My DREAM TANK - What do you think?

[LydiaGreen]

375 gallons (volume based on inner dimensions)
outer dimensions - 6 foot long, 3 feet wide, 3 feet high
2 - Filstar XP3 filters (mechanical, chemical and biological filtration)
tahitian moonsand substrate with LOTS of smooth rocks
tons of the largest plastic plants I can find
sytrofoam/cement backdrop (makes it easy to design several caves for the fishes)
3 albino senegal bichirs
2 regular senegal bichirs
1 delhezi bichir
1 palmas polli bichir
3 lima shovelnose catfish
All fish should end up being 12-14" full-grown (based on average lengths found on multiple internet websites). All species chosen after consultation with this great fish guru who has being keeping bichirs since 1976.


What does everyone think? Don't be shy. This will be my first big tank and I am the first to admit I am CLUELESS. Are the XP3's enough filtration? (I've never had canisters, only HOB's and always found they were only good for half the volume they said they were). So, let me know what I've forgotten. Let me know if I'm being naive about filtration. Honestly, you won't hurt my feelings. I want to know what to do while still in the planning stage so that I end up with happy, healthy fish.

[Fishboy93]

Just curious but what about water changes? where does all that water go?

[mlefev]

In a heck of a lot of buckets lol

[LydiaGreen]

The world's greatest husband (that's mine by the way) is a contractor. He's building my fish room and in the lay-out there is a cupboard that blends in well with the wall design (so it's non-obtrusive). Inside the cupboard will be a large utility tub (heavy plastic not metal) where I will ready the fresh water for the changes... just use the python to drain away the old, fill up the utility tub with fresh water, treat and pump into the tanks. He didn't want me to have to haul buckets anymore -- I haul enough of them for the 44. He's also putting a few shelves above the utility tub so that when the cupboard door is closed, all of my "fish equipment and supplies" is out of sight.

[IloveCichlids]

That tank would require a lot of moon sand at about $15-20 per bag. See if you can find 3m color quarts, it is a little harder to find but would be worth the money that you save.

[LydiaGreen]

Originally Posted by IloveCichlids

That tank would require a lot of moon sand at about $15-20 per bag. See if you can find 3m color quarts, it is a little harder to find but would be worth the money that you save.

Thanks for the advice. I've been reconsidering the black substrate. Supposedly it makes your fish more visible in the tank but, I don't know... do you think good ole brown sand would be better?

[IloveCichlids]

it really depends on what you would like your setup to look like. I put moon sand in my 120 and it cost me about $140.00 so I would say you would just about have to triple that for a 375 Gal. I am not sure where you can find 3M color quarts, I have heard of people contacting 3M but do not know how far that got them.

[flynngriff]

I'd recommend 4 filstar XP-3's instead of just 2... Heck, I'd actually recommend a large wet/dry filter in addition to those. Just 2 would be less than half the amount of filtration you'll need in my opinion. I have one on my 125, along with a Fluval 404, and the two together weren't quite cutting it so I added a small wed/dry.

I love Bichirs!

-Flynn

[LydiaGreen]

Originally Posted by flynngriff

I'd recommend 4 filstar XP-3's instead of just 2... Heck, I'd actually recommend a large wet/dry filter in addition to those. Just 2 would be less than half the amount of filtration you'll need in my opinion. I have one on my 125, along with a Fluval 404, and the two together weren't quite cutting it so I added a small wed/dry.

I love Bichirs!

-Flynn

So, it's no different for cannisters than it is for HOB's - I've always found they only worked for half the volume. The XP3's are supposedly good for up to 250 gallons but, I guess it's really only 125. Ah well -- if I want to do it, I should do it right. The largest wet/dry filter I could find is $400 and says it's good for up to 200 gallons. So, what do you all think - 2 XP3's and the wet/dry (comes with built-in UV) -- will that be enough filtration for a half dozen bichirs (all about 12" when fully grown) and 2 or 3 catfish (again, about 12"). I really need to plan this out well because the filtration intakes and outputs need to be a part of the design for the styrofoam/cement backdrop. Thanks for the comments so far.

[flynngriff]

I think you're also underestimating the size of these fish when they're fully grown, especially in a 375 gallon tank. My delhezi bichir is already over a foot long, and he's in a 125. I would guess you'll be look at an average of 16-18 inches for the bichirs, and the shovelnose will probably get closer to 24 inches. You should still have enough volume in your tank to hold them, though.

The XP-3's will pump 350 GPH, in ideal conditions. Which means you're lucky to get 200-250 on most tanks. I've seen most stores rate them for up to 175 gallon aquariums, not 250. Halving the number of gallons, which is usually wise... only gives you 88 gallons. And if you have a heavy bio-load like I do, you'll have to add even more filtration. I'd really recommend 4 filstar XP-3's or fluval 404's at the bare minimum.

-Flynn

[LydiaGreen]

Originally Posted by flynngriff

I think you're also underestimating the size of these fish when they're fully grown, especially in a 375 gallon tank. My delhezi bichir is already over a foot long, and he's in a 125. I would guess you'll be look at an average of 16-18 inches for the bichirs, and the shovelnose will probably get closer to 24 inches. You should still have enough volume in your tank to hold them, though.

The XP-3's will pump 350 GPH, in ideal conditions. Which means you're lucky to get 200-250 on most tanks. I've seen most stores rate them for up to 175 gallon aquariums, not 250. Halving the number of gallons, which is usually wise... only gives you 88 gallons. And if you have a heavy bio-load like I do, you'll have to add even more filtration. I'd really recommend 4 filstar XP-3's or fluval 404's at the bare minimum.

-Flynn

The shovelnose species that I am looking at is supposed to stay at 12-14" not 24 -- I'm trying to end up with all of the fish in an ideal range between 12 and 16 inches. My species were selected by speaking with a zoologist who is writing a book on bichirs and been keeping them himself since the 1970's. Granted, there are some fish that grow larger than average, but I am going to gamble that the majority of my fish are average.

I'm not going to run 4 XP3's. I'm going to run 2 XP3's and a 2292 Eheim wet/dry... between all of that, I should have more than adequate filtration and the zoologist agrees. Remember, I am not going to overstock my tank, I am going to understock it to allow all of the fish plenty of territory all to themselves.

[j55]

wow, soundss good with all those polypterus,

[Damon]

Go with a sump, and 3 XP3's. Tank sounds great! I am very jealous.

[LydiaGreen]

Originally Posted by Simpte

Go with a sump, and 3 XP3's. Tank sounds great! I am very jealous.

I just have to keep reminding myself to take it S--L--O--W. It'll be at least six months, maybe a year before I actually have the fish in it. If I take my time and plan it right, I won't have any losses (meaning fish) and I won't waste money making corrections for things I would have noticed were wrong in the first place if I had just taken my time.

Think I'll keep an on-line diary once I start. You know, before and after pics and the stages in between.

Thanks for all of your advice guys... I really appreciate it. Now, to start saving for all of those filters!