Ideas for a change in setup

[deepesh]

My current setup consists of two tanks, a 30 by 18 by 18 that houses a trio of juvenile T. leeri, a two inch fantail goldfish and a small male variatus platy and the other tank is a 15 by 15 by 12 that houses four variatus platies and a few crypts.

I am looking to convert to a natural planted setup. I want to have a main tank about 30 by 15 by 15. Below on the same stand I want two tanks of 15 by 15 by 12 - one as a quarantine/ hospital and the other as a support tank to grow out plants and basically a jack of all trades.
I also want to retain the current 15 by 15 by 12 as a green water/ live food tank.

I expect the large tank to weigh about 125 kg and the smaller ones to weigh 60 - 65 kg the total coming to about 250 kg.

What thickness glass should I go for? I also need ideas for the stand. I have about 6 months to do the change.

I am looking for inputs and ideas how to go about all this and to improve it if possible.

Deepesh

[SCORPIO]

Go for a 8 mm glass to make tank.

I have an iron rack of 1 inch wide iron angle and keeping two tanks of 90 X 45 X 45 tanks.

[deepesh]

I asked a LFS. Was quoted 1500 for 30 by 15 by 15 and only 6 mm glass was available with ground edges. He claimed it would be more than enough for 15 inch depth.

Also I asked about an iron stand and was quoted about 1000.

All ok?

deepesh

[zico_aqua]

price wise it's okay..just get a 8mm base glass and you are good to go..better to be safe than sorry..

[SCORPIO]

I asked a LFS. Was quoted 1500 for 30 by 15 by 15 and only 6 mm glass was available with ground edges. He claimed it would be more than enough for 15 inch depth.

Also I asked about an iron stand and was quoted about 1000.

All ok?

deepesh

Deepesh Ji, for stand visit on a welding shop and order him for stand as you want for best result and price.

[deepesh]

Ok then a visit to the welders is next on the to-do list. I am thinking of going with the square section iron rods for the frame. I want three shelves. The top for the tank. About 6 - 8 inches below that another shelf for keeping knick knacks and then about 8 inches off the floor another shelf for two small tanks.

How does that sound?

deepesh

[deepesh]

I have had a change of design for the stand.

I thought that 6 - 8 inches off the floor is too low especially for siphoning water during maintenance and i want one of the smaller tanks to be the quarantine/ hospital tank so that one might need quite a lot of water changes.

So the top shelf is at 36 inches - a bit on the higher side I think. My previous stand was at 30 inches and was perfect of veiwing and maintaining.

The middle shelf is about 15 - 16 inches lower to accommodate two small tanks about 12 inches high. At about 20 inches off the floor this should be barely enough for water changes by siphon - flow however will decrease a lot as the bucket fills up and the tank water level comes down. Otherwise I will have to dip a mug in the tank to take out water.

The lowest shelf is about 8 inches below the middle shelf. Planning to fit this with a plywood drawer to store fish food and stuff.

deepesh

[saikumar]

Hi Deepesh ji,
please buy a long hose pipe. If you're long term keeper, it ll be very handy.
good luck.

[deepesh]

Good. That hose is one more thing to get.

What about internal filters? What is available? Any Eheims or Fluvals around. NOT planning canister filters.

deepesh