Returning to aquarium hobby after 35 years absence!

[fa4960]

Hello,

 

last time I owned an aquarium I lived in Europe and I was a teenager but now I want one again! I am looking for some advice and experiences from those members who are running aquariums in Thailand or similar climate countries.

 

Some basic information.

 

I am looking to set up a fairly big tank with approximate dimensions of (L x W x H) 220 x 80 x 80 centimeters, i.e. a maximum capacity of 1400 liter (370 US gallons) with a 250 liter sump underneath to handle the filtration. As it is going to stand in our living room I am looking to buy something with a cabinet. I have so far located 2 possible suppliers of "full" systems:

 

http://www.thaiqianhu.com/aquarium-accessories/fish-tank

http://www.nisashon.com

 

Qianhu is part of a large SG owned company and have a guy who can speak English and cabinets, tanks etc are made in China but looks nice with aluminium cabinets. Nisashon is run by a Thai with limited English skills but very friendly and accommodating. Cabinets are more traditional in wood style or fake wood (plastic) to better withstand humidity but can still be made to look reasonable modern.

 

Both have shops out in JJ Mall. Does anyone have any experience buying tanks for either of these shops or any other shop with similar capabilities?

 

I have not decided which fish I am going to have, but have decided it is not going to be Arowana or similar larger territorial fish as I want a minimum of 10 - 15 fish in the tank. Hence the next questions may be difficult to answer, but what do you guys do in terms of heating/cooling?

 

The tank will be placed in a large room (100+ m2) with good ventilation and generally temperature does not deviate too much (at least I think) but is probably mostly on the warm side as we seldom run aircon for more than 2 - 3 hours a day and we typically have the blinds down when the sun is on the windows (Tank will not face direct sunlight even if blinds are up). With the tank and sump capacity I don't see a few hours of aircon having any significant impact but I wonder if the general temperature will be too high and I need to cool the tank? Don't really want to run the aircon every day just avoid overheating the tank. What do you think?

 

There will be more questions later I am sure but for now this is where I am.

 

Best Regards

FA

[Zendo]

I discovered Aquarium hobby for myself in Chiang Mai... prices are incredible, choices of fish is large and you get good advices in good shops.

 

I have a BIG tank with many cyclids, malawi in it.. they already make babies after less than a year inside it... I do use aircon when people are inside the room on afternoon, but most of the time aircon is not on, just door opened with mosquito net.

 

recently I purchased a new external filter and the UV lamp + pomp included... because there is many fishes and cyclids are quite dirty, the external filter helped a lot, but the UV lamp is MAGIC.. you got clear water like in the first days : Love IT :)

 

So eating / cooling I don't use it here.. I don't even test PH or other things.. like advised by fish sellers.. and you know what it works like a charm !! Of course don't choose sensibles fishes or you'll got to go for aircon, concerning the "eater" i don't think you will need it one day in LOS, I always keep the tank opened on hot weather, it help not to go too high in temp.

 

Cyclids I bought are born here, closed to Bangkok there is a HUGE farm that export worldwide, and if you are in Bangkok go to chatuchak market on the fish section.. you'll be amazed and have a lot of tips on how to do it here.. not like in EU or US.

 

Good luck and enjoy !!

 

 

 

 

[mayview]

Like Zendo I don't run a chiller or a heater. Temp varies 26 to 30. I keep it at approx 27-29 by running a small low voltage fan assembly over the water surface. The evaporation can easily drop the temp 4C. You can buy inexpensive fan panels, essentially a series of 12V computer fans in a fabricated housing. The housing can clip onto the end of your tank or if you have a hood, installed on the underside of the hood. Very cheap to run and subliminal noise. If under a hood the hood would certainly need to be vented at 2 ends to get the flowthrough of air happening and exhausted.

 

I use low voltage equipment exclusively for all electric/electronic items used in or on the tanks. Very easy to do now and they tend to be more efficient, quieter, cooler.

 

Can't comment on tank suppliers as I made my own glass display and sump (nowhere near the size of your challenge).

2 product resources: Chatuchak and eBay.

[Zendo]

31 minutes ago, mayview said:

Like Zendo I don't run a chiller or a heater. Temp varies 26 to 30. I keep it at approx 27-29 by running a small low voltage fan assembly over the water surface. The evaporation can easily drop the temp 4C. You can buy inexpensive fan panels, essentially a series of 12V computer fans in a fabricated housing.

I also used one too for summer time when AC is not on (nobody using the room).. efficient enough !

[George FmplesdaCosteedback]

How about a small tank in a shady position on a balcony?

Tank about 50ltrs, any suggestions for filter go keep the algae in check?

Thanks.

 

[sandemara]

I would think ensuring you have a 100% reliable power source for your new friends' safety and comfort is a foregone conclusion for anywhere in Thailand?

I like the posts recommending low-power units and similar (solar posssible today?) adaptations. Power (and water) supplies can be so unreliable.

Good luck with your project. They give so much pleasure at little cost.

[ExpatOilWorker]

On 8/31/2017 at 2:31 PM, Zendo said:

I discovered Aquarium hobby for myself in Chiang Mai... prices are incredible, choices of fish is large and you get good advices in good shops.

 

I have a BIG tank with many cyclids, malawi in it.. they already make babies after less than a year inside it... I do use aircon when people are inside the room on afternoon, but most of the time aircon is not on, just door opened with mosquito net.

 

recently I purchased a new external filter and the UV lamp + pomp included... because there is many fishes and cyclids are quite dirty, the external filter helped a lot, but the UV lamp is MAGIC.. you got clear water like in the first days : Love IT :)

 

So eating / cooling I don't use it here.. I don't even test PH or other things.. like advised by fish sellers.. and you know what it works like a charm !! Of course don't choose sensibles fishes or you'll got to go for aircon, concerning the "eater" i don't think you will need it one day in LOS, I always keep the tank opened on hot weather, it help not to go too high in temp.

 

Cyclids I bought are born here, closed to Bangkok there is a HUGE farm that export worldwide, and if you are in Bangkok go to chatuchak market on the fish section.. you'll be amazed and have a lot of tips on how to do it here.. not like in EU or US.

 

Good luck and enjoy !!

 

 

 

 

Sound like a nice tank. You mind share a few pictures?

[fa4960]

First of all apologies for the slow reply but for some reason or another I got no notification that any had replied so I thought it was dead already.....

 

Really appreciate the replies and for the heater & chiller questions you confirm the conclusion I have also reached in the meantime. Will also install 2 fans to help keep the temperature reasonable. Will likely go for discus so I need fairly warm water anyway.

 

I have already spend many hours at the JJ Mall aquarium market at Chatuchak, amazing place.

 

I am just about to pull the trigger on a tank, so now I just have to wait the 2 - 3 months it takes to get it build and sent from China.

 

Thanks again.

[tifino]

In the mean time, check out 'upside down aquarium' on, say, Youtube

 

pretty good for increasing your volume if your room space is restricted

Equally successful for ponds outside (saved my goldies from kookaburras many a time!!)