Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => DIY => Topic started by: Steve on October 18, 2012, 11:27:39 PM
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Well here we go again :D Picked up another 4ft tank yesterday. It was listed as a 60g but measurements are 48.250" x 12.5" x 22" so it's 1" taller than my other 55 but I'm callin' it a 55g This one will be going along the wall opposite of the other 55 I just finished building and is now cycling. Found this one not even 2 miles from my house, came with the stand and snagged it for $75. Factoring in the fact it was just a stones throw away from my door as well as how clean it is I think it was a pretty good deal.
First thing to do was to do a leak test on it this morning, holding water is always a plus in a tank lol. It passed with no problems....
(http://imageshack.us/a/img801/5319/tank1w.jpg)
I "think" I made the decision to stock it with ...
1-M/4F Pseudotropheus socolofi
1-M/4F Cynotilapia Afra
1-M/4FMetriaclima estherae
5-Synodontis multipunctata
Not set in stone yet, but I am leaning that way.
A trip to Lowes to get the needed supplies for this tanks DIY 3D background....
(http://imageshack.us/a/img846/9660/aquarium2g.jpg)
I'm planning something similar to the basic idea of my other 55g where I did the back lite cave openings behind the background, but I plan to do this one a bit different. Rather than a cave opening style like on the other one, this one I am thinking of doing more of an open water "trench" where the 3D background slopes down on an angle and a lot more of the tank near the top and almost the full length of the upper part of the tank is "open water" with the back lighting cold cathodes like on my other build. Also planning on doing this background more of a tan/brown color instead of gray tones. And in addition to the blue back lighting like on my other tan, I am thinking of adding some yellow & orange cold cathode lighting as well which will run off a timer so that the open water will be blue during the day and during the night, but in the evenings it will be yellow/orange to simulate sunrise/sunset.
So basically somewhat of a combination of these two pics to use as the basic design ideas.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img571/3372/underwater2.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img163/2589/underwaterk.jpg)
Then with the addition of the yellow/orange cold cathodes along with the blue ones it will give it this sort of look morning&evening...Hopefully.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img831/7106/underwater3b.jpg)
Steve
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The orange cathode is a neat idea. In a world where so many people don't even have backgrounds on their tanks, it's nice to see how much detail you put into yours!
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Thanks Ron. I've always felt that building something with your own hands is always at least half the fun of any hobby 8)
Started work on the 3D background today. The way I have it planned out I will probably be doing this background in about five to six total sections. I was able to get the very first two sections done tonight. After siliconing pieces of foam and carving them out I quickly went over them with the heat gun to give the foam a real nice texture before paint/color. I then coated it with a base layer of Grey Drylok to seal the foam as well as give it a nice light base color. Then I went over that with some tan color Fusion paint to give it the tan tone I want this background to be. Then added some dry brushing with grey, dark olive, buff brown and white dry brushed highlights. The tall slate looking style pieces are actually about 4" from the back glass so fish will be able to swim behind the tall upshooting pieces.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img222/3787/bg1zw.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img841/6703/bg2dd.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img694/8660/bg3vv.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img208/78/bg4f.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img35/5500/bg5x.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img692/7004/bg6ru.jpg)
Hope to get more done tomorrow.
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Working on a few more pieces. Have them cut out and siliconed up just waiting for them to dry so I can start shaping and painting.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img834/2122/bg8k.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img707/8672/bg9ri.jpg)
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Left side carved out and shaped.....
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(http://imageshack.us/a/img59/4551/bg10b.jpg)
Base coat of Drylok applied
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(http://imageshack.us/a/img43/6663/bg11r.jpg)
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Main color applied Tan Fusion
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(http://imageshack.us/a/img43/3461/bg12i.jpg)
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Mocked up in the tank so I can measure for building the side panels now
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(http://imageshack.us/a/img594/7824/bg13v.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img338/2561/bg14.jpg)
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48" LED Moonlights came today.....
(http://imageshack.us/a/img526/2717/moonlightsz.jpg)
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Looking good!
I'm also looking forward to the day you've got a shot of a tank with fish in it. ;D
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Yeah you and me both Ron ;D I'm on day 22 of the fishless cycle in the first tank so hopefully that one will be cycled sometime soon and I can get some finned critters on their way to me.
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Added some rocks this evening. Went with some contrasting colors in this one, mostly lava rock and a few other different colored rocks. Probably will add a few more once I get ready to fill the sand in it....
(http://imageshack.us/a/img138/8898/rocksj.jpg)
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Rena Xp3 for this tank was dropped off today....
(http://imageshack.us/a/img51/229/filtery.jpg)
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FWIW, lava rock is one of the most abrasive rocks you could chose and you'll likely find a fish here or there scraped up by it.
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I looked them over before I bought them and didn't buy the ones that seemed to have real "sharp" edges (some of them did have some down right sharpness to them) but yeah they are a bit more abrasive rock than some. I'll certainly keep an eye on them though to make sure they don't cause any problems :)
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Now that I got a few rods out of the way back to this project. Trip to Home Depot today to get wood and materials for building the canopy for this one. I had said to myself that I would not build a canopy for this one but I never can just leave well enough alone it seems. So built this one in about 3 hours of work this evening. Still have some trim work then sanding and staining but it all fits and came out pretty well.
(http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/8075/canopy1.jpg)
(http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/5412/canopy2.jpg)
Did this one so the majority of the top opens up for easy access.
(http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/1664/canopy3.jpg)
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Awesome work!
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Another trip to Lowes/Home Depot tonight. They always know when I'm working on a new project because I'm there 4-5 times a week when I am lol. Finished up the canopy tonight and got it stained and 3 coats of polyurethane on it. (BTW it closes nice and flush but theres a cord holding up the one end in the picture ;)
(http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/731/canopy4.jpg)
Also working on the stand. I'm using the metal stand for it that I bought with the tank but I decided it needed to match my other aquarium better so I decided to build a wood stand facade so basically it is going to be just a wood shell 1/4" oak sheeting that is attached with industrial strength velcro and sides into a lip on the corner. Once stained to match the canopy it will look nice in the same room with the other tank and stand. Once the trim is on it it will hide the fact that it is just a shell when it is done.
(http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/7987/canopy5.jpg)
Then I started messing around with the lighting tonight. Lots of wiring and repositioning to do but this is the idea I was mentioning about the combination of blue LED moonlights and Yellow/Orange lighting to give it about an hour of sunset before it goes to full blue moonlights. Once the new Cold Cathodes get here tomorrow and it's all positioned it will look much better but this pic will give you a brief idea of what I'm shooting for.
(http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/2968/canopy6.jpg)
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Cold Cathode lights as well as 48" Odessya T5 lights came today...
Cold cathodes mounted behind tank...
(http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/9625/lights1.jpg)
Tank in place in front of the cold cathodes...
(http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/3167/lights2a.jpg)
Overhead T5 lights on...
(http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/5792/lights3k.jpg)
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Cabinet facade is all done, just have to urethane it tomorrow. The whole front of the cabinet pulls right off it's Velcro mounts to provide full access to filters and equipment underneath it. Picked up some pure white sand as well as about 30 more lbs in rocks today. Just have to finish the side panels of the rock background, hook up the filter with some new hoses, finish up the sunset lighting mounts, silicone in the background once and for all, then it'll be ready to fill with water and start cycling.
(http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/973/cabinet1w.jpg)
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Wow you really have a way with this kind of stuff!
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very nice!! I noticed the peacock pics next to your tank - where did you get those?
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Beach those are actually screen savers ;D I have dual 21" monitors wall mounted above my computer keyboard.
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Beach those are actually screen savers ;D I have dual 21" monitors wall mounted above my computer keyboard.
haha!! I thought they were some cool lit up pic or something :) Someone should sell prints like that - i would buy some... 8)
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Please do not post any more as it makes me feel bad. On a serious note your work is unreal ever think of selling those back grounds?
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lol thanks djlamonica, I do enjoy working on this sort of stuff. I actually have kicked around the idea of making a few 3d backgrounds to sell but I run my own business building custom fly rods so when I', not doing that or working on my own tanks I probably wouldn't have time to take on a new business venture on a large scale. I would probably help people on the forums and friends but most likely nothing more than that sort of thing.
BTW Ron- The more I thought about what you said about Lava Rock scraping fish the more I started really doubting my purchase of it. So yesterday I bought about 40lbs of new rocks to replace the majority of the lava rock. Picked up some really cool looking petrified rock that has a beautiful shape to it. I appreciate you mentioning that the lava rock could scrap up the fish. I did know it might but didn't think over my purchase of it well enough till you brought it up. Thanks for lookin' out for my fish. I'll post some pics of the new rocks once I get the sand cleaned and in the tank this week.
Steve
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Left side panel and intake cover done...
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(http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/5926/sidepanelg.jpg)
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Spent the last couple hours down in the shop building the right side panel for it. Now the whole background is done so I'm glad of that because now I can final clean the tank tomorrow and get it all siliconed in place for good. Then start washing sand and putting sand in it probably Wednesday after it has had a chance to off gas. So with some luck it will be filled with water and ready to cycle sometime next week (still have to get my hydor inline heater first).
In the right upper part above the right panel I am going to cover that with the same blue as the background upper section and then get a 12" cold cathode to light up the upper right part just like the back which should look really nice.
(http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/1424/rightpanel1.jpg)
(http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/8156/rightpanel2.jpg)
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Its lookin' really good! 8)
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Background is now all siliconed in and drying. Time to freeze my hands off washing sand this weekend.
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(http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/9421/bginstalled.jpg)
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It's supposed to be gorgeous this weekend...especially Sunday Steve.
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Yeah I hadn't checked the weather (but just did) 55 Saturday and 59 Sunday...That sounds pretty darn much like good sand washin' weather to me ;D
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My 2nd 55g is now all done and filled with water now today. Sand washed and more rock work added. Ended up getting rid of the lava rock and replacing it with some better looking stuff that is not abrasive like the lava rock was so it'll be better for the fish that way. Just have to wait for the inline heater to come later next week and once that gets here I can start cycling this one then after that.
I also mounted the T5 lights so that they are on about a 45 degree angle so it takes a lot of the "harshness" of the light away. So now it is a nicer look to the way it start darker in the back of the tank and gets brighter towards the middle& front of the tank.
(http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/410/tankdone1.jpg)
(http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/2692/tankdone2.jpg)
(http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/4637/tankdone3.jpg)
(http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/2/tankdone4.jpg)
(http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/3628/tankdone5.jpg)
This one is with the blue moon lights, cold cathodes, and orange CFL on to imitate a sunset in the tank.
(http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/7769/tankdone6.jpg)
Steve
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My Hydor inline heater came today for this tank. Just have to run some plumbing to the XP3 and pick up some Matrix bio for it and I'll be ready to start cycling this one 8)
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Added about 25 more lbs of Petrified rock, have the sunset lighting positioned where I like the looks of it now, added a few silk plants which I like the look they add. XP3 is now filled with bio and tank is now started cycling tonight. Still not sure what I am going to stock in this one. Thinking Cynotilapia afra and maybe one or two other species but nothing set in stone as of yet.
(http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/9397/done3d.jpg)
(http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/5513/done4.jpg)
(http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/6135/done5y.jpg)
(http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/8419/done1.jpg)
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WOW!!!! Your tank is turning out to be a real beauty. Like a work of art.
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Had a nice surprise tonight. Checked the water parameters and they are...
Ammonia- 0
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 30
PH- 7.4
Just have to do a small water change in the morning to get the Nitrate down a tad and it'll be ready for fish 8)
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Started stocking some fish in this one this evening. So far four very nice looking yellow labs and two Snyo catfish. Still have more to get but that will start this tank now.
(http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/3770/yellowlabs1.jpg)
(http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7686/yellowlabs2.jpg)
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Looking good. 8)
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Tank all stocked up yet?
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Yep total of 11 Mbuna and 2 Snyo cats. Plan to add maybe 2-3 more Snyo cats and that'll probably be it..
(http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/8363/new1l.jpg)
(http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/4788/new2zw.jpg)
(http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/4946/new3ix.jpg)
(http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/5131/new4o.jpg)
(http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/15/new5hp.jpg)
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Well make that 14 Mbuna now. Added 3 more nice size Cherry Red Zebras today. .....MUST...STOP...BUYING.........FISH!! :olol
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(http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/5663/newfish.jpg)
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Now that is vary inspirational thank you. What kinda products would I need to get to build the foam background that are fish safe?
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Drylock for your base coat over the foam once you have shaped it. Then any paints that are for use with plastics such as Fusion or the "camo" series from Krylon. You can also use cement tint pigment as well. GE silicone I is what you will use to adhere the background to the tank. Then let it off gas for a minimum of 72hrs and your good to fill it up.
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What kind of sand did you use?
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What kind of sand did you use?
Quickrete Paver sand from Home Depot. $3.25 per 50lb bag. The FINE grain is white and the MED grain size is Tan so there's two colors to choose from. I did wash mine very well but it is actually pretty clean right out of the bag so a simple quick wash is all that is needed. My tank was cloud free even as I was filling it.
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What did you use for the colored background ?
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It's a heavy thickness blue wrapping paper from "paper party place". Scroll back through the first two pages of this post and I showed pics of how I did everything.
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Just snagged a XP4 for this tank over the weekend. Now have an xp3 & xp4 for this tank as well as my Peacock tank. 8) 8) The xp3 was good, but the xp4 is gonna help prolong wc's big time
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Nice Tank and Great Job!
You should fill the XP4 with Nitrate Remover and Crushed Coral. 2 Trays of each. And then put both filters "inline". With Xp4 Sucking on the output of the Xp3... Not much of a differnce in gph to hurt either one... Plus being mag driven it would be perfectly fine! This way you wouldn't have wory to much at all for maintaining the Xp4 excep to change out the "De-Nitrate" to replenish it. The Croushed Coral would maintain the Ph and some Gh as well.
Would be a pretty Sweet setup IMO...
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I'm not too familiar with Nitrate Remover for filters, what exactly is it? Is it a type of media, or pads or something?
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I'm not too familiar with Nitrate Remover for filters, what exactly is it? Is it a type of media, or pads or something?
Media. "Seachem" Makes some good stuff!
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Just finished adding a Rena XP4 to the existing XP3 on the 55g Mbuna tank. This should help quite a bit. The surface agitation is much better than it was with just the XP3
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(http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/227/renai.jpg)
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^That stand the little tank is on gives me the heebie-jeebies.
My impression is that corners should always be supported.
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It's only a 10g tank ;) I use to have a 10g sitting just like that for over 7 years back when I use to keep fish in the late 80's. I wouldn't do it with anything bigger than 10g though.
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It's only a 10g tank ;) I use to have a 10g sitting just like that for over 7 years back when I use to keep fish in the late 80's. I wouldn't do it with anything bigger than 10g though.
I recently had a guy ask me about a 30" stand I had on CL. He wanted to put a 55g on it. I advised against it...but, I suppose it could work...for a while. :)
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Yeah I definitely wouldn't do it with a 55g :o
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It's only a 10g tank ;)
It's only 10 gallons of water eh? :)
Ever notice how much 1 gallon of water on the floor can spread?! :o
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lol no I got ya. I'm just saying, the weight is not much. I really don't think it's anything to worry about, I had a 10g like that for years. Trust me I appreciate the concern, but the main part of the tank is supported and I don't feel it's anything to worry about.
Now granted, if at some point I wake up to wet feet lol...you will be the first one I tell "you were right" ;)
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I would at the very least put a sheet of plywood or OSB under it to help support the whole weight and frame of the tank. But if it worked before and you're willing to risk it...then no problem.
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Steve,
I am interested in knowing more about your backgrounds. I live in Ohio and spoke at your club the beginning of May. Could you give me a call at 440-453-9738.
Thanks
Dan Ritter
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Hi Dan. I will try to get a hold of you this weekend when I have some free time.
Steve
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What sand do you use and where do you get all of your rocks from?
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What sand do you use and where do you get all of your rocks from?
The sand is fine grit (white) Commercial grade paver sand from Home Depot ($3.48 per 50lb bag). All the rocks and petrified wood in this tank came from "The Aquarium Shop" in Royal Oak on Main Street.
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Thanks. Awesome tank! I wish I had that kind of creativity :P
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Thanks. Awesome tank! I wish I had that kind of creativity :P
Awe, don't sell yourself short. Everyone has it but it's like a muscle... You have to exercise it.
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Thanks. Awesome tank! I wish I had that kind of creativity :P
Awe, don't sell yourself short. Everyone has it but it's like a muscle... You have to exercise it.
I would never be able to do something like that :D