300 FOWLR equipment?

benihuma

Member
In my new apartment I want to setup an aggressive FOWLR. I don't want the flood risks of sumps, so what other filtration systems do you recommend. I'm currently using emperors on my 90. What about lifegaurd systems? Also, what about lighting? How much should I expect to pay for a good 2-300 gallon setup? Thanks.
Ben
 

swtanks

Member
You want to put a 300 gallon tank in an apartment!!! You are brave. Forget about leaks, I would worry about the floors collapsing under that weight.
I'm not sure how you would filter one without using a sump. You really need to use a sump when you go this large. Maybe someone else could jump in. Depending upon the length, you could use PC's. I run 4 96 watt PC'c along with 4 30 watt NO bulbs and this gives enough light for coraline, shrooms, and polyps.
What type of tank? Glass or acrylic? If you go with glass, it will weigh an incredible amount. Mine is glass and was $1100 for the tank and glass covers. It also cost $160 to have it delivered and put into place. Pay the delivery if you go with glass. You do not want to try and move the thing.
 

predator

Active Member
You had better be downstairs cause' theres no way the wieght can be supported.Theres no telling how much you'll spend. You could find a great deal and luck out. But if not you be spending well over $1000. And go with a sump. Tanks that size really need them.You would be setting yourself up for failure if you went any other route.
 
a sump is the best way to go. there is no other way to filter a 300 aggressive. not unless you keep the skimmer,heaters,and filters in the main tank. you can avoid leaks and overflowing tanks by taking precautions before setting the tank up. Use two overflows just in case one gets clogged, have something to trap pieces of waste. carbon and the biggest skimmer you can afford. this is the minimum type of filtration that is needed. with all the lr,ls, water,fish and other equipment you will be using it will fall through a couple of floors.
 

jester

Member
Actually, depending on how the stand is built and placed, and how big the foot print is, how new the building is and where the apt is located in the complex, it is possible to keep it.
Mine is only a 160, but by by doing some basic math and resurch on the floor construction I have have determined it will hold and I'm on the 3rd floor.
I figured that an overestimated weight would be about 2500lbs with everything. Now my stand covers 14sq feet of floor area. Divide the weight by the area it covers and that is the amount of preasure per sq foot(178.57). I weigh 200 lbs and with my feet together I dont cover 1 sq foot. My 40gal, doesnt cover 2 sq inches and that's about 450 lbs. Also, it is important to cover as many floor studs as possible. Best to go perpendicular to the joist's. I don't, but I didn't have a choice.
This is just all on paper. I have only filled it for a short time to clean it out. I have not filled it completly for any length of time yet
so don't fill it on my logic.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE RENTER"S INSURANCE, and just as important, check with the building management
pics are on my site
 
S

simm

Guest
benihuma it is possible to keep it if your upstairs. I had a king size water bed upstairs at our appartment. Most second floors are made of steel. Just ask your apartment manager and by the way, some apartment complexes make you carry extra insurance in case you tank breaks. Mine did for the waterbed.
 

benihuma

Member
Man, someone brought this post back from the grave. Update: I've still got my 90, but have to start over. I'm looking to purchase a house/condo in '03, and what's that.......I think I've got the "put one in the wall" bug.
 
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