sairving
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Posts posted by sairving
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Sairving's Shiny New Tank journal has been started.
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Two of my previous Bettas.
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New Journal time!
As some may have read, I needed a new tank stand. My really cheap one needed to be replaced. Then I was distracted by shiny rimless tanks.
What does one do? Buy a shiny UNS 60s and a new stand.
Today, I spent the day putting my slightly more expensive but still sort of cheap stand together.
Bought a Topfin stand. The stand itself is manufactured by Sauder. How hard could it be? Not too bad until two of the screw holes for the feet were stripped. One trip to Menards later, I had screws that would work.
The cabinet doors vexed me all afternoon but they are mostly straight now.
Top picture is the finished product. There is an adjustable foot underneath the stand in the middle which is a nice feature. The feet themselves are heavy duty plastic wrapped in decorative pieces.
The screws in the picture are what I replaced two of the factory provided screws with.
I'm waiting for the new tank lid to arrive. Should be here in a few days.
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Well, this is my last update for my 10 gallon journal. When I got back into fish keeping in 2020, I started with a 3 gallon, moved to a five gallon, then a 10 gallon tank.
The original 10 gallon tank was doing well then cracked. After 3 hours of a fishkeepers worst nightmare, the fish were safely in their new tank. Its been broken down redone it multiple times. Either because something wasn't working or I wanted a change. I have learned and gained so much experience with this tank.
So what happened? I bought the only fishtank stand I could find in early 2021. One that came with a cardboard door (the description did not say that lol).
Cardboard door isn't done well, so I bought a new stand. Then I decided to buy a new tank. Like a magpie, I was distracted....by a shiny UNS 60S.
Currently, my plants have an algae issue but I'll cut the light down and do a peroxide did before moving them to the new tank.
One last picture before I break it down On to an exciting new challenge.
Those little guys are my rice fish.
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The tank arrived today. Need to start a journal but even still wrapped in the plastic, it's pretty. Foam leveling mat included.
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On 11/22/2023 at 9:24 AM, Rube_Goldfish said:
I think it was Fishtory (formerly known as Secret History Living in Your Aquarium) on YouTube, but I remember hearing someone say that the best way to get emergent growth from anubias was to place it submerged but just under the water line, which would let the plant naturally grow out of the water with the proper emersed leaves. I've never tried it myself, though. I can try to find the video, if you'd like.
I'll do a search for the video. It would be a good experiment for this tank.
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I have a console stand for my TV that is all MDF. The thing weighs a ton and I haven't had any issues with the top bowing in 3 years. They put a support foot on the bottom, right in the middle too.
My cheap stand is all particle board. I do have vinyl shelf liner on top to protect it from water. We'll see how it looks when I break everything down.
I was at my local fish store last night by discussing filtration options for my new tank. I looked at the stands they had for sale. The very large ones were metal or wood. All the smaller tank stands? Laminated particle board or MDF.
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On 11/21/2023 at 6:19 PM, Guppysnail said:
@sairving is this shallow tank replacing the tank you had the journal on? The one I’ve followed and watched you redo several times with the really cool wood in it?
I hope you journal the builds on this one the same way.
Yes. My plan was to go larger lol. It all started with "I need a new stand." Then, like a magpie, I was distracted by the pretty rimless tanks.
My current tank is doing pretty well. I've been struggling with algae and could not get the fun driftwood to sink at all. Just adjusted the light settings today. Another piece of wood came home....it floats too. I found that out after gluing the anubias to it. Ooops.
Took a trip to the fish store after work before they get crazy busy this weekend. I must have talked with one of the employees about filtration and tank ideas for 30 mins. Ended up buying a Sicce Whale 120. I can hide it in the stand and the only equipment in the tank will be a heater.
I'll start a new journal for this tank to track it. Speaking of tanks....it just shipped. (Excited dance)
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On 11/20/2023 at 8:25 AM, Biotope Biologist said:
I personally really enjoy the flattened look.
I think the biggest thing you should consider is whether you want emergent plants. They will add dimension to the space. Sedge species are readily available in the spring in most pond sections and bog ferns are the first that come to mind. There are also a few anubias that actually prefer to grow emersed, including the ever popular anubias nana.
I think con would be that you are greatly limited in plant selection. Anything that grows tall will look squished so your plant selection submerged needs to be smaller plants or slow growers like microswords and mosses and such.
Another con is that fish get really comfortable in these enclosures with emergent plants. They feel safe and happy which means that even fish not considered jumpers will breach. Either use clear mesh netting over the water or allow for about 3-6” of space between the water level and the top of the tank. You can get clear mesh at BRS.Anyway this is my 50g sub-alpine creek biotope:
I've been thinking about emergent plants. Pond plants will be next to impossible to find until the spring.
I already gave an some crypts and anubias. Some of the anubias is a larger variety. It might be a good cabindate to experiment with converting to emersed growth.
Right now I'm thinking more crypts, smaller anubias varieties, a dwarf aquarium lily or two. I've had decent success with Dwarf hair grass. Floating plants are a must.
I'll give micro swords a try but swords in general have never been successful in my tanks. Java ferns either.
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I ended up buying one yesterday evening from the store. The stand is meant for 20-37 gallons. I also ordered a UNS 60s. Which is a 10 gallon but is 23 x 14 x 8. The extra few inches on either side will leave room for a small canister filter to sit.
The doors are not cardboard either lol.
I do like the metal framed stands but all the ones I found are too large for the space.
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On 11/20/2023 at 8:31 PM, Biotope Biologist said:
Weirdly not a lot of evaporative loss. You would think higher SA would do that but it also means better gas exchange from water to air.
For light depending on the height of your ceiling I would advise a ceiling hook and frame wire to hang the fixture from. Or some brands have a telescoping light stand, like kessil. Not budget friendly though.
After looking on YouTube to see what others where doing with this tank, I found this video.
He's running the tank with an Aqua Clear HOB and 2 clip on lights from Hiro aquatics.
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On 11/20/2023 at 3:55 PM, Galabar said:
Something else to consider would be significant evaporation, given the large surface area.
I've been thinking about that in between running like a crazy person at work today. UNS sells lids and clips. My other option is to have one cut locally.
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On 11/20/2023 at 9:24 AM, Kaiju said:
@Biotope Biologist That's awesome! I saw one by ZooMed that is being sold and it caught my eye so yours looked strikingly familiar. Your scape is absolutely STUNNING and I'd like to ask you for advice, I'm starting a project that I'm aiming to look like a river shoreline, sloping sand up to one side of the tank and adding spiderwood to look pretty mangrove-y along with various grey and white stones like Boutique Ohko, Any ideas?
Yes! Not sure what I want to do with the tank yet but advice and input would be helpful.
I ordered the UNS 60s
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And I must find a way to keep the cat out of it. Because fish water is delicious.
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Story time, I need a new tank stand. So I thought to myself, if I have to break the tank down, why not splurge on that rimless tank you want.
Self, this is great time to buy a larger tank. What do I fall in love with? The UNS 60S. It's 23.6 x 14.7 x 7.9.
For those that have a shallow tank, what are the pros and cons?
Filtration would be the Oase filtosmart 60. I have a fluval planted nano light.
I currently have rice fish and white clouds in a 10 gallon.
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Now I'm seriously considering a UNS 60S to go with the new stand lol.
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On 11/18/2023 at 10:27 PM, Matt B said:
You can't go wrong with a good old classic wooden chest of drawers!
There is also this one I found on Amazon. Heavy duty metal frame work and a very strong wooden manufactured wood. Very water resistant and it has the cabinet style doors to hide stuff.
I like the metal reinforcement on this one. If only it wasn't grey.
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On 11/18/2023 at 10:25 PM, Galabar said:
Not an advertisement but the "Finomenal" brand claims to not use particle board* and provides "solid wood" frames.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Finomenal
I don't have a need for a stand at the moment, but I might check them out the next time I do.
* Maybe they use MDF? 😉
I just looked. They use mdf instead of particle board.
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On 11/18/2023 at 6:54 PM, Galabar said:
ACO Request: The aquarium stand market is woeful. Is there anything you can do to help out us hobbyists? Could we get a solid wood/plywood/metal stand for a 29/40/55 in the $250 range? 🙂
I would say even starting at something between 10 and 20 gallons. More and more people seem to be buying furniture from IKEA and Wayfair (looks at bedroom full of things from IKEA and Wayfair).
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On 11/18/2023 at 6:41 PM, Galabar said:
The cheapest, good quality stands are probably the Imagitarium metal stands. However, they don't have doors.
Most cheap stands are going to be made of particle board. I'm not sure there is a "good" version of a cheap stand, they all seem similar (please correct me if I'm wrong about that).
The high quality stands from places like Custom Aquariums and Glass Cages are very expensive.
My advice would be either an Imagitarium stand with magnets and dark cloth for "doors" or challenge yourself with a 2x4 stand design from YouTube. 🙂
Most of the ones I've looked at mostly seem to be particle board. There was one I found that had some nice features but it was particle board. The doors weren't card board at least lol.
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Back during the height of the pandemic and supply chain issues, I needed a tank stand. The only stand I could find is one of those flippable ones. It's made of cheap particle board, but super stable.
After almost three years, the cheap as all get out cabinet door (think cardboard) is bowing in.
I need a new stand. This could be the chance to get that new fluval tank but the fluval stands do not have doors.
No, I do not have the tools or skills to build a new stand. Plus, it's in my bedroom.
What are your favorite stands that look good, are decent quality, and have a door to hide clutter?
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At the beginning of July, I started soaking a piece of driftwood. A month and a half later, it still won't sink. The driftwood is hollow in the middle. Could that be the issue?
I really like this driftwood and want to use but at this point, I may have to buy something else. My anubias has been floating for a month and a half.
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On 7/1/2023 at 4:54 PM, nabokovfan87 said:
It's beautiful! 🙂
It is! I can't believe how large the plants are.
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After being stuck at work due to a 9 hour flight delay, I finally made it home. (One downside to working at an airport). My anubias arrived this morning so I had a family member put them in the tank.
Holy Anubias Batman! I ordered two anubias butterfly, two anubias golden coin, and three nana petite. What I expected was 5 smaller plants. Instead.....
Tomorrow, I'll boil the driftwood and start arranging plants.
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Considering a shallow tank
in General Discussion
Posted
Sairving's Shiny New Tank Journal has been started. In today's episode, putting a stand together.