Ethan.L

Cheers will do.

2x4's if I recall. The steel cladding supports it and adds a fair amount of bracing.

Wholey thread revival Batman! So my project got derailed massively and the tank ended up sitting in my flat doing absolutely nothing. I have now since moved flat and decided on actually getting this thing up and running. So here are the updates on where I last left off. Sorry for not documenting the whole process with pictures (I get annoyed myself with that), but hopefully these will suffice. The tank isn't the prettiest, quite a few scratches in it (which hopefully wont turn out too bad when it is filled) but I couldn't stand the ugly half black silicone job on the inside. I decided to cut out the inside silicone. I initially started out with a razor blade, but found that a butter knife actually worked just as well, and removed the chances of slicing through the silicone I didn't want to remove that holds it together. I forgot to grab a photo after this process, but I think you can imagine what it looks like without silicone. I cleaned it all up with a dry towel and some turps. So that needs to be left to cure for 7 days. Then I will fill it up and give it a leak test. (God I hope it holds) Next up is the stand. Previously it was just a wooden frame. I mentioned above that my mate is a roofer and managed to get hold of some coloursteel for me. Here is what he managed to knock up over a few session. Still some minor things we need to finish off. At the moment it only has some small magnets holding the doors closed, so I might invest in some beefier magnets. May get some door handles for it, and we need to drill it for plumbing and power. Took a trip to Queenstown earlier in the year and picked up some rocks. Also still on the list is lighting. Not sure what to do here, I am a student so the budget is pretty low (i.e. sadly most likely LEDs)

Tank in its current state. Flashings showed up this morning. Will hopefully be able to install them along with the corrugated steel that I have in my garage next week some time. The doors will also be made out of the same materials. And one of my cat, felix, on this already hot morning.

Thanks Smidey, that is more that I expected but that is good. Currently got a Jebo 819. If that's not up to standard then could possibly sell it to buy something better.

Ok thanks guys. Don't think I'll go with the shellies, but could be interested in the yellows or dems. Roughly how many do you think would be suitable?

Hi all. I recently obtained a new tank after a fish keeping hiatus. It's a 140L (122cm l, 31cm w, 39cm h). I realise that this tank is not suitable of most cichlids, especially Africans due to the small size and small foot print. I don't think I can be too bothered with a heavily planted tank, so I was wondering if I could still get away with some more rock loving cichlids. At the moment I have my eyes on Brichardis. From what I have read they don't get too big and have quite often been successfully kept in tanks smaller than mine. For those with experience with them, could you recommend roughly how many would be suitable? I am a bit worried about their breeding habits, don't know if I would be able to sell/trade away all the potential offspring. One last thing, I know that they are generally said to be very aggressive to other fish and it is wise to keep them in a species on tank, but is there any chance I would be able to keep a form a Pleco or two? Thanks for any help.

The stand should be strengthened up significantly once we fix the colour steel to it, that stuff is pretty strong and will be in solid horizontal sheets. Beer bong, funnel; tomato, tomäto. Cricket gear is flat mates, bikes which you may be able to just glimpse are mine.

Not 100% sure at this stage, but am looking at Brichardis at the moment.

Hi all, thought I would share with you all my new build. I'm still at university so this is a relatively budget build. I purchased the tank, (thanks Rabid) last Sunday. It's a 122cm*30.9cm*39.5cm, 140L, so is pretty long and narrow, but it should do nicely. Also picked up a Jebo 819 canister filter and 300W heater, (thanks cichlid keeper) Wanted to build a stand for the tank, so started out by purchasing all the wood. 4 rails of 75mm x 50mm. I got Mitre Ten to cut the wood for me, which they did for free. Here is a picture of the mock up frames with the uprights. Please excuse the mess. Top frame built. Base and uprights going in. Person in picture is my good mate who is helping me out, especially since this morning I tore a muscle in my shoulder, rendering my arm close to useless. Stand and tank. My friend in picture is a roofer, who managed to source me a bunch of blue colour steel roofing sheets (corrugated sheets). Will be cladding the outside with that, along with making some doors and a edging the goes along the top and slightly up the base to cover the mdf, poly and not so nice silicone job on the tank. Will post more on when I get the rest of the stand built. I will also be looking at building a set of LED strip lighting for the tank in the future, so if you are interested in that I can post some info on there too.

My rummy noses do the same. Out and about when the lights are off but as soon as they get turned on, the huddle in the corner together.

Thanks guys, I'll go check out Organisms when I get some time.

Thanks Antwan I might take you up on that once this rain stops. I'm liking the look of the Mosquito Rasboras. Are hard are they to find? Anyone / shops in Christchurch got any?

Yeah I doubt I will be able to fit much more than the 4 rummynoses that are in there currently. Wish I could get a bigger school which would hopefully make them a bit more lively. Then dont seem to like the lights on much and just hide in one corner of the tank, but become more lively at night. Anyone have any solutions to this? Can't always have the lights off since I have plants in there now. Just gives me another excuse to get a bigger tank if I want more fish

44cm x 23cm x 23cm. Roughly 25L, so pretty small.