My New Tank!

Hi all!

A few weeks ago a got myself a nice new 48" x 12" x 15" tank

From here I've decided to do everything myself.

Ive had a cabinet for a while which I've used for a book shelf, to keeping my aquariums, from a small 12 inch (when i was a child) to a larger 2 foot ( when i was a little older) and now to a 4 foot

A few alterations were made, a placed brackets on the bottom under the central support and across the back to evenly support the weight (sorry no pictures of this as i was covered in sawdust and other wood chippings. Also lots of searing due to the calculations of hammer + finger = !@$£%)

After this got my tank on added my Rena XP3. This had been running on my old tank for a month (i think) so there should be a little biological filter building up. Pretty sure this will have to build over the next month or so though. Added a new heater, Hydor 300. Hopefully it will be ok. I've heard more posotives than negatives, and the idea of keeping it out the tank really appeals to me.

From here i got some stone and added some sand. (sadly im waiting for the rest to come from the LFS at the moment though, hence the really odd half tank done, half not )

I've got some condensation protectors but i really don't like then so im getting some perspex cut to fit, should be here by tomorrow.

The hood will also come shortly, although I have to have a good think about that one just yet, DIY or shop bought. hummm

So yeah. Tell me what you think.

This is my first tank this big, so let me know if im doing anything wrong.

BTW i will be keeping Malawi's in this tank. Hoping that the filter should be able to deal with all the rubbish they churn out!

Chris

sounds good m8ee, all thats left now is some pics


jen

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The top (very open at the moment)




your too quick for me going as fast as i can

Looking good so far mate, not sure if you are or not, but i'd suggest adding more rocks if your going malawi. Thought of any plants? java fern is a good option.

Also a background of some sort, many will suggest black as it shows off the fishes colours more.

Keep is updated with the progress.

looking good m8 like the apect of half sand half not pmsl


but i will say i love the way u have ur rocks looks really cool mite have 2 give that a go myself cheers for the idea


jen

Yeah i've about about the same amount of rocks in a bucket waiting for the extra sand. Not sure yet though, might get some egg crate and make it a little safer on the glass. What do people think about it?
Yeah you read my mind about the black background. Need to get some, maybe this weekend. meh, more money

Looking good!

I see you have the exact same tank I'm looking to get, it's good to see an actual picture of it!

If you don't mind my asking, where did you get it from, and how much did it cost? None of the shops round here sell the clearseals (except one, which has 2fts as the biggest ), so it looks like I'll have to go the mail order route.

Believe it or not i got mine from a Pets at Home shop.
Went looking after getting some diesel from the supermarket and there it was, with a good layer of dust.
I can imagine there not the normal size for their customers
Cost me £53 which i think was a decent price.

Really nice tank, think i would prefer it with black silicon but beggars cant be choosers.

Not bad at all. I hope you are throwing ammonia in there if that filter is mature, or the months worth of bacteria in it will be dieing due to lack of food. Plenty of filtration is a must for malawis, and the filter needs to be fully cycled before adding your fish, or losses will be heavy. All all the fish in one go witout a fully cycled tank and you will lots of fish to ammonia and nitrite poisoning. Add a small amount of fish to account for a filter that isn't fully cycled, and you will loose all your fish when the dominant fish gets settled and then picks on everyone else I'd add 5ppm ammonia and "top-up" the matured filter's bacteria colonie before adding fish, as malawis are very messy Make sure it can drop 5ppm ammonia to zero ammonia and nitrite before getting fish

The Hydor's are far more efficient than conventional heaters I've been suppried with the rate of heating I got from mine when added, and it was less wattage than the origional heaters

Tank looks realy good though, I like it

All the best
Rabbut

Hi all again.

Thanks for the help and replies. Always nice to know what people think.

Update to my project,

Got my perspex lids on. Looking really good!



Luckily i managed to get an old friend to cut them on his bandsaw so their all nice and level and square.

I also managed to get another good find today. A hood!

I was planning on making a wooden one, but didn't want to spoil the look of the glass, so this is a real find. No idea where it comes from. I just found it out side someones bins, went to ask them if i could have it and the lady was glad to see the back of it, said her husband had it in the garage for years.

So yeah got myself a nice hood now, ive got a double light plug so im going to take a trip to a LFS to see if i can get some reflectors and finish this project.

As always let me know what you think



Woo freebies!

The hood certainly keeps with the look of the tank. Very nice find indead

3rd installment of pictures

Just to let you in to a few of the fish going in to the tank.

At the moment they are in my 2ft, (i know its a bit small, hence the upgrade) All looking nice and healthy though.

chrisrutter said:

3rd installment of pictures

Just to let you in to a few of the fish going in to the tank.

At the moment they are in my 2ft, (i know its a bit small, hence the upgrade) All looking nice and healthy though.



View attachment 51850

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Wow that yellow lab is stunning!, perfect finnage

Nice tank mate need some more FTS when its finished

Hi all. 4th instalment of pictures!

I know its been a while but I thought I would keep you up to date.

I put my fish in about 2 weeks ago now. Maybe a few more (not sure).

Everything is fine, bit worried about my female Lab, she's been bullied nearly to death but shes ok, just some major nipping of fins and tails so im having to feed her separately and make sure that she gets some food.

Ill let the pictures do the talking

As always let me know what you think

P.s excuse the cucumber







Weird, just noticed that one of my fish doesn't have a reflection !?!? I can see the Blue Zebra's reflection but the Nyereri that its facing doesn't have one cool

All is looking very well! Nice setup!! Wow, that's a glass tank?!?!?