Stocking Ideas For An 8 X 2 X 2...

[Paula2]

Hmmm.... here I am again

We've currently got a 75g (standard 6ft), next we're getting a 3ft x 1.5 x 1.5 - later in the year. But have started early planning phase for a bigger tank.. would appreciate comments - if we're getting the wrong idea we'll change direction!

We've decided to get an 8 x 2 x 2 tank, we've got the space and a nice concrete slab to take the weight - yay!

We're currently tossing up a couple of possibilities...

1 - we were thinking of setting up a colony of larger cichlids, maybe frontosa? plus a few biggish catfish (Synodontis or L numbers) and a few others (maybe a fire eel or two). Would these be a suitable mix, and would the stocking levels be OK? Our current 75g tank volume is filtered 6-7 times per hour, and we'd plan on a good level of filtration for this tank, but we don't want to crowd anyone. The substrate would be fine gravel and sand, with large smooth rocks and some caves.

2 - setting up a mbuna tank with sand, a rocky backdrop, lots of other rocks and boltholes, and maybe three or four different colonies - one male each to four to five females. Would this stocking level/mix be OK?

Comments appreciated and any other suggestions welcome

 

[jumpman]

Hmmm.... here I am again

We've currently got a 75g (standard 6ft), next we're getting a 3ft x 1.5 x 1.5 - later in the year. But have started early planning phase for a bigger tank.. would appreciate comments - if we're getting the wrong idea we'll change direction!

We've decided to get an 8 x 2 x 2 tank, we've got the space and a nice concrete slab to take the weight - yay!

We're currently tossing up a couple of possibilities...

1 - we were thinking of setting up a colony of larger cichlids, maybe frontosa? plus a few biggish catfish (Synodontis or L numbers) and a few others (maybe a fire eel or two). Would these be a suitable mix, and would the stocking levels be OK? Our current 75g tank volume is filtered 6-7 times per hour, and we'd plan on a good level of filtration for this tank, but we don't want to crowd anyone. The substrate would be fine gravel and sand, with large smooth rocks and some caves.

2 - setting up a mbuna tank with sand, a rocky backdrop, lots of other rocks and boltholes, and maybe three or four different colonies - one male each to four to five females. Would this stocking level/mix be OK?

Comments appreciated and any other suggestions welcome

Wow,

If I had a tank of that size I wouild definately go back to a big shoal of Fronts. You could get a good 15 or so, and watch them grow nice and big!

Then you have quite a few choices for tankmates.
You could stay 'biotype correct' and have a few leilupi or calvus/compriceps and catfish, or
maybe compliment them with a few blue dolphins and clown loaches.

Either way it will be an awesome tank!

Personally I kept Fronts with bristlenose plecs, synodontis cats, clown loaches, leilupi and even a male krib and a firemouth at one point, and they have always been curious but well behaved.

jump

 

[adambrum]

That makes 2 of us planning big tanks , how are you going about filtering the tank and what about the stand i reackon mine will weigh in at about 1500kg !.

as for stocking you could go with a group of fronts easy the other way is how im going with abouy 50-60 mbuna.

Im sure it will look amazing whichever way you go.

 

[Paula2]

Thanks guys

With filtration, not sure yet but I've seen similar with two big sumps and pumps.. haven't got into the info I need for that yet - about to start the research

Stand... arghh... my partner has a workshop with woodworking and welding gear... will have a look around and see what we can come up with!

We've decided we'd love to have fronts.... not sure of tankmates yet but have a while to plan!

 

[i_ganjaman]

Firstly..Hi to everyone..
I am coming to the end of my project its a Big project too(for me anyway). My main tank is 120x30x30 inch Acrylic aquarium with 2 weirs and stand pipes and sliding covers and i have gone for a sump and cover(60x18x18 inches) also acrylic for my filtering system.

Its divided into 5 sections (under and over system) 1st section is where the water will drain into from the main tank and contains a strainer.Second section is filled with foam media going from course to medium to fine 3rd section contains bio balls 4th section contains alfagrog and the 5th section contains 3 300 watt heaters and 2 Aqua Medic 6500 ocean runner pumps, To take the water back into the tank.

Acrylic tanks are expensive but can retain heat better than glass and are clearer so in the long run i hope to save on my electricity bill. For lighting i have gone for Arcadia Overtank luminaires which will be suspended from the ceiling.

Please note check your foundations(footings),I went silly and went for concrete (30 newton mix) 7 inches deep with reinforcing bars just for piece of mind ,and had a serious heavy duty metal stand made up to my specifications....I think thats about it...I made sure i knew everything i needed to know to make things go as smooth as possible.

I hope this helps if anyone is still unsure please get in touch with me and i can walk you through what you need to know, because i know now how hard things like this can be and how hard it is to find relevant information on the net.

Trust me no matter how well your planning there's always hidden costs somewhere along the line as i found out quite a few times. If you want some pics of my tank stand design i can get em for you.........hopefully by christmas my tank will be done and dusted (got to do all of this in my spare time).

Sorry for any spelling mistakes been a long time since i was in school, come to think of it i couldn't spell then either.........................
Andrew

 

[adambrum]

Hi paula, hope im not invading on your post to much but as we are both planning a tank at the same time it could be helpfull

thought i would add a pic of the tank frame im planning for my tank, this is still a work in progress the frame is to be clad in 3/4 mdf sealed ect with a 1" ply top, any comment welcome.

 

[i_ganjaman]

i would go far a stronger design...for peace of mind i did have some designs around somewhere for a wooden stand

 

[adambrum]

So quick to post i forgot most of the details, the frame is 2" box section steel 1/4 wall ( get steel tube free )

 

[Paula2]

adambrum, please hijack away, it's all info I need too

I am concerned to make sure we have a suitable stand for this thing and would love advice on what we'd need to be safe.

I'm also new to sumps/pumps etc, so as much info as can be sent my way would be appreciated!

My partner now wants to set it up as a 'river bed' - rainbowfish etc.

We might need to get two!

 

[i_ganjaman]

the pictures i took are not very good but perhaps they might inspire you with ideas for a stand.
http/i113.photobucket.com/albums/n234/i_.../topofstand.jpg
http/i113.photobucket.com/albums/n234/i_...an/standtop.jpg
http/i113.photobucket.com/albums/n234/i_...sideofstand.jpg
http/i113.photobucket.com/albums/n234/i_...insidestand.jpg

in this picture below you can see the centre support is coloured with red oxide,i have not painted this yet so i can show you that its removable(bolted on to main stand) so i can fit the sump underneath then bolt it back in....
http/i113.photobucket.com/albums/n234/i_...ngthofstand.jpg

i painted the stand with red oxide and its in the process of getting painted with silver hammerite

there will be 1 inch thick marine ply going ontop, and 5mm thick clearseal aquarium basemat
hope this will be helpful
and i hope it will stop you all getting headaches like i have had with this project.
Andrew
forgive me for the mess in my living room,i am also renovating the room along with sorting out the tank,what a bad mistake

 

[adambrum]

Thats a great help thanks i cant picture the frame yet but i can now.

What size steel is it and what wall thickness.

how are you filtering this beast.

Thanks

 

[i_ganjaman]

adam check my posts above for the filter(sump) specs i will post more info later

 

[Paula2]

Excellent!!! Thanks!

 

[Xebadir]

My Apologies for this post: sorry i was not perfect at 2 am after work but of course people dont understand or believe the truth.

 

[i_ganjaman]

i_ganjaman

Id be really really worried if thats your support base for your tank. Yes the cross bracing is very nice but basically you are weakening your frame by having one solid rectangle as the base shape: Remember Triangles are the strongest shapes. Possible look into at least cross bracing somewhere along the length, otherwise under the weight stress it could eventually crumple.

please tell it to the people that fabricated it(who have vast experience in this sort of thing), and the architech that looked over the design before it was made and tell them. I am more than happy with it and it will hold far more weight than what it will be holding.
you have no idea. if you are referring too the side its designed that way so that if anything did happen it would lean against the wall i can asure you i have looked into all aspects of the design.If it was made of wood, i would accept your argument but its not.....geeze some people think they know it all..

stick with your 20 gallon tank fella

paula and adam dont take any notice the stand is safe as houses as the saying go's