Hi again guys...
I have decided my 900x300x300 tank is too small for me, and I want to get a larger tank. I am slightly concerned about my inexperience and the small tank being too unstable, as we all know smaller tanks have "faster metabolisms".
500l tanks I've seen can range anything from R6500 to R8500. Expensive... And with a full setup, I am pretty sure the thing will come out to about R15 000, easily.
My fingers are itching to build my own setup. I want to at least build the cabinet, which of course will need serious reinforcement to carry the tanks weight, I want to build the tank, it's hood with light fittings as well as the sump, and protein skimmer (if it is possible).
I'm pretty sure that this will come out a lot cheaper.
My desired setup is as follows:
- A lightly coloured wooden (maybe pine) cabinet for housing the sump, pump, swithces, heating for the tank, as well as electronic timers, switches and electricity safety mechanisms as well as overflow safety mechanisms (in case of power failure).
- The tank must be 500-650 litres, I assume 10-12mm panes with additional glass reinforcements on the brim and base will suffice. Still deciding on which glass to use, I read in the DIY forum about Diamante Glass and just plain glass.
- The sump, skimmer, mech. pump etc. I am still doing homework on, but I don't want any unnatural equipment inside the tank. Everything inside the cabinet.
- The hood will contain 4 fittings for flourescent lights, 2 white and 2 actinic, which can each be turned on/off individually, and are managed by a set of 2 timers.
A few questions:
- What type of glass is recommended to be used, and what thickness?
- I assume silicone is not strong enough to hold the panels together for such a sized tank, should I use something stronger like epoxy instead and then just use silicone to seal the tank?
- Can I build my own skimmer and filter?
- Is it advisable to put heating inside the cabinet, outside of the tank?
- Is it possible to build an automatic timed feeder that dispenses food from within the final stage of the filtration, just before the water enters the tank from the filtration/skimming stage (only to be used on holidays)?
- I am thinking about a setup where water exits the tank via PVC piping fitted through a hole in the aquarium floor. Is this advisable?
- Is it possible to have a smaller pipe (for water return), fitted within the larger PVC which takes water from the tank to the filtration system? Less holes in the aquarium, less possibilities for leaking.
- Can one utilize the water flow from the water return from the filtration system to encourage a water current in the tank.
Thanks for the advice in advance! Looking forward to reading your replies!!!
I have decided my 900x300x300 tank is too small for me, and I want to get a larger tank. I am slightly concerned about my inexperience and the small tank being too unstable, as we all know smaller tanks have "faster metabolisms".
500l tanks I've seen can range anything from R6500 to R8500. Expensive... And with a full setup, I am pretty sure the thing will come out to about R15 000, easily.
My fingers are itching to build my own setup. I want to at least build the cabinet, which of course will need serious reinforcement to carry the tanks weight, I want to build the tank, it's hood with light fittings as well as the sump, and protein skimmer (if it is possible).
I'm pretty sure that this will come out a lot cheaper.
My desired setup is as follows:
- A lightly coloured wooden (maybe pine) cabinet for housing the sump, pump, swithces, heating for the tank, as well as electronic timers, switches and electricity safety mechanisms as well as overflow safety mechanisms (in case of power failure).
- The tank must be 500-650 litres, I assume 10-12mm panes with additional glass reinforcements on the brim and base will suffice. Still deciding on which glass to use, I read in the DIY forum about Diamante Glass and just plain glass.
- The sump, skimmer, mech. pump etc. I am still doing homework on, but I don't want any unnatural equipment inside the tank. Everything inside the cabinet.
- The hood will contain 4 fittings for flourescent lights, 2 white and 2 actinic, which can each be turned on/off individually, and are managed by a set of 2 timers.
A few questions:
- What type of glass is recommended to be used, and what thickness?
- I assume silicone is not strong enough to hold the panels together for such a sized tank, should I use something stronger like epoxy instead and then just use silicone to seal the tank?
- Can I build my own skimmer and filter?
- Is it advisable to put heating inside the cabinet, outside of the tank?
- Is it possible to build an automatic timed feeder that dispenses food from within the final stage of the filtration, just before the water enters the tank from the filtration/skimming stage (only to be used on holidays)?
- I am thinking about a setup where water exits the tank via PVC piping fitted through a hole in the aquarium floor. Is this advisable?
- Is it possible to have a smaller pipe (for water return), fitted within the larger PVC which takes water from the tank to the filtration system? Less holes in the aquarium, less possibilities for leaking.
- Can one utilize the water flow from the water return from the filtration system to encourage a water current in the tank.
Thanks for the advice in advance! Looking forward to reading your replies!!!