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Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Hi,

John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.

I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.

With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.

I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.

If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.

I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.

I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.

Thank you
Darragh Sherwin

Column tank - should I buy it

  • 2poc (2poc)
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04 Dec 2006 07:24 #1 by 2poc (2poc)
Column tank - should I buy it was created by 2poc (2poc)
Hi guys,

Well having been looking into a floor standing tank, something similar has fallen into my lap..

I've been offered one of these at a bargain price:
www.aquadesign.co.uk/mainPages/products/6ftColumn.htm

(Well its second hand & looks identical so I'm assuming it is one of these)
Obviously I would get rid of the nasty plastic plant etc. but I think it could look great with a selection of coldwater species like fan tails & bubble eyes etc.

I've mailed the manufacturer above to try to get some specs re: the filter, bioload, maintenance etc.

Does anyone have any experience with one of these or similar ?
Would you recommend it (for 300 euro!)?

Cheers,
Patrick.

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04 Dec 2006 07:33 #2 by Peter OB (Peter O'Brien)
It looks nice but i would be worried about stocking it, there is not a lot of surface area. how many fish could you put in it ??

Smoke me a Kipper, I’ll be back for breakfast.

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04 Dec 2006 07:37 #3 by 2poc (2poc)
Replied by 2poc (2poc) on topic Re: Column tank - should I buy it
Curious about that myself...

These are the questions I mailed the manufacturer this morning:

- What type of filtration is used - I.e. is it sponge/undergravel etc?
- Is the clear tube going down the centre for filtration or is this removable?
- Is the lighting flourescent or does it use household bulbs ?
- Is there any form of aeration built into the tank?
- Is the plant garland removeable?
- Is it possible to get a heater for the tank to keep tropicals?
- What sort of bioload can the tank/filter handle in terms of fish - i.e. how many 2 - 3 inch fish?
- What sort of maintenance is required & is maintenance all done via the opening at the top of the aquarium?

No response as yet...

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04 Dec 2006 07:55 #4 by Didihno (Didihno)
Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re: Column tank - should I buy it
Personally, I wouldn't touch it for free.
I don't trust ornamental tanks, never did.

Bad enough to have 6 seams to worry about, never mind some 6 foot octagonal monstrosity that could get knocked over!

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04 Dec 2006 08:01 #5 by 2poc (2poc)
Replied by 2poc (2poc) on topic Re: Column tank - should I buy it

some 6 foot octagonal monstrosity that could get knocked over!


lol
I don't like the 'octagnalness' of it myself though there is only one seam as the acrylic is folded.
Re: getting knocked over - that is worrying alright though it would be standing in a corner which would reduce the risk.

It looks cheap & nasty in the pics but Im thinking if I could get rid of that awful plant & replace it with a couple of 6' long pieces of bogwood.
Then I could get a mate of mine that is a metal fabricator to bend some nice stainless steel for me to wrap the black plastic it could look pretty decent..

I'm just worried about ending up with a 6' lemon that I can't maintain nor stock to a decent level..
It would look much nicer if it was square or round rather than octagnal...

Ccheers,
Patrick.

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04 Dec 2006 08:18 #6 by iffymike (iffymike)
Replied by iffymike (iffymike) on topic Re: Column tank - should I buy it
P
Hi Patrick,
Personally............................NO WAY. You have the surface area of roughly a 12x12" tank they say its 37.5cm, guarantee thats at widest point, and how do you get to the bottom of something like that. Youd be better off with a 72x25x12 (though you havnt got the room) and it would be at least 1/4 of the price. Acrylic Tanks dont normally have a join, there moulded, so i dont understand that part. Keep us informed of what your thinking :lol:

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04 Dec 2006 08:23 #7 by Didihno (Didihno)
Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re: Column tank - should I buy it
Re: One seam - much better!
Re: Wrapping in steel - my first tank, 2.5 footer, was framed in Chrome and looked stunning. Even the lid was chrome. I miss that tank.

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04 Dec 2006 08:26 #8 by iffymike (iffymike)
Replied by iffymike (iffymike) on topic Re: Column tank - should I buy it
My first Tank was a 24x12x12 steel framed sealed with putty

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04 Dec 2006 08:29 #9 by 2poc (2poc)
Replied by 2poc (2poc) on topic Re: Column tank - should I buy it
Cheers Lads.
Well it seems popular opinion is that this is a non runner...

I was initially drawn to it for the large capacity of water it could take while only taking up a small amount of space..
(And the fact that I could get it for 300 Euro)
I obviously don't understand the surface area rule so was figuring it would hold the same as any other 40 gal tank no?

re: the seam - it mentions on the manufactures website about only having one seam which is at the back of the tank.

I do think it could look good though with a bit of work - wrapping in steel plus getting rid of that awful plant !! :wink:

I had one of those steel framed tanks with a turtle in it many moons ago..

I'm still undecided... The fact that it is cheap is what is making me undecided.. I.e. could I turn it into an 'ubertank' ;) If I get it cheap & put a few quid into it, or is it a total lemon....

Thanks again for the replies lads.

Patrick.

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04 Dec 2006 11:39 #10 by Daragh_Owens (Daragh Owens)
Personally I would not take it at any money, apart from limited stocking levels, I don't like the idea of trying to clean the bottom two thirds. With all the angles the fish will look funny too. I think you would be better with a traditional 2' tank which would not take up a lot of space and would cost the same or less including filtration and a heater.

Daragh

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  • Anthony (Anthony)
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04 Dec 2006 15:54 #11 by Anthony (Anthony)
Replied by Anthony (Anthony) on topic Re: Column tank - should I buy it
Stay clear mate.

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04 Dec 2006 16:54 #12 by tanks_alot (Denis Coghlan)
I'm gonna agree with the rest of the people," I wouldn't touch it with his!!!"

If you are trying to save on space, have you looked at the jinlong tanks. They are not too wide so they wouldn't be taking up a lot of room.

inlong tanks

I have no idea what the actual tanks are like but other people might be able to fill you in on that info.

Lead me not into temptation, For I can find it myself!

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04 Dec 2006 17:19 #13 by platty252 (Darren Dalton)
I had the pleasure of removing one of those gold pond sucker things (i don't know what they are called) from one of these. Not a fun day.
The bottom 2/3s of the tank was manky.
I wouldn't use one of these even for a bet.
Stay well clear.
You would be better off with a meter cube with the space you have.

System type Tropical freshwater aquarium
Dimensions 100 x 100 x 100cm/39" x 39" x 39
Surface area 1 sqm/10.76 sq ft/ inches sq in
Volume 1000 l./220 gal. (264.17 US gal.)
Probable volume 900 l./198 gal. (238 US gal.)
Stocking density 198"/503cm (built up gradually)
Maximum density 396"/1006cm (theoretical maximum)

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05 Dec 2006 02:42 #14 by 2poc (2poc)
Replied by 2poc (2poc) on topic Re: Column tank - should I buy it
Cheers guys,
Looks like I will avoid this then.
I would love a meter cube alright, will just have to hold off for a while until I can get the cash together for one.

Thanks for the advice, sounds like I've been saved from buying a lemon.

-Patrick.

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05 Dec 2006 05:43 #15 by lampeye (lampeye)
no fxxking way! no oxygen... and u want to be able to touch the bottom with your hand for maintanence etc...

lampeye

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