Loach project.

[Dutch]

Tinman, you did clear something up for me. I never understood why the filter mats were not placed against each other, but the space between each mat makes cleaning much easier.

Capeldrae, the tube is acually the outlet, it's connected to the pump. (This person has the pump in the back, but I will have it in the front.) The intake is not clearly visible in that picture, but here's one from a person who had his tank made by the same builder and it shows the grate of the intake. It's on the left side.

Source: Dutch Cichlid Forums

In this one the pump would go in the far right compartment and simply pull the water through the filter mats, which will have different densities.
I've used both these pictures to explain to my builder how I wanted the filter.

[Tinman]

Absolutely Top Shelf

[shari2]

Is that starfire glass, Dutch, or something similar?

[Dutch]

Thanks Tinman.

You raise an interesting point Shari, I wouldn't know. I've never seen a shop over here name the type of glass they use, or offer the customer a choice. All that people are concerned with is the thickness of the glass. These two tanks were made by a Belgium builder who doesn't have a shop or a website, so I can't check. But if I visit my own builder, I'll ask if there are differences in glass types.

[Dutch]

Just a simple question. I see that histrionica has a preferred pH range of 6.5 to 7.2 and I know my tapwater is 7.4 to 7.6. Would that be a reason to look at a different species for my future tank (maybe kubotai)?

[mistergreen]

PH isn't as important as GH.

You can always cut PH & GH with a little RO or distilled water.

[Gary Stanton]

PH isn't as important as GH.

You can always cut PH & GH with a little RO or distilled water.

I think putting bog wood in also would lower PH.

[Dutch]

There's going to be wood in the tank for sure, but I don't know how long it will have an effect on the water pH. Plus, it's my first tank. I want to try and keep the waterquality stable in the easiest way possible, in order to avoid making things too complex for myself and finding myself in over my head.

[Dutch]

What would be the best thing to do, just start up the tank and decide after measuring water parameters once it's run for a while without fish?

It's getting more important now since I just heard the tank has been built and is ready to be delivered. (Didn't expect that for at least another five weeks!)

[Dutch]

I've seen the tank and it's looking great! It will be delivered on tuesday, so I hope to be able to show you people some pictures then as well.

[Keith Wolcott]

Yes, Dutch, I would just start up the tank and monitor it for a bit before adding dithers.

Yes, please do post pictures when you get it.

[Dutch]

Thanks Keith! Will make sure the camera is ready to go when the tank comes.

Is that starfire glass, Dutch, or something similar?

I asked around and there is very little information on glass quality/type for aquaria. Which is odd when you look at normal glass (left) compaired to Starphire (right).

Source: Glasscages.com

I only came across one person who had a different type of glass, crystal glass. Which is hugely expensive but ideal for very large tanks. I think it makes an interesting topic by itself.

[shari2]

Did you ask the builders if it was the usual glass or something else?

Looking at your initial pics, it does seem to have some blue/green color to it.

[Dutch]

I'll ask when they deliver the tank on tuesday. I'm pretty sure it's normal glass when I look at prices.
The first tank in the picture (same builder as the tank in the second picture) was a tank of 8' x 3' x 2.3' (l x w x h) and was around US$1,600 including the internal filter. A crystal glass sheet (just the front of the tank!) of 6.5' x 2.8' (l x h) was US$2150 by itself.

Do you think Starphire glass is similar in price to crystal glass?

My own tank is (relatively seen) priced similar to the first tank. (My tank is a little over US$2,300 completely finished with stand and ready to run.)

[Dutch]

The tank arrived this morning and I'm chuffed to bits! I'm sure the loaches are going to love this as their home.
I haven't been able to get a decent shot because of the ligt, so I'll try again when it's dark outside. But anyway, here's the first pictures.
The Aquarium...


And of course a detail shot of the internal filter...


Oh, Shari. The only different thing about the type of glass used is that it's so called float glass, which is just the production process that ensures a perfectly flat surface.