220g Jardini Island

[Craigthor]

Here is the beginning of our new family built tank.

[150EH]

Very nice, that is just like mine but longer, same stand and trim. I have also added something to the end of the tank to keep sunlight from beeming in and making that end full of algae. My stand wasn't tall enough to fit a 2262 underneath, are you going to use a different filter or sump?

[Craigthor]

Originally Posted by 150EH

Very nice, that is just like mine but longer, same stand and trim. I have also added something to the end of the tank to keep sunlight from beeming in and making that end full of algae. My stand wasn't tall enough to fit a 2262 underneath, are you going to use a different filter or sump?

My 2262s would fit but I'm having a custom sump built for under this bad boy.

Craig

[150EH]

Too cool, I would love to try a sump on another tank. It's hard to get a sense of just how large that tank is unless you are standing next to it, when I see mine at the store (empty) it seem large but I'm so used to looking at it I want more room.

Are you keeping your 150 too?

[Craigthor]

Originally Posted by 150EH

Too cool, I would love to try a sump on another tank. It's hard to get a sense of just how large that tank is unless you are standing next to it, when I see mine at the store (empty) it seem large but I'm so used to looking at it I want more room.

Are you keeping your 150 too?

Nope the 150 will be sold to help fund this tank. Wife is letting purchase everything first then once it is all ready to go I will transfer everything over to the 220 and sell off all of my gear from the 150. Only thing I will be keeping is my CarbonDosers, CO2 Setup, and my wave maker everything else will be new for this tank.

Craig

[150EH]

That's a good way to do it, I want to swap out my 8 year old Flourite for AS, but with the ammonia spike and 80 plus fish it will be very hard to do, I also need to re-seal the corners with new silicon so I need a 3 to 8 weeks of empty tank.

It's still going to be a lot of work but I'm curious to see what you come up with for a aqua-scape. Can you use the pumps from the 2262's or is something different required, I know if I had a pair of 2262's they would be hard to sell, emotional attachment.

[Craigthor]

I'll be using a Mag 24 for my return pumps. As for my auqascape I will be doing a dutch scape again. For substrate I will be using my existing AS plus some RootMedic Goodness and a bag of miracle grow potting mix to give the tank a super charged substrate. This tank will ahve fully auto dosing via a bubble magus doser. Tank will be fully powered by RootMedic fertilizers all around.

Craig

[Da Plant Man]

Very nice! You still going to do a moss wall?

-Caton

[Craigthor]

Originally Posted by Da Plant Man

Very nice! You still going to do a moss wall?

-Caton

That I am all the way around except for the overflows won't have moss on them.

Tank is full and sitting here took a bit of work but the bulkheads are now leak free. Will drain it tonite or tomorrow after making sure it is comepletely leak free then I will have to wait for my custom sump to be built about 4-5 weeks lead time on that plus get some other toys.

Once this is setup I will ahve lots of equipment from my 150 up for grabs.

Craig

[The Gipper]

Wow awesome tank, I assume its 24 inch front to back? I followed your 150 journal from beginning...I've ordered a 190gal (72x24x26) it will take 6-8 weeks. What are you going to do for lighting on this one?

[Craigthor]

Originally Posted by The Gipper

Wow awesome tank, I assume its 24 inch front to back? I followed your 150 journal from beginning...I've ordered a 190gal (72x24x26) it will take 6-8 weeks. What are you going to do for lighting on this one?

Probably use my existing light fixture though there is a really nice 39 watt x 12 T5HO fixture a couple hours away that would look stunning over this tank.

Yes it is 24 front to back 72x24x30 tall

Craig

[Jeromeit]

Sickk!!!! U must be exhausted though!

[jkan0228]

Can't wait how great this will turn out... Don't disappoint us craig!

[rockwood]

Originally Posted by Craigthor

For substrate I will be using my existing AS plus some RootMedic Goodness and a bag of miracle grow potting mix to give the tank a super charged substrate.

Craig, I know a lot of people use it but I would URGE you very wholeheartedly to NOT put the potting mix in there.

I used the potting mix and it was doing fine. However, I went to shift my wood at one point, and I broke the sand top layer. A volcano of dirt and gases erupted into the water. I almost lost my fish, I lost pretty much all of my shrimp a few cories and an otto.

When I started taking the dirt out it smelled awful. Apparently it broke down something awful and wasn't venting properly, even though I made sure to keep the sand to no more than 1" deep.

Right now I'm running it with straight sand (and the plants are suffering) until I can move later this summer and put together an order for AS.

I know some people have luck with dirt, but considering the size of this tank any issues like I had would be a train wreck.

[Craigthor]

Originally Posted by rockwood

Craig, I know a lot of people use it but I would URGE you very wholeheartedly to NOT put the potting mix in there.

I used the potting mix and it was doing fine. However, I went to shift my wood at one point, and I broke the sand top layer. A volcano of dirt and gases erupted into the water. I almost lost my fish, I lost pretty much all of my shrimp a few cories and an otto.

When I started taking the dirt out it smelled awful. Apparently it broke down something awful and wasn't venting properly, even though I made sure to keep the sand to no more than 1" deep.

Right now I'm running it with straight sand (and the plants are suffering) until I can move later this summer and put together an order for AS.

I know some people have luck with dirt, but considering the size of this tank any issues like I had would be a train wreck.

Just curious how thick your dirt layer was, they don't recommend much over 1" max on the dirt and it can compact. I will be usign probably 1/2" or less in my setup. Also with zero hardscape and a fully dutch setup the roots from teh plants should do it well.

Craig