My 75(ish) Gallon Tank Build

[Drewhop]

So I posted in here asking some questions now I am going to start a nice build thread. This will be my first major DIY project and I will take as many pictures as I can along the way.

First off I recieved this tank for free thru a customer at my work. It is just a tank and stand. It looks like it has had a slightly rough life but it held water from Sunday until today. Not a single drop of water anywhere outside of it.

I will also be building my own hood as well as moon lighting couple sponge filters and all the decorations. I want to spend under 100 Dollars for this entire build.(I have most supplies laying around already including cold cathode kit)

I did some question asking and everyone here helped me out a lot but I was still unsure of what I would do about my lack of center support. Tonight I went to my local mom and pop fish store and asked if he had a tank frame he did and it was a exact match for my color trim and dimensions. Picked it up for a low price of 25 dollars. I found one online for 16$ but this was local and they have always been good to me. So soon as I got home i started draining the aquarium in preparation of trying to remove the old frame from the top of the tank I took some pictures of the frame up close before I started. I will get a chance to start and remove it when I get home from work. I am unsure at this point what I will use to break the glue away from top part of the frame but I will figure out something by then. Any advice would be appreciated.

I also took a few pics of my DIY python that I found a link for on here and it works wonderfully but second time I used it to drain I was not getting very good pressure took about a hour to drain entire tank. Here are some pictures of my current progress.
Full Tank Pic

Frame I need to remove

My DIY Python

Pics of Small Glass Chip I am repairing

Other Angle of Glass Chip

Thanks for looking and I will have updates tomorrow. My oscar and Pleco are very excited they just keep staring at basically asking where there new home is.

 

[elks]

Look's like you are off to a good start. Are there 2 chipped edges? Good luck on your project.

 

[Drewhop]

Look's like you are off to a good start. Are there 2 chipped edges? Good luck on your project.

There is only one chipped corner that is just a picture from two different angles of the same chip.

 

[Drewhop]

Tank is up and running Still need to finish making the hood and light fixture but he needed moved into the larger aquarium. Here are some updates pictures and my oscar and pleco in there new 75 gallon home

Pictures after 3 hours that it took to get the old frame off. It was on there. I used a plexi glass cutter 3 finger nail files 2 butter knifes and about 10 cuts on my hands to get it all off.

Here is a test fit before I applied the sealant. After applying sealant I put a pair of old tires on top of it so I knew that I got a good seal around the top and let it sit for about 36 hours drying.

Skip ahead about 5 days I used my penguin 350 and all its media as well as about 60% of my old tank water and all of my old tanks rocks. Here is a picture of the tank all setup with oscar and pleco in it.

I still need to get another hood but I currently have a piece of plexi glass covering the left side of the tank and a hood and light covering the right side. I will get another light fixture in a few days and trim up the plexiglass and give it a nice clean look. I will have updates when I get that all setup.

 

[tcarswell]

That Oscar is sweet. Nice job man I really like how it came out. love the pleco as well.

 

[Matt101905]

Looks great..I got a suggestion...background?