310 gallon build and 55 gallon quarantine tank

A 50% water change on a 310 gallon on a daily basis sounds pretty immense.

It does and I don't plan on raising juvies in the aquarium. I have a lot more research to do before I decide to plan and introduce discus but if I really had to I can see myself watering the grass during the summer with the water changes but that leaves me with the winters...ice park? lol

 

Realistically, a tank that massive shouldn't require a weekly 50% WC as long as an appropriate filtration system is installed. A carefully planned & implemented feeding strategy will also help minimize the need of XL WC's. A crew of aggressive bottom feeders, such as Botia Loaches would be a benefit as well.
A well planted tank should also significantly contribute to the minimization of XL WC's. The down side of that might be the staggering cost of lighting equipment & power.
I'd say that a weekly WC of 50 - 75 gallons would likely be fine. That's a huge amount of water to change out for most fish keepers, but minimal for a tank that size. My back hurts just thinking of that. Lol.

I'm taking in all the advice so it's much appreciated. I have a 90 gallon to run as a sump for a filtration with adequate flow...more on that later. I plan to have adequate plants but will run all LEDs for lighting; it will be a low energy set up. As far as water changes, I am putting in a faucet built in close just for the aquarium. Water will drain straight out of the aquarium and into the sink. I care about my back too much to bother with buckets...not to mention the time that it would take to refill that much water.

Bottom feeders will be mostly clown loaches but open to other suggestions. Thanks again for your input!

 

Unless you got a fluval FX6, then you can just attach a hose pipe to the filter, put the end in the sink or out the window and itll just drain out. Then in reverse. Save your back

I used to do that when I had my eheim 2262. It wasn't a bad set up for my 140 gal since I could easily drain from the tap. I have decided to run a sump with the 310 set up. I like the ease of hiding heaters in the sump as well as access to the filter media without turning the pump off/priming/etc.

 

Awesome!

 

Sounds like you are doing a real good job planning out your project. IMO, Leveling the tank will be the first hurtle. That's a big one.
I've never run an overflow system, no help there. Lol. I believe overflows provide the best aquarium filtration currently available. They aren't for everyone. Plenty of catastrophic stories out there. In my area, used XL drilled tanks are sold at a disproportionatly higher rate as compared to intact XL tanks. If your tank isn't already drilled, you might consider two or three high quality canister filters.
I'm also a member of MFK, Monster Fish Keeper's forum. Many members there have gigantic systems and would be able to provide valuable advice. Look forward to updates.

 

Sounds like you are doing a real good job planning out your project. IMO, Leveling the tank will be the first hurtle. That's a big one.
I've never run an overflow system, no help there. Lol. I believe overflows provide the best aquarium filtration currently available. They aren't for everyone. Plenty of catastrophic stories out there. In my area, used XL drilled tanks are sold at a disproportionatly higher rate as compared to intact XL tanks. If your tank isn't already drilled, you might consider two or three high quality canister filters.
I'm also a member of MFK, Monster Fish Keeper's forum. Many members there have gigantic systems and would be able to provide valuable advice. Look forward to updates.

Sounds great! I'll have to look into that. Yes, it will be pre-drilled and centrally located internal overflow built in from Planet Aquariums.

With respect to leveling, are you referring to ensuring the stand is level in all areas? I've simply measured every aspect of the stand and ran a level in every direction...I will do it again at the time of placing the aquarium on the stand since our floor is in the process of being redone.

 

You just need to make sure all corners rest firmly on the stand. It's nearly impossible to perfectly level a tank due to floor & material imperfections.
As long as the corners & stand meet, there should be no torque or twisting of the tank.

 

You just need to make sure all corners rest firmly on the stand. It's nearly impossible to perfectly level a tank due to floor & material imperfections.
As long as the corners & stand meet, there should be no torque or twisting of the tank.

Got it! Will definitely be sure if that. Thank you!

 

I’ve got the door panels mounted. Not sure if I’ll keep them this way long term but I think it looks sleek for now. Still have the trim to add. Since I have to move the stand to its final position where the aquarium will be set up, I’ll wait to add the trim then. Here’s some updated photos for now.

 

I know I know I’ve been absent for awhile but the aquarium finally arrived after two months. After renting a table scissor lift and two other friends to help, we got it onto the stand. I leveled the aquarium and currently looking into aquarium insurance as well having a truss engineer to verify one more time that the floor will hold the weight. Can’t be too careful.

I am in the process of hard scaping the tank. I’m sticking to mostly Malaysian driftwood and dragon stone. This is the first layout. I’ll sit on it for a few days to see how I’ll want to rearrange.

The 55 gallon “quarantine” is now just a mix of live plants and corys, threadfin rainbows, Amano and cherry shrimp, bristlenose plec, ottos...and then well it’s kinda turned into a fish room in the basement with a 10 gal quarantine, 5 gallon betta, 20 gallon up and coming planted tank and oh I’ll have to figure out what to do with it the 90 gallon because that won’t work for my sump to the 310 anymore. Enjoy the updated photos and please feel free to comment.

 

Updated hardscape with just the DW

 

Updated hardscape with just the DW

Looking great!

 

That looks great. I like it better w/o the stone.

Why the egg crate? Your glass can handle the wood just fine. Or is there another reason?

What's your plan for substrate?

 

Really beautiful. My dad made me a stand for my 10-gallon quarantine tank, including a cover to keep the cats from disrupting the HOBs/cat water fountains. They would push them off-kilter and drain the tank onto the floor...

 

The tank looks awsome. Be sure to look at Dawkinsia Barbs (Mascara & Filamentosa). Those Barbs grow to five or six inches, are very colorful & not very common.
The "Altus" Red Tail Tinfoil Barb is another cool fish. They grow to about eight Inches. Much smaller than the standard Tinfoil. Both species come from the same waters as Clown Loaches & would look great together.
I'm currently growing out a large group of Filamentosa & a couple of Altus Tinfoils. Looking forward to upgrading their tank.

 

Do you have any other ideas on what you are going to be getting? Do you think this is going to be like a community tank, or like monster fish, like Oscars/Severum?

 

Have thought about using an assortment of smooth rocks and pebbles around the base of the wood. I find it gives a nice natural river look and also provide loads of hiding places for bottom dwellers. other than that the driftwood hardscape looks awesome. definitely looking forward to seeing the finished product, although they're never really finished.

 

Looks so good. I'm just commenting so I get notifications but some other cool fish that are from the same place as the clown loaches would be bosemani rainbows and there are a lot of gourami from there too which would look great in a big group. Also a massive group of colourful medaka would look insane and are also from that part of the world.

 

Nice! I'm also commenting so I’ll get notifications . Can’t wait to see the 310 stocked- it’ll look so cool!

 

Good Luck!

 

Looking great!

Thanks!!

The tank looks awsome. Be sure to look at Dawkinsia Barbs (Mascara & Filamentosa). Those Barbs grow to five or six inches, are very colorful & not very common.
The "Altus" Red Tail Tinfoil Barb is another cool fish. They grow to about eight Inches. Much smaller than the standard Tinfoil. Both species come from the same waters as Clown Loaches & would look great together.
I'm currently growing out a large group of Filamentosa & a couple of Altus Tinfoils. Looking forward to upgrading their tank.
View attachment 754070View attachment 754071

Awesome! great suggestions. And what are you thinking of upgrading to?

Do you have any other ideas on what you are going to be getting? Do you think this is going to be like a community tank, or like monster fish, like Oscars/Severum?

Great question. I have gone back and forth and love the idea of both. Although I'm not going for a monster fish tank look, I know these clown loaches will eventually get big. I enjoy scaping the tank but that can take up space which can make larger fish feel restricted...ever seen a large fish freak out? haha. So possibly a semi-aggressive tank that could coexist with some large community fish.

Have thought about using an assortment of smooth rocks and pebbles around the base of the wood. I find it gives a nice natural river look and also provide loads of hiding places for bottom dwellers. other than that the driftwood hardscape looks awesome. definitely looking forward to seeing the finished product, although they're never really finished.

Agreed and yes I have. I am on the look out for some midground rocks to add to the scape. Currently I just have the mix of different sizes of dragon stone but i'm trying to limit it as they have sharper edges...

 

They're all still juveniles & are in a 65 gal. tank. I'll need to move them into a 120 - 150 gal. tank by summertime.
Both species are tight schoolers & will look their best in a tank of at least five to six foot.

 

That looks great. I like it better w/o the stone.

Why the egg crate? Your glass can handle the wood just fine. Or is there another reason?

What's your plan for substrate?

The egg crate is for when I add large stones/rocks. I have this fear that I'll drop one and it'll be all over. So mostly peace of mind but I also like to cut some and stack together so I can place pieces higher if needed...then they won't eventually sink down into my substrate. As far as substrate I have 200lbs of Eco Complete currenlty that I plan to place in the background hidden behind rocks for future planting and sand in the foreground with varying sizes of pebbles to transistion.

Really beautiful. My dad made me a stand for my 10-gallon quarantine tank, including a cover to keep the cats from disrupting the HOBs/cat water fountains. They would push them off-kilter and drain the tank onto the floor...

I guess if you have a tank drain, it's good than it's only 10 gallons of water but even that is a lot to clean up

Looks so good. I'm just commenting so I get notifications but some other cool fish that are from the same place as the clown loaches would be bosemani rainbows and there are a lot of gourami from there too which would look great in a big group. Also a massive group of colourful medaka would look insane and are also from that part of the world.

I love those rainbows and have been on the lookout for some locally. I think they look great in planted tanks

They're all still juveniles & are in a 65 gal. tank. I'll need to move them into a 120 - 150 gal. tank by summertime.
Both species are tight schoolers & will look their best in a tank of at least five to six foot.

Awesome. I'll be on the lookout for those as I start to build my stocking list. Did you get yours locally or online?

 

If I'm not mistaken that tank is 30 inches tall - how do you reach the bottom? Also what are you going to use for lighting ?

 

I ordered the Filament Barbs through my local fish store. No shipping cost that way.
Baby Filaments usually cost about $5
a piece. Adults $15 - $25.
Altus Red Tail Tinfoils are fairly common. $3 - $4. Make sure to get the Altus Red Tails. The Standard Tinfoils get huge, even for your tank.

 

If I'm not mistaken that tank is 30 inches tall - how do you reach the bottom? Also what are you going to use for lighting ?

Haha yeah almost (25”). I have a step stool and I’ll get the extra long python siphons...I think there’s a 3 foot one so I don’t have to dip my whole arm into the tank but I can reach the bottom if I need to. For lighting I just have four 48” classic LEDs. They’re super affordable and will do for now with the low light plants I’ll have in it. Eventually I’ll upgrade.

I ordered the Filament Barbs through my local fish store. No shipping cost that way.
Baby Filaments usually cost about $5
a piece. Adults $15 - $25.
Altus Red Tail Tinfoils are fairly common. $3 - $4. Make sure to get the Altus Red Tails. The Standard Tinfoils get huge, even for your tank.

Yeah I’ve seen those things. It’s like buying a pacu...

 

I remember carrying a 125g with just two people. I can't imagine how heavy the 310g would be. Those are beautiful pieces of wood. You got them locally or from an online vendor?

 

I remember carrying a 125g with just two people. I can't imagine how heavy the 310g would be. Those are beautiful pieces of wood. You got them locally or from an online vendor?

You would need like 5 people to carry a 310g.

 

I remember carrying a 125g with just two people. I can't imagine how heavy the 310g would be. Those are beautiful pieces of wood. You got them locally or from an online vendor?

They weren’t easy to find. One I have had from my previous 140 gallon from about 4 years ago. I’ve hung onto it since then. The other pieces I acquired from a guy I found on marketplace in Illinois. I made a trip out of it and picked it up.
And the tank I think weighs 500-600 lbs. it wasn’t light. Fortunately we had some dollies and the scissor lift for help

You would need like 5 people to carry a 310g.

For sure. We made it work with three but that’s only because we had the equipment to get it to where it needed to be and only had to lift it up so far and slide it onto the stand.

 

So there were a couple things to take care of before filling the aquarium. I had a truss engineer check the flooring and we ended up putting some extra support below the front end of the aquarium.

Plumbing...well I hate plumbing and there are some things I’d do differently but this is how it turned out and fortunately the places I did put unions, I’m thankful for. I drew it out so many times but when it came to putting it together, I changed things around and...well it’s working and there’s no leaks so I’ll stick to it because I’m ready to get the nitrogen cycle going. Don’t judge my unprofessional glued joints. I know it can be cleaner...next build I’ll do better.

Still waiting on filter media to arrive but I grabbed some from the LFS and stitched some fabric together for some quick filter bags to get something going. Just activated carbon and ceramic biomedia in there now but will have some purigen and seachem matrix coming...hoping I can get the tannins reduced sooner than later.

It took two hours to fill lol. Enjoy the updated photos. Oh and I will be planting and rearranging the hardscape/substrate so it looks a little messy. The two large rocks on the right are just weighing the large DW down until it’s waterlogged

 

The tank has cleared up a lot in a day with just a couple big bags of activated carbon.

I have decided to cycle the tank with fish. Any suggestions will be appreciated as this is my first time. I am closet monitoring the levels...I don’t know how many fish it will take to put enough ammonia into the system for the bacteria to thrive.

There are a school of 15 small tiger barbs in there now.

I checked the DW on the right to see how buoyant it was and...well it will take months I’m sure for it to sink. I let it rise to the top and kind of like the structure floating for a change.

Added a mix of low light plants but more on the way.I have just half the lights on because I like the shadows that are created vs when all the lighting is on. Let me know your thoughts guys!

 

I let it rise to the top and kind of like the structure floating for a change.

I would weigh the DW down. I have some and it floats, and since I am going to completely escape it soon, I decided to let it float since the scape doesn't look good at all. And it has been there for a month and it still hasn't sunk.

 

Looks great. The DW will eventually sink that’s what we do when we add new pieces just wait for it to sink n place it where u want afterwards.. that’s awesome y went with some tiger barbs I think you should add about 20-30 more along with some clown loaches.

 

I would weigh the DW down. I have some and it floats, and since I am going to completely escape it soon, I decided to let it float since the scape doesn't look good at all. And it has been there for a month and it still hasn't sunk.

Yeah i figured this thing probably won’t get water logged without weight. I had two large rocks sitting on top of it but it got me concerned that if it tipped, the rocks would hit the glass. It floats but doesn’t move at all because it is the width of the tank. I like it floating for now...we will see.

Looks great. The DW will eventually sink that’s what we do when we add new pieces just wait for it to sink n place it where u want afterwards.. that’s awesome y went with some tiger barbs I think you should add about 20-30 more along with some clown loaches.

Haha the school looks great. Do you have clown loaches? Any live plants? The more I read into it, I’ve heard they can punch holes in plants when they’re bigger, even Anubias. My plan was to have primarily clowns in this tank but I also looked forward to scaping it with live plants...mostly epiphytes and some crypts

 

We don’t have clown loaches I just remember seeing a video of 800 gallon tank full of tigers and loaches.. I didn’t know they ate live plants. We have 10 tigers in a heavily planted 29 and they don’t touch the plants.

 

We don’t have clown loaches I just remember seeing a video of 800 gallon tank full of tigers and loaches.. I didn’t know they ate live plants. We have 10 tigers in a heavily planted 29 and they don’t touch the plants.

Yeah i think they said when they are around 6 inches is when they noticed them doing that. They don't eat the plants but like to punch wholes in them. What stock do you have that gets along with your tiger barbs?

 

The clowns are snail eaters so often while most see them decimating their plants the clowns are really eating snail eggs and such that are on the plant ! My clowns let me have plants for many years ..They then decide they like plants ? They will now eat zucchini if I offer it !
I would rather have my clowns then any plant ! Some of my clowns are over 20 years old ..GREAT FISH for the right sized tank .Yours is plenty good for clown loaches ..
I also like floating wood and have some pieces in my 180 that span across the surface after coming up from bottom ..They did not get installed how I saw them in the store when I bough them but I like them better with fish swimming under and through them ..
They make nice shadows ...

 

The clowns are snail eaters so often while most see them decimating their plants the clowns are really eating snail eggs and such that are on the plant ! My clowns let me have plants for many years ..They then decide they like plants ? They will now eat zucchini if I offer it !
I would rather have my clowns then any plant ! Some of my clowns are over 20 years old ..GREAT FISH for the right sized tank .Yours is plenty good for clown loaches ..
I also like floating wood and have some pieces in my 180 that span across the surface after coming up from bottom ..They did not get installed how I saw them in the store when I bough them but I like them better with fish swimming under and through them ..
They make nice shadows ...

Thanks for sharing that. Any live plants that have survived? I’d imagine your clowns are a good 10-12 inches now...I’m curious, what size were they when you noticed them taking apart the plants? Maybe I can enjoy the plants for a little bit before they grow up

 

Yeah i think they said when they are around 6 inches is when they noticed them doing that. They don't eat the plants but like to punch wholes in them. What stock do you have that gets along with your tiger barbs?

We have the 10 TB's 5 albino corys an Albino BN pleco and a couple of guppies and everyone gets along well.

 

Mine are only 1.5 years old and sometime they don't like where i put a new plant and promptly shred it but mostly they leave the plants alone. They saw the pleco eating zuc one day and now they go strait for the zuc as soon as it touches the water. They also are livid for soilent green.

The clowns are snail eaters so often while most see them decimating their plants the clowns are really eating snail eggs and such that are on the plant ! My clowns let me have plants for many years ..They then decide they like plants ? They will now eat zucchini if I offer it !
I would rather have my clowns then any plant ! Some of my clowns are over 20 years old ..GREAT FISH for the right sized tank .Yours is plenty good for clown loaches ..
I also like floating wood and have some pieces in my 180 that span across the surface after coming up from bottom ..They did not get installed how I saw them in the store when I bough them but I like them better with fish swimming under and through them ..
They make nice shadows ...