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Leichardti’S 6X2X2 Bedside Display


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#1 Leichardti

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Posted 02 April 2018 - 09:04 PM

Leichardtis Bedside Tank

A little while ago I decided that I was going to downgrade from my 6x2x2 loungeroom display to a 4x2x2 display in my bedroom.
Plans changed.
Guess who now has a fireglass front 6x2x2 in their bedroom

The tank I bought is an ex marine tank, with two holes drilled in the right side, fireglass front. This was perfect for what I wanted to do with this Bedroom Display as I planned to go with a sump, and the front glass was pristine. Happy days!

First things first: Picked up the tank, got it home and into the house. Being an ex marine tank it had a lot of coralline algae and calcium buildup. Vinegar, razor blades and a glass scraper was a great help getting rid of that problem.
Once the tank was all cleaned up we now had the problem of getting it down the hallway into the bedroom... it didnt fit Tank was carried through the bedroom window instead.

Basic plumbing came next - Since Im going with a sump I set the plumbing up as follows, elbows adjustable for the water level:
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Since Im going to use a 3D background for this tank Ive tried to keep the plumbing minimal. Ive placed it where its going to be out of the way and covered by plants. As you can see the background has been siliconed in. Quite messily, will clean up the glass and connections soon.

The Stand

A stand was not something that came with the tank, so, were building our own out of 90x45 timber.
We started by making a base for the stand, then attaching the 4 corner legs. Then the middle legs, the top, supports and so on until we had a sturdy (heavy) stand.
Some progress pics:
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Corner legs on, about to attach middle front legs
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All legs on, supports added, nearly there
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Now a pretty finished stand with ply base and top Unfortunately, as you can see in the photo, my Co2 cylinder wont fit in the cabinet. Next up is painting it and cladding with MDF, painted white. Instead of having doors like most cabinets, the panels will be attached with magnets for easier access in such a small space.
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The above cabinet is how I intend my own to look

Next up was getting the background ready
Holes have been drilled in the background to fit the poly piping through which will also help to hold the background in place.
Background was then siliconed in, weighed down with a heavy book in one corner which didnt want to cooperate
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This tank, of course, will be a native tank. All of my natives from my other 6x2x2 will be going into this tank, as well as some of the decor (driftwood and rocks)

Id like to plant this tank up, if the fish allow. Ive done this before and failed however I intend to change this with a proper substrate, lighting and fertiliser schedules and my pressurised Co2 setup.

Thats about all for the beginning of this journal. Now to clad the stand, finish the plumbing and sump and we can start to get wet

Edited by Leichardti, 19 April 2018 - 06:42 PM.


#2 malawiman85

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Posted 02 April 2018 - 09:16 PM

Sounds awesome... have you been drinking though? The thread title is a bit... well.
My experience is big fish don't like CO2 so much and most natives don't like lower pH. I ended up selling my CO2 setup and used Excel. Fish were happier and plants went ok... not crazy fast growth but always looked healthy at least. Other good thing about excel is no algae!

Can't wait to see how this tank comes along.

#3 Delapool

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Posted 03 April 2018 - 07:28 AM

This sounds great! I like the idea of magnets on panels for the stand. Looking forward to progress photos

#4 ice

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Posted 04 April 2018 - 10:16 AM

Can you cut a hole in the base to fit the CO2 bottle under the tank? I did this with my cabinet in order to fit an eheim pro 3 underneath and it worked bloody awesomely. Otherwise make up a brace and mount it diagonally between the uprights either at the back or side if it'll fit.



#5 Jules

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Posted 04 April 2018 - 10:54 AM

What type of fish you planning on keeping in this set up? looking the goods so far.



#6 Leichardti

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Posted 09 April 2018 - 06:07 PM

Thanks guys

@Malawiman85: I’ve thought about that a bit but I’ve never really had luck with Excel personally. The water’s pretty high pH here usually so the lowest it’ll go is around 7ish.

@Ice: Those are good ideas, found an alternative though - the way the plumbing will stick out towards a wall leaves a gap which I’m going to slide the cylinder into, nice and tidy. Cheers anyways, good ideas

@Jules: All my fish from my other 6x2x2 will be moved in - 1x Sooty Grunter, 1x Coal Grunter, 1x Neosilurus Ater and 1x Sleepy Cod

Edited by Leichardti, 09 April 2018 - 06:21 PM.


#7 Leichardti

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Posted 09 April 2018 - 07:41 PM

Over the last week the stand has been painted white. Unfortunately I didnt think to get any photos while it was being painted, so heres one with the tank on:
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Setting up the tank!!!

We had to lift the tank onto my bed in order to get enough space to get the stand into the room:
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Then positioned the stand, foam and the tank was placed on top.
After all this was done I noticed there was a problem with the background which Id forgotten. One side was open as the background was about an inch short on that end. To fix this a piece of acrylic was cut to rough shape and just superglued to that end. Althought it doesnt sound very strong its kept well in place:
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Bucket by bucket I then carried water from the old tank over to this new one. 8bbuckets later and I decided to just fill the tank halfway with a hose + safe
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All of the fish were then put in! Werent very happy.
Once all the fish were in I then used a pump on the hose to get the rest of the old tank water into this tank. Have kept the lights off for now:
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Tank is currently being run with my Nautilus 2700, however I will be making a sump out of a 4ft.
Tank also currently has no substrate - Im thinking of going with either a TwoToned substrate or ADA capped with riversand. ADA could prove a pain, but worth it.
Thats all for now Hopefully next update Ill have a 4ft to use as a holding tank while I do the substrate, which will also end up as my sump.

Edited by Leichardti, 09 April 2018 - 07:44 PM.


#8 ice

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Posted 09 April 2018 - 09:12 PM

Looking great so far mate!

#9 Leichardti

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Posted 10 April 2018 - 07:33 AM

Thanks Ice!

Some photos:
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Metal Halide on - Need a new one, only one side works Love waking up in the morning to see this
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Stalking food
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Waiting for breakfast
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Sooty
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Sleepy
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Coaly
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Neo. Ater... had a couple of fights with the Coaly

Edited by Leichardti, 10 April 2018 - 07:46 AM.


#10 ice

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Posted 10 April 2018 - 07:35 AM

Thought about tiles on the bottom or slate?

#11 Leichardti

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Posted 10 April 2018 - 07:44 AM

I have, also thought about keeping bairbottom, however I want to keep it as natural as possible and nicely planted up with Val, Limnophila, Hygro etc

Quite like the look of big exotic tanks with tiles though

Edited by Leichardti, 10 April 2018 - 07:45 AM.


#12 ice

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Posted 10 April 2018 - 08:09 AM

Yeah they look neat and are super easy to keep clean. Could probably still do plants but in pots or hollow logs or even superglue stuff like java fern to wood or rocks.

#13 Jules

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Posted 10 April 2018 - 09:24 AM

Looks good bud, fish are nice quality.

Going to add some more in there?



#14 Leichardti

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Posted 10 April 2018 - 02:55 PM

Thanks Jules!
Nearly considering it @Jules but these guys will get plenty large and aggressive - already are. Dont really want to mess with the balance so trying to think of something native, passive n not too large just for a bit of variety or colour. Not too sure on anything yet

Unless a cheap toga comes up... 🤤

#15 ice

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Posted 10 April 2018 - 03:05 PM

Needs bullrout....



#16 Leichardti

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Posted 15 April 2018 - 09:08 AM

Wonder what I’m up to...
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3 bags of propogating sand, blood and bone and ~ 60kg of GinGin Quartz / riversand (2 and a bit bags)...
2Toned

Edited by Leichardti, 15 April 2018 - 02:38 PM.


#17 Redevilz

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Posted 15 April 2018 - 03:14 PM

Awesome tank, won’t blood and bone mess with the water chemistry though?

#18 Delapool

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Posted 15 April 2018 - 10:16 PM

Was wondering if that is going on bottom myself?

#19 Robbotheyobbo

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Posted 16 April 2018 - 04:20 AM

Why is the tank over hanging the ends and front of the stand ? Did you measure wrong or have you done this on purpose for some reason ?

#20 Leichardti

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Posted 16 April 2018 - 08:15 AM

Delapool & RedEvilz: Blood and bone yes would normally effect the water chemistry. However the way the substrate works is a layer of propogating sand is put in first, then the blood and bone + shell grit which is then capped with riversand. That way the blood and bone is utilized by the plants without leaching all into the water.

Robbo: Aware its not exactly orthodox, or the safest, but yes the stand was purposely built that way. It’s going to have panels added to all sides, and building the stand this way will mean that the tank will be flush with the cladding.
Not the safest at all atm, but it will be once finished

Edited by Leichardti, 16 April 2018 - 08:19 AM.





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