DIY 72g Build w/custom canopy, UGJ & lots of extras (picture heavy)

[Derringer]

The stand and canopy are really nice and so was the original clean up / reseal job you did. I agree with your thoughts on the black silicone though - it might have given you a nice backdrop to hide/mask the powerhead cords in the corners.

Also you went through all the trouble of painting your eheim tubes and then put that ugly green hose in there - time to look for some black hose or is that just temporary?

The UGJ system looks great - keep us updated on how the slots you created work out - Im curious what will happen if a wide body fish swims in front of one.

 

[myswtsins]

The stand and canopy are really nice and so was the original clean up / reseal job you did. I agree with your thoughts on the black silicone though - it might have given you a nice backdrop to hide/mask the powerhead cords in the corners.

Thanks! I am hoping once I get more rocks in there that all the equipment will be less noticable.

Also you went through all the trouble of painting your eheim tubes and then put that ugly green hose in there - time to look for some black hose or is that just temporary?

It was just temporary for when I added the sand & rocks. It is already turned around.

The UGJ system looks great - keep us updated on how the slots you created work out - Im curious what will happen if a wide body fish swims in front of one.

Thanks again. I will definitely keep everyone updated, good thought too.

 

[myswtsins]

I started my fishless cycle today. I moved my Eheim 2213 over from my other tank and added about 340 drops of "clear ammonia" (it does not have a % on it, which I find odd) to raise the ammonia levels up to 5ppm. So let the process begin!

Here is my tentitave stock list so far....
[FONT=&quot]1:4 Lab. caeruleus (lion's cove/yellow) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1:4 I. sprengerae (Rusty)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1:4 Ps. socolofi (albino)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1:4 Ps. Acei (yellow tailed & white tailed)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1:4 Met. estherae (OB or cherry red if I can not find OB locally)
[/FONT] 1-2 Featherfin Syno cat -OR-
3 Syno Multi
[FONT=&quot]Still deciding on a blue patterned species. Choices...
1:4 Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos (waiting for a response to see what others think of this species) -OR-
1:4 C. Afra

Excitement & doubts are all coming together now!

Thanks everyone for following along, even if you don't post. This thread now has more views then the general rules thread on this particular board, YAY! :headbang2: It is great when people from all over the world can enjoy a project with you.

[/FONT]

 

[Bk718]

Getting close, very close!!

 

[JasonR]

Im so jealous of your canopy. I dont have the woodworking skills/materials to make my own but they look so dang nice!

 

[myswtsins]

Getting close, very close!!

Yes, yes we are! Getting nervous though, everyone I talk to tries to talk me out of Mbunas (except the LFS of course...they want to be buy 50 6" Mbuna!)

Im so jealous of your canopy. I dont have the woodworking skills/materials to make my own but they look so dang nice!

:lol2: You should give it a try though. Maybe something small to start with, even your 10g Q tank or you could start another tank. :lipssealedsmilie: I never took any classes or anything, except woodshop is HS and that was just an easy A. I have had a LOT of practice though and it wasn't all pretty!!

 

[myswtsins]

Moving into Phase 2 of the fishless cycle! My ammonia is at 0.25 ppm & best I can tell my Nitrites are like 2 ppm. From my understanding the Nitrite phase is the longest but I think I am a little ahead of schedule. I will not be adding fish for almost another 4 weeks so I guess I will have to keep feeding the tank once the cycle is complete.

The pictures are not quite accurate to color but pretty close.

 

[Bk718]

Nice. 4 weeks.. you sure you can wait that long??

 

[myswtsins]

NO!!!! :cry: But I just remind myself of all the money I will save and not putting into the pockets of my criminal LFS (oh yeah I found out some details about my LFS, naughty naughty!).

On a side note....Are you following me!? Your everywhere at once!

 

[Bk718]

NO!!!! :cry: But I just remind myself of all the money I will save and not putting into the pockets of my criminal LFS (oh yeah I found out some details about my LFS, naughty naughty!).

On a side note....Are you following me!? Your everywhere at once!

oh yea what details are those??

lol not following you. Just answering new posts :silly: