Fish tank monitor

[KeddyPie]

I've been trying to convince my teacher to let me have a small 2 gallon fish tank at my desk in networking (I am in that class for, oh... 5 hours a day or more, sometimes until 6 or 7 in the evening). I figure it would be nice to bring one of my bettas to school and have someone there to keep me company. Of course, since this room has many thousands of dollars of equipment in it, he has held a firm "NO."

Well, in an attempt to get me to shut my trap, my teacher (following the lead of my other teacher who was making a joke) said "Yeah, you can have a fish tank... But you have to make it out of a MAC." Well... Being the ball of smite that I am... I AM going to make one.

Here is my current plan, in all of it's simplicity: Empty out a Mac, make a rectangular bok out of plexi-glass that fits somewhat snugly inside of the monitor... And that's about it. I am not sure how to go about making a functioning top.

I'm just curious if anyone has anything to say about this idea, and any opinions on how I should go about DOING it. It wont need any air or anything, and will still be getting weekly water changes. I estimate it will be about three gallons, but I am not sure.

Thanks,
Katy

 

[Lateral Line]

If you do it, I wouldn't get your hopes up that you'll be allowed to have it in an equipment room, regardless of what has been said. It would not suprise me if the insurance policy on the rooms equipment would expressly forbid anything like that.

I've seen something like this before actually, not long ago, I can't remember where.

 

[OohFeeshy]

LOL Sounds a good plan, maybe put the top bit on hinges so you can lift it up? I have no idea on the internal workings of a mac, but sounds OK to me.

 

[SarahBravo]

"Macquarium"

You gotta do it, even if they don't end up allowing you to keep it at school....

Now, making an aquarium out of a Sinclair ZX85 - now that would be difficult!!

 

[Lateral Line]

That was it.

 

[KeddyPie]

My teacher is awesome, a great guy. If he said I can, than I can. If the school board tells him otherwise, we'll work something out

I'm a stressed out networking kid! I need someone to distract me from routers and linux I AM gonna do this.

 

[Def]

How can you be stressed with linux and routers... That's what I do to relax

 

[daddyfish]

I need someone to distract me from routers and linux I AM gonna do this.

[snapback]904020[/snapback]​

Ah ya WORK on Linux "SMART GIRL"
I use Linspire it's better the MSW ever will be. But Since this isn't the Linux Forums I"ll Stop there on this Subject.

Any Who; i to read about this Some Where as far as the "Top" I really Can't Remember "BUT"
As for the Lining they took Fiberglass Body Filler to Coat the inside to Plug the Cooling Vents, then took some Epoxy "FISH SAFE" of Coarse Paint and painted it to Protect the Fish from the Fibers, And took the peice of Plexa Glass for the Front and Siliconed it into place once again Aquarium Safe Silicone, before using the Fiberglass Filler over the edges of the Plexa Glass to finish of a Water Tight Seal Around the Glass.

If I can Find the Place I seen this at I'll Post it back here for you on Instructions for the Whole thing Including the Top. GO Gett'em GIRL...
You've Got to do it for all of Us who NEVER Got the Chance to do What You Have....
"Make the School Officials- PUT UP or SHUT UP...

 

[SRC]

When you take the top off the Mac, do it in such a mannor that it will be salvagable. Using a jig saw or router will be your best bet, as they will cut a straight line with as little "marr" to the plastic as possible. This will leave it less jagged then using a regular saw to remove it, although using some fine grit sandpaper afterwards would make the edges very finished and smooth to the touch.

Then take scrap pieces of plexiglass to make "stops" on the inside of the monitor and the cut off top, so that you can make a hinged lid out of it.

You should be able to use the same liquid weld on the monitor as you will the plexiglass (as you can't silicone plexiglass together..it will leak. The bond will not hold the plexi once you put water in the tank...the pressure will push it apart. Where as "welding" actually melts the 2 pieces of Plexi together to form a unified bond. You do not weld using heat or fire..it is a liquid solvent used to chemically melt the plexi. It is completely safe for fish after 36 hours).

Then weld a plexiglass hinge onto the monitor top (at the back so it doesn't show). Make sure to make yourself a small lip, so opening it is easier...I would put it on the side that isn't as visable to traffic.

Make the tank inside just small enough to drop down inside the monitor frame. Might have to take a Dremel to the inside of the monitor to smooth out any plastic pieces that may stick out and take up space. (I would suggest making it as close to square as possible, welding uneven pieces of plexi together is quite difficult. As you have to clamp the pieces together for atleast 30 min. to ensure the weld will hold.)

If you need help finding plexigalss and/or the supplies (i.e. liquid weld, hinges, ect.) at a reasonable price let me know. I have several sources already, ever since I made that divided tank.

 

[Wiggler 1]

That would be a awsome project and the best to you
....One question tho, When in school arnt you supposed to be learning what you have paid alot of money for.
I am paying 5 grand a year to put my son threw college...he better not have a fish in front of his desk, instead of a note book, and the only company he needs is his laptop.
Priorities .....education...education .... education

 

[KeddyPie]

Well, first of all, we don't pay for school, I go to public school. Second of all, I'm doing this all on my own time after school I stay after school almost every day, so I don't even have to worry about wasting time in class for water changes or feeding or anything. It probably wont be kept at my desk now that I think about it, due to be having three monitors, a scanner, and routers at my desk... It will probably be on the non-computery desk in front of the class for all to admire I do a lot of work in that class, and we get breaks. (after about an hour and a half strait or typing in router commands, you NEED a break) The fishie wouldn't be too much of an inturruption to my work, and even if it was... I normally work an hour more than a lot of the class, because I stay after so much ^^

I'm still not POSOTIVE how I'm going to do this, but thanks for all the suggestions... It helps a lot SRC, I'll probably aim for somethign similar to the plan you've provided, once I'm healthy enough to deciefer what it says I'm very feverish and drugged up right now, so everything sort of mashes together.

 

[xamdarb]

you have a weird school lol\

 

[daddyfish]

As I said you GO GIRL.

It doesn't Sound like her School is to WEIRD to me...
At least it sounds Peaceful.

In my School I went to we had to Watch Over our backs to make Sure someone wasn't coming after Us with a Knife, The few that had Guns you wouldn't see much before they Shot you anyway, So Why Worry about them, at least you had time to React to the ones with knives.

You may say BULL, But what I say is True.
I graduated in 1981, And it was like that back then. And then People wonder why I Home Schooled my Son, He graduates this year and has Never gotten less then an A-.
In Public School he was lucky to carry a B.

In any Event I Thank God it sounds like you have a School Peaceful enough to Worry about Fish.
I sure wish I'd had...

 

[Wiggler 1]

heres a link that you might get a kick out off
like I said do it have fun http/www.personal.psu.edu/users/k/l/klh3...puter_index.htm
its a operational computer with fish in it

it aint a Mac but you might get some ideas....your teacher would crap
himself if you brought in a working fishputer LOL

 

[KeddyPie]

My school is lovely. Well.. My half of the school We have 2 buildings, the main building and the CTC... Or as we networking kids would see it, the normie building and the geek building I'm in the CTC, and we are all like a big family there. It's very nice and laid back. The main building is a little more iffy...