10 replies to this topic

[Chad Ironbark]

Hi
I am starting a cichlid tank after not having an aquarium since the early eighties.
I purchased a steel frame for a tank which i acquired & with flooring left over from putting boards down in the house , I thought I would clad the tank to keep my better half happy.
Using Sydney Blue gum for the panels (Boral) & Jarrah for the frame (Gunns Timber) I glued (Sikaflex) & screwed the timber to the frame..Got the method from another person on the web.
not finished yet but photos of progress attached....hoping to complete this weekend..
28/06/10
Didn't quiet get the time to finish as had a cyclosportif bike ride on sunday that i forgot about
Did how ever do the lid... still need to apply water proofing to underside to prevent any damage
Used a piano hinge to give top support as timber is only 12-12mm thick & will sag without it...still a little sag which I will need to support. ??
I hope the flap i made is wide enough...
Soon the really hard part is to come that is choosing compatible cichlids...

Near finished but with no handles or fish 19/07/10
Tip for appling Background...I found Windex & a squigy a breeze , done in a few minutes...Detergent & a credit card gave me grief...
Maybe dont use windex after 2 days i have several bubbles forming.....maybe buy stuff from LFS & try that 19/07/10 pm

Pict of finished tank in reply below...ran out of room to upload....

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Attached Files

•  Front_Doors_Closed.jpg   3.89KB   142 downloads
•  Front_Doors_Open.jpg   3.93KB   137 downloads

[rax]

Hey looking good.
Beats the commercial steel look
Well done.

[dazzabozza]

Looks great Chad and welcome back to fiskkeeping!

If you had to buy that wood what would it generally cost?


Daz

[Chad Ironbark]

Finished I think with stand which cost $120 it will set me back $500-600 total
including doors on front.
Im hoping to put a shelf on left hand side
I have receipts .I will check

[anchar]

Looks great! Any chance of larger pictures?

Andrea

[Chad Ironbark]

Bigger picts added closer to finished aquarium

[nick05]

Awesome Job! Looks very professional. Look forward to seeing the tank stocked

[Chad Ironbark]

Updated photos of finished tank & pipework
pipe work experimental only prob more joins so more chance of leaks although pipe clamps seem to do the trick so far..
made new sprayer & placed on top for aeration.
places tap on rear wall to stop water loss when cleaning. i think these may have been better closer to the filter...
I have a Aquis 2400 filter...it may auto shut off when removing inlet /outlet thingo for cleaning filter.???
And i forgot to n ..all i know is i have electic yellows & some red & blue ones
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[rax]

[quote name='Chad Ironbark' date='Jul 27 2010, 08:16 AM' post='178122']
Updated photos of finished tank & pipework

Well done
Question: are you still using the hood and if so does the spray bar create much condensation on the hood?

[Chad Ironbark]

I did keep lid closed on first two nights with no visible condensation but then the thought came about re surface evaporation & damage that may occur
Didnt really think about the spray bar as its not a mist spray ..holes are large & there is little splash.
I put spray bar here to help aeration.
I have kept lid open since then as more concerned about surface evaporation...I need to apply more sealer/vanish to inside & maybe drill a few 1 inch holes in rear panel

[STEVEGREEN]

i missed this post , looks awesome

great job mate

cheers
Steve Green