Big tank/Office build

[Mission Man]

This Post is amazing.  I like the background.  I wish i had this in my office.  Not sure that I wol dget anything done though.

My thoughts exactly !!!!

[Steve]

I received my order of Pond Armor / Pond Shield the other day and after getting home from the fish auction yesterday I spent the evening coating the entire background with Pond Armor. For those that don't know what that is it's basically a clear 2-part epoxy that is used for sealing/waterproofing ponds so it is fish safe non toxic. What it does is it seals the background so that fish like plecos will not be able to damage it, algae should wipe right off easily, and should make the background extremely durable for years of use in the tank.

Getting ready to do the final install into the tank now in just a bit.

[Steve]

Well four complete tubes of GE silicone I* later and the whole background is now permanently installed. Making some real progress now. Hopefully my goal of having fish in it by Thanksgiving will be attainable still.
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Also started working on the cave lights as well. Using the same style internal inverter cold cathode light bars on this one as I have my previous builds. Testing out the right side cave lights here.

[Steve]

I have found a new definition of "nerve wracking". Lift & placing rocks that weigh 30-50lbs each into a tank that is 31" deep on a stand that is 30" tall while on the 2nd step of a step ladder without dropping them and busting a years worth of work and a whole lot of money

[lilscoots]

Find a friend....I put my rock placing on hold until I called my brother-in-law over to help me when I was in your situation.

[Steve]

Almost got them all in now, just two more small/medium size ones to go and that'll be it for the rocks. Couple of the big ones had me holding my breath for  few seconds there. The big pain is the tank is in the basement and I'm about 6'6" and on the 2nd step of a step ladder and the basement ceilings are only 7ft, so it had me kind'a all jacked out of shape lol.

[Ron]

The LEDs look cool. I'd have never thought about getting Christmas lights - nice job!

FWIW, I'm not sure if they'll produce a shimmering effect or not, but would love to hear once you've got it filled with water how it turns out. My understanding is that the shimmering effect is best produced by single, strong light sources. I realize the LEDs are individual sources, but I'm not sure they are strong enough.

[Steve]

I actually tested them on my 20g fry tank last week to see if they give a shimmer and they give a pretty impressive shimmer effect This brand (Holiday Time) is just unreal how bright the LED's are, they really surprised me. To be honest they are so bright I am actually thinking about buying one of these just so I can tone them down a bit http://www.amazon.com/Rope-Light-Dimmer-Controls-Round/dp/B005NBUS5I

When I get a chance I'll put them back over the 20g tank and shoot a little 10 second video of the shimmer they give off, you'll be amazed how great they work for cheap $8 lights. I know I was 

[Steve]

Spent some time yesterday working in the filter room behind the tank getting it cleaned up so I have room behind the tank for easy tank maintenance and decided to build a stand for the dual filters. I always hate bending over to do maintenance on filters so I figured I'd make things a bit easier and get them up a bit higher so I built a stand for them using leftover wood and red oak that I had left from one of my 55g stand builds. Figure if I was gonna go to the trouble to make a filter stand then might as well make it nice even if it is hidden behind a wall Also found a use for one of the spare 20G hood/light combos I have had laying around. Repurposed it it into a light over the filter table.

 

[Steve]

 Well been waiting for this post for a while now, the past week I have most the "in tank" work done now. All that is left is the plumbing work, building the spraybars for the filters, adding two more 48" lights and adding four acentic bulbs, adding a pair of inline 300w heaters, and thats about it.

Here's the "done" pics. since the last I have done....150lbs of white sand, worm wood, and manzetia branches. I also added some fake plants.They are silk plants from Micheals and I did some brown/dark green shading to them with fusion paints just to make them look more realistic. I hate the plastic fake ones so I added silk ones which I bought from Micheals, then I cut them apart into smaller pieces, siliconed them together, added some dark green and brown fusion painted accents to add some lifelike look to them as well. Did much more, but I'll just post the pics and hope you enjoy the3 way it is. Hopefully in a few weeks the next time you see it there will be fish in it

This has been 6-8 months of work, so hope you guys enjoy. If anyone is ever in area and wants to stop by, your more than welcome to come over, would love to have ya.

The next post should have water and FISH

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

Magnificent, I can't wait to see the tank filled with fish !

[Ogre44]

Magnificent!
You're going to need some big fish to make that tank look full.

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

Steve - curious - how did you suspend those pieces of drift wood from the top of the tank ?

[four_by_ken]

I feel good about my tanks... until I look at this thread.

 

[LoveTheFishies]

Looking nice.   

Is that a bow front tank I spy to the left?