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Hi!

I have a client that wants to install a 214G tank in his restaurant (300cm long x 60cm tall x 45cm width) fresh water and i would probably recoment live plants and discus

I would like to know if anyone can give me ideas or opinions on which would be the best option of filtration for this tank.

Something external would be the most pleasing on the eye. Sump would prolly be my first choice but the tank is still small enough where its not the final option. Ehem has nice canister filters with built in heaters and work very well. If its a really long tank a couple hiden power heads would prolly be needed for movement.

These 2 choices would prolly be the easiest to hide. Sump is more then likely the better of the 2. Would keep the tank looking full all the time. The sump would take the loss in water. Deffinetly advise multiple tubes with the sump though. Just incase a fish dies and gets lodged.

Sump would be made alot easier if the tank has built in overflows. One less thing to go wrong.

Just curious, why discuss and plants? how come no one ever looks at african lake cichlids. lol must be just me. I would love to have a 210 full of rock and fish coverd in color that gives any reef tank a run for its money. Some anubis in some cracks, maybe a minor piece of drift wood. VIOLA! salt water eat your heart out.

With that size tank, I would go with a Wet/Dry system. I know that most feel that it really just for SW tanks, but the only real reasons not to use it in FW is cost and FW tanks don't require that intense filtration, also you can hide a heater and UV (you will need this in a public tank)in the cabinet and have only a return line in the tank. Your next question will be what type of light for that depth of tank and you want it planted. you will need to most likely have to go with MH light fixtures.

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams

Hi,
I think that converts to a 9x2x1.5foot tank.
You can purchase 4 foot lights with two 96 watt
bulbs in each and mount them over the tank.
That would be 8x96=768watts/214gallons=3.5887wpg.

If this tank is going to be planted and because
the tank is 1.9xxxx feet deep, I'd use 8800 to
10,000K bulbs on the tank.

MH bulbs run extremely hot and can cause tanks to
over heat, additionally, the cooling fans can be
or become quite noisy something you don't want
near seated patrons.
Generally MH lights are suspended over
an open tank and the number required depends upon
the height above the tank and the "footprint" of
each light. An open top would require some sort of
glass cover or at least an eggcrate cover over the top
to keep the fish in, and the people out (including
food, liquids and whatever else the children can get
away with while the parents aren't looking.
MH light is harsh and you would have to put shields
around the bulbs to keep those seated nearby from
having the light shine into their eyes.

I think I'd give consideration to Compact Flourscents,
or even regular flourscents if the tank is not going
to be planted. If it is not planted (live plants) then
you could get by with a watt to a watt and a half per
gallon allowing you to consider some less expensive
options.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Hi, thanks everyone for your help, as for lighting we are going for compacts as Frank mentions they don't generate as much heat, here is a photo of the mock up image of the tank that the architecture studio made.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/Falstaf/Retocadas_Fisher_ultima_3.jpg

As for filtering we are going with a sump, because now we know it has to be a marine tank. A reef, i hate the bottle idea, but since the 2 brands are sponsoring the tank they have to stay

Now i need stocking ideas but ill open a new thread in the marine reef forum.

Thanks again!

heck if money isnt an issue id say wet/dry all the way

i like feesh