150 Gallon Build Thread ... From the Start

[Mindcrime121]

I went with flourite black sand for my 100 gallon tank I'm working on. It doesn't look so grey in real life, but not jet black as I'd hoped, either. Getting my first really big load of plants at the end of the week among which will be a lot of ground cover though. I didn't rinse this stuff because there was just so much of it to deal with. Don't know if that would have made it look blacker or not, but here is what I got out of it. I'd say if you want that jet black look, stick with the regular flourite black, rather than the sand like I used. I'm actually toying with the idea of getting about 4 bags of the regular stuff, rinsing the bejeezers out of it, and sprinkling it across this as a top layer to get more of that jet black apearance, but not sure if I'll bother. <<shrug>>

 

[ksaul1]

Awesome thread, awesome tank, awesome woodworking skills. I am sort of new to this forum as this is my first visit in quite some time. I have been living out of the states in Japan for a few years, and I am moving back this summer so I am planning a larger tank like this for my return. I previously and sold a 115 tall and a 160 custom cube acrylic before I left. So this is right up my alley as I am thinking 120 to 150 myself.
Recently I was thinking about an ADA tank and setup but the cost for that stuff is crazy. Living here in Japan, I was able to visit the Amano museum/showroom up in Niigata and it was unbelievable. Even my wife was thinking we needed one of their setups. But the cost, man.
I know you are well past tank selection but I just wanted to comment on one of the earlier threads concerning Glass Cages tanks. My 115 tank, canopy and stand were purchased from them and my experience was top notch and the product was nice (though the wood wasn’t as nice as yours, it was sufficient)and the price was really good, just required some time for me to finish it and outfit some lighting. It was to my benefit to be from Ohio where they had a local show and for a small fee dropped it at my house. I sold the 3-year-old setup before I left for almost what I had in it. Anyhow, my thoughts on Glass Cages.
I am really looking forward to the continuation of is thread to see the end result. It really has me thinking.

 

[dirtydawg10]

Here's link to my tank thread which has a black background with black substrate on a much smaller tank obviously...it's a 29.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1821475#post1821475

 

[WaywardSon]

Awesome thread, awesome tank, awesome woodworking skills. I am sort of new to this forum as this is my first visit in quite some time. I have been living out of the states in Japan for a few years, and I am moving back this summer so I am planning a larger tank like this for my return. I previously and sold a 115 tall and a 160 custom cube acrylic before I left. So this is right up my alley as I am thinking 120 to 150 myself.
Recently I was thinking about an ADA tank and setup but the cost for that stuff is crazy. Living here in Japan, I was able to visit the Amano museum/showroom up in Niigata and it was unbelievable. Even my wife was thinking we needed one of their setups. But the cost, man.
I know you are well past tank selection but I just wanted to comment on one of the earlier threads concerning Glass Cages tanks. My 115 tank, canopy and stand were purchased from them and my experience was top notch and the product was nice (though the wood wasn’t as nice as yours, it was sufficient)and the price was really good, just required some time for me to finish it and outfit some lighting. It was to my benefit to be from Ohio where they had a local show and for a small fee dropped it at my house. I sold the 3-year-old setup before I left for almost what I had in it. Anyhow, my thoughts on Glass Cages.
I am really looking forward to the continuation of is thread to see the end result. It really has me thinking.

Thanks for the great feedback ... maybe it will help another reader visiting this thread decide!

And, thanks for checking it out!! More to come ...

 

[WaywardSon]

Here's link to my tank thread which has a black background with black substrate on a much smaller tank obviously...it's a 29.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1821475#post1821475

Thanks Dawg - looks really, really nice!

 

[WaywardSon]

Thanks Mind for posting a pic of your tank and the great feedback!

 

[WaywardSon]

Question ~~

What about using an inline heater? Seems as though we may want as little "hardware" in the tank as possible.

What about replacing one of the 2217's with the Eheim Pro3 with a built in 500 watt heater?

Any feedback on the inline heater or Pro3 would be great!

 

[DrNo]

Hmmmm... were there plans for a UV sterlizer? If so, inline? How are you planning on diffusing the pressurized CO2 into the tank (ladder, inline reactor)?

 

[WaywardSon]

Hmmmm... were there plans for a UV sterlizer? If so, inline? How are you planning on diffusing the pressurized CO2 into the tank (ladder, inline reactor)?

Pros / cons / function (haven't read up on this aspect - I was covered in black spray paint) for the UV sterlizer - I guess in short, do we need one?

Haven't decided on the C02. May just use a diffuser like I have on the 45.

Ideas? What do you use?

 

[Mindcrime121]

I considered a UV sterilizer for mine, but decided against it. Just not cost effective unless I'm doing reef IMO. I may change my mind the first time I wind up with a hundred gallons of green water though, LOL!! I'd recommend running your CO2 line directly into the intake of a filter though. That's what I'm planning on doing and have read several posts and elsewhere that it's quite effective, more so than a diffuser or blowing it through a powerhead.