150 gallon/6 foot palu...1st time build.

[kitcolebay]

I'm planning on doing a GS background with a couple planters and/or small shelves. I hope to set it up to be covered in ivy/vines in the long run. What's best to cover the GS up with? Coco fiber, peat moss, or something different? I shopped for some coco fiber this weekend and had troubles finding some. Figured I'll have to end up ordering it online if the local nursery doesn't have it.
Still looking for some thoughts on adding my metal halide lighting to this tank.
Also, I'd love to get more feedback on everything I got going on. This is my first build. I'm trying to do lots of daily reading and forethought before doing anything, but without the feedback, I feel like I keep walking blindly into this project and about to run into a whole lot of unforeseen problems/mistakes.

---------- Post added at 08:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:41 AM ----------

Well, damn, one more hang-up. Since I can't get the holes drilled like I had hoped, then I can't run the drain line down to the sump filter that I was going to use. Thinking further, then I can't pull from the aquarium to the sump with an overflow or without an additional pump(which I'm pretty sure I couldn't match the exact gph between two pumps anyhow). So, now I need to buy or trade for a canister filter before going too much further. Anyone else have any better ideas?

[kitcolebay]

Just a very, very tiny bit of progress. Trying to slowly jump the other hurdles that keep popping up. Thanks to Craigslist, I have several possibilities to trade my sump filtration for a canister. Someone gets a better system and I get a canister that I can use.
With some pool liner and rocks siliconed in.


A lot more rocks, GS, and Pond GS to finish filling it out, then more eggcrate and substrate.

[jermajesty]

Hey the rocks and progress look great.
For your background, it is waaaaay easier to put the GS on something rather than applying directly to the glass. REmovable, eaisier to clean and so on. You can cut egg crate to be the right size or use styrofoam sheets found at home depot in the insulation section. You can use either silicon or titebond to attach the substrate. If you use silicon, brown looks much better than black or clear because it matches the color of the substrate. Titebond is wood glue that can be found at home depot and is a yellowish color, but dries much harder and more solid than silicone.
Coco fiber and peat moss will both work for the background. Honestly, it doesn't matter what you attach as long as you get the look you're trying for. Im currently using titebond 3 (it doesnt matter what number u get, they're just improvements to the product) and jungle bed from petsmart. I wouldnt order coco fiber when u can stop by any pet store and get bedding that looks great.
THe only thing you wanna look out for is that a lot of stuff like peat moss or orchid bedding and stuff like that sold at home depot and lowes and places has fertilizer that is not good for animals in a contained environment. You're better off just going to the local pet shop and spending a little more to get something safe and saving the hassle of shipping substrate.

[kitcolebay]

Hey Jermajesty, thank you very much!
For the background, I was lucky enough to score about 8 big sheets of great styrofoam from work last night. I had already bought one sheet, but it is the really thick stuff and I was concerned about eating up too much tank space between it and the GS. I'm wanting to put a couple planter cups in the back wall. I need to provide some drainage by means of straws or such through the background, right?
Thanks for the silicone tip. I did see brown GE silicone at Home Depot. I had it in my cart, then put it back. I'll be fetching back after it again...lol.
I also found the local plant shop has one medium size bag of coco fiber left for 12.99 that I'll probably go back after. I honestly haven't even looked at the prices at my LFS or Petsmart yet. From reading the forums, I was hoping one of the garden centers would have everything I need for much cheaper. It looks like I'm still going to have to order the Hydroton/LECA/Clay pellets. I figured while I was at it, I may just order the ABG mix.

[jermajesty]

Yea the hydroton and ABG are pretty necesary and not widely availiable so you probably have to order those. And $13 is kinda a lot, though i dont know how big "medium" is haha. I would check around first and get that cheap cause you dont need super high quality stuff.
THe planter cups you can either silicone on or just hold while you apply the GS. A straw is okay to use, just put it through the bottom of the cup and make sure the end is far out of the GS, u can cut it later.
Or do you mean putting the end of the straw behind the background?? I never heard of it that way but im sure you can make it work.

[kitcolebay]

As for the straws/drainage, I wasn't talking about behind. I just wanted to make sure they had drainage. Thinking a little more about it, I'm going to put shelves or "rock ledges" on the background where the planter cups can sit in those with open, and hopefully unseen, bottoms.
It appears I have several options for trading into a canister filter now. I've been offered an Eheim 2215, Magnum 350, Fluval 405, and Rena XP3. Anyone highly recommend one of these over the other? Also, I found the threads with links on how to drill my own aquarium since the local glass shop wouldn't. It's tempting to spend the $18 on a glass hole saw and drill the holes to keep my sump filter. This would allow me to stick with my original design. Decisions, decisions.

[jermajesty]

If you do drill your own glass, you better know what you are doing. Its super easy to crack it and then your whole water feature would go down the tubes (at least in that area). It might just be easier to use the canister filter if you get the plumbing figured out. And sorry but idk enough about the filters to specifically recomend one.

[kitcolebay]

I decided not to drill the glass. I know I'd be kicking myself if I broke it. Right now I'm just waiting to make the trade for the canister. One person has both of the top 2 that I liked...the Fluval 405 and the Rena XP3. Hopefully, I'll make the meet with them today or tomorrow. Saturday I have a busy day with the kids. Maybe Sunday I might be able to work on the plumbing so I can start getting somethings siliconed into place.

[kitcolebay]

Still working on the filter trade. Hydroton, ABG, and some small stuff ordered today. Picked up the coco husk for the background. Picked up a big piece of cork round that I really like to serve as my land bridge across the "creek".

[jermajesty]

Aight, im expecting to see some work gettting done since you got the materials hahaha


---------- Post added at 11:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:59 PM ----------

I see you posting on dendroboard before you post here haha