New here... Cool stuff!

[kaaikop]

Hello to all, just found out your forum by doing some research...
GREAT stuff! I've been hooked on it for the last 3 hours LOL

Well like many of you, I have just decided to make my dream come
true, a huge aquarium tank (150 g). Bigger is easier (not cheaper),
and now that I have the space, may as well go for it, I want ONE
nice aquarium, not a dozen small ones...

So, the tank just got delivered, I am still in the planning stage,
some equipment is on order (web), and I am planning to get some
sand for pool filter, aquatic soil underneath, and driftwood & rock
for the decor. My buddy electrician is going to run me an independant
circuit breaker just for my tank equipment, in case something goes
wrong while I am travelling & my girl is freaking out, she can just shut
it down. I've installed a water filter system (from Home Depot) for the
water additions, to remove chlorine & other nasty stuff, and I will install
one of those "in-line" heaters to try to get the water to a decent temp.

The filter is Eheim 2128 with heating, and probably will add a power-head
for water agitation. I think I will try this Carbo-plus thing for CO2, any
experience here? Man, that is a lot of dough, but I am not kidding
myself, I knew exactly what I was getting into, and want to (try) avoid
mistakes which are hard to correct later on...

I want to re-create some amazonian habitat, with a couple of Tetra
species and lots of plants. Lighting is going to be 4 tubes of 30W.
Is that going to be enough? I have read a lot of books on the subject,
that's why I have a good idea on what I am doing, but I have no real-life
experience with such a big tank, only success with a 20G which means
I must be doing something right, but I'm sure I can't avoid mistakes.

So, I must be forgetting something here for sure, right? !!!
I'll post pictures of my progress, I hope to fill it up in the next 3 or 4
weeks, and plant it, and then let it go through the cycle...


Cheers to all!

[nickthapainter]

Welcome to AA !!!!! (you've definitely come to the best site on the Net)

[kaaikop]

Sorry!
Just realized... I meant to post this in "freshwater"...
I am not (yet) into saltwater... though I am always amazed by those saltwater
tanks at my fish dealer! 8)

[aquazen]

The only thing I've noticed so far is the amount of light you are going to use. It's pretty low, even to grow low light plants. The only things that may grow under that light are the Java variety. As a "very" loose general rule, there are three categories for wattage over a tank. 1 watt/gallon, 2 watt/gallon, and 3 watt/gallon (Low, Medium, High, respectively).

When you get started on plants and have more specific questions with regards to the lighting, try posting under "Planted Tanks" forum. Lots of people on this site have had extensive experience growing their own underwater wonderlands. I'm still a beginner comparatively, but they're always willing to help.

Oh, and welcome to AA.

[kaaikop]

Thanks for the advice!

I am shopping right now, trying to get the best deal on Coralife Aqualight
2 x 36" units for a total of 384W. It's not cheap... but I hate to DIY as I
am not very good, and scared about electricity. Nice thing about having
2 of these units, will give me possibility of using 4 timers... 2 different
circuits for each 36" strip.

Whoa.... my girl better not find out how much I am spending here...
I would be out the door with my Glad bags LOL

[aquazen]

I agree. I think the most expensive part of any tank is . And when you get to tanks larger than a 30 gallon, the prices 8O . Maybe the best way for you to decide what to get is to first decide which plants you will be adding to the tank. It might save you several hundred dollars. :P

In case you need a place to look, Bigalsonline.com is a great place to get nice stuff for less. I've yet to find an online supplier with the kind of prices they have. Service is also excellent. But don't take my word for it. Check it out and compare with other places. Half the fun is getting there, right?

aquazen, the other half of the fun is bringing a new tank home, looking from a standpoint of a glass box, then a few hours later (and many trips about 6 miles down the road to a freshwater spring with ~15 1 gallon jugs) having a 55 gallon tank setup - fishless and then adminirng a days worth of work by looking at water and with gravel on the bottom (maybe some decorations) and planning ahead for what its going to hold.

[aquazen]

Good point. What is it going to hold, might I ask? My curiosity is getting the better of me. I'll probably never own a 150 G tank, so I am going to have to live vicariously through other AA members.

[kaaikop]

Well, very true, getting there is a lot of fun... as long as I don't get my
mind into accounting mode, LOL

Even if I could snap my fingers and voila, an instant complete tank with
luscious plants and healthy fish, I don't think I would appreciate as much
as once I have been through the process of planning it carefully. It might
take me a couple months before I gather everything and ready to fill it up
but then when I sit down and watch my (hopefully) beautiful tank... it should be very gratifying!

and thanks again for all the great advice! 8)

[kaaikop]

Well I have decided to go ahead with the Coralife, that should give me
a total 0f 384W... should be good, I don't want to mess with homemade
things, especially electrical, my hands have five thumbs, LOL

Ordered through Darin at www.captivereefs.com
Super service, fast replies, great shopping experience.
Received my filter system, it's already in place, even if I don't have
anything else in the tank, LOL (just to "see" how it will look).

keep you posted. Cheers to all aquamaniacs!

[kaaikop]

BTW, I have no experience with this type of filter... It has 3 trays, what should I use in it, besides the "noodles"... probably some peat...? and then what else?
Also, it came only with 2 foam pads, a blue (thicker) and a thin white one.
The instructions are not very well made, would I need more of those pads?

Any advice well appreciated!! 8)