Suggest improvements to my setup.

nfored

Front view of my in wall 220 Gallon Community tank. The cut out you see in the upper left of the tank is a feeding tube to feed the fish.
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The Back view showing all the inner workings.
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View of the plants used for Nitrate control.
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View of my test drain, a 1/4" drain with ball valve, this is used to get test samples of water without having to get wet.
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This is the drain line used for water changes, it extends down 50% into the bottom of the tank, and is connected with a ball valve. Open the valve and the tank drains 50%, this drain is connected to the houses sewage drain.
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This is the fill line, connected to both the hot and cold water lines for the house, again connected to a ball valve. Very easy water changes open the drain and let it drain, open the fill line let it fill.
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Over view of the sump lay out, customized for my needs, the trash can was the mechanical filter, it has since been replace with a filter sock.
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Side view of sump setup, again the trash can has been replaced with a filter sock. This setup allows the pump to have full access to all water volume, as well as removes micro bubbles; and makes the setup almost silent. It also ensures the media will never be left dry in the event of tank overflow.
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The lights are connected to a timer, there is also a light switch in the tank viewing area that is connected after the timer; this allows me to turn off the lights without effecting the timer.

So what do you think?

aunt kymmie

Holy Cow. How long does a water change take you? All of five minutes, if that? Lucky dog!
Is the tank barebottom?? Any way to take a night shot with the tank lights on, room lights off, flash from camera off? I'd like to see how the tank looks from that perspective.

zof

I have to say that is one heck of a setup!

sik80

wow man, thats one hell of an effort you've put into that thing!

if it were me i'd add take out the fish you have and add substrate, tons of plants and some angel fish - would be spectacular, though maybe hard to maintain the plants in good shape, depending on how easy it is to access

nfored

Access is not that bad since its open in the back. I am not a huge fan of clean up work, thus the setup, so substrat would mean gravel vacing. I am working on a planted tank, currentl but it will be a high tech planted complete with co2 injection, as well as automatic fert dosinging. I had a couple smaller planted tanks before and they take a lot of work.

I am also afan of Discus over angles. i also lke larger fish 12" or more. Thanks for the comments and suggestions.

As far as time it take to do a water change, it takes me about 1 minute of actual work. Open the drain let it drain out, hen close the drain and open the water line, and dose with prime. It drains in about 5 minutes, its slow because I have a cap with holes drilled into it on the drain line inside the tank; to protect the fish.

My wife makes me warn her an hour before I do a water change because it sucks up all the hot water.

nfored

Sure can will post them tonight.

JohnnyD44

Great set-up!!!! I'd love to see the same shots Kymmie is talking about!!!

awesome setup!

aunt kymmie

Time to install a larger water heater, lol.

Looking forward to the pics. If you ever decided to, that tank would make an awesome planted Discus tank. A real showpiece.

Inga

Ha ha ha I can't even decide which fish to start with. You have an amazing set up. All I can say is... WOW! and, I agree that I would love to see the tank with the tank lights on and the room and flash from the camera shut off. VERY COOL!!!

bones14

Great idea on the drain and fill lines.Very cool setup.I also like the view of the tank built into the wall.