scottscape

Alright I got myself way to psyched on a tank at lunch today and now have purchased a 350 odd litre Jebo tank. Jebo 2000 lph filter, changeable lighting, nice stand. $350 seems like a pretty good deal, now I have a few hundred to spend setting it up from here. Thanks for all the advice, I cant wait to see it, and see if it will fit in my car and into my house!

Hi, yes the Loaches are getting big very quickly, as are the angels! I reckon I have another few months before it becomes too urgent, the Loaches are certainly really happy as they are at the moment. Sunsun are definitely looking the cheapest so I was going to ask what people thought of them. In saying that there are a few brands which I think are not too ridiculous in price so any advice on hierarchy of brands would be cool. I bought my aqua one from hff. Selling fish seems more hassle then its worth eh, are people interested in buying full grown fish? Real good to hear that its cheaper to build your own system, I hope I can do it in a really good looking way! Any advice on cheap ways to do lighting? I will start making inquiries with local tank builders. Mean.

Maybe building the tank in the lounge could be the go then, though might not have the floor space and shifting will be interesting. You are probably right about getting the silicon all even and the panes all dead straight, perhaps I can simply supply the glass to the assembler and save myself a few bucks. I am fortunate I can shift my bio balls to the new filter to suss the cycling of the new tank nice and quick. Trademe has some really cheap filters, and to be fair there seems to not be a hell of a lot to a filter so long as the pump runs strong and reliably I don't really see where a lot of the difference in price comes from. From there a couple of good heaters, a light bar - If I don't go for LED's (I really want LED's) I will get a flourescent tube holder and make it super reflective with new bulbs. Should work sweet. How many kilos you reckon your tank weighed? Its not a great deal different to the one I'm thinking of. Regarding the fish - I've read an inch but same difference its still just an opinion - I'm just glad they are all relatively peaceful to each other - except the angels who bicker. Its not good long term to leave them all strapped for space. Having an African theme with cichlids in the new tank would be most good but that would mean I couldn't shift across most of the fish. The filtration I have was actually really easy to set up and I believe it is more then enough for now in the 620T. I'm really glad to hear that $800 is reasonable, cheers for your input. It would be real nice to go marine, but a sump tank would definately tip me into the 'dangerous weight' category and I'm not going to do that till I have the budget(and the insurance!) to do it right - and also the right flatmate to take care of it when I'm away! Is it even possible to insure your tank and fish??

Thanks a lot for the reply, that price is waaay below what I was expecting aye. Reading my post again it suddenly seems to me that I should gamble big and try building it myself! Ill get a quote for the glass and see if id be wasting my time. I am glad to hear that 300L should be fine, now to worry about getting it up the spiral staircase in one piece! The fish I have.. I used to know each and have names for them all but now its just gotten ridiculous. 5 angels of various ages, two veiltails, 5 clown loaches, 3 plecos, 5 cherry barbs, one tiger barb, two dwarf gouramis, 5 red tail silver body spratt looking things which turned up this weekend and I think thats it for that tank. In the bedroom theres a fighter, ten tetras and a baby angel in a 25 litre tank. Tipping my hat to the guy at hollywood fish farm that told her we could have a fish PER LITRE in each tank :facepalm: though perhaps there was an element of selective hearing in there.

Morning guys and girls, I have been trying to answer this myself for a few weeks and really would love some input. I am looking to get a new tank as I have an enthusiastic partner who has well overstocked my 620T (36 fish as of this weekend) I have rigged up an aqua one 1000 filter in addition to the hood filter and have pretty good plant growth (homemade CO2 system) which with good water changes should see fish health remain ok until I get some more water available (so long as they all keep getting along and don't grow too much!). I live in a second story apartment in Auckland, pretty modern place and have taken a stab that I should be pretty safe up to 300L or so regarding floor strength(any input on how big is possible with a reasonable safety margin would be great - it will be across as many joists as possible of course). What I really need to decide at this point is whether I should get a tank made, try to find a second hand deal or get an 'all in one tank' like the one I've got. I don't know about going for an 'all in one' system again as tinkering with the systems etc is most of the pleasure of it for me, and I am looking at a lot of hassle to upgrade the 620T's lighting, but at the same time they are easy and nice as a 'show tank'(therefore maybe a high quality one will cut it). My second option is second hand which is a bit of a risk and a bit of a waiting game but it might save me some cash to spend on other components. I could go for buying an all in one or separate components this way and get a really hi spec filtration and lights which would be really cool. My third option is to get a tank made (I can get stands made for myself at no cost so it would just be the glass). I really have no idea about the cost for this option and its what I want to find out. About how much does it cost to have a plain rectangle tank made at between 200-300L? I am not necessarily looking for the cheapest estimate if I go down the build path - quality ultra clear glass and silicon and finish are much more important to me then a couple of hundred bucks because that would certainly be a long term tank. (also how hard is it to build one yourself? The reason for my question is I can access low iron glass really cheap if I need to through work) Also if anyone has been down this path, as I am sure many of you have, your story or any pro tips which you would like to share would be much appreciated. My budget is negotiable but realistically wanting to spend up to $800 for the tank and system which I have in mind. Correct me if that is unrealistic. Thanks in advance - Scott.

Yeah haha like a 2.4metre span fits two pallets which are meant to be about a tonne - giving you a leeway of 200kg extra per pallet for mis-loading. The guy selling the racking to the manager should have asked what the application was! I've seen tests done where racks were grossly overloaded, and real world scenarios where I wouldn't walk in the storeroom! 300kg overload per beam is not a good long term solution but not the worst I have seen. Pallet storage is a serious issue and I wouldn't personally work around overloaded or improperly loaded racks. They are fantastically strong but when they go its real bad. Significant bowing or not bending back straight when unloaded is a bad sign. Companies are supposed to get yearly checks done(but they dont), they only cost $120 and might save pallets of stock - not to mention lives. Its just another example of how slack kiwi companies are that you were working around and I presume loading racking with no idea of its weight capacity. Things are changing though.

Well yeah 3 tonnes on beams rated for 2400kg is certainly not going to work, but 2 tonne on 3.6 tonne beams or a similar load rating wouldn't have much flex depending on the span - I would have to go to the solidwork programme to be sure. If it did there is potential to put another frame in the middle, or to use a different type of beam. Weight distribution is a biggie as you say and getting the edges across the frames would certainly be ideal. My point was that getting this kind of thing custom made to the millimetre like a tank requires will not be cheap, and in some cases racking could suffice. Its really dependent on a few variables - the tank specifications and what you lay on top of the frame are just a couple. In any case you know more about Aquariums than myself Warren, obviously timber on timber as you have shown in your picture is the ideal, however it doesn't leave much room to play with beneath it, and getting that dead level is a mission in its own right.

I don't know what you are going to get charged for a custom build job, but depending on the cost going for pallet racking could be a cost effective option, and very strong. 2 frames at about $150, whatever width you want, two high strength beams rated to 2400kg at 2.4metres long (or 3 tonne if you want to be safe and avoid any flex) at between $80-150 depending on strength, two lighter beams low down to give structure, then $50 pallet supports at whatever frequency you judge with a $50 - $100 tri board cover spanning the whole lot could suit you. For a more accurate quote with exactly what specs you want I can get you an exact amount. As far as flex goes the stronger you go the less flex you will get in Seismic events, though this stuff is built with it in mind. From there you would just need to paint it, or you could get a melteca Bar Back panel to face off the front and sides for a good looking finish. Anyways if this helps or you want to know more let me know.

Price wise, the Bunnings / big box retailer solutions are significantly cheaper then new stuff, but it is also far inferior to even the worst second hand legit industrial shelving. Even properly braced corner steel would be much better. Second hand using 2.5 tonne beams 2400 long and width of your choice with tri board as the shelf you could have an unbreakable stand for like $450. Depending on the Weight there are less hearty options which still have safety ratings as well. Brand new you would about double that price for quality racking.

Necromancing this thread a bit but don't want anyone coming to tears - the racking from Bunnings is crap. I sold real industrial racking in Tauranga for a few years (Dexion racking which is good for far more then the rated amount) and there really is no comparison. Cheap and nasty Asian imports will put you in a world or hurt, especially with product as heavy as full aquariums. Rule of thumb - you really dont want whatever your aquarium is on flexing overly and that stuff you can just about bend with your hands.

Hi All, The impeller on my UV filter is making a great deal of noise (grinding), in a fluctuating fashion. I have had it taken apart and cleaned, put back together x 3 but this is not working. Wondering now if I should shave off the edge of the impeller blades to be a bit smoother or something?

Hi Imsmith, Hey thanks for pointing that subforum out to me! I will educate myself further browsing through that. Hehe she finds it hard to believe that they don't need a feed twice a day.

Hi Imsmith, Thanks a lot for your detailed reply! If only it were as simple as explaining it, especially that fish do not need pellets, flakes and bloodworms all at once. Anyway I think I have gone down the over fertilizing road (failed plant experiment with nutrient balls in the substrate) and now am having to do regular water changes with gravel filtering while I get the nutrient levels back under control. (Golden Apple Snail ravaged my plants while I was sleeping. Well I believe he was the culprit anyway). Also the new tank I am working on algae levels with is a 620T Aqua One Tank, I got a bit of a deal on it but regardless with what I know now I would have gone for something bigger with a better external filter. Oh well we live and learn. The UV filter is working miracles in the interum - however the motor blew today. Sweet $99 for four days of clear water Blue Planet. Anyway as far as getting a new tank goes - you are dead right Trademe seems a really good place to source it. Thanks for your tip on CO2 alan, however that seems really expensive from looking at disposable canister prices, I would really love a jungle of plants in there though. Does anyone have suggestions on an ideal substrate composition? The best I have seen is a well settled garden dirt sealed in with a good inch of fine stones. Fair bit of work in that so hoping for some other feedback before I go ahead and do it. Also I feel my tank may be a little too tall while a wider and lower tank would be better for plants. Cheers

Gidday Team, My names Scott, I have kept fish for years but recently have gotten the money and inclination to start doing it properly. I found this forum and have learned loads over the last few weeks. I bought a new tank and some tropical fish a few months ago and fought a losing battle with algae over the last month or so (my girlfriend feels sorry for the fish because she thinks I underfeed them - so she overfeeds them, which I believe has caused me this trouble. Anyway I have a good five years managing small tropical tanks with reasonable success through trial and error and with recent research which has reinforced my suspicions I am looking to get a bit more hi tech with my fishkeeping methods. I am especially interested in creating as close to a biosphere as possible, a good substrate, fine overlay, effective plants and a good growth of good bacteria is what I believe will create the most rewarding, low maintenance tank. (I am taking inspiration from a true gentleman who recently took me through an in depth tour of his three large tanks and his methods in Hamilton recently). I am moving house in a few months so am getting a good plan in place now and starting to browse for a good cheap tank in the 400L range. I am in the kitchen business so have good access to tank stand manufacturing and possibly cheap glass to build myself a tank though I suspect that buying an unwanted one may be easier. Any input on this would be much appreciated. I am currently experimenting with plants in 25 litre tank which I plan to add to the bigger tank as they start to thrive in the water and temperature I use, and am building a substrate of an inch of large stones covered in fine gravel and further covered by a porous rock. Anyway after a visit to the Albany hollywood fish farm last week I purchased a UV filter and suddenly the water in my current tank is crystal clear - coincidence? I don't think so. I applaud Albany Hollywood fish farm for sound advice on this decision. Cheers guys. Scott