My new 6ft panaque tank

[Mark421]

Ok so after loosing two of my panaques last week I'm going to get a bigger tank for them.

I'm going for a rena 600 (6x2x2).

I have a 2 filters on my current 300l tank that is still stocked.do you think I should start again with the filters and bogwood as I think I had panaque plague? It still has a 8" 330 in there who appears to be fine.

I could use my rena xp2 filter that is on another tank (fully cycled) if I don't use existing filters from rena 300.

What filteration would you reccomend? I fancy a pond filter like matubla has but I don't want a big ugly filter in the kitchen!

Do you think 2 externals rated at 2000lph. Would be enough for some monster panaques?

If I have to I could core a hole in to the cupboard behind and keep a larger pond filter in there?

Cheers guys

 

[Mark421]

Anyone?

 

[Jackson]

I would keep the 330 in that tank and see if anything develops. Don't use anything from this tank in your new system. I would treat this fish as if it's new and quarantine it. I'd treat with a preventative if available.
I would use anything from this tank until it's been cleaned properly.

The new tank is a good size.

Your filtration is not enough

Have you looked at doing a sump or heavy duty canisters like eheim 2260,2262?

If you didn't buy the tank yet see if they can drill it and do a sump. If the option is there.

If not heavy duty canisters or pond filters.

I only use HOB's for surface agitation and mech filtration. Im slowly getting rid of them I hate the noise and I hate cleaning them on a big tank. On small tanks I like them over canisters.

 

[Mark421]

This is the tank
http://forum.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/showthread.php?t=88241

So it doesn't really have room for a sump or anything big underneath.

So I could go behind in the cupboard but there is a solid wall between so I would have to drill holes through.

I'm thinking something like this.

http://www.allpondsolutions.co.uk/pond/pond-filters/filters.html

But I don't know how big to go?

What should I quarantine them with?

Do you think I should let the bogwood fully dry out before I add it to the new tank?

Cheers Jackson

 

[Jackson]

I wouldn't buy one rated less than twice your tanks volume.

I use a 2262 on a 200 gal along with an FX5

The 2262 alone is rated for up to 500gal

I have no idea what those filters are you posted so I can't comment on them.

This is as you mentioned the canisters are huge.
I couldn't fit mine under the tank so it sits beside the stand. The FX5 fits under no problem.

You can just quarantine the 330 and don't add anything. If after a month or so it's healthy with no issues I think it will be safe.
You could always treat with meds as a preventative but I don't know what you guys can buy there.

 

[matubula]

Is the tank you linked to the actual one you were thinking of buying, or is it just that Rena model? Because if it's that actual tank then, from the looks of it, you'll have two Pterygoplichthys (pardalis and gibbiceps) and a Panaque cf. armbrusteri 'Xingu' as well.

With your intention being to keep big Panaque, I don't think that Rena is suitable long term. It's quoted as being 200x50x70 and 700 litres but has a useable volume of 200x50x60cm LWH, so about 600 litres or 132 gallons. I use the smaller 150cm and find that the relative narrowness, and height, of the tank do not make it really suitable for big Panaque. I've had a Panaque nigrolineatus and Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps in mine, both between 30-35cm, and it's too tight for them, especially with wood. I think that a width of 60cm should be your minimum.

Another issue with these tanks, and the maintenance that big Panaque require, is the height of the tank and your height. I'm about 6' and often have to be on my tip toes for getting my arm to base of the tank.

But I do like these Rena tanks. They're one of the biggest 'off the shelf' tanks you can get and I think they look good. But just more suited to other types of fish.

 

[matubula]

I agree with Jackson about leaving your previous tank alone, treating it as quarantine and not transferring anything across as a precautionary measure.

But I think that if it were me, having suffered that terrible Panaque plague, I would completely strip the tank down. I would clean and bleach everything that I could, and throw away what I couldn't. Not reuse the substrate, filter media, wood etc. Keep all the fish isolated in that tank, and treat them as two separate entities.

 

[Mark421]

Cheers Matt.

I was just looking up the tank dimensions on the Net before I read you post. I was thinking the same about the width of it.

The thing is its such a good deal as he would take my old one and I can pick it up on the way to rare in the morning.

I'm in two minds now!

I know what you mean about the height my seashell tank is a lot lower and easier to maintain.

 

[Mark421]

It's not the actual tank in the link just the same one.

How many Lph does the 2262 turn over?

What should I do with the fish as I don't think anyone would want them? I am concerned about adding more fish with them In The future.

 

[matubula]

The 2262 uses the 1262 which pumps at 3400LPH for 80 watts, the 2260 uses the 1260 at 2400LPH for 65 watts. They share the same canister and parts, it's just the pump that's different. I've got a 2260 haven't used it yet but it looks like it's the business. I like that they're just a big bucket with a pump on top.

From the looks of it, the AllPondSolutions seem good value for money but I've not used any of their products. The power consumption for the pumps is high, but that could be a mistake as they rate the 6800lph at 200 watts and the 10,000lph pump at 155 watts. For comparison, I use a Laguna solids pump rated at 5900lph for 80 watts.

 

[Mark421]

Ok cool it's a lot to consider. Don't know if I want 200watts running all the time it's £25/month just for the filter!

What size tank you got your big 190 in? It would only have 3" of clearance if I got one that big then there is not much room for growth. Mmmm

 

[Jackson]

I agree with Matt you need at least 2' in width.

If you're going canister buy the eheim. 2262 or 2260 but for the little extra buy the 2262.

It's the best canister I've used and when I see people compare the FX5 by fluval to the 2260(2) I truly think they're just upset they bought the FX5 and want to justify it.
I have both the eheim is 10x better from function to the simple things like the small parts on the FX5 that break easily and cost up the a.. to replace.

My tank is 2' wide/deep it's enough room for a few more years. My next big tank purchase will not be less than 3' wide/deep.

 

[matubula]

My 40cm/16" fella is in a 120x60x45cm LWH so about 300 litres or 70 gallons. It's filtered by Eheim 2180, 2128 and 2252. It's just him really, a few other smaller plecs.

The tank suffices but is too small. I think 5x2x2 is the minimum they need, but longer and wider will always be better.

 

[Mark421]

Ok. Think I'm going to wait until a 6x2x2 comes up for sale as I think I will regret it one day. I need to go to a pond shop to have a look at these filters.

I have used pond solutions filters before. They are not as we'll made as fluval or eheim but they are a fraction of the price £70 complete with media 2000lph.

Cheers guys

 

[Mark421]

Just bought a aquaone 1800r with an fx5. So that's my starting point. It has a 3d background so I will remove that. Think I will run a pond filter on it as well.

 

[Jackson]

Nice congrats!

Have you started setting it up yet?

 

[Mark421]

Been looking at pond filters today and got a better idea what I'm doing with it now.

No I'm picking it up next sat won it on eBay for £360 for the lot! It 220miles away but worth it. I can't wait to pick it up now!

 

[matubula]

Nice. They're 6x2x2 aren't they? Which pond filters were you looking at?

 

[Mark421]

Yes thats right 6x2x2.

Been looking at hozelock and oase, and fish mate pumps. The guy in the shop was saying the oase pumps can suck in small stones and it won't damage it. To run them without guards on which I don't know if I'm keen on. The oase one was only 65w for a 6000lph pump but £320 ouch!

 

[Jackson]

So are these pond pumps just a pump itself that you have to hook up to a canister or bio filter?

Mark~
for the money you spend on the pump you're better off buying the eheim 2262. I know they're much cheaper in the UK then here.
My first one I paid $600 almost I just bought a used 2260 for $200 the pump is worth a good $100 still used.

I ran a strong powerhead once without the guard and came back to find one of my bug adonis plecos stuck to it and bent in half. It's insides were sucked out. Don't ever run one with no guard. You're right not to feel good about that.