Guyzer

Have not worked on it yet! However, when I do, I will give as much info as possible.

My set up will be a total of about 125 - 150 gal. To utilize space, I'll be going about 6' high. I'll be placing smaller tanks at the top and larger tanks at the bottom for weight and might help with flow. I'm guessing about 800gph pump. I don't know the formula for height. Thanks for the help ... again!!

Thanks canucklehead. My fishroom project has been put on hold for about a month. I'll be using out Laundry room and My wife has asked me to tile it. So I'd rather tile it now then have to move 5, established fish tanks for a couple days. But when I get my sump built, I would like people's opinion. I like the idea of drawers for removable filtration and will use the rubbermade container. For thoses who have DIY sumps, where did you buy your pumps for your sumps? I was thinking at Revy or Home Depot in the pond sections but haven't made it there as of yet. Thanks!! Guy

canucklehead, you wouldn't happen to have any pictures of your sump would you? I would like to see it. What is your ratio of bio-ball to lava rocks? Could you just use lava rocks? I think lava rocks would be even cheeper then AC500 foams. I also want to try this DIY fluidized bed filter project I saw on the net. Another high surface area filtration solution. I really like the drawers idea. I hope you don't mind if I use it? Guy

Albert, are you the owner of Gold Aquariums? I have never ordered in fish before. What kind of added cost is involved with the orders? How long does it take to get the average fish shipped into Calgary? If a shipment is ordered, is the person who ordered them on the hook for the whole lot? Or can a small amount be orderd? I'm not ready for the Hemichromis Elongatus right now, I'm just doing some research. Cause I don't have my fish room set up yet and don't plan on stocking it till this fall at the earliest. Thanks all, for the great help. I said it before and I'll say it again, this forum really is the best!! Guy

For thoses who care, I found out the name of the fish ... I think. Hemichromis elongatus or Hemichromis fasciatus. There seams to be some confusion about this fish on the net. Both names will show the same fish?? Now next quest is to try and get them in my tank!!. Guy

Not too sure if this is the right board to post this in. Can someone help with the name of this fish (see below)? I seen them on the cover of a aquarium magazine about 2 years ago and just thought they were the neatest looking fish. And now just today, I took out a cichlid book from the library and there was a small pic of the same fish. If someone knows of this fish, do you know if it readily available in Calgary and what the average price would be? Or, if they could be shipped in and the aprox price? Would Golds know where to find a fish like this? Any help would be great. Sorry for the poor quality of the image. It was a small picture in the book and I don’t have the top of the line scanner. Thanks for your help!! Guy

WOW!! Very informative reply!! Thanks!! I think I will try your idea with the Rubbermaid bucket and the 5gal pail. It will be allot more cost effective then a 20 gal tank. One question though, where do you get the pails for free? I go to Home Depot and they want something like $3 - $4 each. Thanks again!! Guy

Little about me: I have had fresh water fish as a hobby for over 5 years and really want to start to get into cichlids and breeding. I have a 75 gal community tank with I wide variety of fresh water fish. (3 Clown Loaches, 2 Bala Sharks, 2 Iridescent Sharks and 3 Geophagus Jurupari) I live in Calgary and think this forum is better then the cookie cutter fish forums on the web. I’m going to set up a small fish room (5 – 10 tanks for starters) in my basement and have decided to use overflows on my tanks and a central sump. I have 2, 30 gal tanks, 1, 20 gal and few 10gal tanks for now and I will most likely use the 10 or 20 gal tank for the sump. My questions for you is; in the sump, would sponges and bio balls be enough mechanical and biological filtration for the amount of water I’ll have or would I need some activated carbon or a fluidized bed filter with it? I would also like some buffer filtration incase I want to add more tanks in the future. Since I’m on a tight budget, does anyone know where I could find bio-balls at a reasonable price in Calgary? I’m kind of hesitant to got to the LFS for stuff like this due to their markup, however, if they have the best price, then my choice is made. Can someone also refresh my memory about the ratio of bio-balls to water. Isn’t it something like 1 gal of bio-balls to 50 gal of water?? I have a lot more questions, but I’ll hold off for now. Thanks!! Guy