[youngdriver]

Originally Posted by deathwalkr

You could get a sunsun canister filter like their HW-302 model or you could look at Hang on filters. Remember that mechanical filters may make your tank look clear and clean but you need biological filtration as well to ensure the water is healthy as well.
..

Thank you. Does HW-302 take care of the biological filtration as well?

[deathwalkr]

Yes, but you will need to get bio media. I doubt the canister comes with bio media.

Ceramic rings, seachem matrix and such. And for chemical filtration you could throw in activated carbon as well.

Could be overkill for a beginner tank but hey when you start, its better to start right

[Mortis]

Originally Posted by youngdriver

Thank you. Does HW-302 take care of the biological filtration as well?

Also dont make aquariums of toughened glass. Use normal glass only and for safety you can use one size thicker glass

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by Mortis

Also dont make aquariums of toughened glass.s

Why would that be, could you explain please. Thanks
Jeroen

[toiingg]

When it cracks, it shatters. The normal glass would crack and the crack would leak slowly, gradually emptying water as the crack got larger over time, thereby giving you time to take counter measures. Toughened glass would shatter completely. Also, you wouldn't be able to drill it for a sump.

[R32_GTR]

Originally Posted by Mortis

Also dont make aquariums of toughened glass. Use normal glass only and for safety you can use one size thicker glass

Originally Posted by Jeroen

Why would that be, could you explain please. Thanks
Jeroen

Originally Posted by toiingg

When it cracks, it shatters. The normal glass would crack and the crack would leak slowly, gradually emptying water as the crack got larger over time, thereby giving you time to take counter measures. Toughened glass would shatter completely. Also, you wouldn't be able to drill it for a sump.

For the scale of your tank, you can go with regular 8mm regular glass.

You definitely DO NOT need a sump with the dimensions you mentioned and if you are sticking to a fresh water aquarium.

Get a regular cannister filter like mentioned below. (SunSun is cheap and fairly reliable for the price) - This can be reused with all your successive aquariums or you could sell it off or exchange it (unlike the rest of what you get).

This whole toughened vs normal glass will go on endlessly, tons of videos available on this subject; here's one that makes sense

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-udRPgorxBs

[youngdriver]

Originally Posted by deathwalkr

Could be overkill for a beginner tank but hey when you start, its better to start right

Thanks. Also, any suggestions the substrate? Might not go for plants immediately. But, based on how the tank turns out to be in couple of months, will plan accordingly.

P.S.: I found few interesting rocks(white, crystalline type) and planning to do the acid test to see if I can use them in the aquarium.

[deathwalkr]

Go for gravel based substrates. Easier to clean using a siphon. If going for plants you could place them in pots with plant substrates or you could get java ferns which can be tied on wood/rock.

I have ADA's aqua gravel which looks good but was a PITA to clean.
https://adaindia.in/aqua-gravel/

Post pics of the rocks.

[ariesonu]

Originally Posted by ptaneja

Happened at 2AM at night. New aquarium (6 feet * 18 inches * 30 inches height)- was 10 days old, fishes were in it, filters, heaters and what not. All good. Woke up from sleep with a loud noise - and its water everywhere. Saw a huge crack from top of the glass to bottom, and water gushing out. No leak or joint opened up from silicone joints.
Took 2 hours to clean all the mess, moved the fishes to buckets of water, air pump and heaters put in, but all of them died in next 24 hours.

I hope am not late to reply.
As for crack on tank, I have been there.
The solution is to provide high density Polystyrene (THERMOCOL) base which should be about 1 cm size bigger on all around & the base of your aquarium should sit snugly. I have put a two inch thick sheet under my tank. After I filled my tanks, I could see the tank making pressure depressions at some points on sheet. Can say that tank is SETTLED now.

For fishes, I think, that you did not check if the bucket had some soap residues and since you had lost all water, you probably put them directly in tap water.

Regards-Sonu

[ptaneja]

Originally Posted by ariesonu

I hope am not late to reply.
As for crack on tank, I have been there.
The solution is to provide high density Polystyrene (THERMOCOL) base which should be about 1 cm size bigger on all around & the base of your aquarium should sit snugly.

Been almost three months now with the loss - and yes thermocol sheet was present before as well.

With the sheer size, I may not be able to remove the aqua from the table, but planning to place another thick sheet of thermocol when I can get hands on someone who can remove this from table.

[youngdriver]

Originally Posted by deathwalkr

Post pics of the rocks.

Can I use them? Are they safe to go into the aquarium? Looks like quartz

[ptaneja]

Originally Posted by youngdriver

Can I use them? Are they safe to go into the aquarium? Looks like quartz

I dont see any image! Upload issue ?

[deathwalkr]

Hmm for some reason the pic is not loading up.

Anyway you can read more here:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/rock_metals.php

[youngdriver]

Originally Posted by ptaneja

I dont see any image! Upload issue ?

I don't know what happened there. Uploaded on imgur and provided the link. Attachments seem to be working fine. Please check now.

[Mortis]

Originally Posted by Jeroen

Why would that be, could you explain please. Thanks
Jeroen

As others have explained, while toughened glass is stronger than normal glass, when it fails it will completely shatter into small pieces while normal glass can give you a chance to save it in case of a failure.

youngdriver : 10mm should be good for your tank size. Bottom glass can be made from 12mm.

After one tank failure, I prefer to use thicker glass and not take chances