Kirinashi

Quick Grow on Edmonton Tr. will have what you need in small quantities. It can be cheaper online, but if time is an issue, they seem to be helpful when I've been there.

And stay on top of the purigen regens too

Where are you located? Metricide 14 is available from Vereburn for 24.00 a gallon and it is about 1.6 time the strength of excel. If you go liquid carbon, it is the easy choice on a tank that big http://vereburn.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=137_449&products_id=9833

If you go sand, make sure to use completely inert sand. Silica and play sand will increase the TDS of your water and it can be difficult to control your water parameters.

I also like fishless. At 3ppm ammonia processed per 24hrs, your bio filtration is close to "bullet proof". Though fishless seems like it might be complicated, it really isn't. It is scientific and measurable. The variables can all be controlled. A fish-in cycle, though it works if done right, has more variables and in general only builds up enough bio filtration for the current fish load which can be an issue when stocking.

Ian, those are the aquaflora tubs. AngelFins.ca has those.

I know of someone who packed precisely measured food rations in those little jewelers zip lock bags. the bags were each marked with a tank number, then stapled to a calendar on the day that tank was to be fed. That means the person has to look at calendar. Does it have a packet of food? yes? then take packet, look at number, dump in tank with same number. No? then don't feed anything! Best system I've ever seen for getting someone to help you feed your tanks. Saying "just a little bit" is invitation for disaster. Had a large tank with koi that got wiped out except for the biggest and toughest one once. We came back from a 3 week vacation to a putrid tank of black water full of corpses.

Wow... what tap water do you have? Calgary tap water is hard as rocks and starts out at pH 8-ish. To mitigate shock during water changes for the shrimps I always drip all my water changes.

It may also depend on what season it is. In the spring, tap water tends to have a lot more junk because of the snow melt and runoff. Last I checked Calgary tap water this spring it was at about 250 TDS. Last summer it was 180-ish. That will add to the challenge.

Nice catch.

Welcome to the forums Darrick.

If you are going to do hmf, it is worth getting good foam. Porette foam is high quality and doesn't disintegrate when it gets old. Some foams "filter grade" will start to fall apart after only one year.

Hahahaha. Too true!

I too am considering a pond. 24 inches is probably plenty deep. How big are you planning Bandi?

Welcome!