My shallow tank finally came!

I ordered this tank for my birthday 2 months ago. My birthday was 2 weeks ago but I knew the build could take up to 8 weeks. Today is exactly 8 weeks! The tank was delivered to the shop from the warehouse yesterday and then it got to me today!

I was in 2 minds about some things with the tank, mainly the the black silicone and the lack of height. Now the tank is here and on the stand, I love it! I can’t wait to start the build. Here’s a few shots from today, I’ve just finished the first coat for the background!

Any stocking ideas?

 

Looks great! What do you plan on stocking?

 

Wow! Following!

 

Love it! I aspire to build a few of these this year

 

Looks great! What do you plan on stocking?

Thank you! I’m really not too sure atm, I’m considering Shellies/Guppies/ a South American theme. What would you stock?

Wow! Following!

Love it! I aspire to build a few of these this year

Sweet! I hope I can make this an awesome build!

 

Great looking tank, I’ll be watching this one.
Psst it’d look great with a large herd of corys on the bottom

 

Thank you! I’m really not too sure atm, I’m considering Shellies/Guppies/ a South American theme. What would you stock?

You can probably already guess what I’d suggest . I’m obsessed with shellies lol.

 

Looks great can't wait for updates! How many gallons?

 

Fancy goldfish!!!

 

Great looking tank, I’ll be watching this one.
Psst it’d look great with a large herd of corys on the bottom

Thank you! Maybe a large school of them with Cardinals

You can probably already guess what I’d suggest . I’m obsessed with shellies lol.

Awh man I’ve been looking at the Similis (I think) but I just feel like I want lots of colour in this tank.

Looks great can't wait for updates! How many gallons?

Sweet! Roughly 40G, I’ll be running a Fluval 307 with it

Fancy goldfish!!!

If the tank was bigger I would think about it! Maybe in my next tank, that should be roughly 85G

 

Awh man I’ve been looking at the Similis (I think) but I just feel like I want lots of colour in this tank.

Caudopunks have some nice yellow coloring on their fins. Stunning blue eyes, too.

 

You can probably already guess what I’d suggest . I’m obsessed with shellies lol.

What do ya know, it’s looking like it’s going to be a Shellie tank! I’m thinking to start with several Neolamprologus Similis and let them create their own colony.

It’s going to be a long journey though! University starts up again tomorrow and I really want to build my own stand for this tank before I set it up. I just want to take my time with it all.

Shellies it is! I reckon the Similis will look awesome against a black background, substrate and hardscape!

 

looks nice. what are the tank dimensions?

 

Watching!



Good Luck!

 

I’ve thought of a shallow tank like this before. I don’t have the space but I just like to dream! It was mentioned earlier but I also think a big school of Cory catfish would be sick because of the extra floor space. I had some upside catfish before that I also thought would be great for a shallow tank. They switch in between swimming on the bottom like regular catfish and then swimming upside down at the top like the water line is the bottom.

 

Unusual stand. Or the tank is hanging over the edge?

 

looks nice. what are the tank dimensions?

Watching!
View attachment 772243

Good Luck!

I’ve thought of a shallow tank like this before. I don’t have the space but I just like to dream! It was mentioned earlier but I also think a big school of Cory catfish would be sick because of the extra floor space. I had some upside catfish before that I also thought would be great for a shallow tank. They switch in between swimming on the bottom like regular catfish and then swimming upside down at the top like the water line is the bottom.

Unusual stand. Or the tank is hanging over the edge?

Hey guys, sorry for not providing any updates yet. The truth is, there has been nothing to update since I’ve been too busy to get anything done yet stand-wise!

That being said, I’m hoping to build a stand this week. I’m thinking 2x4s, cinder or concrete blocks, plywood and then a mat underneath. Thoughts?

I’ve also decided to move away from the idea of cichlids, since my 82G is Mbuna. I’m likely looking at a male only Guppy display with some Cherries from richiep

Tank dimensions are 120x40x30-144L.

The stand was not to my liking either, it was made of chipboard but measured 120x40x60-Too short for my liking. I’m hoping to go around 3.5ft in height for my own stands

 

Have you pictures of the tank at the beginning of your post, have you set it up

 

Have you pictures of the tank at the beginning of your post, have you set it up

It’ll be getting set up this week hopefully, so I’ll post some stuff up.

 

I'm partial to painted 2x4's myself...here is a custom stand my dad made me for a 10 gallon. It's on wheels, should I ever be silly enough to move it! The coordinating cover keeps the cats from drinking out of the HOBs.

 

An update at last! Big it’s been a busy day, I was in the garden 10-8! My materials arrived last week and I spent the last few days I had spent some time sanding the 3/4 inch plywood down in preparation for cutting/setting up. The weather is always unpredictable in London, but we’ve had some decent luck the last few days so I tried to make the most of it and get building!

All the aches, cuts and bruises were worth it in the end! I opted for a 5 block-high rack, I really like the height. It also gives me plenty of space under earth for equipment, filters and my 96L quarantine which will be on the second row. Maybe if I’m lucky I’ll be allowed to squeeze another 96L on the rack. After all, it does fit perfectly

I assembled the stand to give me a rough idea of how things will look. Please excuse the towel, (It’s a fish one!) I didn’t want the glass to get scratched up by the plywood (It’s a rimless). I’m thinking to lay it down on its side and paint the bottom of it black tomorrow.

I’m still unsure on what to stock, but I’m leaning towards actually setting this up as a Mbuna fry growout tank. I know they will breed a lot, and I think a 40G, especially one of this footprint l allows for many young Mbuna before they are moved on.

If I do go ahead with this plan, I’m thinking to keep it real simple. Plenty of filtration (likely from external filters) and just keep the black background/black base look.

Hopefully the update was worth it!

 

So whats going in it

 

I would have a little concern with those blocks. I would have went with 8" open web cinder type block. Or lay them flat. Seems it might be able to sway?
Maybe I'm over concerned about stuff like this.

 

So whats going in it

A large herd of corys if he’s listened to my suggestions

 

So whats going in it

Likely juvenile Mbuna

I would have a little concern with those blocks. I would have went with 8" open web cinder type block. Or lay them flat. Seems it might be able to sway?
Maybe I'm over concerned about stuff like this.

I don’t think it should sway once filled, I remember Cory from the Co-Op saying the heavier the load actually is on a block-made rack, the stronger it gets. However, I did drop the height from 6 blocks high to 5, 6 was too tall for me but also for stability reasons. The strength per block is 3.6 N per mm^2 in case that helps!

A large herd of corys if he’s listened to my suggestions

I can’t believe I’ve still not kept Corys in any of my tanks, it seems like they won’t be in this tank either!

 

I can’t believe I’ve still not kept Corys in any of my tanks, it seems like they won’t be in this tank either!

Pfft!

 

Nice!
While looking at the pics, noticed the billiard/pool table. Any thought to protecting the tank when playing. On occasion they do go flying.

Good Luck!

 

Thank you! Honestly, the pool table just collects dust these days. I don’t think it’s been used for about 6 months, so I should be covered on that front!

Nice!
While looking at the pics, noticed the billiard/pool table. Any thought to protecting the tank when playing. On occasion they do go flying.

Good Luck!

 

Evening all, well evening if you’re in Europe!

Progress is slow at the minute. I have been occupied with university sadly. An exam on Monday, 2 presentations on Tuesday and then university/ a meeting on Wednesday is keeping me busy!

I’ve been painting the bottom of the tank. Since it’s likely the tank will be a growout, I’ve opted for a bare bottom setup, but I wanted it to look like I do have substrate. So that’s all at the minute

Oh yeah I ran out of Plastidip!

 

Looking good to go now. I set the canister up yesterday and the painting is complete. I’m really digging the tank, much more now that it’s blacked out.
Hoping to move some fish in today. Just waiting for Stability to arrive along with the mat for the tank.

 

It’s been a very, very long day today. I feel shattered, but it was all worth it now I’ve been in bed for some time!

I’m really digging the tank, more than I thought I would. I moved some fish in I’ve rehomed and they’ll likely stay in there until they find suitable homes, which I hope is soon.

The only thing left really is to move the air stones and adjust the canister. I felt it didn’t completely prime when I was starting up. I hear the occasional ‘whoosh’ but it otherwise operates quietly.

The output nozzle also leaks when the water flow is high, so it’s turned down at the minute. Is this because it hasn’t completely primed? Will I need a new output? It’s a brand new Fluval 307, it’s been sitting unused for 3 or so months though.

Thougts?

 

It's a start. Little by little it's coming together.
Won't be long now, if your like me you'll never be satisfied. Just remember this is supposed to be fun.
Good Luck!

 

It's a start. Little by little it's coming together.
Won't be long now, if your like me you'll never be satisfied. Just remember this is supposed to be fun.
Good Luck!

Cheers! The first fish which will be in here long term is done Saulosi. I’m rehoming them too, but the M:F ratio is 5:4. Not ideal, but rehoming a few males may be enough to start a colony!

 

Just a few picture updates since I’m in the cave. Since remove the prefilter sponge the canister is really picking poop up.

 

Love the lighting.

 

Love the lighting.

Thank you. I got the inspiration from Youtube. I saw a bare-bottom Goldfish tank which was blacked out. Figured I'd do the same for my grow-out, luckily it worked out!

 

Many hours spent with the fish today. Moving some on, swapping others and bringing some in. Here’s a a nice **** I managed to get today.