First big DIY project

[Luciferkrist]

After always being a bit of a DIYer and seeing a video from Seradesigns on YT ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir4kHioCSM0 ), I decided I was going to try my hand at making a tank. After a disaster trying to make a betta tank, too many 'cuts' in the glass made it very weak, I decided to try some of those precut ones from the video. I started this project on October 10, and ended up getting much further on that day that I anticipated! I was so absorbed I forgot to take pictures of the actual assembly and designing the cover.

Basically, I used some PVC trim to make a slotted riser that will help conceal my filter plumbing and wire for the heater and eventually the hose for my CO2 system. (Hopefully!)

After waiting 3 days to fully cure the silicone, I put it up in my garage and filled it with water. Now to wait another 3 days...

Once it was proven to not have fallen to pieces or leak I started making the stand for it. Since This was like no other standard aquarium I knew I had to either make due with something too big to custom build it. After seeing the price of wood, I decided to ask my LFS's partner for all their custom stuff - $500 for a basic stand, so to the Home Depot I went! I spent more on wood than I wanted to, but now had my next project lined up!

After a few days of planning and math I didn't want to do, but I decided on a design that would fit my plans for the tank.

Added a 'bracing' piece between the doors just in case and to keep the doors even when closed.

Once everything fit and opened and closed, It is time to paint.

After 3 coats I felt confident enough to call it done.

After another day watching the paint dry I am finally able to move it to its new home in my living room.

Ignore the mess around it, I had to move a little cart full of stuff that was there before. But now I can start designing the tank and adding my necessities.

Will have to clean it all up, but I wanted to make sure that everything I had planned fit! I put a vinyl background on the back of the tank and I decided to make up some fences to separate the two different substrates I planned on using.

Used some leftover acrylic from another project to make the general shape I wanted. So I started adding the substrates and some of the hardscape pieces. Which is when I tried to figure out how to mount my lights without obstructing the clean aesthetic I was kind of going for.

And, as you can see, since this tank isn't a normal size I had to off-set them, and used some heat-resistant mounting tape. I know this will be terrible for thermals and may cause them to overheat, but I wanted the look over the longevity! To cover the ugly tape and wire I added an accent stripe on top of the lid with some textured vinyl, which will also keep my cats off the tank! Note: The picture in the background isn't me, it is my Mother and her cats!

I started adding some more hardscapes, and it is time to test the light.

So I decided to add a few trimmed plants from one of my other tanks and some 'placeholder' decos.

Where the green rock is, will be a wood piece, spiderwood most likely and quite a few more plants. And as you can see some of them have broken free when filling, and my plan is to cover up the heater. I have a few cups of Monte Carlo in another one of my 10 gallons waiting for this one's cycle to start some carpet.

 

Things I learned:

1) Keeping two colors/types of substrate separate is a nightmare.

2) Wood is expensive.

3) Glass lily pipes will break when dropped.

4) Paint adds size to pieces that are cut and made to specific tolerances. (Yay sand/paint cycle).

5) I want to try to make some small, self-contained bookshelf tanks now.

 

Future plans, obviously I need to finish the scape once I find the piece of wood I like and start thinking about stocking.

I want to stick to the black/white theme with small color bursts. I am thinking about a group of rummy nose tetra, or scissortail rasboras, with julii corys, maybe one of those awesome plecos. Feel free to add your suggestions, but keep in mind this tank is only 34 inches long and about 25 gallons!

 

 

 

[TheSwissAquarist]

If you can, look for a snowball pleco, which is a completely white BN. 

Love the scape!

[OceanTruth]

That is very impressive! Really well done. I’m always blown away by people who can actually make their own fish tank.

[TOtrees]

Your glasswork is excellent! At the top front, did you notch the trim, or notch the glass? It looks like you notched the glass to fit the trim, that's no small thing. And you've nailed the small drilled holes in the cover for the hinges and zip ties. I really like the one piece hinge concept for the cover, and the way the trip perches the lid above the rim of the tank a bit, and leaves a gap for air circulation. I thought tanner from serpa used tempered glass for his build, I'm guessing you got yours from somewhere other than ikea, ie not tempered? 

I agree the two substrates separated along a defined boundary is going to make things tough. Are you willing to pull one or the other now, before it's permanently planted/occupied? 

[Luciferkrist]

On 10/26/2022 at 12:14 PM, TOtrees said:

Your glasswork is excellent! At the top front, did you notch the trim, or notch the glass? It looks like you notched the glass to fit the trim, that's no small thing. And you've nailed the small drilled holes in the cover for the hinges and zip ties. I really like the one piece hinge concept for the cover, and the way the trip perches the lid above the rim of the tank a bit, and leaves a gap for air circulation. I thought tanner from serpa used tempered glass for his build, I'm guessing you got yours from somewhere other than ikea, ie not tempered? 

I agree the two substrates separated along a defined boundary is going to make things tough. Are you willing to pull one or the other now, before it's permanently planted/occupied? 

It is the IKEA glass actually, I actually just cut some notches out of the trim with my table saw, the glass is exactly 2 blade widths, so it fits rather snug. A simple drill to hollow out the notches for the cord, and a lot of sanding with a dowel to contour the spaces for the lily pipes.

I may just let them mix and end up with a grey/speckled substrate look, especially if my future stocking choices are going to be digging in it. Aesthetically, I would prefer a white substrate, but I fear it would overwhelm any fish I put in due to too much reflected light, and I would have to do so much more cleaning to keep it looking good.

 

Next one I eventually build, will have MUCH better caulking, and I am considering a color theme, and tinting the beads, so  can edgelight the base with a few LEDs. Though I may just make an all-in-one nano-ish (9-11gallons) tank so I can give it/them out as gifts to my family.

[Luciferkrist]

Well, finally ran into my first display of inexperience with tank building.

Condensation.

Cool glass hanging above 79 degree water... who could have know! 😃

I am going to try just removing it and keeping the lid dry to see if this will be a recurring issue. May end up putting some defogger on the lid, as soon as I can find any info if they release any water soluble chemicals. 

Now that I know it holds water, substrate, and rock - I wanted to make sure my plants flourish and maybe start a bit of carpeting plants. So I grabbed a simple CO2 'system'. It is just one of the 50 dollar Fluval kits, but I wasn't going to go crazy on my first foray into CO2.

Now I wait for a suitable and cosmetically acceptable chuck of wood to effectively hide the heater and diffuser.

[Luciferkrist]

So yeah, you could say the planting was a success! This is AFTER a trimming session. I also added 3 ivory mystery snails, about a dozen glass shrimp, and a school of 10 rummynose.

I am obviously losing the battle to keep my substrates separated, and have accepted that it is just going to be a grey mixture. I am just waiting for the ugly algae and detritus to build up a bit before I stir it up to make sure any plants that spread will actually get some nutrients.

I am a bit disappointed with my monte carlo as it keeps floating OUT of the substrate and then turns yellow, and every time I try to replant it, I just end up knocking more loose. I may try some hairgrass of some dwarf sag if it ends up completely dying.

[Crow]

Beautiful tank!

How are you liking the fluval c02 kit now that you've had it going for a bit? I've been hemming and hawing over getting one of these for awhile.

[Luciferkrist]

On 12/13/2022 at 9:45 PM, Crow said:

Beautiful tank!

How are you liking the fluval c02 kit now that you've had it going for a bit? I've been hemming and hawing over getting one of these for awhile.

It does only last about a month, and my original diffuser clogged up because I took too long to replace the cartridge! 

[Goldfishgirl]

Beautiful Job well done!

[JJenna]

Truly amazing work! Your plants look amazing. I like the idea of offsetting the lights. 

[PineSong]

Amazing build and the tank looks beautiful with those plants and fish. Well done!