Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => DIY => Topic started by: Steve on November 03, 2016, 04:50:11 PM
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Well I'm at it again, summer is gone so time for another tank project in the office/shop. Everyone knows the view of my office facing this direction...
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(http://imageshack.com/a/img921/1052/SonQuY.jpg)
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But standing in the same spot and looking 180 degrees the other way is this view....A nice view but something is missing, a tank!
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(http://imageshack.com/a/img922/6839/jQYGaP.jpg)
Originally I was going to move one of my 29g tanks over and build it into the wall with maybe a pair of rams or something. But I have decided to go with something that will complete my "wants" in fish keeping. When I got back into the hobby 4 yrs ago with a mixed African tank I had a few things I really wanted to keep, one was Frontosa which I now have a front tank, another was some sort of large "wet pet" which I now have with my Jaguar, and the last thing was I wanted to keep a tank of Tropheus.
So I've decided to build a Tropheus tank into the wall between my office and shop area. It will be a 4ft 55g for the time being but I will be upgrading it probably in the spring to a 75-90g once the trophs get a bit larger. Going to be rasing the stand to a height of 42" so that the tank will sit right above the back of the chair in the picture and tank will have a 3D background in it for a nice finished in wall look.
This is the backside of the wall, well WAS the backside of the wall at 1pm today lol...
(http://imageshack.com/a/img924/5457/jIioLA.jpg)
And this is the backside as of now. Already got both sheets of drywall down and most of the studs removed (this is a non load bearing, I actually put it up myself just 5 years ago as a divider for the rooms).
(http://imageshack.com/a/img924/140/vM5wfb.jpg)
Have to stop work for the day now as I have a fly fishing show to attend with a buddy tonight but will be back to work on it come morning. Hopefully will have it all done and trophs swimming in the wall inside of a week to 10 days max 8)
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Love your build threads! Keep it coming!
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Looks like a fun project! 8)
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(http://imageshack.com/a/img921/2696/U1h7Mm.jpg)
No turning back now....
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Awesome mate...Jon's murago would look great in there mate...who can resist those blue freckles...🖒🤓
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(http://imageshack.com/a/img921/5256/g6NEqd.jpg)
Way ahead of ya Danny ;D Jon & Josh already paid me a visit a couple days ago. Meet my colony of Bemba currently chillin' out in their temp tank till their new home is ready.
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(http://imageshack.com/a/img922/1931/BTLrBH.jpg)
Also spent the day carving away like crazy on some foam yet again. I've done so much background work over the past two 2 weeks my fingers are getting blisters from using the foam shaver. All carved out now and just finished putting the drylok on it so will be doing color on it tomorrow now.
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Ha ha awesome mate...you are all sset...almost...looking forward to seeing the finished background and the bemba cruisin their new home 👍
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Moving right along now. 3D background is done except for sealing it. The rocks were all white but I took some time to scrub them and paint them in the same colors at the background so it all color matches to give it that live painting look on the wall. Just have to seal it all, add sand (white) paint the tank sides black, finish framing it with some matching wood then, re arrange the pictures and such around it on the wall and then finish up the back side of the wall. Should have trophs in it by early next week most likely.
(http://imageshack.com/a/img922/9493/J09V4R.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img923/7742/QWu8Zp.jpg)
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Nice work
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You're a bloody genius mate...looks ripper! 🤓
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(http://imageshack.com/a/img921/2739/8edA49.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img922/2707/Ckl3Jy.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img921/6578/AA9m2K.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img921/100/MRXUmQ.jpg)
I told myself I was NOT going to work on this today because I have a rod order to fill, but I couldn't resist getting some work in on it this morning/afternoon. All the front side is done now, got a side wall built to hide the side of the tank, and back is done except for a 6" facade to cover the bottom of the stand. Should have fish in it sometime next week for sure :)
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If I could only get work done like you can! ;) ;D
Absolutely ripper!
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(http://imageshack.com/a/img923/7365/Jwux7I.jpg)
Sand and everything in now. Ready to fill up and move the colony of Trophs into it in a few days!
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That will be a super active tank to enjoy. Looks great
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Thanks guys. Jon was a huge help in me being able to get this tank of trophs I have always wanted so really appreciate his help in me being able to do this. And I'm dying to get them moved into it but gotta be safe and wait a few days while the silicone off-gasses....gonna be a LONG few days though lol
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Well? C'mon Steve, we're waiting 😜😛😂
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Troph tank build is now done and fish have been swimming happily for about 24hrs now. I already saw a couple of the larger ones in the group doing the mating dance behind the rock so they be happy in their new home.
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(http://imageshack.com/a/img922/2231/TmWQic.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img922/9716/U1cXPR.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img923/1342/FiUtUv.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img922/2033/b9yz8g.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img923/4291/xhkuYD.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img923/7452/5cZDcP.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img924/3174/K9MkDl.jpg)
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Alright mate!!!! Very nice. Thx for getting the pics up. Can't wait to see them grow into there space and fully color up. Another great project to follow. Cheers mate!
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Nice!!!!!
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How is the bemba tank going mate? Everyone settled in and doing the troph thing now?
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They have settled pretty well now. Had to hit them with two doses of Metro over the past few weeks because some of them were sitting on bottom and just acting strange. You know touchy trophs can be with bloat for no reason it seems >:( Good news is about 80% of them are fine now and healthy/active. Still have about 5 that seem to not be reacting to the metro but after two doses of metro and two does of Kanaplex I don't want to hit them again with anything else.
Some of them are starting to show off already for the others. Been seeing some of the males doing the shimmer thing for the females already.
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Beautiful work very professional.
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Man this makes me feel like I am lacking with my fishtanks haha - great work
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Juat an FYI on this tank. Sold off the bemba trops, they were too damn mean, redoing the tank, waiting for an okay from the MDNR for a "possision" permit from the DNR for bluegill & crappie. Redoing the tank with them soon.
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If you think tropheus are mean try some bluegills. Viscious little bastards. I tried to keep some small ones in a 55 in my classroom a few times....tore each other to shreds. I never tried crappies, maybe they are better.