Build thread (stand and hood)

[kjf91004]

Got the tank right after Christmas. It is a 5' 120gallon high. First we built a frame out of 4x4s. In retrospect, 2x4s would have been sufficient. 4x4s seem like overkill. Better safe than sorry, I guess.

Then we covered the frame with wainscot. All parts were sealed prior to assembly. For cabinet doors, we glued together precut wainscot pieces and then used the backside for a smooth look. Trim that looks like cabinet edges was purchased from Menards.

For a hood, we basically did the same thing. First a frame, then covered it with wainscot, and then finally the trim.

My cat (Callie) checking it out before it is filled with water. I first used a layer of playsand and then a small sprinkling of Osmocote, and then ADA Amazonia Aquasoil. In retrospect, I would not do the osmocote, as I have battled high ammonia since the beginning. (I had water in it with no plants for 3 weeks and did daily water changes of >60% and still had ridiculous ammonia levels) I am still doing 3x per week water changes just to be safe.

Freshly planted on 2/16/07. All of the plants came from freshwateraquariumplants.com. Don was great help to me, and I was really impressed with their quality.

The tank on the right is my old 38g that is being replaced with this one.

Specs: Lighting: 250w 10000K MH. (I am saving for more light)
Filtration: two Eheim 2217s
Pressurized CO2, DIY Reactor (from Rexx Grigg's site) on the output of one of the 2217s.
Fertilizing: EI dosing for now. Eventually, I would like to tone it down a little so I don't have to change 60 gallons of water weekly.
For a background I used a black garbage bag. It is obvious in the pics, but in person you can't hardly tell at all.

Current shots. It is looking better every day, but there is lots of changes I want to make... slowly.
full tank:

right side:

leftside:

 

[dixienut]

beautiful inside and out very nice:clap:

too bad your so far away from PA or i would get you to build me one or two...

you have a gift..very rare one these days..

 

[Rbishop]

Very nice! Any plans on a change of background?

 

[kjf91004]

Thanks guys! I am planning on changing the background eventually... I just can't decide on exactly what color/style I want to go with. Until then, this one works, it just isn't perfect. The wrinkles are definitely less in person though...

 

[loaches r cool]

Looks great so far, dont forget to get some more light there, plants will start to perish soon otherwise I would think. About the stand and canopy, I will soon be building something very similar but instead of wainscotting I will probably use tounge and groove pine board. Also trying to design the canopy so I can flip up the whole front piece so all the way to the tank trim will be open for access, leaving me enough room to get in without having to remove the top and the lighting. I am guessing for you to get in your tank for planting or something you'll have to remove the whole canopy? Looks great though keep it up!

 

[kjf91004]

At 26" tall, there is no hope for me to ever reach the bottom even with a different canopy style. I use the aquatic gardening tool from Drs Foster and Smith. It really does work well. For the initial planting, my poor husband got elected to help. He is 6'3" and has long enough arms. I think the doors are 9" so there is actually enough room... at least there has been so far.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12755&N=2004+113218

As far as canopy doors, I am not sure my husband and I are quite talented enough to make it look smooth and have the whole thing flip up. The way it is, I haven't had to remove the thing yet... I guess we'll see.

Good luck with yours. I am sure you can do it. I would be sure to account for a way to keep the front up, so it doesn't come down and wack you in the head later. It seems that whatever I do, I manage to hit myself in the head...

Thanks for your comments!

 

[loaches r cool]

I would be sure to account for a way to keep the front up, so it doesn't come down and wack you in the head later. It seems that whatever I do, I manage to hit myself in the head...

LOL! :laugh: Yeah the one I am using now on my 75 flips up like I said but I either have to prop it with something or flip it all the way up and over so its resting back on the top which works fine but floods the room with light. One of my ideas for my next one is to simply be able to remove the front panel and set it aside, leaving the whole face open but the rest of the canopy remains intact.

I have one of those dual tongs as well. But I find they only work well for little plants, haven’t mastered the art of planting with them yet. I use em more for trimming and removing dead leaves and such. A lot of people seem to despise the tall tanks, I love the look of them and the ability to grow plants taller. Haven’t done it firsthand yet, tallest tank I have is a 75 (that’s in operation I mean). Got two tanks in the garage though, 24" and 31" tall so I'll soon be finding out how much a PITA they will be. I plan on making a DIY scaffolding for ease of maintenance, that puts me at the right height I can bend over the tank top and almost lay along the edge of the tank and reach in - with the water level down a good ways so I'm not wet to the armpits! Good look with your tank and again, great looking job!