Mav007 Posted July 12, 2005 Report Share Posted July 12, 2005 Hi all. Wish I'd found this site 2 months ago!!! I am currently nearing the end of designing my new house within which we are installing a 5ft tank. Been all over the web gathering info and now find all and more is right here. Absolutely fantastic. Since reading through a few threads I have decided to change a few details of my setup design. However, one thing I haven't been able to decide upon is lighting. The setup will look something like this (Tropical Freshwater): 5ft X 20in X 20in Main Tank 30in X 20in X 20in Sump Tank for trickle filter 2 X 300W heaters (1 in sump and 1 in main) 1200 l/hour return pump with jets along length of tank surface and to bottom at opposite end to overflow Up to 2 Bala sharks 2-6 Rainbows 12-20 Neon Tetra's (Not sure on these as I think they prefer lower PH) 4-6 Dwarf Sucker Catfish Plants Vallisneria Spiralis Java Fern Anubias Barteri Tank and sump will be installed within a wall cavity with access from the back. Have done a bit of reading but I'm sure I've missed something. Any and all advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted July 12, 2005 Report Share Posted July 12, 2005 Hi yah! Sorry I can't help...I'm new. Just wanted to say hi and welcome. As you've seen already this sight is great and the people are wonderful Take care, Dolorosa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Welcome to the site. I suggest you also join the Dunedin Aquarium Club as several of their members have experience with tanks as big, and bigger, than yours. Talk to Denise at The Pet Warehouse, as she was the president last I heard and they have their meetings there. For lighting I would suggest 4 x 5ft fluorescents. I use bright white or daylight tubes in mine but you can also add the fancy spectrums. How lucky to be building the tank into the house! Make sure you have left height at the back to access the tank from above with nets as the handles stick up and get stuck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mav007 Posted July 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Thanks for the welcome Caper and info Caryl. The access at the back will be all the way to the ceiling so should be enough room. I'll try and contact Denise this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve slack Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 hi mav welcome to the site sounds like an awesome project gud luck with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Welcome May. I'm jealous, your tank sounds great. But I have one important question - have you allowed room for all the other tanks when you catch multiple tank syndrome? :lol: :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Hi Mav007, Welcome to the forums. My tank is the same height and width as yours just not as long, 40x20x20 , and on that I have 4 x 30 watt flouros, 3x Phillips 6500k daylight bulbs and 1 x Gro Lux all purchased from an electrical wholesaler for about $8 each. My plants are all growing well, except the foreground plants which are surviving but not thriving as they need more light. Cheers, Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mav007 Posted July 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Hey Jude (hehehe), Actually I have pre planned for multiple tanks and have a 3.6 X 2.4m concrete block walled room downstairs set aside. I'm including a floor drain in the slab and as well a seperate power circut for the room (Will also have the hall light on this circut to warn me if it blows a fuse). Matt, Cheers for the info. Sounds pretty much like what I should use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caserole Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Wecome Mav007 I'm in the procese of building a new fish room too, but have the power conected to a rcd at the switch board. If it flicks off a small red light comes on at the switch board to alert me. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 LOL - sounds like you are well and truly bitten by the bug !!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimbus Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 catch multiple tank syndrome? :lol: :lol: :lol: Thanks Jude, I have been scratching my head wondering what everyone was referring to by MTS ... Now I Know :roll: And welcome Mav, just new here myself. Your project sounds amazing, I hope you get around to posting some pics. Regards Linda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 and a welcome from me too. What a luxury set up. I love our largest tank but access is a right pain in the butt and definitely would make me think if I was setting up another one. I am really thick about filtration and sumps and such, so am always interested to hear how others get on. As for lighting I have replaced some tubes with 'normal' ones of the same strength but the light is more white/yellow than white/blue....and I find the plants don't like it much (or perhaps it is the brown algae type stuff that likes it and smothers the plants....it is almost like a coating of rubber on the plants. I did buy a 'proper' light for one of the smaller tanks, and although it is rather gloomy in that tank, it does seem much more user friendly for both the plants and the fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mav007 Posted July 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Thanks heaps everyone. Jude, Had a small tank in Australia when I lived there. Had to give it away when the company I worked for started moving me around a lot. Been planning this setup for a while now!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Sounds great to me and I love the sound of your fishroom. You will really benefit from the time you have spent planning out what you need in it. Maybe you could ask for suggestions in the DIY section from those with fishrooms about what they wish they had done in theirs............. just a thought Good luck, I look forward to hearing progress reports Cheers Jude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 12-20 Neon Tetra's (Not sure on these as I think they prefer lower PH) I have neons and my pH runs from 7.2 and 7.6. What I have read on the net so far though indicates they prefer 7. But those with more experience will tell you more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vapo Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Hey Jude (hehehe), Actually I have pre planned for multiple tanks and have a 3.6 X 2.4m concrete block walled room downstairs set aside. I'm including a floor drain in the slab and as well a seperate power circut for the room (Will also have the hall light on this circut to warn me if it blows a fuse). Wow!!... Wow!!... Sounds fantastic!! The drain is an excellent idea! Would love that luxury, but we're renting. How's the project coming along? Love to see some pics. Cheers, Vapo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mav007 Posted August 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 Construction starts in November. I'll post when we're up and running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southern man Posted November 17, 2005 Report Share Posted November 17, 2005 i am a member of the local fish club we would love to see u at a meeting and help u with this amazing bad habbit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southern man Posted November 23, 2005 Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 daylight tubes i find the best lighting for tanks don't get a growlux tube pink light and premotes algae neons and rainbows red and blue food for the rainbows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southern man Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 hey dude hows the fishroom going? would u like to join the club? :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mav007 Posted February 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2006 The fishroom is still non existant. Delay after delay has meant we still do not have a house to put it in. The new expectation is for building to begin in early April. the DCC and some trades people are not my favs at present!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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