Show tank with big budget

spunjin

spunjin

Manzanita Supplier
Aug 7, 2008
386
0
16
Ridgecrest, CA
seanrubino.com
Real Name
Sean Rubino
Camera Used
iPhone X
My university's Biology department is looking for a show aquarium and they want me to put it together and run it during my last year. They are going to give me a large budget to put it all together with my suggestions on equipment. They are asking for a "self-sustaining" aquarium, apparently they don't know too much about aquariums, water changes, and regular maintenance.
So I am thinking of stocking the 100gal long Glasscages tank with starfire glass front and sides with 30" stand and canopy. I am going to need filters, light, and CO2. Any suggestions on which canister filters, high wattage lights, and CO2 systems I should get for this show tank? The budget is large so I don't need to be shy on the price (to an extent, I'm sure they will give me about an $8,000+ budget).
 
I'm not good with equipment (I would post in the DIY/equipment section) but if you want to look into a "self-sustaining" aquarium search for Diana Walstad. Not sure how well it works on a larger scale, but an interesting read none the less...
 
Yeah, if they're looking for low-maintenance, a Walstad tank is perfect. You could use the extra money you save by not fooling with CO2 and massive filtration by getting a bigger tank and some nice lights. Can't really make specific suggestions without knowing more about what you would like to stock. I am a big fan of local flora and fauna in a university tank, but that may not be feasible in your case.

I've set up display tanks before, and the key is to get the biggest tank you possibly can; a tank like a 100 that looks massive in your living room may look a bit puny in a public building lobby. Also get as much frontage as possible; go for length and height rather than width to make the display area of the tank large.
 
I agree, for 8 grand I would go bigger. Discus or angels with cardinals or rummys with rams and cories would be my vote. You could do like a freshwater stingray if you were going for the unusual aquarium
 
how much footage do you have for space where is the tank goin i have a few ideas for you just need to know some parameters of where its goin
 
The tank would most likely be a biotope. I think SA would be great with Discus, Rams, Corys, Cardinals, Black Neons, etc. I have about 10' of wall space to work with. So I should go long and tall? I think 24" tall would be the max height to go for the sake of the plants, right? For a tank that size is CO2 even necessary or would I need multiple diffusers and tanks?
 
:iagree: 8000 dollars is practically enough to do a VERY large Reef, but since you posted here, I assume you want Freshwater. I vote for loaches as a bottom dweller.
 
CO2 is never necessary, but be aware that you could have algae issues if you have bright lights and no CO2. I have a 300 gallon display tank set up; it is 30" high, no CO2, and the giant vals in it grow like gangbusters. So does the algae. Growing floating and floating-leaved plants can help with that issue- the tank will still be well-lit, but little photosynthetically active light will reach the algae on the substrate as it has been intercepted by the plants above. I'm going to start some Riccia, Azolla, and Limnobium in my tank to see if that will help.

Biotopes are cool. Don't overlook the possibility of a CA native FW tank. You guys have lots of cool cyprinids (including the world's largest minnow, the trout-eating Ptycocheilus lucius), suckers, and sculpins, the Sacramento perch, and lots of interesting marine species that venture into freshwater. Collection of most native species is restricted in CA, but it is quite possible that your fish and wildlife folks would issue you an exemption or even provide native fish for you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom