Planning a 2 metre tank

Hi Guys

So the title says it all. Im planning a 2 metre tank for the beggining of next year. Im looking for some advice and constructive critism for the setup.

So this is what im thinking so far:

Tank
Dimensions: 200 x 55 x 55cm (should be +-600 litres)
Glass: 10mm ????
Overflow: drilled for sump
Sump: 900 x 30 x 30
Return pump: 2500l/hr
Heating: 300watt heater in sump, maybe two????
Filter material: Mostly ceramic rings & filter batting, maybe bio balls?
Internal filter for water movement: 800l/hr
Substrate: Fine gravel or PFS???
Custom Canopy: Still have to think of a design and water resistant wood
Lighting: 2x T8 1.2m tubes
Stand: Custom made 50mm Square tubing

Fish:
2x +- 25cm Oscars (from my 4ft Set up)
4x Tinfoil barbs (currently in 3ft grow out set up)
4x Silver dollars (currently in 3ft grow out set up)

Considering adding the following after a month or two:
1x Pleco
2x Silver dollars
2xTinfoil barbs
1x bala shark
1 or 2 deacons

I'll have to get these big or grow them big or they will become Oscar food.

I will be taking my time with this setup, so I want to get everything right before I transfer any fish.

Please give me any suggestions, critism, etc

 

sounds like youre a monster fish keeper. Cool!!

 

Hi T

I have build my 1000 liter tank out of wood and painted it with 2k paint (car paint) it is water proof, you can use this idea for your canopy. Now you can also choose your color.


F

 

Not a bad idea,thanx I've got lots of 2k paint. It will have to dry very well as the fumes would extremely toxic to the fish if im not mistaken.

 

Come on guys!! Please give your input and crits as well.

 

nice size tank,instead of tinfoils why not make it a few more silver dollars?

 

Hmmm - With the correct bracing,you might get away with 10mm glass,but 12mm will give you a much better safety rating...

You will need 2 heaters - a 300W just wont cut the mustard mate...

Sump is too small,way 2 small - if you aim for a water volume of a quarter of your main tank,you getting on the right track... Connect 2 standard 3 footers with a tank connector and you are on the right track - 1st one can be almost all mechanical and the second biological - remember... Big Fish need LOTSA filtration...

I would not add more Tinfoils - 4 of them with the Oscars will be plenty...Pleco will be good and up the Dollars to about 8 or so - they will love the extra mates and shoal very well together.... Dont buy single Bala Sharks - they are a gregarious shoaling species and should be kept as a dead minimum of 3 individuals to feel o.k...

Happy planning!!

 

How about dropping the height to 50cm but going to 65cm wide (650l)? Agree with @azurekoi about the sump size.

Have you thought about going bare bottom instead of the substrate? It will be a super easy to clean and with some nice driftwood it can look amazing. Its not like silver dollars and oscars will let you have plants anyway

 

Thats the input and crit I was looking for. @azurekoi basically what you are saying is that I need atleast two heaters and a massive sump. lol

About the bala's, I know they are shaoling species, just thought they would find comfort with the silver dollars and tinfoils. Thats why we need the crit and info sharing.

I might just have to re-think the timing around this project, early next year might turn into later in the year.

 

I have thought of this, but I want to have substrate and i dont mind the cleaning. The thought of plants never entered my thoughts:bigsmile:

 

@Tiger barb ... These big tank projects always take longer than expected - dont fret over it... In the mean time you get to do what is for me,the real fun part - the planning...he,he

As for your future stocking - here's a few things to keep in consideration:
2 x Oscar = 60cm
4 x Tinfoils = 1,4m
6 x dollars = 90cm
1 x Pleco = 45cm
Total of over 3 meters of adult fish length(& round 7 to 8 kg of fish).... Overstocked already,but it can work if you keep the maintenance up(and build that bigger sump..lol)...
Rather scrap any idea of the Deacons with them - Being Bigger cichlids(But rather timid),the Oscars would most probably hammer them - rather look into some of the smaller(Faster...lol) Central American cichlids...Let's say four Cichlasoma salvinnii's - a long time favourite and you can get hold of them from time to time....

 

I am currently building a new fish tank. I used 10mm thick glass unsupported by any bracing. I think 12mm glass will be better for that size tank. My tank is 1200mm X 500mm X 620mm high. The filter system I've designed to word inside the lid for the tank. I am going to use marine varnish to spray the wood.

Some pics on how it is looking so far.

 

@Stalker - nice dude...but realy deserves it's own thread...start one up why dont you?

 

@azurekoi.....you scaring me, but its all good for the fish. So maybe I should get rid of the Tinfoils and not get a pleco and just have my two O's and 6 Silver Dollars. What do you suggest? Should I still go for a 2m tank then?

 

i'd say drop the tinfoils and go amazon biotope,maybe drop 1 silver dollar and then go with some kind of south american algae eater.they do have their place in the tank.

 

lol - Didn't mean to scare you @Tiger barb - just want to give you a complete pic of what you are going to have to contend with like 2 years down the line....

Oscars need space mate - wouldnt keep them(a pair) in anything under a 6 footer personally - they need their space,and lots of it.. So let's say a pair of Oscars,5 or 6 Dollars ; 3 to 5 Salvin's Cichlids(or similair medium Central American ones - did you check out the Salvin's btw?) and a Pleco would do that big tank very nicely with enough space for the fish to mature,not overstress the filter and have enough elbowroom for everyone....

 

lol - Didn't mean to scare you @Tiger barb - just want to give you a complete pic of what you are going to have to contend with like 2 years down the line....<br><br>Oscars need space mate - wouldnt keep them(a pair) in anything under a 6 footer personally - they need their space,and lots of it.. So let's say a pair of Oscars,5 or 6 Dollars ; 3 to 5 Salvin's Cichlids(or similair medium Central American ones - did you check out the Salvin's btw?) and a Pleco would do that big tank very nicely with enough space for the fish to mature,not overstress the filter and have enough elbowroom for everyone....

 

@azurekoi

No worries, I understand where you getting too.

Yes, had a look. They are stunning fish, would really like to get of those for this tank.

Ok, so currently my two Oscars are in a standard 4ft tank with an internal filter (800l/hr) and a 2ft sump with a 1000l/hr pump. I acknowledge that these are not the best living conditions in terms of space for two Oscars, however I do a 40% water change every week to keep nitrates low. They are +-25cm and still growing, I have had them almost a year and a half. Not sure if they are a pair, but time will tell. So i definitely want them to go in the 2metre setup.

In my other tanks i have 4 Silver dollars and 4 Tinfoil barbs. The dollars are still small +-the size of a R5 coin. The Tinfoils are about +-10cm. My plan is in the mean time (once the Tinfoils are big enough not to become Oscar food) is too add the Tinfoils to the 4ft with my Oscars. The dollars will stay in the current setup. So when my 2metre tank is finally up and running, these fish will be quite big already.

 

So, I have had a look at different tank sizes and prices, etc. The best one I could find was a 1.8m x 0.6 x 0.6 which is +-648 liters. I got a quote of R1200 for the tank and R250 extra for the corner flow & drilled hole for sump. Total will be R1450.

What I want to know is that the guys says the tank will be made out of 10mm float glass and will be braced top & bottom. He also said they pressure test all of their tanks.

Will 10mm glass and the bracing be sufficient?

Please advise.

 

@Tiger barb - with proper Euro style bracing....yes....just.