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  • Great aquarium set up

    Ok, so I am now wanting another tank.. bigger.. maybe 200 -300 gallon.. every moment I get I search the net for new and better equipment. Currently I have 4 tanks different set ups (because the guy at the store sold it to me) not really knowing what I should really have.. I have 1 wet/dry set up, 1 canister set up, 2 HOB set ups (bio wheels) .. what I am curiuos about is all the extra gadgets.. liket stuff you guys invent yourself " A Better mouse trap" so to speak..     some have power heads, and lights inside sump tanks, and extra tanks for bateria grow outs and so on...

    DO YOU GUYS HAVE PICTURES .. OR. GOOD INFORMATIVE WEB SITES THAT SHOW SET UPS. ( I have searched and the info is not really complete) maybe I do not know what to search for.

    like a layout of a wet/dry sump system and a explanation of WHY it works and HOW it works... complete with pictures (not drawings) of tubes and hoses and pumps....

    Not sure If I am conveying what I want.. My next tank is my serious tank... I want to set it up for cichlids.. I want sand substrate (not play sand) I want current and movement in the tank, I want the proper rocks and plants, I want this to be a master piece with all the PROPER stuff and not a guess that this will work.... I want fantastic filtration ( not a series of HOB filters and a extra canister) but if that is what it needs then I want to know it... I know you guys have tanks that you would do differntly.. I wnat to know what changes you would make and why.... I know I am asking a lot here... But my constant searching is not coming up with the answers I am looking for... so I turn to you guys to guide me.... since I went to the ADG tour... I want the right stuff....

    the tanks I have now are great, I love each one... but feel like I could of done some stuff better.. I constantly try to re-engineer what I have already set up...

    My e-mail is   copesigns@aol.com   If you want to send some pics.. please feel free... I will appreciate any and all comments and info... Thank you in advance.... this site is jammed packed full of good stuff.... and everyday I learn something new.
    Had about 900 gallons now I am tired and selling them off...

  • #2
    Re: Great aquarium set up

    I understand your aspirations cope, I think we all have similar desires in certain way. I researched Wet Dry's on the net for a while but did not find any real memorable sites I can steer you to. One way to learn more about Wet Dry's is to post question like this one here in several different clubs or forums with aquarium related themes.

    I would invite you to call me if you like and I will be happy to give you my interpretation of how WD's work and their strong and weak points.

    CF

    PM me for the number
    Truth is the cement that holds the bricks and stones of a sane and civilized society together. Remove the former and the latter will crumble.

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    • #3
      Re: Great aquarium set up

      You may want to visit this site for ideas
      Fish aquarium photos, articles and advice. Learn everything you need to know about maintaining aquariums.

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      • #4
        Re: Great aquarium set up

        thanks guys.... why don't the manufactors of these products have web sites.... like eheim  and rena    all I can find when I enter ...like eheim.. all I get is the stores that sell it with a microscopic description.... I would think that the manufactors would have a site that would promote the use of thier product.... maybe some videos of how stuff works and why it is superior..... makes me scratch my head... am I mising something on my search engine?
        Had about 900 gallons now I am tired and selling them off...

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        • #5
          Re: Great aquarium set up

          Wet / dry filters I am going to recommend Pro-Clear...   http://www.pro-clear.com/

          Wet / dry have the best biological and Oxygen exchange system.  Its downfall, would be mechanical filtration.  You can only put one or two pieces of mechanical filtration, therefore it takes a little longer to clean the tank with them, but because of the superior bioload cleaning this will outweight most other issues you will find with them.   Ease of setup ?  :  Not easy at all.  (I think you know this already)  Cleaning usually means a major operation.  (not done often except for the drip tray which should be cleaned once a week or two (this is where the majority of mechanical cleaning is done)
          Potential WATER on your floor if incorrectly setup and water is allowed to drain back into the overflow because the pump has stopped (power outage etc)

          Canister -- Good Mechnical and Bioload, but because the biomaterial is always covered with water there is not the oxygenation that wet/dry's offer and therefore you will not get the bioload (oxygen is needed for the best bioload)  Does a good job at cleaning and you can add and remove mechanical pads to add and remove the amount you want the water cleaned by (ie how many times does the water have to go through the system before the particle is caught in the filter)
          Ease of setup : fairly easy once the tubing has been done and cleaning is easy too.  You will have to stop the canister and pull it completely apart to clean it completely.

          HOB -- same as canister.. easier to clean and hold less material, ie therefore will not last as long as a canister when it comes to cycle time between cleanings.  Another thing with HOB's is the amount of water turnover is not near high enough once you have a medium to big tank without adding multiples.

          Internal filters should be used for small tanks or as secondary cleaning and oxygenation on bigger tanks.
          Easy to clean and setup (easiest)

          Cope I will attempt to get pictures of my canister and wet / dry soon

          Jesper

          What fish do Jesper have
          180 WC T. Moorii Chilambo +1 Petro trewavasae.
          110
          Cyps, WC Xeno Spilopterus Kipili WC/F1/F2 T. sp red Kiku
          58 S. Decorus

          "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." -Margaret Thatcher

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          • #6
            Re: Great aquarium set up

            thanks Zu... I have watch many of youtube videos.... how to make your own from a bucket, or coke bottle, or have 3 miles of piping going thru your house...or have some fangled 2x4 cabnet and a couple of drop lights.... and one guy made part of his tank out of plywood... let's see.... I just got a brand new house...yep... I see it now... plywood fishtank...and a garden hose runing thru the window and a coke bottle filter.... yep.. wife is gona love me for this.... LOL..... and you know ... on my 135 the wet dry system.. the ONLY mechanical filter I have is a 12"x12" x1/4 " carbon pad..... that is it...period.. and that tank is like crystal clear..(go figure)..did notknow if I should add some UV light in the sump tank... or just leave well enuff alone... the main thing is.. when I get my new tank..I want everything to be good.... I was even thinking of getting a 55 gallon container for the garage... and have water waiting for the water changes.. I was gonna set up a quick connect to the sump or canister.. to drain the water.. and I was gonna get a pond pump to bring water from the 55 gallon drum into the house... I was thinking that by doing the 55 gallon drum..I could de-chorinate the water.. and I would not have to add water conditioner.... I like to figure stuff out and then explain how I did it to my freinds and relatives.... I love the figuring out part.... and then the creating part.... for example... the light cover on the 135 is made from an upside down gutter...the ballist are remote mounted.... of coarse that tank is a used tank and at my shop.. so yes I would want something nicer in my home... but you get the idea..     these are the kinda   DIY things ....I love to see. them.. lot of people have some great ideas... thank.. Cope
            Had about 900 gallons now I am tired and selling them off...

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            • #7
              Re: Great aquarium set up

              If you want really nice then go on Craigslist and just wait for a nice setup.. pay some good money for it but it will be cheaper than new.
              Again get a good wet/dry for your system and like you can see a wet/dry can keep water crystal clear with one good pad in it.
              Just remember to clean it often.
              I like wet/dry's but having seen some out there I would make REALLY sure that I got a good one.
              I have seen some wet/dry's call themselves 240 gallon capable, and the same bioload is what the pro-clear calls a 125..  Yes there are differences between wet/dry's and I think its important to get the right kind for the job.  Cichlids especially when they get a little bigger are messy.  A good filtration system is important.

              What fish do Jesper have
              180 WC T. Moorii Chilambo +1 Petro trewavasae.
              110
              Cyps, WC Xeno Spilopterus Kipili WC/F1/F2 T. sp red Kiku
              58 S. Decorus

              "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." -Margaret Thatcher

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Great aquarium set up

                The DIY guy to talk to is fshfrk! Pick up a 24pk and head over to his place!

                With the filtration thing....I like to use multiple different filtration set ups to somewhat "cover all the bases".
                700g Mini-Monster tank

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                • #9
                  Re: Great aquarium set up

                  To answer your question about websites...

                  Eheim: http://www.eheim.com/base/eheim/inhalte/index8e75.html

                  Rena: http://www.marsfishcare.co.uk/en_us/index.asp (linked from the Aquarium Pharm. page)
                  "Millennium hand and shrimp!"

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