Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => DIY => Topic started by: Steve on January 21, 2016, 08:44:20 PM
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Well as of today I have a new home for my frontosa here now. Currently sitting in the utility room till I get the spot in the office cleared and ready for it. First off a pic of the tank...
6ft x 18 x 23 (125-130g'ish)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/tank_zpswhwkctu9.jpg)
Here's the plans for where it will be going....
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/wall_zpswbgzuphs.jpg)
Basically that back wall is a fake wall that is about 12" out in front of the actual back wall. The back wall behind it has 12" deep shelves built into it. So plans are to remove the fake front wall, tear out the shelves, then that will make it so the tank will fit back into the wall and will only stick out from the wall by about 6". Then I'll be rebuilding the wall around it so it is built in and have the top part of the wall hinged for tank work.
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(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/wall2_zpsucal0uqo.jpg)
Being one to not let grass grow under my feet, I decided to start tonight on tearing down the fake wall. All the bonsai trees are moved and already got the fake wall ripped out. Now I have a huge amount of stuff that has been on those shelves in storage and not seen the light of day in years to be carried from the basement up two levels to the attic so I can knock the shelves out to make room for the tank. These old knees will be sore from that soon.
Should be pretty cool once the tank is in place. Already looks a lot bigger back there with that fake wall gone now.
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Just reading your description makes my lazy ass tired, lol.
Gonna be interesting to follow the progress on this.
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(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/Drawing_zpsy62epkk7.jpg)
I'm kicking around an idea right now Blair which would make me dead ass tired if I do it lol. I'm thinking about maybe setting up the tanks like in the drawing above. That way I could put a chair in the U shape of all the tanks and be surrounded by tanks on each side when I wan to sit down and enjoy some fish. Problem is the red outlined tank. What I am thinking about putting there would be the 75g Bleekeri tank that I'm currently building upstairs. Here's the bit issues though....between the 6ft frontosa tank and the peacock & hap tank is only gonna be 44"....I need 48" for the 75g bleekeri tank.
The only option to do that is to move the desk and 75g peacock & hap tank about 5" over more. but the desk is 7ft long and the wood stand for the 75g is screwed to the desk to form the L shape of it, and the whole front panel of both is the foam rock facing. So it'd be a big undertaking to move that whole unit over a few inches.
Not sure if I will do that or not but that's an idea I have in my head. I just love causing work for myself :P ::) :o
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Steve, you should give building a tank a go and make yourself a custom 44" tank to fit that space.
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(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/tank1_zps56fd4osy.jpg)
Tons of work done today. Everything is moved out of the way and got the shelves ripped out. Managed to get the tank and stand wiggled out of the utility room and into place by myself (that was fun) and found I had about 1" too little room in the recessed opening. So had to do a little "modification" to the wall to fit it back against the wall. Long ways to go still but got more done in 24hrs than I expected to have done.
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I think I really should see a doctor because I dunno what's wrong with me. I don't know why I can't just put a tank on a stand and be happy with it. Now after sitting and starring at this for a bit tonight I think I have a bit of a change in plans.
I think I may end up taking out the lower braces on the wood stand (red wavy line) and then rebuild the brace as more of a base under the legs and attach with metal L brackets. (new base would be red straight lines). That way it would raise the whole tank 4" higher as well as give me 26" of room under the 130g tank, which would be enough room to fit the 75g bleekeri tank in there (blue lines).
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/tank6_zpsg0nor42a.jpg)
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IT'S CALLED "OCD"....only antidote is to catch "laziness" but then there's problems with that....it's called "Nothing gets doneness
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(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/tank1_zpsvvzyuyrk.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/tank2_zps4b1lyztr.jpg)
Got a lot of work done today. Raising and modifying the stand was a brutal job because of the way it was built plus not being able to take the tank off the stand while I was working on it, but 8 hrs later it's done.
Stand is modified and braced, new base for lower 75g tank built, foam under both tanks, leveled and filled with water for a 2nd leak test. Next will be building the wall in front and the 6ft 3d background for the main tank, but wont be able to start doing those till later next week once I get some other jobs done.
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Looks great! I had a u shaped fish area at my old house and loved it:)
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Nice work Steve. Will be a very relaxing chill zone when you're all done. Not sure how much work I'd get done in that office...lol...what type of front's are you keeping in your 2 front tanks anyway? Thx for sharing mate
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(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/fronts2_zpsg2ptpbep.jpg)
I've got four Burundi fronts right now in the 75g tank. The largest male is the one in the above pic and its close to 12" long. Then the other three males are about 9"-10". Once they are moved into the 6ft tank then I plan to pick up probably four more fronts of the same sizes to complete the colony.
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Beautiful Burundi's Steve. Really stellar buchal hump & trailers. So you have 4 males atm. Are you gonna try to get 4 females and breed them or just enjoy some majestic viewing of Africa's king of the Cichlid world?
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Thanks, he's probably my favorite fish I have at the moment. Haven't really decided for sure yet but I am somewhat leaning towards four more males and just having a nice all male show tank with this. Still got a bit to decide on that one though.
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I guess the fact that they are monomorphic kinda complicates it. On 1 hand you can have a mix of beautiful male & female fish with similar coloration, but on the other you have to deal with hierarchy at a whole different level when the girls are in da house...
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24hrs into leak test and not a drop....
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(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/martha_zpsmnq9pron.jpg)
Even though I know these tanks are both 100% leak free, after what I went through with that 265g tank last year I'm paranoid lol
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I don't blame you Steve....especially all the work you have done and will do..
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(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/tank_zpsm5yfm7gi.jpg)
Lots of wall building hinged door making and paint slingin' going on today :)
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(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/tank1_zpsb6327rk9.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/tank2_zpsb7fjc3yd.jpg)
Well 1am and about 12 hrs worth of work done on it today so time to throw in the towel for the night I guess. Still have a lot to do but it's finally starting to take shape now and actually look like I envisioned. Can't wait to finish all the paint and trim work so I can get started on the 6ft 3D background for it. Got some cool plans for that.
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This is looking great!
Do you enjoy the process or just the ending? I don't mean that in a rude way, as I envy how fast you get things done, but holy smokes you really move on getting things done quickly! Just left me wondering if you're rushing to get to the end.
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Ron I enjoy the tanks when they are done, but honestly I am at my happiest when I have a project going. I've always been a hands on type of guy and I love creating things, drop in a touch of OCD and it makes it where I get bored real easy when I don't have something to work on.
So I enjoy the end product, but when I sit down and the job is done I actually feel a bit sad.
Well got most the paint a and trim work done today, also added some pictures I've taken of my fish and framed them. Rather than just hanging them I mounted them with screws through the frames so they stay right on the door when it is raised to access the lower tank.
Pretty much all that is left now is a couple more pieces of trim and then the 3d background. Probably be a week or so until I have time to start the background so this is how it will sit for a bit now.
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/tank1_zpsj4ymxkhc.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/tank2_zpsy502qt1b.jpg)
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Those are really looking great Steve.
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(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/tank1_zpsyw4l3byy.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/tank2_zps8om4oeu9.jpg)
Got a little spare time today before I start a 3d background for a customer tomorrow so decided to get the lower 75g Bleekeri tank up and running. He now has his own tank but does have a roommate. The big red zebra who is as much of a troublemaker as the Bleekeri is in there with him. They were both in the same tank with my other fish for the past year so they get along together just fine, also put the big 7" Rhino pleco in with them as well.
Hopefully will be able to get to working on the background for the upper frontosa tank with in the next couple weeks. The wood in the upper tank is a piece I picked up at the auction yesterday for it, gonna be a nice fit for that tank.
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It's amazing the difference already in the hap&peacock tank now that these two troublemakers have been out of it for a few hours. Couple fish that use to hide 90% of the time are out and about, and now all the fish are using the whole tank and not just certain areas of it like before. I think life in the hap&peacock tank is gonna be a lot happier now ;D
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Looks really good, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the front tank once it's up and running.
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Nice looking space!
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(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/6ftbg1_zpsvrehirnv.jpg)
Finally got caught up enough with customer work that I have time this week to get back on my own tank. Was able to get the background laid out and roughed in today. Now onto the carving stage next. Hopefully will have this tank up and running with in the next two weeks is the plan.
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(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/bg1_zpsywec2t3q.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/bg2_zpsqshgwdan.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/bg3_zpsppbk7xfq.jpg)
Sleep is overrated ;) burned the midnight oil and spent the past 7 hrs carving away on this. Actually got all the carving done now tonight. Will be dryloking and painting in the morning so way ahead of schedule now. I really wanted this background to have some impact so I did some pretty massive rocks in some area that are as much as 5" thick so it is really going to have a lot of depth/3D look to it. I'm very pleased with how this one is looking.
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Wowzers mate! What a transformation. That looks absolutely amazing. How do you get the grainy pock-mark detail in the foam? Well done.
I have to ask again; so when is the workshop? :D
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To get the texture I use a heat gun and heat it enough to get the carved foam to wrinkle a bit but keep the gun moving so as to not melt the foam.
Workshop/presentation- With my introverted personality you'd have a better chance of Bigfoot doing that than me ;)
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(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/bg1_zpsbq1aasrg.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/bg2_zps09idmvuj.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/bg3_zpsqzed6uxx.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/bg4_zpszptpkkct.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/bg5_zpsdg04rnpr.jpg)
Moving along really well now. Have all the painting and shading done so all that's left on the background is to seal it tomorrow and then it will be ready to install permanently into the tank.
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Incredible! Nice work mate 8)
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:-awesome!
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(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/install_zpshmivextp.jpg)
All sealed with Pond Armor and silicon'd into place in the tank and curing. Probably go pick up the sand today. Originally planned on black sand but think I have changed my mind and will be going with a tan color sand. I think that will look good with the background color and really bring out the colors of the Frontosa.
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(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/rocks_zpstgwbfkmu.jpg)
Picked up some slate today from Lowes. I wanted the rock work in the tank to match the background I made perfectly so bought some white'ish color slate and just got done painting/shading it in the same colors at the background. Just have to seal it and they will be ready for the tank.
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Nice work mate...I have even thought about colring and sealing rock for a perfect match...genius...the sealer darkened up the background quite a bit hey...are you gonna make caves with the slate or just have the pieces sit upright for a nice open look?
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Not quite caves but probably sort of lean them against the BG and such to give some spots for feeling safe for the fish. The Fronts will probably be too big to utilize the leaning slate, but I plan to move some of my smaller 3-5" Cyrtocara moorii into the tank with the Fronts so I bet the moorii will probably use the spots.
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(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/front1_zpsomogtos3.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/front2_zpslejuv4mf.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/front3_zpssqwccl8x.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/front4_zpsdas1fsl9.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/front5_zpsit3cbtbe.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/front6_zpsaf7ubs8m.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/front7_zpsxvaqgnqj.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/front8_zpsgacoxvbm.jpg)
More work done today. It is pretty much for the most part done new. All that's left is to do a few details things and route the cords better, then fill with water and move the group of frontosa and FX5 over and it'll be done. Really excited to get the fronts moved into it soon. This one has become probably my favorite tank I have owned to date.
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Beautiful biotype mate...years of viewing leisure there to be sure...well done and thx for sharing...you have an awesome creative gift & flare!
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Thanks Danny, just doing some WC's on the other tanks today so I think I'll fill this one maybe tonight.
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Filled, FX5 is swapped over, and just bringing it up to temp right now. With a little luck the fronts will be moved over to it tonight! 8) 8) 8)
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(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/fronts2_zpsuaiquo88.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/fronts3_zpsdllrrj5l.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/fronts4_zps44x09lae.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/fronts1_zpsrn84m2aw.jpg)
3 months of work building the 6ft tank for the Frontosa finally comes to a rewarding end tonight, now I can enjoy it. Just finished filling with water, moving the FX5 over, bringing up to temp and moving my fronts over into it. I'm happy with how this tank build turned out, and think my fronts seem pretty happy now as well!
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Steve, Great results....well worth the wait. What's next?...
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Thanks Mike. Gotta finish a 3D background up for Jon first, but after that I'm turning the 75g in wall tank that the fronts use to be in into a wet pet tank for a Jaguar I got from Blair a couple weeks ago. Plan to do a 3D BG for it and a tan sand/gravel mic for substrate.
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Looks fabulous Steve! Fish look great in their new presidential suite mate. Great thread to follow. An inspiration to us all. Blessings ole mate!
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That looks great!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtrOOSa3910
Short vid of it up and running. Thanks Marty for the two great fronts you brought over today to add to my colony 8)
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Bloody marvelous...those big fronts are beasts...so all males then Steve?
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Yep all males. I might add maybe 1 or 2 more big males, but that would be it.
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(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/office1_zps2vsmcgtz.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/office2_zpsokxi3qqy.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/office3_zpsjkcc3qmw.jpg)
Added some DIY moonlighting to the frontosa tank so now all the tanks have moonlights. Nice way to sit back and watch the fish after a long day working on.
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Damn, those are looking BEAST in the 6' tank Steve!
So did you end up putting all of the ones you picked up from me in this tank?
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Thanks Tony. Yep those are all the males I got from you and then a pair of males I got from Marty a couple weeks ago.
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Very nice!
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Thanks Tony. Yep those are all the males I got from you and then a pair of males I got from Marty a couple weeks ago.
Looks awesome
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Someone on another site asked for some updated pics of this tank, so figured I might as well post the updated pics here as well. Tank is doing really well. All the fronts are happy and healthy, they eat a mix of NLS pellets, Algae wafers, flake food, a mix of plecocaine and krill as a treat every once in awhile. Starting to get a slight bit of algae on the background and rocks and plants which gives it a nice look now. In addition to to fronts I've also added a nice Lelelupi, a gold face comp, and a good size king tiger pleco from Jon. Plan to add some more leleupi but will probably wait till after my 2 week fishing vacation at next month to do that. Don't want to make any changes before I leave for 2 weeks.
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/misc%20003_zpsvgkagyes.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/misc%20004_zpsjopog132.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/misc%20006_zpswttqjdcj.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/misc%20009_zps7v0if75n.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/misc%20011_zps88cckjas.jpg)
(http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag470/stevewayneclark/comp_zps6dmus0bx.jpg)
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Looks great Steve...stunning set-up and fish! Really nice orange leleupi! Did you source them locally? Wouldn't mind a few of those myself!
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Leleupi came from Al about 2 months ago when he was selling them, not sure where he got them. There were two of them up till about a month ago.....were being the key word there lol
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Tasty lil leleupi finger for a hangry frontosa...shame they won't eat snickers :D
Who's Al?
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Al Stampley he's a member of MCA.
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Still looking great
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(http://imageshack.com/a/img921/1629/SKgLBm.jpg)
Got a new full spectrum LED light for this tank for Christmas, the new light is night and day difference over the old one. It really brings out the blue in the frontosa now.
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Nice mate...I'm getting a 7700 lumen for my 125gal...i hope I get similar results with my fish...👌