MudHog

Can this be built? My biggest question would be, how to miter the glass for the front?

Size: 12" x 12" x 12" with a 8" right triangle off one corner.

total gallons, about 6 US gallons.



Would house (3) Cherry Barbs / 1 male and 2 females.

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Wolfgang8810

you might not need to miter the edges if you reinforce them on the inside.

MudHog

Well, I wouldn't even know how to miter the two edges, but it would make it cleaner.

Wondering if a miter like that would even be strong enough to hold the water.

The hood wouldn't be much a concern and I'll adapt as needed for filtration, heating and lighting.

MagpieTear

Miters are a very weak joint, at least in wood. It would clean up the appearance considerably to have mitered joints though, and you're not talking a 90 gallon tank, so... Ask a glass specialty shop if they could put the 22 1/2 degree edge you need on the pieces. That is a task even I would shy away from, and I hate paying someone else to do things I can do myself. Except roofing.

MudHog

I was thinking about glass shops on my way home from work. I got another corner design at work, but didn't upload it yet. It would still call for a piece getting mitered, but it would be down to one piece instead of 3 pieces. The (2) 4" long pieces would be square ends and just extend past the angle piece. Then the angled piece would be inside the short pieces. Water pressure would push the angled piece up against the smaller pieces and seal itself i think. I think a wood frame top and bottom would sturdy everything up.

MagpieTear

Yup, that would be the way to go. Let the water pressure act as it's own clamping force.

MudHog

that being said, is there a need to miter the angle piece at all?

Granted it would make a better looking corner, but is it needed?

MagpieTear

I'm no tank builder, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

If you can get the glass beveled with a minimum of fuss and expense, it would be preferable to have it done. Tighter tolerances, more even beads of sealant (less weak points) more even distribution of load, the self clamping we already discussed and good looks to boot. But I can't say that square edges wouldn't work either. Let's hope someone who's actually built a tank or two comes along and speaks up.

MudHog

This is my 2nd option I came up with. Plan to call a couple glass shops today and see what I can find out on their part. Even if they miter the pieces for me and I cut the rest.

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MudHog

Information Update:

Called a local glass shop and $25 for all pieces cut and mitered and he will wet sand (polish) the 45° angles to blend in if needed. This is 3/16" glass too.

I might just go that route and not have to cut anything myself.

Now it's to start pieceing my other parts. I would really like an Eclipse hood to have lighting and filtration in one. Would yall suggest an in tank filter for such a small tank: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...5&pcatid=12085

neverendingninja

You could always get a mini canister from DFS. I don't know if it has an adjustable flow rate or not, but it would make finding a spot for the filter a little bit easier.

Either that, or an Azoo palm filter. They're only $5.99, so you could put two if you wanted. I just feel that an in-tank filter would take up way too much room in that small of a tank.

MudHog

I do like that mini-canister filter and could just move my tank 4" away from the wall to allow room for it back there. I printed me a plan view of the tank and I have it sitting on my desk trying to see how everything fits together.

I tend to do to much research on things.

neverendingninja

Unless you're delaying a project that must be completed in a timely manner, there's no problem with doing a lot of research. I wish I did that, but I tend to not do enough research until its crunch time. I usually scrape by though, thank goodness.

Anyhow, that canister filter doesn't have to go on the back of the tank. Thats the main reason I suggested it. You can set it below the tank if you have a stand, or on the side, etc.

MudHog

Here is my latest. Yall tell me what yall think and if I'm missing anything. My hood will be solid removable glass. When I need to clean or anything, I'll take the whole top off. The "opening" will be a hinged opening for feeding. The back corner (heater and suction line for canister will be a rectangel cut out on the hood. This will prevent the hood from making a complete seal.

Here is a list of the equipment I'm planning:

Mini Canister Filter: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...=33120&catid=3

18W Dual Light: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...2&pcatid=11382

25W Heater: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...=23378&catid=3


Substrate I'm thinking of going with something fairly fine, but not sand. "Maybe" a small air stone or a small air operated ornament. I'll have 18W over 6 gallons, would that be to much for live plants to where I would need CO2? Would it be possible to remove (1) bulb or rotate from one to the other for only 9W? I seen one other small fixture on DFS, but it's very cheap looking and colored like for a kids room. If anyone has another suggestion on light fixture, I'm open for ideas.

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MudHog

This is the size it would be. I can mount my mini canister filter under the desk and just get longer hoses. Then I would only have to move the desk an inch or so.


I couldn't make any paper/cardboard fish.

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neverendingninja

I think you would be fine without CO2 with 18w. Did you ever read about the minimum light threshold? Its not your WPG(which would be ~3), but the amount of lumens in the tank...its a bit of a gradient scale, I believe...anyhow, regardless, I think you'll be ok.

And can I ask what you do for a living? You can PM it to me if you want. I just saw the drawrings on your desk and was intrigued

MudHog

I'm a project manager for a fabrication company. We build production equipment for the oilfield. I started out as a drafter and went into project management. My reference desk is actually clean in that picture.

This is what we build: http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...27337223TOCiND

I used to model that in 3D when I was a drafter (still do to an extent) and now manage the project from start to finish. We also build natural gas compressor and generators at our shop too.

neverendingninja

That looks like fun. You should give me a job. I don't have any "official" qualifications, just a good brain!