cars4fun2001
Aquarium Advice Regular
My name is Mike. I have had a aquarium for at least 20 years. They have all been in the 10-20 gallon range. My wife and I bought the house that we live in about 3 years ago. I have wanted to put a large tank in the bar since day one. She bought me a 75 gallon tank for my birthday. We got it home yesterday and I went to work putting in its new home.
Now I have a few ?
1 I plan on having quite a few plants. I have some experience with planted tanks but not on this scale. I would like to have around 250 watts. What I dont know is does that have to come from a single bulb or can I have 3 duel 40 watt bulb fixtures.
2 Lots of tanks get painted black on the back. I planed on doing this one that way but then I got to thinking about mirror paint. Would there be any thing wrong with paint the sides and the back with mirror paint. Now it will not be a true mirror but it would be very reflective.
3 This one might sound crazy but it sounded like a great idea to me. I tend to over filter my tanks. Always have always will. My current 20 gallon has a 20-30 and a 10-20 HOB filter's on it. What would be wrong using the filter from one of those small air ring swimming pools. Similar to this one Walmart.com: Easy Set Swimming Pool, 12' x 33'': Outdoor Play I can control the flow using a dimmer switch. They use a replaceable filter cartridge and there is room to put in activated carbon in them. My plan was to put a clear pvc tube on both ends with 1/8 holes drilled top to bottom all around. Intake on one and output on the other. The one I have is rated at 750gph. It is 110 and quite. The filter and carbon could be changed on different intervals thus preventing a total loss of the very helpful bacteria.
Lastly a few photos of my current tank and the new one that is a work in progress. I am trimming it out right now.
Mike
Now I have a few ?
1 I plan on having quite a few plants. I have some experience with planted tanks but not on this scale. I would like to have around 250 watts. What I dont know is does that have to come from a single bulb or can I have 3 duel 40 watt bulb fixtures.
2 Lots of tanks get painted black on the back. I planed on doing this one that way but then I got to thinking about mirror paint. Would there be any thing wrong with paint the sides and the back with mirror paint. Now it will not be a true mirror but it would be very reflective.
3 This one might sound crazy but it sounded like a great idea to me. I tend to over filter my tanks. Always have always will. My current 20 gallon has a 20-30 and a 10-20 HOB filter's on it. What would be wrong using the filter from one of those small air ring swimming pools. Similar to this one Walmart.com: Easy Set Swimming Pool, 12' x 33'': Outdoor Play I can control the flow using a dimmer switch. They use a replaceable filter cartridge and there is room to put in activated carbon in them. My plan was to put a clear pvc tube on both ends with 1/8 holes drilled top to bottom all around. Intake on one and output on the other. The one I have is rated at 750gph. It is 110 and quite. The filter and carbon could be changed on different intervals thus preventing a total loss of the very helpful bacteria.
Lastly a few photos of my current tank and the new one that is a work in progress. I am trimming it out right now.
Mike
