andyseatrout
Member
- Joined
- 5 Dec 2010
- Messages
- 62
Hi, I'm new to the forum and about to embark on a large planted aquarium.
I have been running a reef tank for the last three years and have decided to close this down and make the switch to a planted tank, primarily due to the cost of running 3 x 250W halides. I would like a fairly heavily planted tank with some clear space to give the feeling of depth and I have decided to use this tank as inspiration:
http://www.bubblesaquarium.com/Aquascap ... Tank08.htm
The tank itself is 160 x 60 x 55cm with two rear overflows and I am going to continue to run a sump which is 132 x 38 x 41cm. Accounting for displacement, I will have approx 580 litres or 127 gallons of water. The equipment that I will continue to use is as follows:
Eheim compact 5000 - as a return pump, fed through two jacuzzi style nozzles towards the top RHS
Tunze 6080 powerhead (8500 lph), Tunze 6045 (4500 lph) and possibly a Koralia 2 (2300lph) for flow
A phosphate reactor to run carbon, if needed
ATC 800 to control heating and cooling (with 1 heater and several fans)
150W envirolight lamp with reflector to reverse light a section of the sump to keep up O2 levels at night.
I also have an independent 4 pump dosing unit that I could use to dose fertilisers as and when the need arises.
For lighting, I have just purchased an ATI sunpower unit which will run either 4 or 6 80W T5's, depending on how many I need to run. In any event, I plan to have part of the photoperiod running with 2 tubes and part running with either 4 or all 6. I plan to use ADA Amazonia as the substrate with RO/DI water.
I have also purchased a TMC regulator with solenoid valve to enable me to run CO2 from a FE.
I am still in the process of selling my marine livestock, so I can then shut down and clean the tank and equipment. I am still at the planning stage, so open to any suggestions to change and/or improve my plans.
Currently, I am a bit stuck with the idea of CO2. Initially I thought that I would be able to simply run an UP aqua inline diffuser (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT) on the outlet of my return pump and just get away with that, but,
a) it won't fit onto the 19/27mm tube
b) I don't want CO2 bubbles being visible in the tank
If I am going to use this pump to drive the CO2 I think I will have to use a reactor, so I am please looking for advice about which one to use and where to get one from.
I also like the look of this bubble counter and wondered if anyone had any feedback on it? (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT)
Please could someone also tell me the best CO2 to use and where to get it from? I am based in Southampton.
Finally, I would like this set up to be as low maintenance as possible and keep the start up costs down. If I use the ADA Amazonia, would I really benefit from using the power sand as well, or would I still get good results using the aquasoil on its own?
Looking forward to hearing from you and thanks in advance for your advice.
Andy
I have been running a reef tank for the last three years and have decided to close this down and make the switch to a planted tank, primarily due to the cost of running 3 x 250W halides. I would like a fairly heavily planted tank with some clear space to give the feeling of depth and I have decided to use this tank as inspiration:
http://www.bubblesaquarium.com/Aquascap ... Tank08.htm
The tank itself is 160 x 60 x 55cm with two rear overflows and I am going to continue to run a sump which is 132 x 38 x 41cm. Accounting for displacement, I will have approx 580 litres or 127 gallons of water. The equipment that I will continue to use is as follows:
Eheim compact 5000 - as a return pump, fed through two jacuzzi style nozzles towards the top RHS
Tunze 6080 powerhead (8500 lph), Tunze 6045 (4500 lph) and possibly a Koralia 2 (2300lph) for flow
A phosphate reactor to run carbon, if needed
ATC 800 to control heating and cooling (with 1 heater and several fans)
150W envirolight lamp with reflector to reverse light a section of the sump to keep up O2 levels at night.
I also have an independent 4 pump dosing unit that I could use to dose fertilisers as and when the need arises.
For lighting, I have just purchased an ATI sunpower unit which will run either 4 or 6 80W T5's, depending on how many I need to run. In any event, I plan to have part of the photoperiod running with 2 tubes and part running with either 4 or all 6. I plan to use ADA Amazonia as the substrate with RO/DI water.
I have also purchased a TMC regulator with solenoid valve to enable me to run CO2 from a FE.
I am still in the process of selling my marine livestock, so I can then shut down and clean the tank and equipment. I am still at the planning stage, so open to any suggestions to change and/or improve my plans.
Currently, I am a bit stuck with the idea of CO2. Initially I thought that I would be able to simply run an UP aqua inline diffuser (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT) on the outlet of my return pump and just get away with that, but,
a) it won't fit onto the 19/27mm tube
b) I don't want CO2 bubbles being visible in the tank
If I am going to use this pump to drive the CO2 I think I will have to use a reactor, so I am please looking for advice about which one to use and where to get one from.
I also like the look of this bubble counter and wondered if anyone had any feedback on it? (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT)
Please could someone also tell me the best CO2 to use and where to get it from? I am based in Southampton.
Finally, I would like this set up to be as low maintenance as possible and keep the start up costs down. If I use the ADA Amazonia, would I really benefit from using the power sand as well, or would I still get good results using the aquasoil on its own?
Looking forward to hearing from you and thanks in advance for your advice.
Andy