My 125 gallon build a.k.a. in the deep end...

[1cooljeep]

New Additions

I received 4 new black veiled angelfish yesterday via UPS next day air. All arrived in great shape. So after drip acclimation and re-homing the 3 Serpae tetras from the 20g tall to the 125, I added them in. They seemed to take to the new tank like nothing happened. Put them in around 4 pm, and left the lights off overnight.

Today, all seems well. I fed them for the first time this evening. Two took right to the flake food, the other two are still a little skittish and didn't seem to eat anything. But all four are swimming around together and look beautiful.

Right now, the bodies are quarter-sized. Probably stay in the 20 until they double in size, then into the 125. They should look awesome in there!

Here are some update photos:

20 gallon tall with 4 black veiled angelfish - 8/31/11


Miscellaneous pics of the angelfish


Here's an update shot of the 125. Things continue to do well in here. Growth is great, and all the fish seem happy. We'll see how long that lasts when the 4 angelfish get added!

125 gallon - 8/31/11

 

[Sheamus71]

Very enjoyable thread. You've done wonderful work!

 

[PlecoLuvr]

Stand looks great! The only thing I would suggest is if you are going to use a sump you may want to leave one end panel of the stand detachable. That way if you have a problem you can get it out without having to take the tank down, just a suggestion. It happened to me and it was a pain in the a#$.

 

[authmal]

Good idea. I'm working on designing a stand (jeep, I hate the fact that you make me want to do this) and I'm debating how I want the tank to be removed. I thought about getting some heavy duty drawer slides and keeping the sump on a drawer. I think I'm just going to think of a way to make an easily removable end panel, maybe secured with magnets, really haven't decided on that part yet.

 

[1cooljeep]

In reply...

Very enjoyable thread. You've done wonderful work!

Thanks very much. It was a very fun build. Now I'm enjoying tending the plants and watching the fish.

Stand looks great! The only thing I would suggest is if you are going to use a sump you may want to leave one end panel of the stand detachable.

Thats a good tip for those considering a sump. Sliding a sump out would be impossible in my design. A removable end panel would be a great idea. Not an issue for me as I'm using 3 Eheim 2217 canister filters on this tank.

Good idea. I'm working on designing a stand (jeep, I hate the fact that you make me want to do this) and I'm debating how I want the tank to be removed. I thought about getting some heavy duty drawer slides and keeping the sump on a drawer. I think I'm just going to think of a way to make an easily removable end panel, maybe secured with magnets, really haven't decided on that part yet.

My advice is go for it. Take your time and you'll be amazed at what you can accomplish. I hope one of the results of this thread is in fact to make you want to build one and to show that you can do it.

I think your idea about drawer slides is a very good one. It would make getting the canisters in and out easier for maintenance. Where were you 6 months ago???

 

[authmal]

Thats a good tip for those considering a sump. Sliding a sump out would be impossible in my design. A removable end panel would be a great idea. Not an issue for me as I'm using 3 Eheim 2217 canister filters on this tank.


I think your idea about drawer slides is a very good one. It would make getting the canisters in and out easier for maintenance. Where were you 6 months ago???

6 months ago, the wife and I were still debating setting up the tank that had been sitting empty for a few years. Obviously, you know how that conversation ended up. :thm:

I don't know if I'm going to go with the slides idea or not. I'm still very much in the planning stages. The main reason I was thinking about the slides was to make it easy to get to the sump for maintenance and ease of water changes by pouring the new water into the sump instead of the display. I have another thought, which is to make very large removable (probably secured with magnets) doors on the front of the stand instead of hinged ones so they can be moved completely out of the way when needed. 2 such doors should give me the necessary space to do routine maintenance in the sump, a power head can be used to move water from the bucket into the sump, and I'll still have a removable end panel so that the sump can be removed if something goes wrong. Right now, the only things I have pretty much settled on are that the stand will be 20x36x54 inches, d x h x l. The depth may be changed to 22 inches so I can use 4 x 4 posts in the corners and middle, but that's probably way over-engineered for a 55 gallon tank. The height (which we may reduce to 30) is so that it's easier to view the tank than on the 24 inch high stand we have now (it'll be funny that the top of the tank's light fixture will be approximately as high off the ground as the top of my wife's head), and the length just gives a bit of extra space in case there's a need. Right now, I'm scribbling and thinking, and plan to be cutting by the end of next month.

 

[WharfRat]

Nice looking set up

 

[1cooljeep]

Angelfish growth

No problems to report as yet with the angelfish in the 20g tall grow out tank. At least to my eye, they seem to be doing great and growing fast. They are absolute pigs, eating like crazy. I'm sure they'd be fine at this size going in the 125, but I'll keep them in quarantine a full month or so. They sure are pretty swimming around in the grow out tank, can't wait to see them in the planted tank. Here's a few shots I took today playing around with the camera. Amazing how bad the glass and water look with a nice camera.

 

[ROYWS3]

Looks like wisteria - are they?? Because I see them in later posts and they're not getting taller.

 

[1cooljeep]

Wisteria

Very nice eye. Yes, this is wisteria. And no, it isn't growing any taller in sequential pictures because I'm not letting it! Wish I could claim this as my own, but I picked up this technique up from a guy at my LFS.

Essentially, I started with three small clippings of wisteria and planted them 1-2 inches apart. When they grew to about 4 inches high, I clipped them off just above the lowest set of leaves and re-planted those clippings. After a month or so, I had a pretty nice bunch of small plants. I do the bonsai thing to them about once a week now to keep them low in front.

Purists may scoff at me, but I love their color, that vivid bright green, and the shape of the leaf. Makes a nice soft foreground plant for the tank I think. The fish, especially the cory's and the pleco's, like swimming around in it, too.

Here's a shot from today, last trimmed it 2 days ago.