Hello Everyone

[VikingMummy2015]

Hi and welcome.
Sterbai maximum size is around 6.5cm according to Seriously Fish website (which I tend to use for researching options). I love my sterbai (still quite young)

[Gary Morris]

Thanks VikingMummy, I'll keep an eye out for them.

[Andys temperate tank]

Hello everyone, yes Gingerlove, it's parts per million. Thanks Andy, yes I'm just trying to see what I'll need at the moment and the availability especialy during this lockdown.
Thanks Stephen & plankton, how big will corydoras Sterbai grow?

I think sterbai get to 2.5-2.7 inches. They are fairly easy to come by. And they are great fish.

Have you looked at tanks and stuff. One thing to be wary of is deals that include a filter. They are often not powerful enough to cope with a fully stocked tank.

You'll be best off with a canister filter for your 48" tank.

[Gary Morris]

Hi Andy, thanks. I'm thinking of having a 48"*24"*24" plain glass aquarium with over hanging lights, I have an oak cabinet that's quite sturdy, but is only 19" wide, so I'll have to modify it or seek an alternative. I've not seen any tanks for sale for this size, but still looking. Most of the tanks I've looked at come with the stand and hood, I did find one site that just makes aquariums but didn't have my size, I'll drop them an email I think and see if one can be made. (can't find the site at the moment)
I was thinking of a canister filter, they seem to be the best, I was possibly thinking of two (one for each end and worst case if one broke I'd have a back up).

[Stephen]

A 48x24x24 aquarium is approx 400L. 400L of water weighs 400kg or 63 stone which is a lot of weight.

A custom tank & stand (48x24x24) will cost approx £600 new, whilst a 48x18x24 (approx 300L) will cost approx £500 new.
Custom builds do not come with lights or filters.

I personally prefer external filters.

All the best

[Andys temperate tank]

Are you wanting an open top tank? If you are I think you will struggle to find a mass produced one 2ft deep.

I run 2 externals on my big tank. You might want to read my tank log. Stock is in my signature.

I'm coming up to my first year in the hobby next week so theres alot of excellent advice in there.

[Gary Morris]

Hi Stephen, Andy
That's quite a weight. I may go with a tank and stand in the end, I'm just weighing up the pros and cons at the moment and I'll most likely go with the canister filters. I like the appearance of the open top aquarium, using glass hinged slide plates and suspending the lights above. I'll have a look at your tank log, thanks

[Andys temperate tank]

An aquarium stand makes life easier. The holes are all there for your filter pipes and cables.

[Gary Morris]

Hi Andy, I think your right on that, and I guess that they've been 'tested' for the weight too. I'm just looking through your tank set up, its looking really good.