Tank in progress

[jgauna]

Trying to get this set up soon. Right now sanding the stand, sucks sanding by hand. I think Andrew has the glass tops that will fit this( i hope). Lighting have seen post about who has them available. So i will be sending pm's
Suggestions about how i should cover the top would be very helpful if i cannot find glass tops for it

[tsunderl]

Canopies are pretty easy to build. Plexiglass would also work.

[masroberts9]

is it a 48"X18" footprint?

[jgauna]

yes it is 48x18 footprint.

Canopy not there yet. Do not trust myself enough to try and build one!

[OOwl]

Beware of plexiglas tops. I got that for a smaller tank instead of glass and even the thick Plexi warps when it gets wet (bows up). If the fit is really close on those edges it can even fall into the water (not pretty if you have your light strip just sitting on top without a lip or legs). I'd just order the glass tops for that tank size or put a WTB ad on here and DFWMAS. Believe it or not, that's how I found a glass top for a 60 gallon tank I had for a fraction of what a new one would be. A lot of the reefkeepers don't use their glass tops and just have them sitting in storage. They're happy to make a few bucks off them. You can also go to Bainswanger glass (or any glass shop) and have them cut you pieces and buy the plastic hinge.
Good luck! Nice tank.

[jabbott]

Yeah, wish I had carpentry skills to build a canopy for the 75 I picked up. No, I take that back - I have enough hobbies!

[tsunderl]

Never had any problems with plexiglass, but that is something to keep in mind. Wonder if the heat from the lights has anything to do with that.

[masroberts9]

uhh... My 55 has that footprint I am currently looking for glass tops since I want to plant it and good lighting, but right now I have the 2 sections of black plastic hood. They came with the tank at petsmart. here's a link.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754541.
If you arent in a huge rush once i get my glass tops ... I will be getting rid of these.

[xtc]

The tank maker dude cut my glass lids for me at $2.00 each. 4 pieces of custom sized glass for $8 can't be beat. get the bendie strip from DNA for $.25 total.

[masroberts9]

whoa! no doubt! where do we find this guy?

[xtc]

Adam (http://www.dfwfishbox.com/forums/production/showthread.php?t=4136)

Nice guy too!

he's in south ft worth IIRC

[masroberts9]

I called the 2 numbers on his site. one is disconnected the other was a woman named Kim. I left a message. hopefully thats his wife or something.

[jgauna]

I got dibbs on some from Andrew hoping they fit! If not i will be looking at other options, masroberts that is what i was looking for as well, i have that type of top on my other 55, only issue is the big piece of glass that is currently on the tank. So not sure what will work.

[masroberts9]

ah cool, well Ill let you get dibs on Andrews. Someone has dibs before me...not sure who...doesnt really matter. i'll let you get'em. the lids I really want are for my 75, since it has no lid currently. still im not in a hurry. Noone is jumping. :D

[mrsadler]

there is a sticky with his info whoa! no doubt! where do we find this guy?

[jgauna]

Update!
Here is what it is looking like now.
And what will be going in it once i get the back glass painted.
Still need a couple of more pieces of lace rock, so if anyone has any let me know.

[bra8ndy8]

Love it!!

[masroberts9]

looking good

[Dzhokar]

Nice job refinishing the stand. Can't wait to see it all put together.

[supersmirky]

That's a really good job on the stand. Looking great so far

[jgauna]

Thanks Guys
Got the back of the tank painted last night.
I let the kids do the first coat of paint on the stand. Good way to get the first coat on and out of the way and after that i knew they would not want to paint especially when i told them we might have to sand it all off again. Except for one she hung around pretty much all day with me while i was in the garage. Hopefully i will have it set up and running sometime this week.

[supersmirky]

haha...good job letting them do the first coat...second and final, another story. haha.

[masroberts9]

what kind of paint did you use?

[jgauna]

ummmmmmmm
I don't know, i will let you know when I get home tonight.

[jgauna]

Update!
The tank is scratched up but hey it was free! Eventually it will end up as a grow out or breeder set up. I am enjoying it regardless.

[jgauna]

On more
In the last post it is full tank shot and then shots from left to right this being that last one.
Trying to make as many caves and nooks and crannies as possible for the mbuna's that will be going in here.
Tips and suggestions welcome

[tsunderl]

I think it looks good. The only addition I would make would be a few fake plants behind the rocks.

[Dzhokar]

Looks really good. For my personal taste, I'd add more rock if possible. Maybe make one side higher than the other.

[bra8ndy8]

What kind of rock is that?

[tsunderl]

What kind of rock is that?

I'm thinking lace rock. It's a nice change from the norm.

[Typical Tony]

wow thats exactly how i want my 10gal to look. looks good!



did you sand down the back glass before painting?

[jgauna]

Thanks
I was thinking about staying with green and bushy?
I tried to re-arrange the rocks this morning to make one side higher than the other i think i kinda got it higher maybe. Hard to do because i try and get them where they will not tumble if vader (my rott) was to bump the tank.
Yes it is lace rock Brandy.
No i did not sand down the back of the tank, i cleaned it as best i could wrapped in newspaper and took the rattle can to it!

[masroberts9]

so what kind of paint did you use?

[jgauna]

I knew i forgot something.
My bad, will post when i get home. Working only half a day today.

[greeneyed]

Just get some Krylon.

[jgauna]

Paint on the stand was Rust-Oleium Painters touch semi gloss black

[mrsadler]

awsome make over Update!
Here is what it is looking like now.
And what will be going in it once i get the back glass painted.
Still need a couple of more pieces of lace rock, so if anyone has any let me know.

[masroberts9]

i was thinking about painting the backside of a tank.

[jgauna]

Spray paint krylon works
I used rust olieum spray paint on both of my tanks

[xtc]

that looks great so far! Substrate and rock look good!

[jgauna]

Thank you all.
Man was that stuff stored outside? Took me more than a few rinsings to get it cleaned, leaves and other stuff in it. Not complaining though, thanks for the deal.

[jgauna]

Added water yesterday! Thought i had cleaned the substrate and rocks really good. Borrowed the light from my other 55 and flipped the lights on and well as you can see it is cloudy. Its alright all i have is time.
To all those i inquired about fish, as soon as this is ready i will be calling.

[xtc]

shesh- that's not "cloudy"

[jgauna]

We have fish in the tank now!
First one is with borrowed light off my other 55. Second and third took in the dark and used flash.

[tsunderl]

Ohhh, I like the red jewel! Very nice coloring.

[bra8ndy8]

Looks good!!!

[mrsadler]

awsome looking good

[masroberts9]

yeah that jewel is really red, mine just color up every once in a while. usually at night.

[BlackJew]

Yeah, wish I had carpentry skills to build a canopy for the 75 I picked up. No, I take that back - I have enough hobbies!


A Simple Build-It-Yourself Aquarium Canopy By Hoa G. Nguyen
Build a rectangular box slightly larger than your tank top (so that it will slip over the tank), using 3/4" x 4" boards (A and B). Note that B is horizontal. This provides space in the back for hang-on filters, and for water and air hoses to pass through.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/photos/art_diy_canopy2.gif
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/images/spacer.gif
Attach short 3/4" x 3/4" square rods (C) to the inside of the box about 3/4" above the bottom of the A boards, and vertically from the B board so that the bottom of this rod reaches down to the same level as the bottom surfaces of the other rods. These rods will support the canopy on the tank top. (You may need to vary the distance from the bottom of the box to these rods, or add additional molding to the bottom of the box, to hide the waterline.)
Cut a lid out of 5/8" plywood (D), slightly larger than the outside dimension of the box. Attach 1" molding (E) to the front and two sides of the the lid to block light leakage.
Paint the inside of the box and bottom of the lid white to maximize light reflection (white paint is very close to a perfect reflector and is much simpler to apply than mirrored reflectors). Finish the other surfaces to your taste.
Attach lid to box with hinges. Attach bulb clips (F) to the inside of the lid (two locking clips or four non-locking clips per bulb). Place canopy on aquarium and add light bulbs and prewired waterproof end caps (G).* http://www.cichlid-forum.com/images/c-f_end.gif

Try this ....:cool:

[supersmirky]

One day when I get enough confidence built up, I will attempt to build a canopy myself as well

[xtc]

I have a custom canopy I built for a 55L- I need to get rid of it, if anyone is interested. It's got 4 T-5s and balasts that Andrew engineered at a get together. Was for a planted tank that is no longer planted.

So-

[jgauna]

Damn dude! Your gonna break me!
I will check it out tomorrow when i head out there!

xtc sees me and sees dollar signs!

[Mr.Malawi]

ill build a canopy for that for 100.

[jgauna]

Have on in the works.
Thanks anyways!

[jgauna]

Being that this is an mbuna tank. Should i get a bristlenose or 2 or no. From what i have read they nibble on algae is this correct or not.
Thanks in advance

[masroberts9]

yeah, my mbuna tanks got nearly overrun by algae, so i dropped a couple plecos in there and they have brought the holey rock and such back to life.

[kSpieler]

My 55 was almost totally brown with algae (I leave the lights on waaaaay too long!) so I dropped in a little 2" BN. The very next day when I got home from work my hub was asking when the H did I put all the new rocks in the tank ... it was almost spotless!

She still does an excellent job at about 4.5", but doesn't get the gook in the smaller holes as well as she did. But it's all good, I see the smaller cichlids pecking away at it alot.

[Mr.Malawi]

lets see updated pics!!

[jgauna]

No new updates till after Christmas when i get more rock in there and more stock in there. Plus my lights. Damn i have a ways to go still.

[jgauna]

New lights, need to paint but i wanted them on.
Thanks Chris, now i can see the algea build up on my glass.
New fish and some new rock as well
Thanks Karen
Rescaped, got tired of messing with it so here goes
Ideas welcome

[kewlkatdady]

very nice...I'm assuming your going to plant this tank with live plants....

be warned...your fish are going to drag the plants all of the tank...

I have heavy garden ridge plants and they get pulled out from under rocks and grug all over the tank.

I know many have planted african tanks...its beautiful, I can justify the work in it though...

either way the tank looks GREAT

oh and you red jewel is a bute.

[bra8ndy8]

Looks really good!!!

[radioaktiv]

dont know how i missed this thread

just a great-looking tank man

[jgauna]

I'm assuming your going to plant this tank with live plants

No live plants in my tanks, i cannot keep an aloe vera plant alive much less one in fish tank.
I did not get the effect on the tank i want yet but i will soon enough. I will stay with fake plants to hide the eqiupment.
Thanks for the comment on the jewel! One of the first fish i purchased and have managed to keep it alive.