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I am sure this has been done a million times, but here is a sort of small step by step instruction for the one I just built. It is my first, so if anyone with experience has anything to add, please do so:
Step 1
First off it is best to make the false bottom section if that is what you will use. For false bottom construction, do a search. As for the way I do it, I leave a small gap between the egg crate and the glass to fill with gravel. Just a trick I learned from a local, and it works and looks great.
Step 2
Once you have the false bottom finished, you can glue the background in. I used a full size cork piece that fit the entirety of the back. I used foam only around the sides to keep it in place. I am not a big fan of filling in the entire back with foam. I then covered the foam later with silicone and bed a beast
Step 3
Now you can start glueing the glass to the front. I used a piece that was 6 inches tall, and had a snug fit in the black plastic rim of the tank. Make sure to seal the black plastic to the tank as well or it will leak. Also, now you can add any landscape you want such as that smaller cork piece I used to add some depth. I also made the screen flap for ventilation in this step, however it isn't installed yet, I just wanted to check the fit of both glass pieces.
Step 4
Once the glue is cured, you can now add substrate, or gravel. I use gravel on top of the egg crate so I have very little substrate because it is so much like a sponge. I have really saved a lot of plants with this method from root rot.It also looks nicer not showing the false bottom eggcrate section.
Step 5
Now it is time to add the plants and substrate. I just drill holes into the cork and then hot glue the broms in if they aren't secure enough in the hole. I also have squeeze many crypt babies into small holes since they grow so well. The lighting is a 20 watt 6500k compact flourescent from walmart. It puts out a LOT of light. It is in just a clamp fixture for now, but that is only temporary. anything past this step is totally your preference. And if you are daring, you can drill holes/hole in the back glass piece to get a cord out for a pump or something. I didn't want to do that yet, , but on my next one I will
I hope this helps somebody out. I think this tank will look great once grown in more and the door is totally finished. If anyone has more questions please do ask.
Ed Parker
Step 1
First off it is best to make the false bottom section if that is what you will use. For false bottom construction, do a search. As for the way I do it, I leave a small gap between the egg crate and the glass to fill with gravel. Just a trick I learned from a local, and it works and looks great.
Step 2
Once you have the false bottom finished, you can glue the background in. I used a full size cork piece that fit the entirety of the back. I used foam only around the sides to keep it in place. I am not a big fan of filling in the entire back with foam. I then covered the foam later with silicone and bed a beast
Step 3
Now you can start glueing the glass to the front. I used a piece that was 6 inches tall, and had a snug fit in the black plastic rim of the tank. Make sure to seal the black plastic to the tank as well or it will leak. Also, now you can add any landscape you want such as that smaller cork piece I used to add some depth. I also made the screen flap for ventilation in this step, however it isn't installed yet, I just wanted to check the fit of both glass pieces.
Step 4
Once the glue is cured, you can now add substrate, or gravel. I use gravel on top of the egg crate so I have very little substrate because it is so much like a sponge. I have really saved a lot of plants with this method from root rot.It also looks nicer not showing the false bottom eggcrate section.
Step 5
Now it is time to add the plants and substrate. I just drill holes into the cork and then hot glue the broms in if they aren't secure enough in the hole. I also have squeeze many crypt babies into small holes since they grow so well. The lighting is a 20 watt 6500k compact flourescent from walmart. It puts out a LOT of light. It is in just a clamp fixture for now, but that is only temporary. anything past this step is totally your preference. And if you are daring, you can drill holes/hole in the back glass piece to get a cord out for a pump or something. I didn't want to do that yet, , but on my next one I will
I hope this helps somebody out. I think this tank will look great once grown in more and the door is totally finished. If anyone has more questions please do ask.
Ed Parker