Setting up a really large aquarium

[dsouzainc]

Hi Everyone,

I am planning setting up a really large tank (96”x36”x36”) for a fresh water aquarium. I have certain clarification regarding my requirement as you can see below.

1) What should the thickness of the glass be? (12mm, 15mm, 20mm)

2) The tank will be planted with mixed variety of aquarium plants as given below depending on their thickness for fries to hide from the adults.
• Echinodorus Tenellus (Dwarf Grass)
• Eleocharis Acicularis
• Eleocharis Parvulus
• Eleocharis Vivipara (Star Grass)
• Vesicularia Dubyana
• Cabomba
• hemianthus callitrichoides cuba
How much lighting will I require, the heavily planted area will be 3ft and open area with no plants will be 5ft.I would prefer something that would not run up my bill and also we do have light issues of going OFF/ON any time of the day/night. I might even let the really low growing plants or some low growing plants that you would recommend to cover the open space later on.

3) I am planning to buy heavy duty aeration pump that will last longer as compared to the smaller sized one which hardly last a year. But supplier provide it in the below format I would be looking for something that would be able to pump air all the way down threw out the tank. so which one do I select?below are examples of the way they provide details.
ELECTRICAL MAGNETIC AIR COMPRESSOR
Model: ACO-308
Power: 20W
Voltage: 110-120/220-240V
Frequency: 50/60Hz
Pressure: >0.018Mpa
Output: 45L/min
Noise: <60dB
Weight: 1.2kg
Size: 159×90×95mm
DC Compressor
Model: ACO-006D
Power: 35W
Voltage: DC 12V
Pressure: >0.08Mpa
Output: 80L/min
Weight: 2.8kg
Size: 231×112×156mm

Also I am planning to install 7nos 300W heater and to circulate the water 2 no’s of (28W) wave makers for length and 2 no’s top filters (18W) for the breath all diagonal opposite each other. The substrate will be regular well cleaned/boiled beach sand from the local beach. At the planted section the sand will be 2” thick and the open area will have 1” thick sand. As for the filtering process I have a DIY wet/dry filter which consists of the following filter media. First the 2” thick planted sand TO 3” thick 2-3mm stone TO sponge TO Bio Balls TO Bio Rigs 500gms TO Activated Carbon 500gms TO Main tank
I am thinking of adding cheap protein skimmer to this just to aerate the water and filter out anything as I add salt (1 teaspoon rock salt/gallon) to my existing tank. I will need to change the return pump so what GPH pump would you recommend the DIY filter will be kept 1ft below the large tank just like salt water sump.

Anything else that I would need to do or add please do inform me.
Thanks a million

[GreenChapter]

Interesting project you have.




Above is a similar type of project (450x100x90cm) we have done in a garden, open to the sun. We used 19mm glass. The plants are sustained by sunlight and at night, it is lighted by 150W MH. But in my opinion, you will need 250W for a 36" depth for good growth in door.

I am using just 1x 15000L/hr pump for this tank, splited to 4 outlets.

If you are running wet/dry filter, you will have to pump up the co2.

Adding too much salt may not be too good for the plants. And it will not be enough to create bubbles in the protein skimmer. Better to use a normal areator.

[dsouzainc]

Thanks for that info.so how do i select the aeration pump as i had mentioned earlier also because i will be ordering this pump online so no one is there to guide me.how many MH will i require for my tank.

[GreenChapter]

if you are using overflow system like what i used in the above tank, then you do not need aeration. Just note that the co2 had to be turned on more. To avoid excessive lost, make sure minimal water splashing the "buzz" off co2 in water.

Actually, when fully planted and plants growing well, you do not have to worry about oxygen. With this, I assume you are keeping smaller fishes. We have about 12 big red discus, 30 angels and more then a thousand tetra in this tank now. There are also shrimps and other algae eaters.

If fully indoor and top concealed, you can try 250W / 80-100cm and hang it slightly higher to give the spread.

[dsouzainc]

thanks a million......

[dsouzainc]

just one last quick question if in case i do need to buy a aeration pump .what do is look for the power,pressure,output,etc....

ELECTRICAL MAGNETIC AIR COMPRESSOR
Model: ACO-308
Power: 20W
Voltage: 110-120/220-240V
Frequency: 50/60Hz
Pressure: >0.018Mpa
Output: 45L/min
Noise: <60dB
Weight: 1.2kg
Size: 159×90×95mm
DC Compressor
Model: ACO-006D
Power: 35W
Voltage: DC 12V
Pressure: >0.08Mpa
Output: 80L/min
Weight: 2.8kg
Size: 231×112×156mm

[bryan]

You don't need the airpump.