Joe Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 Finally I have my new tank. It's 650x500x490mm with 10mm glass thickness, and is mainly made out of normal float glass, except for the front panel which is starphire/low ion glass. The edges have been beveled and polished, and the base is internal like ADA tanks. It's sitting on my couch at the moment, but I have a table for it to go on (although the table is a hideous bright blue but if I wait until I can afford a nice stand then this tank will probably not be set up for a very long time!) Starphire compared to float glass. For the substrate I'll just use sand from Mitre 10 Mega, and JBL balls for any plants that I put in. I will try to get a Hydro ETH 200w Inline Heater for this tank as I really don't fancy using the 300w Jager sitting in the closet because that's for emergencies only. Luckily I haven't had to use it so far. Lighting will be an Aqua Medic Ocean Light 150w HQI Metal Halide, and for filtration I'll use my Eheim Classic 2213 from my current tank, and then I'll just put a pump in the other tank to circulate the water as I don't want to use my unused Eheim 2211 canister filter because that is for the high tech nano tank that I'll hopefully be able to afford if I manage to breed a relatively large amount of Apistos and sell them. Yes, the tank is going to be stocked with Apistos. I still have my trio of Apistogramma macmasteri which I'll try and breed until I can find a male Apistogramma trifasciata to go with my female. Then I'll have a go with those instead as they're my favourite Apistogramma and I would really love to breed them. And of course I need to get some twiggy branches and peat and/or alder cones otherwise it won't be blackwater So hopefully I'll be able to get this tank set up soon, and there's no excuses now as I have the tank and most of the stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyM3 Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 that tank is looking nice! good idea with blackwater for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 Looks like a well made tank. Who did you get to make it? Starphire glass is low in the other iron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted December 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 I got the tank custom-made by Cam at Petworld Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted December 18, 2011 Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 Thought you might have. I have one on order for when the shaking stops. Get the next one with black silicone, he makes a neat job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyM3 Posted December 19, 2011 Report Share Posted December 19, 2011 where is he located? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted December 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2011 Christchurch, and you're in Auckland so there's not much point in purchasing from Petworld. Try Greg Kingston, he does really nice tanks apparently, and for really good prices too. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Tanks2u Greg Kingston Auckland Quality custom built aquariums, sumps and trickle filters. Can be shipped from Manukau Auckland to anywhere in the country. Phone: 09 273 4121 Mobile: 021 900 727 Email: [email protected] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyM3 Posted December 19, 2011 Report Share Posted December 19, 2011 ok ill check him out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted December 19, 2011 Report Share Posted December 19, 2011 Are you going to chuck some oak leaves or the like in there? I like the look of them in a tank this style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted December 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2011 Yeah I will when it's autumn and I am able to collect some And if I have any money left over from buying other stuff for this tank I'll get Indian almond leaves off of trademe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted December 19, 2011 Report Share Posted December 19, 2011 I will send you some oak leaves if you like - PM me your address Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted December 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2011 Yay thanks heaps Sophia If you are in to Apistos, I could send you some if you want when (if) they breed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Li@m Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 I also can send you some Oak leaves if you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted December 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 Yes that would be great. I'll PM you my address Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted January 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 Got Sophia's oak leaves, now I'm just waiting for Liam's I went and got some sandpit sand from Mitre 10 Mega yesterday. It is a lovely earthy ochre colour. Also got a timer for the light, and a six-outlet powerstrip with individual switches. The tank has also been moved on to its stand, but I still can't set it up yet because I need the light bulb, decor, polystyrene or something for it to sit on, the heater, light stand and some test kits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Li@m Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 Post shop is closed till the 3rd so ill send them then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 Is that insulation polystyrene they sell at the hardware shops too thick for the tank (aesthetically ) ? I wonder if one can buy cut offs instead of a huge sheet of the stuff. For cutting I imagine one uses a heated wire or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 You can have it as thick as you like and off-cuts are cheaper. I use a hot wire to cut mine. Joe I would expect Mega to have poly or go down to the penguin factory, Expol, in Taylor Pass Rd as they might be cheaper since they manufacture it. It is where I used to get mine (before it changed hands) and they would cut it to the size I wanted too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 I didn't have a heated thing to cut polystyrene but if you have a sharp and long box cutter type knife you can gently saw a clean cut without mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 In the past I think I just stuck a coat hanger wire onto a soldering iron with more wire to secure it. And when hot enough it just slides through the polystyrene. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted January 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 27, 2012 Report Share Posted January 27, 2012 Speed it up Joe. We visit tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted January 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Looking good, you will love the halide. I would recommend some pin clips to hide the flex down the back of the wood. Just to make it look a wee bit tidier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 You can have it as thick as you like and off-cuts are cheaper. I use a hot wire to cut mine. Joe I would expect Mega to have poly or go down to the penguin factory, Expol, in Taylor Pass Rd as they might be cheaper since they manufacture it. It is where I used to get mine (before it changed hands) and they would cut it to the size I wanted too. Go visit your local appliance retail store ( Noels or Harveys etc) they pay to have it removed, I am sure they can give you plenty. At work we get sheets of it from the Refrigerator packaging. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.