amazing tank looks really good. just one question what kind of auratus is that?
85ish gal construction **UPDATED pics**
Updated pics are on page 3 Then again on page 4
I'm exhausted, it was more work than I expected, but so far I am happy with the outcome.
The tank, a 85 or so gallon acrylic custom built tank. Yes I know about potential warping and will be taking precautions to help prevent it. I followed some general guidelines brought forth by blackjungle.com in their how-to. It was simple, yet it yields what I was looking for. On with the pics.
This is the tank, still protected from scratching with the paper on the acrylic. This is the layout of the wood I placed. The wood is driftwood, hopefully it will hold up as it looks it will. Also I used their idea of adding tubing in the background as a low flow trickle system.
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The layout with some of the great stuff in there.
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The idea behind this was some "islands" more or less as planters. I wanted a false bottom and used leca (hydroton) for this. The tank is drilled and run to a sump. I used eggcrate and some nylon screen cut to a cute little design.
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Here is some foam added on the islands. I ended up cutting all off the back side as it got in the way in the end. This required a lot of cutting and shaping in the end.
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An island with some silicon and coco fiber in place. I also ended up adding a ridge around the bottom so it sunk down in the water a little. It gave a more rounded natural look IMO.
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I started adding some silicon/coco to the background. Also installed here (or whenever) are the mistking nozzles. I was the guinea pig for Marty, his first customer. These things are awesome, and as you can tell very nice looking.
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A closeup of the nozzle
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Another, go buy some!! :wink:
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Here is the placement of the nozzles as well as the ventelation holes. I am extremely happy with how I placed them. More on this later. They are: 2 4" diameter holes on each side, and 1 1"x12" slot center in front.
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Here is the background with all the coco on it. Not fully touched up, but basically done.
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The water running and the leca in place.
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A couple plants in place. Just cuttings from my other tank. Tomorrow hopefully the plants will be here, a bunch from peaceofthetropics.
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The lights that are on the tank, are two VHO's 46.5". I had a reef tank and these lights were very old. The spectrum should be good enough now for the plants. We will see I guess. I also have an icecap fan on the canopy. It is variable speed, according to temperature. I have it centered blowing over the tank. The way the slots are the center slot captures some of the fan movement and seems to keep the front glass completely clear. The humidity is steady around 90%in the front middle, where the most air is moving. The two side holes keep the air moving around the front glass.
If I turn off the fan, within 2 minutes the glass completely fogs. I also added a won titanium heater to the sump to maintain temperature. I let my house get cold at night, low 60's high 50's so the water being warmer (80) should keep everything comfortable.
Here's just a fun shot of my auratus. Its going to be a mixed species tank (eggs to be destroyed) and I'll be adding the others once the plants are in place.
![]()
I'm exhausted, it was more work than I expected, but so far I am happy with the outcome.
The tank, a 85 or so gallon acrylic custom built tank. Yes I know about potential warping and will be taking precautions to help prevent it. I followed some general guidelines brought forth by blackjungle.com in their how-to. It was simple, yet it yields what I was looking for. On with the pics.
This is the tank, still protected from scratching with the paper on the acrylic. This is the layout of the wood I placed. The wood is driftwood, hopefully it will hold up as it looks it will. Also I used their idea of adding tubing in the background as a low flow trickle system.
The layout with some of the great stuff in there.
The idea behind this was some "islands" more or less as planters. I wanted a false bottom and used leca (hydroton) for this. The tank is drilled and run to a sump. I used eggcrate and some nylon screen cut to a cute little design.
Here is some foam added on the islands. I ended up cutting all off the back side as it got in the way in the end. This required a lot of cutting and shaping in the end.
An island with some silicon and coco fiber in place. I also ended up adding a ridge around the bottom so it sunk down in the water a little. It gave a more rounded natural look IMO.
I started adding some silicon/coco to the background. Also installed here (or whenever) are the mistking nozzles. I was the guinea pig for Marty, his first customer. These things are awesome, and as you can tell very nice looking.
A closeup of the nozzle
Another, go buy some!! :wink:
Here is the placement of the nozzles as well as the ventelation holes. I am extremely happy with how I placed them. More on this later. They are: 2 4" diameter holes on each side, and 1 1"x12" slot center in front.
Here is the background with all the coco on it. Not fully touched up, but basically done.
The water running and the leca in place.
A couple plants in place. Just cuttings from my other tank. Tomorrow hopefully the plants will be here, a bunch from peaceofthetropics.
The lights that are on the tank, are two VHO's 46.5". I had a reef tank and these lights were very old. The spectrum should be good enough now for the plants. We will see I guess. I also have an icecap fan on the canopy. It is variable speed, according to temperature. I have it centered blowing over the tank. The way the slots are the center slot captures some of the fan movement and seems to keep the front glass completely clear. The humidity is steady around 90%in the front middle, where the most air is moving. The two side holes keep the air moving around the front glass.
If I turn off the fan, within 2 minutes the glass completely fogs. I also added a won titanium heater to the sump to maintain temperature. I let my house get cold at night, low 60's high 50's so the water being warmer (80) should keep everything comfortable.
Here's just a fun shot of my auratus. Its going to be a mixed species tank (eggs to be destroyed) and I'll be adding the others once the plants are in place.
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Re: 85ish gal construction **lots o' pics**
Nick, that is a beautiful and impressive tank ! I can't wait to see it fully planted and overgrown. Nozzles look great...although I did modify them a little. No more yellow gaskets
(I have them on my tanks too :lol: )
Make sure you use java moss wherever you can, that thing will look amazing when it's done. With your lights and constant misting you'll get that java moss out of control in no time.
superb job man! As my first customer you'll always have a special place in my heart :shock: heheheh...just kidding dude :wink:
Nick, that is a beautiful and impressive tank ! I can't wait to see it fully planted and overgrown. Nozzles look great...although I did modify them a little. No more yellow gaskets
(I have them on my tanks too :lol: ) Make sure you use java moss wherever you can, that thing will look amazing when it's done. With your lights and constant misting you'll get that java moss out of control in no time.
superb job man! As my first customer you'll always have a special place in my heart :shock: heheheh...just kidding dude :wink:
Alright, more pics.
Full on with plants
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Right side of the tank
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Let side
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One note, you'll see the slide bolt locks on the front. This is my counter to the warping. Just the weight of the doors made them warp a little, basically just flexing. Where these are placed it should prevent warping at least enough to keep it escape proof, which is all I really care about.
Full on with plants
Right side of the tank
Let side
One note, you'll see the slide bolt locks on the front. This is my counter to the warping. Just the weight of the doors made them warp a little, basically just flexing. Where these are placed it should prevent warping at least enough to keep it escape proof, which is all I really care about.
3
iHMMM. I responded yesterday and the response is gone. Odd.
Thanks for the compliments.....
If you use the islands thingies be sure to make the deep. I wish I had built it up a little higher so the planting soil would be deeper. Adding foam on the bottom that sinks into the water worked great, be sure to do the same.
here is a pic more recent. i added a bunch more broms from peaceofthetropics
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Thanks for the compliments.....
If you use the islands thingies be sure to make the deep. I wish I had built it up a little higher so the planting soil would be deeper. Adding foam on the bottom that sinks into the water worked great, be sure to do the same.
here is a pic more recent. i added a bunch more broms from peaceofthetropics
So that's where all the broms that I wanted from PotT went :twisted: . The only thing I would have done different than you is the use of leca, I wouldn't have put anything in there at all, but that's just me. I'm probably gonna make a new tank when I use that island stuff, wouldn't go good in the 10gals .
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