maintenance on large aquaria

I agree, I really want to know how it all works!

When I build a house I am thinking of that sort of sert up as a wall.
 
Thanks! Here is our "family"....

25 year old Black Pacu (about 35 pounds)
5 year old Black Pacu
30" Black Arrowana
26" Iridescent Shark
3' Tiger Shovelnose Cat
24" Marble Cat
10" Tilapia
4 x full grown Tinfoil Barbs
4 x 18" Plecostamus
3 x Synodontis Eurpterus Cats

We also started out with about 50 African Cichlids, but their numbers have grown to about 200 - 250.....they just keep breeding.
 
That is awesome. Could we have pictures please. Also what are the aprox. dimensions of the tank.
 
Debra Mark said:
We have a 3240g tank in our family room & it is probably one of the easiest tanks we've ever had with regards to maintenance. My husband does a water change of about 600 gallons every 7-10 days - to drain the water, he backwashes the 3 swimming pool filters and to fill he has the hot/cold water lines plumbed right into the tank. We have never used a heater, the water is heated as it goes through the pump and remains at a constant 82 degrees F. Granted, there are some challenges with a tank this size - to clean the inside of the glass, my husband has to physically get in the tank with a mask & snorkel. Any housekeeping of plants/driftwood/rocks is done at the same time. Also, once a fish is in there, he's generally in there until he's a floater.

Excuse me while I go find my jaw.... :bowing:

That is just amazing. I'm all sorts of excited now that I've decided that I am going to get a mere 75 gallon tank! I just couldn't imagine having one that size! (Well, I could.. but I also imagine myself winning the lottery, getting a nobel prize and creating a viable method for cold fusion, in my spare time :p )
 
Holy macamo!!! Yes, please show us some pics of that 3240 gallon!!
 
It is so wonderful to read about someone who:
(a) has large fish in a large tank instead of trying to put a pacu in a 55
(b) who doesn't say things like, "I have always taken great care of my fish. My pacu lived for 3 whole years!"

My hat is off to you and your husband. :bowing:

Now, if we could just have some pics..... :)

By the way... What are the measurments?
 
Hello All....

Sorry, I do not have any good pictures yet, but I am working on it. The outside of the tank is done in black faux marble, so the pictures turn out quite dark - once we rig up some better lighting I will post some pictures. The dimensions are: 12' long x 6' high x 6' wide (inside measurements). The tank is constructed out 2x4 - 4" on centre and 1 1/2" thick plywood, held together with 36 yards of fibreglas matting, 10 gallons of resin, and 10 gallons of gel-coat. There are 2 panes of glass that measure 5' x 3' x 3/4" thick. The tank is powered by a 3 hp pump that pumps about 9000 gallons per hour, with a 3/4 hp backup that will pump about 4500 gallons per hour. Filtration is provided from 3 swimming pool sand filters - there are 3 - 4" suction lines to the filters and 2 - 2", 12' long returns lines back to the tank. Approximately 1/2 ton of gravel covers the bottom of the tank and there are about 1/4 ton of large rocks and slate inside. There is a 5' tree stump in one corner with a 12' limb off a local apple tree that spans the tank.
 
:D sweeeeeeeeet!
 
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