Which tank/filter

[tam]

I think I need a bigger tank... can you help me work out what?

I want something about 90x45x45 but it would sit on my desk so I've a little wiggle room in those dimensions and I don't need a cabinate. I like the rimless/braceless. It will sit in the corner so I'll see left and front sides.

I would like some emersed growth, but not completely open top (to keep the water & fish in). I'm thinking maybe a row of planters along back or corner and cover the rest of the top - will that shade underneath too much?

It will replace an aquaone with a above tank trickle filter - I like the ease of cleaning (flip open lid to check dirt level, lift out media and rinse in bucket). I don't know whether I want a canister. Quiet is good though.

Low tech/no added Co2. At the moment I've a grobeam 600 on a controller - but that's retrofitted in the tank hood - so I'd need something suspended. Attaching to the wall behind is an option.

What would you do?

 

[tam]

Had a quote from Aquariums4Life for a 90x45x45 with an opti-white front/sides which doesn't seem too bad - I can't find anything pre-made and the right size cheaper. Anyone had a tank from them?

I'm thinking of going for an aquaclear hob (70?). On the side and planting it. Maybe using hob breeder boxes for additional planting.

Still not sure about lights. I like the spot style fittings but not the price of the kessils which seems like the common brand. I was wondering about a row of nano sized rim mounted. I want the ramp up/down though. Maybe two grobeam 600s. The fluval plant 3.0 control looks nice too though. I would guess two of the nano versions wouldn't be enough though, it would have to be the strip? I only need enough light for low tech.

 

[alto]

Why not do all 4 sides optiwhite glass
- should an unfortunate scratch occur, then you can just swing the tank
(at standard 90cm glass thickness the float glass will be apparent)

Lighting - I'd just go withTwinstar 90, E model will do what you want presently, S model would grow anything (dimmed for current plans) ... poisble worth a trip to see them IRL

Eheim has some new lights & controllers shown on their FB page (on display at Interzoo so you should be able to find local shops that viewed them)

You could certainly consider Kessil A80's - I keep meaning to unbox mine

Aquamedic does the Qube in freshwater version now (check out sciencefiction Pond thread or just pm for details) - I dont like the "square" but sf prefers it


Fluval 3.0 + controller is getting up in budget - at that price, I'd buy Twinstar or Kessil
(or maybe it's just priced outrageously in my zone)

You could look at lighting specialists - there are certainly non- aquarium marketed options with programmable spectra etc

 

[tam]

That's a very good point, considering it's only £60 to upgrade three sides, I'm guessing doing the back too isn't going to be expensive. It's 10mm glass.

Thank you for the lighting options, I'll be spending the evening reading specs

 

[tam]

Fluval 3.0 + controller is getting up in budget - at that price, I'd buy Twinstar or Kessil
(or maybe it's just priced outrageously in my zone)

So, I've been compiling spreadsheets and yes, either the Fluval is outrageously priced or everything else is very cheap!

I'm presuming I'd need two of the Kessil styles to cover a 3' tank.

The strips are definitely cheaper, I really want the sunrise/sun option so I don't think a floodlight would work. I wonder if I could mount a strip on a gooseneck arm to make it easier to push out the way during maintenance.

This is roughly what I want to (attempt) to do...

 

[alto]

Not a floodlight look at the upstyle lighting specialists (as programmable LED systems as one could want, price may not be much different at this level but you may find a design option you prefer BUT check for waterproof rating, this is generally something that aquarium marketed LED's test/rate - though there are some online LEDs directed at the aquarium market that are not water resistant at all )

 

[alto]

Strip on a gooseneck would have balance challenges ... depending on your engineering skills

Great tank design - it would lend itself well to spot LEDs rather than strips
Not sure the Hang On Filter will provide good tank flow, especially given the location & hardscape

Twinstar offers a basic dimmer (unless they've brought something out for Interzoo - definitely worth checking as they seem a fairly forward company)
There's a ukaps discussion on using an after market controller

 

[tam]

Strip on a gooseneck would have balance challenges ... depending on your engineering skills

My skills are the hand tool and superglue level, but I've a friend that can whizz things together from wood/metal with jealously inducing ease.

Great tank design - it would lend itself well to spot LEDs rather than strips

Thank you. I really want spots, but with the programmability of the fluval and a nice low price tag. Not much to ask, right

Maybe a combo - simple on/off spots and something separate to do the ramp up/down (a single 5" Fluval 3.0 nano tile or my existing grobeam mounted higher) - wouldn't matter it didn't cover the whole tank for dawn dusk if the spots lit it during the main light period.

Not sure the Hang On Filter will provide good tank flow, especially given the location & hardscape

I haven't really had to think about flow before as I've had kit setups (and much smaller tanks). Is it the turnover or position? I've seen people mod the intake so it's further from the outflow.