36 gal bowfront........(my first)

iridebmx · #1 (**permalink**) 10-29-2008, 03:33 AM

i went and got a 36 gallon bow front .i think it will be a good starter.im going to get a pair of blue azureus for it as soon as i have the tank and food source established.im hoping to get some input from everyone on my journey!as well as give others a few pics,and usefull info,just as i have found by looking at other peoples posts.

first i did a mock-up with the eggcrate for the false bottom,i decided to add a pvc pipe on the left side for a humidifier,i also made a open area across the top for any water tupe changes i might want to change,then i decided to make a void on the right side so i can change or service a pump or filter without disrupting the immediate tank.(fastened with zip ties)

next i put the ge black 100% silicone on the back and sides using a putty knife(i put it on thick!) 2 1\2 tubes....do this in well ventalated area

then i put some fiberglass screen over the false bottom to prevent anything falling through.fastend it with a needle and fishing line!

after this i prepared the the tank floor. i placed pvc pipe to help with the weight of anything i might put in the tank later(i also notched each one so water wouldnt get trapped in them). i went ahead and put a underwater heater in it and made sure i could change the temp easy through my access on the right side.

before i put the false bottom in i cut some silicone off the right side so i can veiw the pump,water level,and heater(so i can see completely under the false bottom)

then i set up the false bottom and put the rest in place(i siliconed around the bottom and the side and the back) i made it to where there is a half inch gap in between the false bottom and the front of the tank.so i can put rocks there to hide the false bottom(i wedged stuff in there to hold everything in place till the silicone dries) plus i threw the extra peices of eggcrate in the back for added support for the heavy rocks

i went down to the river a block away from my house and managed to find some decent rocks.....i then took them to work and sprayed them off(you can do this at a car wash to get all the nasty stuff off). then i boiled them till the water evaporated.then did it again!(took an hour roughly) my wife was not happy ! it stinks like a creek! then i took them to the sink and used bleach water to kill germs (10% bleach 90%water)

next i layed the tank on the back side (over a towel) i sprayed a can of great stuff foam spray on the back walls and covered everything thouroghly then placed the rocks where i wanted them9i will add another can tommorow after the first can cures)make sure to do this some where ventalated and easy to clean in case of a mess which is inevitable!

andy321 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-29-2008, 03:44 AM

looks good

adnama36 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-29-2008, 12:40 PM

I can't wait to see how this comes out. My vents are in a 26g bowfront, and it's my favorite tank! I think bows make gorgeous vivs!

rednkhuntertd · #4 (**permalink**) 10-29-2008, 01:07 PM

I'm glad to see that I am not the only person who makes sure everything is dead inside rocks/ wood. LOL My dad freaks out every time I bake cork bark in the kitchen oven! He makes me vacuum it out (wouldn't want the cookies to taste like cork) :-)

Can't wait to see how your tank turns out!

iridebmx · #5 (**permalink**) 10-30-2008, 05:42 AM

im addin a few more rocks and i will put wood in later.i didnt want to attach wood to the foam (no reason).im goin to make sure the false bottom is very secure to the tank so (just in case) i will never have tads getting in behind it!i havent figured out how i will mask the pipe for the humidifier yet,i have a rock i am going to mill down on the back side to fit over it permanatly most likely

Cohazard · #6 (**permalink**) 10-30-2008, 06:28 AM

I love these build threads!

Being a noob to the PDF scene, I've read and read and read about PDF care, now I need to learn how to build a viv.

These threads help a lot since reading about a viv project with no pictures can get confusing sometimes hahah

iridebmx · #7 (**permalink**) 10-30-2008, 02:48 PM

im a beginer too! so i just took allot of what ive seen and tried to make it work for me .hope to help everyone else too

Frank H · #8 (**permalink**) 10-30-2008, 03:46 PM

Looking good! Anxious to see it finished! Well thought out, especially for a first viv!

BTW, if those rocks have moisture inside, they can possibly explode from boiling. Exploding rocks is very dangerous, although it doesnt happen much, I would be very carefull boiling them in the future.

-Frank

iridebmx · #9 (**permalink**) 11-03-2008, 04:40 AM

i have put the silicone on the foam and boy was that a sticky mess!but i got it for the most part im going to wait till tommorow and do the touch ups.i made a sweet cave for them and a few holes for plants.havent completely rigged the water yet but ill do that as soon as the back is done and cured.(silicone) i want to figure out how exactly the water will flow.i may try and do a stream to the pond too i can do a lot since i built the back the way i did. ive seen a bunch of cool streams and ill probobly just do it as i go .

thanks for the positive remarks.everyone ..... everyone that gave me the ideas for this thing needs a big thanks too!

iridebmx · #10 (**permalink**) 11-03-2008, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank H

BTW, if those rocks have moisture inside, they can possibly explode from boiling. Exploding rocks is very dangerous, although it doesnt happen much, I would be very carefull boiling them in the future.

-Frank

most of the rocks were milled down and nearly half a rock by the time i boiled them so not much room for a pocket of moisture.and yes it does make them explode though .i saw something about fossils one time and i guess rocks can hold moisture for houndreds of years before completely drying out even in hot deserts just a few feet under ground!

so everyone be carefull and if you do it .DONT STAND OVER THE POT!