New 46 gallon Bowfront

[qquake2k]

I've had aquariums off and on for years. After about a year without one, I got a 6.5 gallon semi-hex for my desk. Well, it quickly became obvious that it wasn't nearly big enough, so I got a 16 gallon Nat Geo from PetSmart, which I really like. But I soon longed for something bigger. I was looking at a 27 gallon Marineland cube, which would fit on my desk. But then I decided to get a second larger aquarium. I was initially looking at a SeaClear 36 gallon acrylic bowfront. In the end, though, I ended up with a 46 gallon glass bowfront from PetSmart. I couldn't pass up the price. It was on sale for $250, including the stand. It came with a glass top, and some LED lights I've never seen before. They clip onto the inside of the frame in front, and are switchable from blue to white.

 

[qquake2k]

I suppose the lights it came with would have been sufficient, but I wanted something better. I ordered a Current USA Satellite Plus LED lightbar from Petco. It was on sale for $88. It comes with a remote control, and has more light colors and combinations that I could ever use.

 

[qquake2k]

Here are just a few of the possible colors.

 

[qquake2k]

And here is the centerpiece. It's a Penn Plax Dark Castle from Pet Mountain. My friend Hanna picked it out. I love this castle!

 

[qquake2k]

Right now, I have an Aqueon Quiet Flow HOB filter on it, just to keep the water circulating. I ordered a SunSun HW-402B canister filter for it. The filter came damaged, so he ended up refunding me. I decided to get a bigger filter, so I chose the HW-304B. The HW-402B is rated at 264gph, and has three media trays. The HW-304B is rated at 525gph, and has four media trays. They both have a built-in UV sterilizer. I didn't realize how much bigger the HW-304B is. It's gigantic! But it will fit in the stand, and you can't over filter, right?

 

[qquake2k]

For media, I'll be using a coarse pad and a fine pad in the bottom tray. Then two fine pads in the next tray, Matrix in the third, and bio-balls with plastic scrubbies in the top tray. I'll also be putting Purigen in the top tray.

 

[vanillarum]

Nice looking tank. Great price, esp from Petco. Good luck.

 

[Rbishop]

Nice set up!

 

[FreshyFresh]

Nice looking setup. 46g will give you more options for sure. It's not too tiny, nor too big. Easy to manage for water changes, even if you have to do the bucket toss.

FWIW, with my Sunsun 302, I run the thick blue sponges in the bottom two trays, then a bunch of different bio media in the top. Plastic balls, ceramic rings and plastic pot scrubbers. I found if the floss pads are used in the lower, dirtier trays, they plug-up too quickly and hinder the flow through the filter.

 

[Kannan Fodder]

Looks like you got the same tank I did. I swapped out the clip-on LEDs too. Got the Nat Geo programmable LED fixture that sits on top and am much happier with the lighting. Tho your light set-up looks really fun.

What are you planning on stocking it with?