Freshwater Tank EquipmentForum for discussing topics such as freshwater fish food, aquarium filters, air pumps, aquarium cleaning and maintenance, lighting choices, aquarium substrates, fish tank heaters, etc. - Aquarium Equipment Articles
I placed the order for the new tank today, 96x18x16 at £168.00! What a deal! they will deliver too for an extra £40.00, so it should be arriving in two weeks.
Now the unit is starting to take shape, things are really moving on. Can't wait for it to arrive!
Yesterday I made a temporary stand for the two existing tanks, to clear space for the new shelf, moved the tanks and my gouramis decided that it was time to sporn. So the 2' is now a breeding tank! Today I got stuck into the project and got the main shelf in place. tomorrow it's draws and doors and stuff.
The main construction is in 4x2 timber and flooring grade chipboard. Looks a mess now, but won't take long to come together.
Another day of carpentry and the shelf is really starting to look the part. The living room is a mess, but it'll all be worth it in the end.
The end result will be more storage for my pipes and thins, more cupboard space for the lady of the house, and more room for tanks too. I am building in room for breeding tanks as well as the quaranteen tank. Should get the bottom finished over the weekend and then give it a stain and varnish to match all the rest. Next week I have to tackle the light box.
Day 3 of the project. Had a busy day working, so didn't get much done, but here's the updated pics. The hospital tank has a new home now, and the cover is shown separately. This is cut from polycatrbonate sheeting and the center section recessed in, forming a pretty water resistant cover. Just thought it may be of interest for hose of you thinking of building tank stands/hoods.
The unit is really looking good now. Took a couple of hours break to do some tank maintenance on all the others, water changing and the like. Also cleaned and filled the 2' in it's new location. The gourami eggs failed to hatch, probably because I wasn't prepared for them. Won't happen again. There will soon be four breeding tanks to complement the display.
Although not much changed today, a lot was achieved. Apart from he routine stuff, I managed to finish the interior shelves on half the unit, paint them inside, fit catches and knobs and get them ready for filling. One of the problems with a project as large as this, is that all the furniture you have has to be moved out, leaving piles of stuff all over the place, waiting for the new furniture to be finished! The flat isn't very big, and we were struggling to find enough places to put things.
Anyway, with two of the cupboards being finished inside, my good lady got busy clearing the sides of all the bits and pieces that were scattered around, and this evening we can sit down again!
No pics today, they can wait till tomorrow, when hopefully I willbe puttingthe final touches to the timberwork and then start staining it down.
Finishedthe main part of the shelf today, including losing the radiator behind a screen, closing in the heat vent, which funnels the warm air from the radiator underneath the tank shelf to the front of the unit, finished panelling he remaining drawers and doors, and started to stain the wood down to dark oak, ready for varnish.
It did cause me a little concern when I set the tank in there, but I have a drain outside that is about 24" lower than the tank and a hose pipe works fine.
I also have a lift pump, (second hand from a pond) which I can use if I need to. It's 12V, but works fine on my charger.
Anytime you want to come over and build a set-up like that in my place, you are more than welcome. I would have cut off two fingers and nailed my foot to the floor if I tried something like that.
Day 6 and we're there! All I have to do now is the light box, which is very simple compared to the base!
The staining was finished this morning and the varnish went on this afternoon. I can relax a little now!
Thanks to all for your comments, and Hazcop, if you pay my fare and keep, consider it a deal! (I need a break after the last couple of months!) Of course, I'd also need someone to fish-sit.... any takers? lol
BTW.... Methelyne blue in the hospital tank.... got an under the weather koi, who has either swallowed a stone or has a parasitic infection, not sure which so treating it as parasites and wait to see what comes..... Symptoms: Lethargy, rapid breathing, not eating. Has picked up in the last 24 hrs though, but will be happy when he starts eating again. (Always been a gannet, once swallowed a complete cube of worms, and several times had to help him eject stones from his mouth)
Back to the project.... all joking apart, the shelf is 38" from the floor and measures 12' long by 17" deep along the main part, with an angled section back to the narrow piece leading to the door. It cost me less than £50 to build, as most of the timber use has been re-cycled from the furniture removed to make room for it. The top and shelves are from some old flooring chipboad that I had in the garage. Same with the polycarb. If you put your mind to it, it's surprising what you can do!
It will be home for my existing 4' tank, the 2' QT, either three breeder tanks or another 2', not sure which yet, and the new 8' tank. Air will be supplied by 2 Clearseal AC9904 4 outlet pumps, (£28 each), housed underneath the QT. Lighting will be via three 4' flourescents in the light box.
Water supply will hopefully be plumbed into the light box, as will a python-type syphoning system. (All time dependant, will I have the time to get it done? hehe).
wow! looks good! hazcop....i'd end up much the same as you! and with a very poor fish cabinet which would fall down if i breathed on it! certainly wouldnt hold a tank!
some kinda unit to house the 45 gal, the 28gal and the 15 gal and provide storage! at the mo i've an ugly stand and all looks very cobbled together (which it is) and well, kinda messy and higgledy piggledy!! when i'm rich......, or at least richer!!
Hey Tan, I bet they are all different heights, widths and depths too! That's one of the reasons I started this build. I wanted to have more tanks, but it looked such a mess with them all odd sizes and shapes. When I found Boss, courtesy of someone here who replied to another thread, I was in heaven! Their prices are soo good, and they will build almost any tank you want at the sizes you specify. I would recommend them to anyone in the UK who wants a new tank.
Not impossible though, if you have room for a large stand. The whole lot could be staggered quite nicely to give you an overall good look. You might even consider turning the 15 gallon over and putting it on top of the 45 gallon to give you just what you want! (A bit of glass and silicon is all it would need)
I think I'm going to wait until I take my woods class in high school whenever that is, or maybe I''ll do it this summer if I can get my mom or dad to take me to the lumber store. from what I've seen it seem basically you just need some wood, hinges, nails/screws, and stain. You just sort of nail/screw some boards together and put small pieces of wood on the inside of them to keep it on the tank and obviously leave the back open and have the front lift up. right idea or no?
It's best to use either real wood or plywood, depending on the finish you want. real wood is better, but heavier. It gives you a much better finish and stains very easily. if you use 1" thick timber, you can glue and screw the corners together easily, rather than having to use blocks in the corners, which you would need to do with plywood.
The simplest light box for you to make would be a timber rectangle big enough to fit over the top of the tank, covering the top 1" of the glass and rise about 5-6" above the glass lip, to give you room for your lighting. This would then have a timber or plywood lid, split roughly central with a hinge mounted on the joint down the middle. See diagram below for a very simple design.
When you have put it all together, treat the inside with a good gloss varnish or gloss paint. (Be sure to let it dry completely before you fit it to the tank!)
yes they are all dif sizes!! my 45 gal needs a new lid too as the wood that's been used has swelled so it doesnt fit snuggly anymore and the hinged bit it has has broken. so its now basically 2 planks of wood that are too long by about 3mm that sit on top crookedly! anyway, other things to do first like get more plants! real wood would be better for a stand for strength too wouldnt it? tanks are very heavy, so the stronger the better!!
Hi Tan, sorry for the delay in replying. Yes, wood is better and looks nicer, is easier to work with and is more forgiving too. you might like to get someone to knock together a cover as above for you though, as it's a very simple and basic design, for your 45 gallon!
Starting to get frustrated now. The new tank is finished and waiting for delivery from Scotland, but they can't say when they will deliver yet! How annoying, especially as I have the shelf all finished now, and am just waiting for the tank to come in, so I can get the lighting sorted.
had some good news over the weekend though. I have sorted out an external filter for this monster for just £120. The shop down the road will supply if I want it, and it is capable of turning 2400 gallons per hour, with an advanced filtering system, (whatever that is!) which is enough to filter both tanks at the same time. All I need to do is link them together, which I have a couple of ideas about.
It would also enable me to play with water columns on the 8', which is most likely the way I will go. It could increase the capacity from 100 gallons to 160 gallons without taking up any more room. (You may be following my thread about the tests I have been doing with these unusual tanks, but if not, you can find it here.
I have ordered the glass for the first full-sized one today, (24"x24"x11", 22 gallons total), to go over my 4' tank, which is keeping me occupied while I wait for the tank. Picking it up tomorrow and starting to stick it all together. Should have it ready for leak testing by the end of this week, all going well.
If this one works ok, (I have no reason to doubt it), then I will make the other two, which will be 30"x24"x12" (another 30 gallons each), to complete the full wall.
Similar Aquarium Fish Forum Threads 
