Hello Everyone!!!

Hi guys and gals, I'm from Durban and I have been browsing the forum for a while and I have to say it is definitely one of the most well managed out there. Extremely informative and newbie friendly!

I have been keeping fish for a number of years, and have just recently gotten back into it again, and I must say I had no idea how much i had missed it!

My current setup which is still in the construction phase is a 1.2m x 0.4m x 0.4m main tank in 6mm glass, on a welded steel stand. (which i plan to enclose in a custom stained wooden cabinet) the sump for the tank is 0.6m x 0.3m x 0.4m which is divided into 4 chambers. I plan to run the following filter media: Chamber 1: (inlet overflow from tank) mechanical filtration, filter floss. Chamber 2: Ceramic rings and substrate (looks like white nuggets???) Chamber 3: Bio Balls and Chamber 4: Pump return to tank with heater.

I plan on keeping either cichlids or discus, although I must say that I am very keen to try my hand at discus keeping! They are amazingly beautiful, and I prefer a challenge, i'm a keen tinkerer and a tank that maintains itself would bore me to death!

I look forward to your comments on my setup and any constructive advice would be greatly appreciated!

Kind Regards,

Drewton

 

Hi Drewton

Welcme, sounds like you have big plans.

GErhard

 

Hi Drewton. Your filtration setup sounds solid, that is a very good foundation for your system. GLuck.

 

Hi Vis! Thanks! yup bug plans!

 

Thanks Go-Big, I hope so! Theres nothing worse than a cloudy dirty tank! i'd rather overdo it and only do it once!

 

Any advice on what sort of collector i should use for this setup to handle the overflow from the tank to the sump? Currently the collector that I have is 150mm x 150mm x 400mm, with a central 50mm drain to the sump. It mounts on the right side of the tank with an overflow weir of 400mm x 30mm into the collector.
my tank as 196 litres and i plan on cycling it 5 times an hour, therefore i plan on using a 1000 - 1200 l/h pump. would this collector be sufficient to handle the volume of water i plan on cycling?

 

Drewton if you are going the dicuss route I will up that cycle rate to at least 9 or so.

 

hi and welcome. you have a 50mm drain in your overflow, that should handle 4000-5000 liters per hour no prob (i have a 3000 lph pump on a 32mm drain). just one suggestion on your sump setup, DO NOT put your heater in the return chamber, if you forget to topup or your drain blocks, the heater will explode (ok crack/ pop), if it is not submerged.

 

Yoh, ok 9 to 10 times that would be 2000l/h!!! I understand that Discus need excellent water clarity and near perfect water conditions and can be very sensitive to nitrite fluctuations. However, with that sort of turnover, would the flow rate in my sump not be excessive?, hindering bacterial growth in the media? I see on the Prof's posts that he cycles his tanks about 1.5 times an hour. (given he has massive filter media capacity)

 

Uh... big plans... LOL sorry!

 

Also Vis, how is our water in Durban as far as ph is concerned? will it be suitable to use in a dechlorinated form for top ups after water changes?
And what would be the best way to dechlorinate it? Aeration?

 

@SalmonAfrica should be able to help with water parameterd.

 

Hey Drewton

Strangely, I've found that the pH varies somewhat depending on whereabouts in Durban you come from. I have no idea whether this has something to do with older piping in certain areas. Regardless, it doesn't vary much as far as I have seen - my tapwater has a pH of roughly 6 while the pH in the Springfield area is just under 7.

You can take a sample of your tapwater to your local pet store and get it tested for pH, or you can even buy your own pH test kit and monitor the pH of your tank over time instead of going to the store every time.

If you find that your water isn't suitable for discus, you can go the RO water route - RO standing for reverse osmosis. This lowers the pH of the water significantly and, if you mix it with your regular tapwater, should produce an acceptable pH for discus and other fish which require a low pH. RO water doesn't need to be dechlorinated but any tapwater you use must be. Just as your local pet store for a good dechlorinator (Tetra is quite good) and stick with that.

Alternatively you can dechlorinate by aeration, just by leaving the water standing with an air stone bubbling in it for about 24 hours, maybe a bit more. It would still be best to add some dechlorinator anyway, since just aerating the water won't remove all the bad stuff, like chloramine and certain soluable metals, which most dechlorinators have the ability to remove.

Good luck with getting back into the hobby

 

Thanks Salmon, I'll definately have to get a test kit to monitor levels i think. Just to be safe! Tank needs a top up already so i'll go and get some dechlorinator today. Thanks again for the great advice!

 

Faga lo pictures.....

 

Ya Ya ok ok... lol Pictures are coming soon!

 

Ok so here goes guys....

I bought this 200l 1.22m tank second hand off Gumtree for a few bob, it included the stand and another (rather tall) 2ft tank, as well as an interesting perspex overflow chamber (I believe it was a marine at some stage...). the right side panel is 30mm lower than the rest of the tank which acts as an overflow into the chamber. I have this "weir" guarded by some plastic mesh to prevent the fish going for a ride down to the sump.

First job was to clean up the tank and paint the back panel black as well as sand down the stand and paint it with hammerite to prevent corrosion.

 

Next job was to partition the sump...





Thanks to robgurr for his help!!

 

Once the sump was completed and tested and the tank was ready I put them into position, and filled them with water. Thankfully there was no leaks!! I then installed the overflow chamber and constructed a return to the sump from 50mm pvc pipe and elbows. Unfortunately I dont have any pics of the assembly, but i'm sure you can get the picture. (excuse the pun) this is of the completed and running overflow chamber. Sorry about the first pic being lopsided!

 

I then added the filter media to the sump. the first chamber is floss and sponge above to provide mechanical filtration. I will be changing this to just sponge when i can get some more. (anyone know a supplier?) This flows under the partition to the second chamber which contains the following layers: clay balls, ceramic rings, broken up clay bricks and more clay balls. This chamber then overflows into the 3rd chamber containing bio balls with bio sponge above to keep them in position. This then underflows into the return chamber which contains the pumps etc... There are 2 pumps, one running 1400lph and the second 600lph. giving me a maximum 2000lph flow rate, but also giving me the option to reduce flow in intervals if need be.