Hi guys,
Well I figured I have been lurking around in here for a while, and after attending my first meeting I figured I would post a quick journal of my tank at home...
I have always wanted a large room divider tank, and I decided that I should stop wishing, and start doing, even if it was going to take a while, so I bit the bullet, and after quite a bit of shopping around, I ordered a 2050*930*760mm aquarium, paid my money and instantly thought "what the hell have I done?!". That gave me approximately 6 weeks to make the stand. (it ended up being delayed, as the supplier gave them standard, not opti-white glass, as I had asked for, which was good as the stand took a lot longer than I thought).
I made the stand myself, with some help from a mate of mine, out of 750rhs for the main frame, and 500rhs for the little supports. From memory it was around 4mm thick steel, which was a pain in the ass to cut and weld, and bloody heavy, but well worth it. Even the guys delivering the tank said it was way over-engineered, but I figured do it once, and do it right.
It then sat in my dining room for about a year before I could pluck up the courage (and the cash) to plumb the thing up. I was again shocked at just how much money goes into the plumbing. Because one of the smaller sides to the tank sits flush with the wall, or rather, it will, I needed all the plumbing to run from the base up, which meant holes, non return valves and some expensive bulkhead fittings to stop the bloody thing leaking. I drew the plumbing out, as one does, and set about screwing and gluing the thing together, after about 4 beers and too much pvc cement fumes, I realized that my drawing wouldn't work in the real world, so I scrambled to make it work, and pulled it off.
After waiting 24 hours, it was time for the fill.
I only had a couple of minor leaks, and they were only because I had not tightened the fittings enough. (It was late and my hands were tired). So all in all, I think it was a success.
The first inhabitant was my Siamese fighter that had been living in a 6L vodka bottle fir 2 years, and he seemed to enjoy the space. That was until I hooked up the main pump, which is a moderate 15,000L/h, and then It was a mad scramble to get him his own tank, I settled on an aqua one 510, which he seems happy in.
I then aquired a tankload of plants and fish, as well as an eheim canister filter which went on there. I decided to plant the plants in trays so I could put them in easier and it meant I didn't need a whole pile of gravel urgently. It is unfortunate that nothing has happened to the trays, although I have gotten used to them.
My sump is pretty boring, I made a cage for 5L of substraat pro out of aluminium fly mesh toi act as a biological filter, and I bought in filter socks from the US which work a treat, I run 3 in series, 200, 100 and 25 micron, and the water is always reasonably clear, I also run a 0.5micron filtersock with my DIY chiller occasionally to clear things up, but it clogs pretty quick... The water is then pumped through a 36w UV sterilizer by a 15,000L/h pump, and back up through 2 returns.
At this stage I am just waiting on the money to plant the bloody thing out, I am daunted with a footprint as it has, and I want to go for mainly crypts, swords and other non-stem plants, as I want to avoid pruning, with lots of driftwood with moss and narrow leaf java fern and bolbitus. I am plucking up the courage to get a rough estimate to do it in one hit, but I think its another few months of saving away yet...
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I don't know what else to say really, I hope you guys like it as much as I do, and be kind... It is a work in progress.
My 7*3*2.5 Room Divider.
Started by staallion, Feb 11 2012 04:57 PM
5 replies to this topic
#1
Posted 11 February 2012 - 04:57 PM
#2
Posted 11 February 2012 - 05:19 PM
Looking good mate..
What are you going to enclose the cabinet with ? some gloss finish timber ? and what about hood ?
what plans ?
Any thoughts on lighting yet ?
Be an awesome Marine tank
on a side note that is a strange bracket for your projector lol... any reason it needs to sit so far out from the wall ?
What are you going to enclose the cabinet with ? some gloss finish timber ? and what about hood ?
what plans ?
Any thoughts on lighting yet ?
Be an awesome Marine tank
on a side note that is a strange bracket for your projector lol... any reason it needs to sit so far out from the wall ?
#3
Posted 11 February 2012 - 05:37 PM
More photos.
382274_10150443728924623_787614622_10404052_1946747336_n.jpg 69.37KB 75 downloads
My first big leak... The pump housing split apart, spraying water everywhere...
photo__4_.JPG 1.64MB 94 downloads
null__1_.jpg 1.67MB 62 downloads
null__2_.jpg 1.83MB 80 downloads
The sides and top will eventually be covered in black colorbond, but for now it is plastic corrigates sheeting from work.
Lighting is 1x 150w metal halide, and a 3 tube T5HO unit.
Unfortunately I'm rentingm, and the agency drew the line at marine....
And the projector bracket is so far out because the maximum distance the projector can be away from the screen is where it is. I was slightly pissed off, but I dont notice it now TBH.
382274_10150443728924623_787614622_10404052_1946747336_n.jpg 69.37KB 75 downloads
My first big leak... The pump housing split apart, spraying water everywhere...
photo__4_.JPG 1.64MB 94 downloads
null__1_.jpg 1.67MB 62 downloads
null__2_.jpg 1.83MB 80 downloads
QUOTE (nvrenuf @ Feb 11 2012, 05:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Looking good mate..
What are you going to enclose the cabinet with ? some gloss finish timber ? and what about hood ?
what plans ?
Any thoughts on lighting yet ?
Be an awesome Marine tank
on a side note that is a strange bracket for your projector lol... any reason it needs to sit so far out from the wall ?
What are you going to enclose the cabinet with ? some gloss finish timber ? and what about hood ?
what plans ?
Any thoughts on lighting yet ?
Be an awesome Marine tank
on a side note that is a strange bracket for your projector lol... any reason it needs to sit so far out from the wall ?
The sides and top will eventually be covered in black colorbond, but for now it is plastic corrigates sheeting from work.
Lighting is 1x 150w metal halide, and a 3 tube T5HO unit.
Unfortunately I'm rentingm, and the agency drew the line at marine....
And the projector bracket is so far out because the maximum distance the projector can be away from the screen is where it is. I was slightly pissed off, but I dont notice it now TBH.
#4
Posted 11 February 2012 - 05:42 PM
sweet , Its looking great anyway. Nice and clean good job
#5
Posted 11 February 2012 - 06:24 PM
Great size tank mate looks great. Any way you could block out the overflow paint ? Using black acrylic ? Just so you don't look at the plumbing. Maybe swap the white PVC elbows on the return for black Polly ones would look good to. Cheers.
#6
Posted 11 February 2012 - 07:30 PM
wow what an awesome tank... cant wait to see some more progress pictures soon =] any idea how much that tank weighs in at?
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