New tank and set-up (pictures)

aardvark1

Too many tanks are almost enough...
Sep 27, 2005
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Warner Robins, Georgia, USA
My 29 community tank and the 20 high I had my angels in was getting too small (have this bad habit-whenever I go to a fishie store gotta come home with new fishies...), so a new 55 was in store.

Been ordering new filter (Penguin 350's) and heaters (Visitherm Stealth) for the last two months, so the expense was spread out.

Designed a stand for a 55 (or 75) on the bottom level and the 29 and 20 up. Built it last Sunday with the help of a freind and his power tools. Uprights are 4X4's with a 2 X 4 frame for shelves with 1/2" MDF inlet into said frame. 4x4'S are dado'ed for the 2X4 to set into (all stresses are held by the joints, not the screws or glue) Painted flat black to match other stand.

Here is the setup "before":

new1.jpg
Typical "Ghetto" cinder blocks and board...

Here's the "old" 55 with JD's:
new2.jpg


Here's the 29 before tear-down:

new3.jpg


Drained water into Sterlite bins (one for the 29 and other for the 55) and added filters, heaters, fish and plants.

new4.jpg


Went to PetSmart and got tank and Perfecto glass lids (I hate the plastic hoods)

Came back, finished making room:

new5.jpg


And fitted new stand and tanks. New gravel in the 55 and 29 (29 had black with some turquise mixed in. Gravel is 100 ponds of Pea Gravel from Lowes. Started filling the tanks:

new6.jpg


Thank the Lord for the Python!

Added plants (from the 29, 20 and some new Vals-thanks Gatorboy!):

new7.jpg


(Sorry for fuzzy pic!)

Here's the 29:

new8.jpg


And the new 55:

new9.jpg


For fishie stocking list see sig! (will be updated as soon as I post this)

Observations:

Angels are more mellow. They were in the 20 high, OK when they were small, but recently fighting a bit and they had paired off-two on one side, the others on the other side.

The BA Tetra's are also more mellow; no mad dashing around the tank.

Phred II, the Betta is out and about more. Not as many fish in "His" tank now, so he can swim and not hide.

Need more plants now; looking bare!

Tanks still might be overstocked as far as numbers go, but I'm over filtering (2X Penquin 350's on the 55, and 2X 200's on the 29), with 50% water changes every week. Don't look as "busy" as it did though!

Comments welcome!
 
The before 29/20 setup looks like it could have ended up in disaster! The board holding the 29 is bowing down:eek: . Nice new setup! :thm:
 
Looking at the last pic I see I need to paint the bottom of the top shelf....
 
Now you need to build a matching one for your TV! j/k

It looks great.
 
Good work!
 
nice!
 
Nice tank
 
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