotope designs, looks great!

the garden rocks is the ones that is already in my 250L tank, the pool sand when it is in the tank when u do your weekly cleaning or monthly do u clean only on the surface of it or do u clean in two the sand ?

will get that extra heater!
thank so far

 

Hey. Well I clean into my sand. If fact I have to shovel sand around every week. Haha. Everyone in the tank diggs like crazy. But to clean only on top is no prob. Just make sure if no one diggs that you stir it up every now and then. On the heater side I have 3 jager 300w heaters in my tank and they keep the tank at n nice 27 degrees even now that its getting colder. But I must warn you most mornings all 3 are on at the same time. But if your heaters is in the tank you should not have any problems. I think I lose allot of heat with the sump. That and my tank is not insulated yet....good luck again.

 

thanks a3aan every bit on help works for me my heaters will go in the tank. what LPH will u say i need for my 700L tank?

 

I think 5000-7000LPH to keep dead spots to a minimum.

 

Thanx gives me idea what 2 go for with filters

 

some pix taken the day i got it

Samples of my tank

 

Holy crap. That's aiming a bit high. My 720l more like 800l with sump runs 3500lph through the 4ft sump. Witch is 5 x turnover with messy fish. It has 3 x 110mm x 45cm felt filter socks and almoast 20kg of ceramics and my tank is crystal clear. I just have 1 1100lph powerhead to help with circulation because the tank is 2m long.

Ok ok that's is almoast 5000lph but I would say its more than enough.

Are you keeping the 250l up and running or is it getting sold of? If you are selling it use your canister on it and combine it with a 3ft sump? That's what I would do in any case.

Or do you have other plans for filtration??? And secondly is the tank drilled?

Sorry for the long post but that's what I would do.

 

sounds like a plan will still look and see how 2 go, it is drilled but at the top back of the tank look in pictures.
i have a eheim pro 2224 700lph , a resun sp3800 2000lph and a sun sun 1200lph in my 250L tank.
thinking of going with the eheim the resun and a sump!
hope that will be rite

 

will keep the 250L tank for now. i have a tetra aps 300 air pump in my 250 will use it in my 700 must i add one more pump?

 

upgate

did some cleaning over the weekend. two of the pictures shows where the holes is on the tank will i be able 2 use it as a over flow for a sump?

 

Looks like the tank was made with a sump in mind.

If there is enough space then you can prob turn a smaller tank into a sump,nice thing about sumps is that they increase your water volume.

 

did some reading they say that when i fit bulkheads into the holes for plumbing that it will work for a sump must just get the rite pumps for it
what make pumps must or can i get for my setup and using a 3ft tank as a sump (90cm) and what do they go for?

 

Hi again.
You are 100% correct. If you fit them they will act as an overflow and you can just direct flow to your 3ft tank underneath. You just need to check that they are the correct height as they will determine your water level in the tank. If you need it higher you just need to do an upturn in the pipe work before you direct flow downward to the sump. Again remember at the point where you turn the piping down will determine water level.

As for the pump. Look for some known brands and always ask if they can supply replacement parts for it if needs be. And look for something that can pump between 3000lph and 3500lph at the specific head that you need. ( Head is the amount of flow you will lose for a specific pump at a certain height you are pumping. So the distance from the pump in the sump up to the edge of your tank)
Hope this makes sense.
Cheers.

 

Ps I see you have 4 drilled holes in the back. Just check the diameter of them and check what size they end up as once the bulk heads are fitted. And then go check this chart Pipe Sizing Charts and Flow Rates) It will give you the amount of water those specific holes can drain from your tank in an hour. Then check that against the pump you are looking at. Always make sure your overflows can flow more water out of your tank than your return pump can put back. Otherwise you will just flood the display tank.

Also remember if you use your canister on this tank you can subtract its flow ( think you sail its 700lph) from your total tank volume turnover per hour. (Just in case the overflows in your tank will not handle my suggested 3000to 3500 lph.

Ok ok cheers again.

 

They r 2.5cm , what do u think +- will a sump setup set me back?

 

Duno

A sump of 350l should prob be adequate ?

A 350L tank can go from R500-R1400 depending on where you get it and what the glass thickness is.

You will need to have panes of glass cut to make the chambers of the sump,they don't have to be very thick but make sure they aren't too thin.They are easy enough to silicone into the tank and you can always start over if you have the right tools to remove silicone.

Not sure what the current prices are for glass per KG.

You might want to go look for a tank builder,they usually have places they get glass for cheaper and they can build a sump for you if you don't have too much free time on your hands.