FishFrog Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 So it is time to move my old tank to my new house. I now live with 5 others in a great house, and everyone is interested in the hobby. I tried to find another second hand tank but it hasn't worked out. The plan now is to build the tank ourselves, it should at least be as big as the 34G or maybe a bit larger. I found this size really easy - as I have minimal tank maintenance needs and it is large enough to have 5 fish without a skimmer. I'm trying to collect some info about building tanks. The plan now is to make a steel construction in a cabinet and mount it to the wall. For the tank, I'm thinking wider and shallower than I have now. Never had a sump before so not so sure about that, I really worked fine with an AIO. Is it a bad idea to build an AIO, with just a simple overflow and back wall to put some pumps and filter floss behind? Should I just stop being scared of sumps? Not sure what is best for lighting. A hood is more tricky to make than a mounted light I guess... Anyway, lots to decide. Any tips for a first time tank builder will be greatly appreciated! I will add some pics of our sketches soon. Quote Link to comment
FishFrog Posted March 28, 2016 Author Share Posted March 28, 2016 Hey there, Cabinet is almost finished for the tank. We found a fairly cheap Juwel 180 liter/47 gallon aquarium that we are going to use instead of building the tank itself. Need to still add lighting - not sure how to do this but will figure it out. I am thinking about how to move stuff. My plan: 1) fill it up with fresh water; match parameters 2) add my own LR from old tank quickly 3) add livestock 4) add more LR? Or should I add clean dry rock? Or add a small piece of new fresh LR at a time? I will need more rock eventually - the difference in tanks is 50 liters, roughly 10 gallons - but I only have one fish and some inverts left, beside the coral. 5) add clean sand later stand by H Brink, on Flickr tank plus stand by H Brink, on Flickr Quote Link to comment
FishFrog Posted April 18, 2016 Author Share Posted April 18, 2016 Coral placement is not great yet. And we definitely need more coral and fish eventually. Still, everything made it and the animals are happy. Hope everything stays stable. 1 Quote Link to comment
FishFrog Posted May 29, 2016 Author Share Posted May 29, 2016 Some pictures. Added the first new fish, Ozzy! FTS by H Brink, on Flickr Left island by H Brink, on Flickr Ozzy by H Brink, on Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/126097151@N02/26728963343/in/dateposted-public/ 3 1 Quote Link to comment
FishFrog Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 We are thinking about the fish we want to add to the tank. ATM there are two. I dont have a skimmer - just weekly WCs of 15%, carbon and filter floss. How many fish would be smart? The tank is supposed to be 180l but is more like 130l in reality, so the same as before where I had 5 fish. Quote Link to comment
FishFrog Posted June 10, 2016 Author Share Posted June 10, 2016 We added a Royal Gramma last week. She hung about happily for 2 days and then hid in the rocks. I haven't seen her now since Sunday I guess she could still be hiding but I am afraid she won't come back. booo Quote Link to comment
Newstead Posted June 10, 2016 Share Posted June 10, 2016 Hope it shows up. Absolutely love the scape in your tank. 1 Quote Link to comment
FishFrog Posted June 11, 2016 Author Share Posted June 11, 2016 Hope it shows up. Absolutely love the scape in your tank. Thank you That is nice to hear. I am not a big fan of the rock in the middle but I'm not sure where else to put it. I really hope she shows up too. Tomorrow I'll try and search a bit better. Quote Link to comment
FishFrog Posted June 13, 2016 Author Share Posted June 13, 2016 When your friend buys you the best present ever 1 Quote Link to comment
FishFrog Posted June 19, 2016 Author Share Posted June 19, 2016 Great fabric! Thanks Its a scarf, really happy with it I am thinking about adding a shrimp to the tank. In the past I had troubles with peppermints eating coral and cleaners eating hermits. Now I also have a coco worm, so I am wondering whether there are any other species that would be safe. I looked at the blood shrimp but I am afraid these will just hide all the time... Quote Link to comment
FishFrog Posted July 28, 2016 Author Share Posted July 28, 2016 13843664_10154385795919114_1194668654_o by H Brink, on Flickr 1 Quote Link to comment
FishFrog Posted March 31, 2017 Author Share Posted March 31, 2017 I haven't posted much recently, but things are going okay. I had some bowing trouble but we fixed it. Added some cool creatures such as a Sea Mouse ?! which turns out to be a heart shaped urchin. Haven't seen him since I added him though, somewhere under the sand I guess. Sadly lost my pistol shrimp after over 2 years, this week. Don't know why. Will look for a new one today. 17671070_10155206739639114_999174852_n by H Brink, on Flickr Quote Link to comment
FishFrog Posted April 1, 2017 Author Share Posted April 1, 2017 Well I found the same pistol shrimp and added him yesterday. Last night he evicted the poor sea mouse - found him in a corner this morning. Currently he is digging himself in again. Quote Link to comment
FishFrog Posted April 1, 2017 Author Share Posted April 1, 2017 Just saw that Shia LaBeouf is stil around too, probaby got kicken out as well: Quote Link to comment
Weetabix7 Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 That Sea Mouse is really interesting!! I've never heard of them before, but I can see why it's called that. Sounds like your new shrimp is feisty, lol. 1 Quote Link to comment
FishFrog Posted September 22, 2017 Author Share Posted September 22, 2017 I have decided to retire the tank today. It broke again and I don't want to keep fixing it. Seems like a good time to take a break, although it is hard to get rid of all the animals and coral I have taken care of for several years. Quote Link to comment
Lugmos12 Posted September 22, 2017 Share Posted September 22, 2017 Your escape is really nice! is that middle rock attached to the glass? Quote Link to comment
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