4x2x2 Malawi Cichlid Display Tank Journal (d/l Warning)
#1
Posted 28 March 2009 - 04:24 PM
Specs:
tank: 4x2x2 400L
cabinet - melamine with steel lintel with 34mm laminated HMR benchtop (built entirely by myself)
Filter: fluval FX5
UV: unknown brand (from my old tank - forgot what brand it is)
Heating: Hydor 300W external inline heater
Lighting: twin 36w t8 fluro
Substrate: 9x 9.5kg Tahitian Moon sand
Hardscape: limestone rocks and driftwood
Plants: java fern
Fish: various alunocara (peacocks), electric blue, electric yellow, white knight, orangespot BN and a few others.
now for the pics:
the old tank before i started the new one
flat pack cabinet (from work)
building the cabinet
cabinet done
strengthening with lintel
now its strong
starting the plumbing
benchtop used as work bench
draining the old tank
the old water in buckets and the fish in tubs (i reused almost all the old water)
old tank gone
old cabinet gone
new cabinet fitted
new benchtop fitted
finishing the plumbing
new tank on and filling her up
close up of the plumbing
substrate (9x 9.5kg of Tahitian Moon sand
sand added - clouded up heaps even tho i rinsed it first
filter turned on - it all works
limestone and driftwood added
view from other side
close up of limestone formation
Fish put in their new home
view from other side
water is still cloudy and will probably take a few days to settle
still need to hand the doors and modify the hood to suit to new tank.
and still need to finish the in and out flow pipes
comments and suggestions welcomed
thanks for looking
jeremy
#2
Posted 28 March 2009 - 04:47 PM
The obviously large amount of work you put into it has payed off well!
Ado
#3
Posted 28 March 2009 - 04:54 PM
When the water's cleared up post us another pic
#4
Posted 28 March 2009 - 05:07 PM
The obviously large amount of work you put into it has payed off well!
Ado
thanks mate
i was up till 1:00am friday night, then spent most of today on it too
it actually went easier than i expected, which was good.
When the water's cleared up post us another pic
thanks
yeah, i'll post a few more pics once its clear.
#5
Posted 28 March 2009 - 08:26 PM
A lot of gravel in there.
Ross
#6
Posted 28 March 2009 - 11:19 PM
That's a lot of moonsand $$$! Now looking at it would you have gone shallower? I can see some interesting pit and mound formations coming along after a bit of digging
With the plumbing I'm guessing that the red tap and hose connector to the left of the cannister can be used for draining and top-up?
How do you control the water flow that passes through the separate in-line heater and UV units? Is it possible that the flow could favour passing through one unit and not the other? Would've been cool if you added a third water return path that way if you need to section off the UV or heater due to a fault/leak etc you could do so.
Hiding the foam and a hood to hide the light would be a nice finishing touch (not that I can talk coz I'm pretty average when it comes to presentation)
Top effort so far!
Daz
#7
Posted 29 March 2009 - 07:42 AM
yeah, it is more than i expected - in hindsight i probably would have used a few less bags.
the pit is actually from the out flow of the filter - i have still to attach the outflow that came with the fluval, but need to find the right size adapter to make it fit.
correct - mainly for top ups as the fluval has its own drainage tap on the bottom.
Hiding the foam and a hood to hide the light would be a nice finishing touch (not that I can talk coz I'm pretty average when it comes to presentation)
i don't have a way of controlling the flow, but in my thinking it wont matter - if the flow favours the uv, then the water will flow slower thru the heater and thus increase the temp more but will blend with the cooler water of the uv anyway. and if the other way around, more water will get heated but not as much, so it will be the same result either way.
i had thought of a 3rd path, but the price of pvc parts were already ridicules. but if i choose to add one later there is room to do so - i will find a way if need be.
yes, i plan to modify the hood as soon as i get time (doing bulk overtime lately so it will wait till next weekend)
and i plan to put a trim around the foam also.
thanks for the comments
jeremy
#8
Posted 29 March 2009 - 04:48 PM
#9
Posted 29 March 2009 - 06:04 PM
cheers kyle
yeah i've had the tank for a while and got the filter and cabinet late last year, so i thought it bout time i pull out the finger and got it done.
the tank is clearing up but still i little murky
#10
Posted 29 March 2009 - 06:52 PM
#11
Posted 04 April 2009 - 05:04 PM
Still need to fit the light surround and doors.
#12
Posted 09 April 2009 - 09:52 PM
not happy with the scratches on the tank. problem was i didn't see them till i had pulled down the old tank (it was dark when i cleaned the new tank) and by then i had passed the point of no return.
i am looking into getting a new tank to replace it...
#13
Posted 29 May 2010 - 04:02 PM
#14
Posted 02 June 2010 - 08:34 PM
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