[eme]

Hi
My first question/input on the forum. Delighted to have found you all and I’ve spent many hours reading and absorbing your views as they are represented by our hobby at this moment in time. .

I’m not sure that this section of the forum is the most appropriate for my first post or in terms of eliciting ‘kind’ responses but that is life !

A quick word about myself. I’ve been keeping fish since the 1970s , although for the last 10 I’ve had none but it’s time to start getting back into it! I have kept and bred Tangs and Malawis ( and an amazing Reef even if I say so myself when I lived in The UK, I now I live in France) .I’ll get shot for writing it but nothing much has changed apart from scientific names of fishes in the intervening period . Actually that isn’t true but might just get a few riled …!

CAVEAT- my views are my own. Based upon limited experience, They are not fixed , nor are they RIGHT .. they can be CHANGED !

Anyways … I’ve decided to setup a new tank … given I live in France I’ll try as far as possible to quote in imperial units and US gallons, and I have lots of questions.

General Shape of the Project
-----------------------------------
To set up a 60 x 18 x 18 ( 150x 50 x 50 metric) tank for either a) Aulonacara ( single species ) plus Haps or b) preferably Tropheus single sp plus Julies ( single sp) -- that decision will be taken after I’ve completed the cabinet and hood â€" see below for who will really make that decision! The tank will fit in the (European style) dining room .. basically an area between the kitchen and lounge .. small area but protected from natural sun.

Over-riding principles
---------------------------
I’m married and I know who makes the real decisions .. which are actually very sensible despite my occasional ill-timed opposition..
Noise - I don’t want any .. ( Response â€" mmmhh , so no sump/overflows then)
Design â€" It must fit in with the kitchen ( lacquered white Italianesque) - Response “of course darling ..(oh dear !!))
Smell â€" NONE ! --- Response …â€

 

[Deeda]

Welcome to cichlid-forum. It sounds like you have done a fair amount of research already. Also your language skills are excellent so far.

The canister filters are an excellent choice for your needs, I think. Though I don't think you need 3 on that size tank. It is probably equivalent to a 75 U.S. gallon tank. How many fish total do you plan on having?

Keep us posted on what you decide to do and enjoy the project.

 

[eme]

Deeda Thanks for your very kind welcome.

English is my primary language ( although many would doubt it ! ). I struggle in French , particularly on 'technical' subjects, and that is why I 'need' to find aome advice here.

My fish choice will undoubtedly be driven by what is available in 4 -5 weeks time but I'll try and get TBs ( subject to a decent source ) as I will only have one tank and think it would be irresponsible to take wild-caught fish without a clear breeding capability.

So if Malawis something like :-
Aulo S-Granti ( one of the reds),
Placidochromis Electra or Jalo,
Copidachromis Borleyi and
Protolemas Taeniolatus .. and get 4-5 of each.

if Tangs :-
10-15 Troph. Moliro ( or any red ) and
4 Julies --probably Regani ( as I've never kept them).
Id prefer a Goby to the Julie but havent seen any in France ...

never know with me though .. could yet end up as Mbuna !! I hope my spelling is OK on those species.

Can anyone help with my questions on cabinet construction and painting ...?? - Thanks

 

[eme]

Deeda
Sorry, I failed to respond to your question on why 3 canister filters ie 2 normal and an Eheim Wet-and-Dry.

My logic is that the benefits will be :-

1) Increased redundancy in case of mechanical failure. We are away quite frequently for up to a week.
2) I feel that when we clean/service our filters we change the biological parameters of the water and consequent stress on the fish, how significantly I have no idea .. so I will ( in my opinion) minimise those changes with increased numbers of filters.
3) I will have a high turnover rate and 3 spray bars will even out the flows ( although I accept that making bespoke spray bars would achieve the same/similar effect) . All spray bars will be below the water surface in order to minimise noise btw, ( I hope you can do that with a wet-and-dry Eheim. Anyone experience of that ?)-- with the adverse effect being no breaking of surface tension.

May still go with 2 canisters though ( 1 normal and the wet-and-dry) really depends upon my finances when I come to purchasing.

 

[Deeda]

Well I have the Eheim 2229 wet/dry and 2028 on my 75G lightly fish stocked & medium planted tank. Both spraybars are below the water surface with no problems. Its nice to be able to turn the spraybar to angle the flow where I want.

Just be aware that the minimum height for the 2229 from water surface to filter base is 39 inches. The maximum height is 47 inches. This info is in the owners manual .

I wasn't questioning why you wanted 3 cans. As far as I'm concerned, filtration is very important and too many people skimp on it when setting up their first tank. I also have a 220G tank & use Eheim 2217, 2260 and two Aquaclear 500 HOB on it.

 

[eme]

Deeda Thanks very much for the info on the Wet-and-Dry.I will obviously have to build a shelf in for it. Ill look the filter dimensions up on the Eheim site .