My 225g build!!

PAwrangler08 · Feb 18, 2015

Hello all!! I Am very happy to announce that I am upgrading to a 225G tank!!!! I absolutely can't wait!!! So this will be my build page for it. As far as stocking, and set up, I have no clue what I'm doing yet haha. I'm open for ideas! I currently have a 120g with a semi agressive community. Everything from cats to barbs to cichlids to sharks.

I found the tank on Craigslist. $300 for tank, stand, lids, and a light which I think is an absolute steal! I go to pick it up Saturday. I'm pretty nervous about the move as I have to drive about an hour to bring it back and it'll be in the back of a pickup truck. There will be 4 of us moving it. I'm assuming it'll weigh about 400lbs. I have never had a tank this large before, nor have I moved one this large. So any suggestions or advice is greatly appreciated. I plan on putting a few old comforters down and strapping it down so it doesn't bounce or slide. As far as tank set up I am by no means in a rush. First thought was to put my stocking from my 120 into the 225 and make the 120 a SW since I just started cycling my 30G breeder for a SW FOWLR setup.

Thanks everyone!

keegster803 · Feb 18, 2015

Do a shelldweller tank, jk.
You should do a biotobe or a huge planted tank

Sent from my iPad using Aquarium Advice

keegster803 · Feb 18, 2015

Or you could make the 225gal a reef tank

Sent from my iPad using Aquarium Advice

treemanone2003 · Feb 18, 2015

Great score !!! Looking forward to seeing the progress.

Sent from my iPhone that doesn't like me. Or you !!

PAwrangler08 · Feb 18, 2015

If I do the 225g as a reef it'll take me some time to do that, I would slowly have to piece everything together.

Is there anything I should be looking at when I pick up the tank? It's used (obviously) and just want to make sure I'm not getting screwed. I know to obviously look for cracks and chips.

treemanone2003 · Feb 18, 2015

Leak test it. It's your only protection of a possible problem.

Sent from my iPhone that doesn't like me. Or you !!

PAwrangler08 · Feb 18, 2015

treemanone2003 said:
Leak test it. It's your only protection of a possible problem.

Sent from my iPhone that doesn't like me. Or you !!

To do that properly it should be filled up all the way, not? I feel like that's just going to take waaaaayyyy too much time and end up adding more weight to the tank. I know wen re calling for light snow Saturday afternoon and temps will be high 20's (Fahrenheit)

treemanone2003 · Feb 18, 2015

Yes it should be. I would call back and tell the seller you would like to leak test it. Possibly it could be full when you get there. Bring one of these and some hose to drain it and it'll empty quickly. If they flat out refuse, it'd be a big red flag for me.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/maxi-jet-powerhead-900.html

Sent from my iPhone that doesn't like me. Or you !!

PAwrangler08 · Feb 18, 2015

Good idea. I actually have a pump I could use to unload it. I would agree about the red flag. I'm still nervous since I asked for more pictures and she said she can't get to it easily since it's packed away in a garage next door at her parents house.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1424321534.745852.jpg

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1424321566.257014.jpg

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

treemanone2003 · Feb 19, 2015

It actually doesn't look too bad from the pics and may be in fair shape. If the wood looks good all around as with the seals, you may be okay. But nothing beats a leak test. Or a gut feeling. Kinda like answering your phone at work.

Sent from my iPhone that doesn't like me. Or you !!

PAwrangler08 · Feb 19, 2015

treemanone2003 said:
It actually doesn't look too bad from the pics and may be in fair shape. If the wood looks good all around as with the seals, you may be okay. But nothing beats a leak test. Or a gut feeling. Kinda like answering your phone at work.

Sent from my iPhone that doesn't like me. Or you !!

Haha wellll being a 9-1-1 dispatcher, I HAVE to answer the phone or bad things happen. But I'll see what they say about doing a leak test for me. I'm just overly excited for this tank. Getting it is half the problem, choosing a place for it in the house is a completely different story lol.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

treemanone2003 · Feb 19, 2015

That's what I meant about the gut feeling and answering the phone. Sometimes you just know when something's not right.

Sent from my iPhone that doesn't like me. Or you !!

PAwrangler08 · Feb 19, 2015

treemanone2003 said:
That's what I meant about the gut feeling and answering the phone. Sometimes you just know when something's not right.

Sent from my iPhone that doesn't like me. Or you !!

Hmmm ok. Anything I should be looking at as far as the stand, again I've never had a tank this large and haven't had to totally worry about the weight of the tank and what it's doing to the stand and/or floor.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

treemanone2003 · Feb 19, 2015

Sturdiness would be one thing right off the start. Does it look solid, feel solid ? Give a good shake !!! Look on the inside for how it's assembled. Screws, bolts, staples ? Broken or missing ? Is the wood swollen or warped ? Could indicate a leaky tank, but not necessarily that one. Any mold present ? That would be a definite no for me.

Sent from my iPhone that doesn't like me. Or you !!

PAwrangler08 · Feb 19, 2015

treemanone2003 said:
Sturdiness would be one thing right off the start. Does it look solid, feel solid ? Give a good shake !!! Look on the inside for how it's assembled. Screws, bolts, staples ? Broken or missing ? Is the wood swollen or warped ? Could indicate a leaky tank, but not necessarily that one. Any mold present ? That would be a definite no for me.

Sent from my iPhone that doesn't like me. Or you !!

Very good ideas. I think with my excitement I would have probably over looked that. Thanks!!

Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

mrgazza · Feb 19, 2015

Jump up and sit on the stand, to test the cabinet for my 55 usgal tank me and two mates got on the cabinet and combined we weigh about 230kg so that seemed ok to me ?

Sent from my iPhone using my fat fingers covered in chocolate...

PAwrangler08 · Feb 19, 2015

mrgazza said:
Jump up and sit on the stand, to test the cabinet for my 55 usgal tank me and two mates got on the cabinet and combined we weigh about 230kg so that seemed ok to me [emoji106]

Sent from my iPhone using my fat fingers covered in chocolate...

Haha that's one way of doing it!!!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

PAwrangler08 · Feb 19, 2015

Does anyone have any filtration ideas? Multiple canisters (I'm a fan of the sunsun's) or canister and fuge or just fuge?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

ImACoolguy · Feb 19, 2015

PAwrangler08 said:
Does anyone have any filtration ideas? Multiple canisters (I'm a fan of the sunsun's) or canister and fuge or just fuge?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Multiple canisters seem fine unless you go reef and want a big dump system.

Caleb

Sent via TARDIS

PAwrangler08 · Feb 19, 2015

treemanone2003 said:
It actually doesn't look too bad from the pics and may be in fair shape. If the wood looks good all around as with the seals, you may be okay. But nothing beats a leak test. Or a gut feeling. Kinda like answering your phone at work.

Sent from my iPhone that doesn't like me. Or you !!

Welllll I asked about doing a leak test and she said its way too much water to waste....so I guess I'll just go and see what it looks like

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My 225g build!!

Aquarium Advice Freak

Aquarium Advice Addict

Aquarium Advice Addict

Aquarium Advice Addict

Aquarium Advice Freak

Aquarium Advice Addict

Aquarium Advice Freak

Aquarium Advice Addict

Aquarium Advice Freak

Aquarium Advice Addict

Aquarium Advice Freak

Aquarium Advice Addict

Aquarium Advice Freak

Aquarium Advice Addict

Aquarium Advice Freak

Aquarium Advice Regular

Aquarium Advice Freak

Aquarium Advice Freak

Aquarium Advice Addict

Aquarium Advice Freak

Similar threads