Planted Angel Tank Build

[Toothy]

Hello, new to the forum and wanted to add my plans for my new angel tank build. Still in the negotiation stage with the wife on space and where I can put it so this will be a process. Considering ordering a customaquariums.com tank 60"L x 24"W x 30"H. Their tanks are pricey but look pretty sweet and they have an awesome website! Debating on going with one of their sump filter with drilled tank set ups or canister filters. Going to start building my stand soon. More to come soon hopefully.

 

[hpt84]

If price is a concern, you can get a used 200ish gallon aquarium on Facebook marketplace for $1000-500 depending on what accessories come with it.

 

[APColorado]

Longer is always better for Angels. I have 4 in my 125 gallon (6 feet long) as my center piece fish

 

[86 ssinit]

Yeah but the 30” high makes up for that extra foot long . Angels like height.
As to tanks is it acrylic? If not look into acrylic. For me I don’t like a drilled tank. Great idea to look for used. There are man out there.
Welcome to fishlore and good luck!!

 

[Toothy]

My spot is restricted to 60" and I need to sell a big china cabinet to make room before I start the stand build so that's holding up the process now. I'll keep an eye out for used set ups since I have time but I really like the Custom Aquarium set ups. Not sure I want to go acrylic, I worry if I'm going to have this tank long term the potential for scratching, but maybe this is not a big concern, I've never owned one? I've had drilled reef tanks for years with no problem. I have an old drilled Qceanic, probably 25 years old with no problem and have drilled some of my own tanks without issue. I kinda like the idea of the Custom Aquarium sump filters with predrilled fittings but still considering canisters. How many angels do you think would be a good number for a community display along with the usual dither fish, corys, small plecos and loaches? My initial thought was about a dozen or so of nickel sized with a variety of types. Thanks for the input
I've been looking at FisHobbyist's 310 build and think I'm going go with the same type stand build a few feet shorter. 2x6s might be a little overdesigned for my system but for the minor difference in price better safe then sorry.

 

[Toothy]

Been thinking about/researching lighting. Wondering what folks think about a Fluval 3.0 48" for a 60" long 30" deep lo-tech planted tank. Little worried about the depth but if I go with low/medium light plants thought it might be okay. I really like how you can dial in the power and spectrum so I can start on a lower power until things get established and slowly ramp up to an optimum setting. I thought this video was helpful

Also wondering if anyone has bought fish from Mike's Bulgarian Green He's within driving distance from me and looks like he has some very cool angels.

 

[Toothy]

Wondering glass lid or open top for planted tank? Not to worried about evaporation of fish jumping too much but for ease of maintenance, aesthetics and light to the plants?

 

[AlyeskaGirl]

Hi - I use 2 of the Fluvel 3.0 on my 120g planted (48” x 24” x 24”). Better light spread as tank is 24” wide. Dimmed down as its low tech. I really like them but the down side is if there is a power outage they do not turn back on by them selves. Have to use the app. but it doesn't bother me.

I also have an open top. I dont like the glass lids just for the purpose of having to clean them and light blockage. But its more of a personal preference. Recently i had my husband build me a screen top as I got new Denison Barbs and did not want to loose any from jumping. It fits over the lights.

 

[Toothy]

Sounds like a nice set up. I'm between the Fluval and Finnex. The remote on the Finnex is kind of wonky but they come in 30" lengths and I think they're a little brighter which might be good for 30". So I'm thinking get two of them and rig up some support on the center brace.

I made a screen top on my reef tank with a clear plastic screen ( 1/4" Clear Netting - Bulk Reef Supply that ) that worked nice. Might make one for this tank too.

 

[Toothy]

Wahoo finally pulled the trigger on the Custom Aquariums Tank (8 week build bummer). After months of planning and back and forth I finally settled on the sump filter. One reason I liked it is because it adds 45 gallons of capacity to the tank. The other big decision was the stand. After painstakingly laying out the stand design trying to squeeze everything in and the fact that with the cost of lumber and all the hardware I was looking at about $500 in materials so I decided to go with the Custom Aquarium welded steel stand. Couple of things I liked was the added strength and room to access all the goodies under the tank. I'm going to skin it with 1/4 plywood on the front and sides with trim top and bottom. I'm going to attach the panels to the steel frame with strip magnets so I can pop off for total access.

 

[Toothy]

Yeah tank showed up today what a beast. Got the stand in the basement but going to need more muscles for the tank.

 

[TClare]

I have a similar sized tank, though not as quite as high and just a few inches longer. Some details are here: The beginnings of a new tank... | Freshwater Aquarium Builds Forum | 480968).
My husband and son made it , together with the stand and cabinet. We have six angelfish, we got them very small but they grew extremely quickly and are a fair size now. I think 6 or 7 would be good in your tank.

 

[Toothy]

I have a similar sized tank, though not as quite as high and just a few inches longer. Some details are here: The beginnings of a new tank... | Freshwater Aquarium Builds Forum | 480968).
My husband and son made it , together with the stand and cabinet. We have six angelfish, we got them very small but they grew extremely quickly and are a fair size now. I think 6 or 7 would be good in your tank.

Wow that's so cool that you built your own tank and very similar size and steel frame and same plans for fish. Looks awesome! I plan to build a "false cabinet" with 1/2" plywood that rests on the floor with the top being held on with strip magnets to the steel frame. That way I can yank off the whole front or side and have total access for maintenance of the sump system. Hopefully with some clever use of trim and hardware it will look just like a cabinet.

 

[Toothy]

Got the hardscape pretty well set up. Plants on the way from Marcus Fish Tank and need to get the the cabinet started. Couple of goldfish from my pond to get the cycle going. For the substrate used a couple of bags of 1" lava rock, bag of pea gravel on top of that to fill the voids and then 4 bags of eco-complete on top. Made a make shift lift tube and inserted to the bottom of the lava rock. Thought it might help with some circulation through the substrate. As I was filling the tank had pretty good flow from the lift tubes.

 

[Toothy]

Got some plants today from Marcus Fish Tanks. Still looks kinda bare but hopefully they will fill in and the goldfish don't dig them up. 2 weeks and still 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites. The driftwood was in my pond for a couple of months and the 4 bags of eco-complete are supposed to have bacteria so maybe it's good. Probably take the goldfish out soon and start stocking.

 

[Toothy]

Finally got it pretty well stocked. Got Koi and albino Dantum angels and red
& blue eye yellow pleco from Angels+ , Pinoy Leopards, Clowns, Pariba Smokey from Artistic anngels and Belgium Greens, Seal Points and Smokey marbles from Mike Bulgarian angels. Apistos on aquabid. Kuli loaches, Juli corys, other dithers. Cardinals from Imperieal Tropicals look great. Wish I could figure out how to take pictures without all the glare/reflection. Going to pick up some otos and hillstreams and I'll be pretty well set