Author Topic: 55g Mbuna build (tank #2) (Read 30592 times)

Steve · « **on:** October 18, 2012, 11:27:39 PM »

Well here we go again

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....

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....

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.

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.

Steve

Ron · « **Reply #1 on:** October 19, 2012, 08:29:50 AM »

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!

Steve · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2012, 01:05:07 AM »

Thanks Ron. I've always felt that building something with your own hands is always at least half the fun of any hobby

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.

Hope to get more done tomorrow.

Steve · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2012, 12:11:40 PM »

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.

Steve · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 2012, 05:57:27 PM »

Left side carved out and shaped.....
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Base coat of Drylok applied
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Main color applied Tan Fusion
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Mocked up in the tank so I can measure for building the side panels now
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Steve · « **Reply #5 on:** October 24, 2012, 02:48:38 PM »

48" LED Moonlights came today.....

Ron · « **Reply #6 on:** October 24, 2012, 03:08:42 PM »

Looking good!

I'm also looking forward to the day you've got a shot of a tank with fish in it.

Steve · « **Reply #7 on:** October 24, 2012, 03:40:41 PM »

Yeah you and me both Ron

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.

Steve · « **Reply #8 on:** October 24, 2012, 08:54:54 PM »

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....

Steve · « **Reply #9 on:** October 25, 2012, 04:59:53 PM »

Rena Xp3 for this tank was dropped off today....

Ron · « **Reply #10 on:** October 25, 2012, 05:27:48 PM »

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.

Steve · « **Reply #11 on:** October 25, 2012, 05:52:25 PM »

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

Steve · « **Reply #12 on:** October 31, 2012, 10:55:57 PM »

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.

Did this one so the majority of the top opens up for easy access.

RichE · « **Reply #13 on:** November 01, 2012, 11:06:24 AM »

Awesome work!

Steve · « **Reply #14 on:** November 01, 2012, 11:50:13 PM »

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

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.

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.

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