Advice needed for upgrading of tanks

[diki]

I have plans to upgrade my current 2 ft planted tanks to 3 ft planted tanks. Below are the main reasons for the upgrade:

1. Able to have more depth to plant my plants. My 1 ft depth for my 2 ft tank is too limited.
2. Hope to recycle as much equipment as I can from the 2 ft tanks setup.

Main equipment available:
Filters - 2 x Ehiem 2232, 1 x Ehiem 2213
Plants - Moss (Taiwan, java, Singapore, spiky moss) and different types of stem plants.
Gravel - Lapis sand (without base fert)
Light set - 1 x Magnium II 55W PL & 1 x 36W PL (both 2 ft)
Fans - DIY 80mm fans

Tank dimension:
Initially wanted a 3 x 2 x 1 ft but have decided to get a standard 3 ft tank.

Tank setup:
I want to have 2 x 3 ft low tech planted tanks (top one for shrimps so mostly moss) and other as a cultivating plant tank (still not firm).

How for the questions:
1. What is a standard size for 3 ft tank? I want black silicon instead of white. What is the recommended size you bros have for your planted tanks?
2. Should I have brace for the 3 ft tank? Is it required? What is it for?
3. What is the recommended thickness for this type of tank?
4. Any advice on what I can save on and what I can recycle for this upgrade? Any bros using similar setup can advice me.
5. Which is better? Wrought iron or wooden stand? I may want to have a cupboard at the bottom of the stand, if I think it is feastible as I would like a height of 60-75 allowance for the bottom tank from the floor.
6. What is the lights required for the 3 ft tank? I was thinking of using PL lights or combination of PL & FL light.
7. Any bros can PM me roughly how much budget I need for this setup?
8. Are fans enough to cool the 3 ft tanks?

Sorry for the long post. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[BFG]

My suggestion.

If you want to get 2 x 3ft tank, get a 2 tier rack, wood is preferred as it will not rust ( chengai or kapuh ). Since you want to keep shrimps and moss, a chiller is required ( in my experience ).

1) Do not buy a ready made tank if possible. Instead get a custom made tank. Reason wise, you do not know how long the tank was left on the shop floor and the dried silicon might be useless. Dimension wise: 3ft length by 2ft width by 1.8ft or 2ft height.

2) Depends. You could go for braceless tank depending on tankmaker as braceless tank cost more. Or you could go for a euro-brace tank, a bit of similar to the braceless tank but with a slightly smaller tank surface opening.

3) 10mm.

4) You might want to upgrade to a T5 HO light set.

5) Answered at the start.

6) 2 sets of 4 x 39w HO T5 light tube with parabolic reflector. You'll need a few timers.

7) Not sure as I do not know what equipment you may want to use.

You may want to use it to cool the T5 tube for a more optimum performance.


To maximise the use of a chiller, the 2 tank should be connected via an overflow. The overflow should be built into the top tank in the 2 tier tank. The water will flow into the overflow and exit into the lower tank where your cultivating tank is. From the 2nd tank, the water is pulled into the canister filter. From the filter, it will go to the external co2 reactor and then into the chiller and then to the top tank where the shrimps and moss are located.

Water flow diagram-

1st tank-->2nd tank-->canister filter-->co2 reactor-->chiller-->1st tank.


Hope this helps!

[Weirong]

You should plan and decide firmly first before deciding your next step.

What are your tanks going to be used for in the long run? This will affect the dimensions of the tank and all the other equipment that follows. Personally, I would go for at least standard height and width (1.5ft) so you can keep most plants unless you have already decided what your tanks will definitely hold (as in my case for the fishroom).

In the end, it's you who are going to live with the decisions you made. So take more time and plan ahead.

[diki]

Thanks BFG and Weirong for your advice.

I'm not too keen on using a chiller for this setup. Hopefully I can get away with it. I have seen LFS using AC fans for their tanks so I was thinking of using them instead of the chiller. Furthermore my living room air circulation is poor so not possible to use it.

Hi BFG,
What is euro-brace tank? What is the advantage of using T5 HO light set? Their cost is higher compared to PL. I know they are cooler to operate.

Thanks for your advice on the chiller setup. Looks interesting.

Hi Weirong,
That is why I'm asking for advise now. Don't want to make too much mistakes for my first upgrade.

Like I mentioned, both tanks would be low tech planted tanks and 1 tank is definitely for shrimps and small fishes. The other one will be another planted (I like greens in my house) but likely be used cultivate my plants. I'm using low light requirement plants for these low tech setup (no CO2), mainly moss (singapore, java, taiwan and spiky), sotong plant, java ferns, and other plants that I have been using in my current 2 ft low tech setup. I'm doing low tech and low maintenance planted tanks to keep them running with minimum effort (at least to me) and also if later I have a baby (have plans but not so soon), I would not have much time to take care of them. If worst case, will only keep these 2 tanks and decomm the rest. I also wanted to try keep the operating cost low too for this setup.

[Justikanz]

Trying to help...

1. What is a standard size for 3 ft tank? I want black silicon instead of white. What is the recommended size you bros have for your planted tanks?

If I did not remember wrongly, the standard 3ft tanks should have width of 1ft and height of about 1.5ft.

You might want to custom make your tank to a width and height of 2ft.

2. Should I have brace for the 3 ft tank? Is it required? What is it for?

Yes. Bracing is strongly recommended. If you do not like center bracing, discuss with your tank maker and see if bottom bracing can be done.

In my opinion, any tank bigger than 2ft would hold too much water to not have bracing to keep the water pressure under 'control'...

3. What is the recommended thickness for this type of tank?

6mm and more would be nice. Again, this can be discussed with your tank maker.

4. Any advice on what I can save on and what I can recycle for this upgrade? Any bros using similar setup can advice me.

Main equipment available:
Filters - 2 x Ehiem 2232, 1 x Ehiem 2213
Plants - Moss (Taiwan, java, Singapore, spiky moss) and different types of stem plants.
Gravel - Lapis sand (without base fert)
Light set - 1 x Magnium II 55W PL & 1 x 36W PL (both 2 ft)
Fans - DIY 80mm fans

I think it would be messy to transfer your lapis with the base fertilizer and you might want to buy new substrate for the new tank.

You would new new lights, for sure.

I am unsure of the capacity of the Ehiem filters. As for the plants, that is entirely up to your scape in mind. Retain some old filter media if you are getting new filters to help you ease your cycling process.

5. Which is better? Wrought iron or wooden stand? I may want to have a cabinet, if I think it is feastible as I would like a height of 60-75 allowance for the bottom tank from the floor.

Depending on your home layout, actually... But personally, I think wooded cabinets are more tidy and neat looking. And the colours of teh cabinet can be matched to your other furniture...

Or you mean you want a 2-tier stand for your 2 3ft tanks? If so, a wrought iron stand might be better. This should also be able to be custom made, if you are custom making your tanks.

6. What is the lights required for the 3 ft tank? I was thinking of using PL lights or combination of PL & FL light.

The same rules apply. BUT, it seems like for bigger tanks, the watts per gallon recommendation can be more relaxed...

You might want to stick to eitehr PL or FL and not combine, to save you trouble when changing and buying new tubes for replacement.

7. Any bros can PM me roughly how much budget I need for this setup?

Hmm... A new 3ft tank and stand should put you down $400. Custom making might increase the cost and having another tank adds up to the cost also, of course. Try scouting shops like C328 and NA for a price guide.

8. Are fans enough to cool the 3 ft tanks?

I don't see why not. My 4ft tank is also using fans...

[diki]

Thanks Justikanz for contributing...

I will definitely buy new lapis sand (maybe base fert) since I do not have enough for 2 3 ft tanks. To save some cost, likely be reusing the lapis sand that I have but I do agree it is messy work. Lights got to change to 3 ft as well. Ehiem 2232 (400L/h) and Ehiem 2213 (440 L/h) should be enough for my tanks as I think planted tanks do not need such big filters. Since I find that 2232 at the bottom tank seems weak compared to the top one, likely using Ehiem 2213 for the bottom tank but will use 2213 to cycle the 3 ft tank once it is ready.

I thinking of getting a 2 tier 3 ft set to save space and if price is right, might have a cupboard to store or keep the equipment at the bottom stand. Colour wise would either get brown (wrought iron) or darker wood colour (chengai).

Will accept your advice on buying only PL light sets. Thinking of 2 sets of 2 x 55W PL light set to get 1.2w/g.

For fans, should I use AC ones or DIY DC? What type of fan you are using for your 4 ft tank?

[gummynut]

Water flow diagram-

1st tank-->2nd tank-->canister filter-->co2 reactor-->chiller-->1st tank.

would there be some concern should the overflow of the 1st tank gets choked? i mean, the canister will still draw water from the lower tank to the upper tank till the water spills over.

[Justikanz]

I will definitely buy new lapis sand (maybe base fert) since I do not have enough for 2 3 ft tanks. To save some cost, likely be reusing the lapis sand that I have but I do agree it is messy work.

You still want to mix? I think a lot of people here will suggest you stick to lapis and using root monster instead...

Ehiem 2232 (400L/h) and Ehiem 2213 (440 L/h) should be enough for my tanks as I think planted tanks do not need such big filters. Since I find that 2232 at the bottom tank seems weak compared to the top one, likely using Ehiem 2213 for the bottom tank but will use 2213 to cycle the 3 ft tank once it is ready.

Planted tanks can do with over filtration too. And additional water movement (as long as not over strong) is useful to keep CO2 well distributed. Helps prevent some algae problems...

I thinking of getting a 2 tier 3 ft set to save space and if price is right, might have a cupboard to store or keep the equipment at the bottom stand. Colour wise would either get brown (wrought iron) or darker wood colour (chengai).

Wah, confusing... You want a 2-tier tank WITH a cabinet beneath the lower tank?

You might want to speak to David, the tank maker...

Will accept your advice on buying only PL light sets. Thinking of 2 sets of 2 x 55W PL light set to get 1.2w/g.

You might want to also consider T5HO...

For fans, should I use AC ones or DIY DC? What type of fan you are using for your 4 ft tank?

I am using the big black one that comes with a styrofoam box. Cannot remember its name and don't know if AC or DC...

[diki]

Hi Justikanz

I think that is a great idea. Will use lapis and and root monster combination instead. Good suggestion!

I know it is good for over filtration but I was thinking since I'm having a planted tank (should be quite densely planted, unless otherwise). I do agree the circulation of the water to distribute the CO2 and nutrients around the tank and if worst case, may add in small internal filter to do the job. Also keeping mostly small fishes and shrimps so I think the bioload is still ok using these filters. Well, if not, will get new filters.

I would like to optimise the space and since I am customising the stand as well, might make the best of it while I'm at it. Will engage the tank maker service when I finalise the tank design and stand requirement. Still paper talk now.

T5 seems expensive to me but not sure if price similar to 2 x 55W PL set. Will do a search for them before I finalise but my perference is still PL. I don't see T5 HO light tubes often. Where you get your T5 light tube spares?

Oh, those fans. Am considering them if I lazy to DIY my 120mm (if I remember correctly the size). How many do you use? I'm thinking of using 1 only. Blow on the water or across the tank??

[Justikanz]

I last got my T5HO tubes from Nature. I am currently using 2 fans for my 4ft tank and I find having them blow at an angle across the surface is better... My 2 cents...