chuin Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 I'm back from the dark side (Marine tank) after about 3 years. I gave up Marine due to lack of time i needed to devote. So I'm converting my 4x2x2x marine into a Trophues tank. I previously had an Illangi colony for some time. Anyway, some pictures I'm starting with this: Cleaning up was way harder than i realised: Finally got it clean and put a background on it. It is just the latex background i sourced from the local reptile shop - not the foam backed one. Put in some sand and rock Now just working on the sump and will fill tank with water. More pictures to come Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuin Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 Sump design. I used the old sump as a basis for this tank. My design as follows: It is a reasonably large sump. The black lines are the existing dividers. I am using PVC sheeting from Bunnings for the extra dividers and just siliconing them in place. I'll put coral rubble in the tank return section to help with buffering and to collect any large waste. I haven't decided whether to use any additional bio filter than just the Fluid bed filter. I've been looking at the Matrix - which is new to me - as the additional bio filter. suggestions welcome on sump set up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Priscacara Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Going to look good when done! Never used a sump so pretty clueless but it does sound like a good plan to me :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogboy Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 looks ok, i have never used a fluid bed filter so can not comment on that , so i would say go with matrix. also i find PVC and acrylic doesnt bond well with aquarium safe silicone so it might be worth going to a glazier and getting glass cut to size, wont cost much more and may save on problems later, get it cut 3 or 4 mm less than the internal dimentions of tank and fill gap with silicone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obsessed1 Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 I don't know much about sumps but wouldn't the flow need to go under the glass between the matrix and the Fluid bed filter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuin Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share Posted July 11, 2011 dogboy did a water test today in a spare tank and you're right - the PVC sheets bow. Obsessed - hmm i don't know really, i thought the water would flow into the matrix chamber and then over the top to the other. Any other views? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattrox Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 I haven't used a fluidized bed, but I thought it was the upward movement of water that fluidized the sand. Unless you are using high powered air pump to do the job.... But still would have thought the water flow would need to be unidirectional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuin Posted July 12, 2011 Author Share Posted July 12, 2011 Mattrox Sorry, wasn't clear enough - I will be using a separate pump with the FBF. I am planning to situate the pump in the last chamber after matrix. Also, does the matrix need to be in a bag or lying loose on a platform? I haven't used a fluidized bed, but I thought it was the upward movement of water that fluidized the sand. Unless you are using high powered air pump to do the job.... But still would have thought the water flow would need to be unidirectional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosco Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 Hi chuin, I have my matrix in filter media bags much better I get mine from Ben at AoA and You need to water flowing over the Matrixso there needs to be a gap in the next divider before the return pump. cheers Rosco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuin Posted July 16, 2011 Author Share Posted July 16, 2011 Thanks for this Rosco. I'll re-visit what i had planned. Hi chuin, I have my matrix in filter media bags much better I get mine from Ben at AoA and You need to water flowing over the Matrixso there needs to be a gap in the next divider before the return pump. cheers Rosco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosco Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 here is a diagram of what I did. Except I put matrix in 2 chambers and sponge in between them. cheers rosco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuin Posted July 20, 2011 Author Share Posted July 20, 2011 Well I've changed the sump design and followed Rossco's set up. Picture of the desing as follows: I've put in coral sand in the bottom of some of the compartments for buffering. I will put more matrix in the other section when i get some (on order). I've also installed an auto top off system. The switches are in the last section - I drilled a hole in the floor connected a hose to the top up tanks outside the house. Now waiting for cycle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obsessed1 Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Looks great mate! Well done! Just one concern. Are you putting lids on the sump? I'd be looking at lids and/or a divider between the sump and your power outlets because once you put your doors on there will be a lot of condensate build up in there. The last thing you'd want is your power boards or circuit breaker tripping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuin Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share Posted July 21, 2011 I haven't planned on sump lids. I previously ran this as a marine for 2 years without them - though you can notice some paint peeling at the back. I'll see what i can do, i have some spare glass and perspex lying around so will knock something up. thanks for raising it Looks great mate! Well done! Just one concern. Are you putting lids on the sump? I'd be looking at lids and/or a divider between the sump and your power outlets because once you put your doors on there will be a lot of condensate build up in there. The last thing you'd want is your power boards or circuit breaker tripping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuin Posted March 19, 2012 Author Share Posted March 19, 2012 After a gentle nudge, i am updating my journal. I stocked the tank with Kasanga Red Tropheus from Jim in Sept last year (?). They were going well until i had holidays and called in a 'friend' to house sit and look after the fish. I came back to see just 4 left of the original 24 surviving . (overfeeding). So now here i am again with another colony from.Here are a couple of FTS. (Colour is true due to my photography skills). I have 2 Tunze pumps in the tank for flow.My sump - I ended up using matrix and a fluid bed filter (I love how they keep the nitrates down). I also have an air pump keeping the oxygen levels to compensate for the bed filter;s operation. A close up of some of the fry. I have the Kasanga red, 4 julidochromis transcripts gombe and a single hongi. For those interested a shot of my return system. I use a durso plus a syphon. The syphon takes the bulk of the overflow, while the durso is a back up only. No gurgling. The 4mm hose you can see is what i use to restart the syphon when it breaks -usuallly when i forget to shut the tap on water changes.Other bits i have under the tank is an auto top off, 2 heaters as a fail safe.Anyway more pics when the fry start growingHope you enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuin Posted October 16, 2012 Author Share Posted October 16, 2012 I just thought i would post some pictures of my new fish to share with the Tropheus Red Rainbow. I bought these from Grant a month or so ago. They have all settled in well, apart from 2 losses in a water change incident (I am still amazed how fish can 'fit' in a drain tube). My new stock list is:Julidochromis regani KipiliEretmodus cyanostictus north MakombeSpathodus erythrodon KabukiCyprichromis leptosoma jumbo gold finAll are only small at this stage.Add this to the red rainbow and a stray hongi who doesn't quite fit the theme of the tank.I was concerned about how the red rainbows would accept them however not an issue. Overall there is much less aggression - due to numbers i suspect but more activity.A couple of community shotsFront onSide viewCyprichromis leptosoma - great school fish and they swim in the upper part of the tank. It means the entire tank is populated.EretmodusSpathodus - bottom of shotJulidochromis - I love these blokes.My red rainbows - coming along nicelyFinally a FTSAnyway, hope you enjoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsta Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 awsome setup mate , trophs look hot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillsysyd Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 Nice tank, how do you find the two different types of gobies together, I have bonded breeding pair of Erets,and wondering how the Spaths would go as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 Nice shots,That Hongi seems to blend in pretty well with the tangs even though he seems to be the largest fish there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuin Posted October 17, 2012 Author Share Posted October 17, 2012 Nice tank, how do you find the two different types of gobies together, I have bonded breeding pair of Erets,and wondering how the Spaths would go as well.I've not noticed any issues at all. They seem to keep to their own. I'm guessing its more to do with the numbers of fish that keeps every thing calmer.JoelThe hongi is the largest but is reasonably peaceful - again I think due to sheer numbers. I have about 30 fish so is fairly well stocked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuin Posted October 17, 2012 Author Share Posted October 17, 2012 Sorry I have to add another one - trying to improve my photography skills Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogboy Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 nice one and great fish list. love gobies, and i think julies are awesome, such an underrated fish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillsysyd Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 Just a quick tip when photographing the tanks, and works well for me. Make sure the glass is crystal clean and take the photo at night with all other lights off tvs lamps etc.You would get the reflecting then, and try to get your white balance focues on the sand first, helps with exposure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.