Decisions...Decisions...

[Justin Boucher]

I was curious to know what others would choose given the opportunity to
start over with a Freshwater tank.
We are moving and the new place can't support Marine (as I would like it
supported) so my marine tank is eventually going to be converted.

My question is simple: Given the specifications below, what would you put in
the tank or how would you set it up?

~240 gal acrylic (72"X24"X30"h)
3 250 watt Metal Halide bulbs at 10K (I can run only two if I want)
1200-1400 gph return flow rate from a sump.
2 Sea Swirls to occilate the return water throughout the tank.
2" deep fine (~1 to 2mm) natural gravel
RO/DI is possible but tedious (I'd rather not go through the trouble right
now)


I've thought about large fish tank (the Oscar sounds interesting, never
owned one) or a planted tank with a great selection of small fish schooling
around. Heck, I might even have enough aragonite left over for a nice hard
water (African) cichlid tank.

Thanks,
Justin

[Peter Ashby]

Justin Boucher > wrote:

> I was curious to know what others would choose given the opportunity to
> start over with a Freshwater tank.
> We are moving and the new place can't support Marine (as I would like it
> supported) so my marine tank is eventually going to be converted.
>
> My question is simple: Given the specifications below, what would you put in
> the tank or how would you set it up?
>
> ~240 gal acrylic (72"X24"X30"h)
> 3 250 watt Metal Halide bulbs at 10K (I can run only two if I want)
> 1200-1400 gph return flow rate from a sump.
> 2 Sea Swirls to occilate the return water throughout the tank.
> 2" deep fine (~1 to 2mm) natural gravel
> RO/DI is possible but tedious (I'd rather not go through the trouble right
> now)
>
>
> I've thought about large fish tank (the Oscar sounds interesting, never
> owned one) or a planted tank with a great selection of small fish schooling
> around. Heck, I might even have enough aragonite left over for a nice hard
> water (African) cichlid tank.

that 30" high has set me thinking that you could get a really good
stratified tank going, something like schools of corydoras and/or clown
loaches on the bottom, large schools of tetras and/or rasboras in the
mid zone, perhaps a stately Angel fish or three too (largeish tetras
then) and finally Gouramis in the top layer with a background of tall
Valls to tie the two together. I wouldn't use the sea swirls though in a
tank like that.

Peter

--
Add my middle initial to email me. It has become attached to a country

[Kay]

Justin Boucher wrote:
> I was curious to know what others would choose given the opportunity to
> start over with a Freshwater tank.
> We are moving and the new place can't support Marine (as I would like it
> supported) so my marine tank is eventually going to be converted.
>
> My question is simple: Given the specifications below, what would you put in
> the tank or how would you set it up?
>
> ~240 gal acrylic (72"X24"X30"h)
> 3 250 watt Metal Halide bulbs at 10K (I can run only two if I want)
> 1200-1400 gph return flow rate from a sump.
> 2 Sea Swirls to occilate the return water throughout the tank.
> 2" deep fine (~1 to 2mm) natural gravel
> RO/DI is possible but tedious (I'd rather not go through the trouble right
> now)
>
>
> I've thought about large fish tank (the Oscar sounds interesting, never
> owned one) or a planted tank with a great selection of small fish schooling
> around. Heck, I might even have enough aragonite left over for a nice hard
> water (African) cichlid tank.
>
> Thanks,
> Justin
>
>
Hmmmm so many things you can have. Actually anything you want! I would
try for a nice group of rainbow fish, that would look awesome!

Kay

[Amateur Cichlids]

"Justin Boucher" > wrote in message
news:sL67d.7770$ku4.2750@trnddc01...
>I was curious to know what others would choose given the opportunity to
> start over with a Freshwater tank.
> We are moving and the new place can't support Marine (as I would like it
> supported) so my marine tank is eventually going to be converted.
>
> My question is simple: Given the specifications below, what would you put
> in
> the tank or how would you set it up?
>
> ~240 gal acrylic (72"X24"X30"h)
> 3 250 watt Metal Halide bulbs at 10K (I can run only two if I want)
> 1200-1400 gph return flow rate from a sump.
> 2 Sea Swirls to occilate the return water throughout the tank.
> 2" deep fine (~1 to 2mm) natural gravel
> RO/DI is possible but tedious (I'd rather not go through the trouble right
> now)
>
>
> I've thought about large fish tank (the Oscar sounds interesting, never
> owned one) or a planted tank with a great selection of small fish
> schooling
> around. Heck, I might even have enough aragonite left over for a nice
> hard
> water (African) cichlid tank.
>
> Thanks,
> Justin
>
>

I'd of course hold off on any decision until the pH and hardness of you
water could be determined. If it were a more alkaline tank with hard water,
I'd set up a tank with featherfins from Lake Tanganyika and some assorted
Tanganyikan substrate dwellers.
If the water was soft and Acidic, I'd look into some sort of tank with some
of the larger South American cichlids. I think the cichlids give you some
interesting interactions to watch and have a lot of the color you'll be
missing from the salt water tank.
Tim
www.fishaholics.org

[Justin Boucher]

True but with the aragonite and RO/DI as options, I can have either hard or
soft water. I really have a lot of flexibility available to me. The city
water is a bit on the neutral/soft side if unadjusted. I'm just wondering
how difficult algae issues would be with 750 watts of MH bearing down on a
freshwater tank and live plants. I'm not a big fan of pleco's and live
plants. The last time I tried it, the pleco ate all the plants.

Justin

"Amateur Cichlids" > wrote in message
m...
>
> "Justin Boucher" > wrote in message
> news:sL67d.7770$ku4.2750@trnddc01...
> >I was curious to know what others would choose given the opportunity to
> > start over with a Freshwater tank.
> > We are moving and the new place can't support Marine (as I would like it
> > supported) so my marine tank is eventually going to be converted.
> >
> > My question is simple: Given the specifications below, what would you
put
> > in
> > the tank or how would you set it up?
> >
> > ~240 gal acrylic (72"X24"X30"h)
> > 3 250 watt Metal Halide bulbs at 10K (I can run only two if I want)
> > 1200-1400 gph return flow rate from a sump.
> > 2 Sea Swirls to occilate the return water throughout the tank.
> > 2" deep fine (~1 to 2mm) natural gravel
> > RO/DI is possible but tedious (I'd rather not go through the trouble
right
> > now)
> >
> >
> > I've thought about large fish tank (the Oscar sounds interesting, never
> > owned one) or a planted tank with a great selection of small fish
> > schooling
> > around. Heck, I might even have enough aragonite left over for a nice
> > hard
> > water (African) cichlid tank.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Justin
> >
> >
>
> I'd of course hold off on any decision until the pH and hardness of you
> water could be determined. If it were a more alkaline tank with hard
water,
> I'd set up a tank with featherfins from Lake Tanganyika and some assorted
> Tanganyikan substrate dwellers.
> If the water was soft and Acidic, I'd look into some sort of tank with
some
> of the larger South American cichlids. I think the cichlids give you some
> interesting interactions to watch and have a lot of the color you'll be
> missing from the salt water tank.
> Tim
> www.fishaholics.org
>
>

[Justin Boucher]

I like the community idea and layer the tank as you suggest sounds great as
well. Why wouldn't you use the sea swirls? I would think the added water
circulation changes would stimulate plant growth and keep fish actively
moving. I could place them on timers so that they stop swirling at night to
allow somewhat calmer waters.

Justin

"Peter Ashby" > wrote in message
uk...
> Justin Boucher > wrote:
>
> > I was curious to know what others would choose given the opportunity to
> > start over with a Freshwater tank.
> > We are moving and the new place can't support Marine (as I would like it
> > supported) so my marine tank is eventually going to be converted.
> >
> > My question is simple: Given the specifications below, what would you
put in
> > the tank or how would you set it up?
> >
> > ~240 gal acrylic (72"X24"X30"h)
> > 3 250 watt Metal Halide bulbs at 10K (I can run only two if I want)
> > 1200-1400 gph return flow rate from a sump.
> > 2 Sea Swirls to occilate the return water throughout the tank.
> > 2" deep fine (~1 to 2mm) natural gravel
> > RO/DI is possible but tedious (I'd rather not go through the trouble
right
> > now)
> >
> >
> > I've thought about large fish tank (the Oscar sounds interesting, never
> > owned one) or a planted tank with a great selection of small fish
schooling
> > around. Heck, I might even have enough aragonite left over for a nice
hard
> > water (African) cichlid tank.
>
> that 30" high has set me thinking that you could get a really good
> stratified tank going, something like schools of corydoras and/or clown
> loaches on the bottom, large schools of tetras and/or rasboras in the
> mid zone, perhaps a stately Angel fish or three too (largeish tetras
> then) and finally Gouramis in the top layer with a background of tall
> Valls to tie the two together. I wouldn't use the sea swirls though in a
> tank like that.
>
> Peter
>
> --
> Add my middle initial to email me. It has become attached to a country

[Justin Boucher]

I'm not all that familiar with rainbow fish although I have seen how
colorful they can be. What are their preferences? Would they possibly work
well with the layering idea as suggested in the post above? Which layer
would they prefer and what kind of water parameters would they like?

Or do you know of a good reference source for rainbows so I can check all
this out myself?

Thanks,
Justin

"Kay" > wrote in message
m...
> Justin Boucher wrote:
> > I was curious to know what others would choose given the opportunity to
> > start over with a Freshwater tank.
> > We are moving and the new place can't support Marine (as I would like it
> > supported) so my marine tank is eventually going to be converted.
> >
> > My question is simple: Given the specifications below, what would you
put in
> > the tank or how would you set it up?
> >
> > ~240 gal acrylic (72"X24"X30"h)
> > 3 250 watt Metal Halide bulbs at 10K (I can run only two if I want)
> > 1200-1400 gph return flow rate from a sump.
> > 2 Sea Swirls to occilate the return water throughout the tank.
> > 2" deep fine (~1 to 2mm) natural gravel
> > RO/DI is possible but tedious (I'd rather not go through the trouble
right
> > now)
> >
> >
> > I've thought about large fish tank (the Oscar sounds interesting, never
> > owned one) or a planted tank with a great selection of small fish
schooling
> > around. Heck, I might even have enough aragonite left over for a nice
hard
> > water (African) cichlid tank.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Justin
> >
> >
> Hmmmm so many things you can have. Actually anything you want! I would
> try for a nice group of rainbow fish, that would look awesome!
>
> Kay

[Tyrone Biggums]

Dude, go with the Cichlids, most intelligent fishes out there. You will be
itching for marine if you have a tank full of tri-colors or some BS like
that!

DO NOT USE RO/DI WITH FRESHWATER! Especially, if you have plants.

I would probable do something South American though, with a lot of PLECOS!
I love those guys.


"Kay" > wrote in message
m...
> Justin Boucher wrote:
> > I was curious to know what others would choose given the opportunity to
> > start over with a Freshwater tank.
> > We are moving and the new place can't support Marine (as I would like it
> > supported) so my marine tank is eventually going to be converted.
> >
> > My question is simple: Given the specifications below, what would you
put in
> > the tank or how would you set it up?
> >
> > ~240 gal acrylic (72"X24"X30"h)
> > 3 250 watt Metal Halide bulbs at 10K (I can run only two if I want)
> > 1200-1400 gph return flow rate from a sump.
> > 2 Sea Swirls to occilate the return water throughout the tank.
> > 2" deep fine (~1 to 2mm) natural gravel
> > RO/DI is possible but tedious (I'd rather not go through the trouble
right
> > now)
> >
> >
> > I've thought about large fish tank (the Oscar sounds interesting, never
> > owned one) or a planted tank with a great selection of small fish
schooling
> > around. Heck, I might even have enough aragonite left over for a nice
hard
> > water (African) cichlid tank.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Justin
> >
> >
> Hmmmm so many things you can have. Actually anything you want! I would
> try for a nice group of rainbow fish, that would look awesome!
>
> Kay

[Peter Ashby]

Justin Boucher > wrote:

> True but with the aragonite and RO/DI as options, I can have either hard or
> soft water. I really have a lot of flexibility available to me. The city
> water is a bit on the neutral/soft side if unadjusted. I'm just wondering
> how difficult algae issues would be with 750 watts of MH bearing down on a
> freshwater tank and live plants. I'm not a big fan of pleco's and live
> plants. The last time I tried it, the pleco ate all the plants.

Good active plant growth is one of the best alge controls as complex
plants outcompete algae for nutrients such as iron. A smaller
alternative to plecos are Ancistrus cats, very good algae eaters.

Peter
--
Add my middle initial to email me. It has become attached to a country

[Peter Ashby]

Justin Boucher > wrote:

> I like the community idea and layer the tank as you suggest sounds great as
> well. Why wouldn't you use the sea swirls? I would think the added water
> circulation changes would stimulate plant growth and keep fish actively
> moving. I could place them on timers so that they stop swirling at night to
> allow somewhat calmer waters.

Depends on the fish, whether they like active water. I was thinking of
the gouramis, which come from still waters so are not the most active of
swimmers. In freshwater tanks the commonest deliberate circulation is
the river duplicate where you use a pump to drive the water along the
tank. I was going to suggest that for your setup except that the tank is
too high for this to be effective, though the sump would be useful for
this. It was thinking about the height that made me think of
stratifiying it.

Peter
--
Add my middle initial to email me. It has become attached to a country

[squag]

Justin Boucher wrote:
> I was curious to know what others would choose given the opportunity to
> start over with a Freshwater tank.
> We are moving and the new place can't support Marine (as I would like it
> supported) so my marine tank is eventually going to be converted.
>
> My question is simple: Given the specifications below, what would you put in
> the tank or how would you set it up?
>
> ~240 gal acrylic (72"X24"X30"h)
> 3 250 watt Metal Halide bulbs at 10K (I can run only two if I want)
> 1200-1400 gph return flow rate from a sump.
> 2 Sea Swirls to occilate the return water throughout the tank.
> 2" deep fine (~1 to 2mm) natural gravel
> RO/DI is possible but tedious (I'd rather not go through the trouble right
> now)
>
>
> I've thought about large fish tank (the Oscar sounds interesting, never
> owned one) or a planted tank with a great selection of small fish schooling
> around. Heck, I might even have enough aragonite left over for a nice hard
> water (African) cichlid tank.
>
> Thanks,
> Justin
>
>
My 200+ tank is supporting clown loachess well. I have only seen larger
clown loaches in professional aquariums (Baltimore). My angels breed
like crazy in the large tank but wind up eating the eggs. I can only
support 4 angels as they paired up and now "own" their sides of the
tank. any more and they get picked to death.

With those bright lights of yours, you could have live plants. Being
30" deep I can't support any live plants without more expensive lights.
If you have clowns, you wouldn't need to worry about snails either.

What I love about the large tank, is the ecosytem. With a smaller tank
I was having more difficulty with the PH and nitrate. Here, I have no
PH problem ever and the nitrate is almost non-existant. Phosphates
never show and I have had the tank 2 years. I wish I had a protein
filter, but I don't really think I need one. Please keep us up to date
on how things work.

Colin