Im trying to post up pictures of my project on my profile. I just want to make sure that I am not cramming my fish into a tank. I have a 112 at my moms house that I am looking to set up when i move out of my current place. But that wont be for a while, at least a year or two. So you wouldnt recommend any wood? I want to make my tank look as close to home as possible for my fish (even though i know they have never seen natural water)
Epic Overhaul/Builds: 3D Backgrounds 300g-125g-120g
- Thread starter JK47
- Start date
The reason I suggested little wood/stones is because a 65g is going to be small for those three fish. If your going to do it for any period of time, I would limit the territories possible for them to defend. It may buy you a little time until you pick up your larger tank. Your Tilapia buttikoferi is no slouch! Do whatever you can to keep it though, they are an awesome species.makoshoemaker;4537838; said:
LOL, i'm working on the 30" tall , that should help out alot of peeps. As for the right side up instructions, im gonna call it the "Justin Rule", and start spray painting the back with...... TURN AROUND w/ a big arrow saying THIS SIDE UP.JK47;4532630; said:Matt if you read this buddy, us MFK'ers want these 96" wide and 30" tall or bigger. (and a "this end up" stamp.. Oh and another stamp that says "if you can read this, turn me around.." I'm sure you remember that day)
Justin:
I have seen several threads which have really been great personal projects, but I have never seen anything like your's. This is truly an outstanding thread. Never in my life have I seen such determination, attention to detail, and personal pride. This is not to say that other threads do not have the same, they all do. But for some reason, unknown to me, yours just appears to elevate itself to a higher level of epic proportions in monster tanks. I've been reading the thread from begining to end , so far and it's just amazes me how well you have done, with the help of your family and MFK member friends. Hats off to all of you. I'm am excited to see how these tanks all turn out and I think the term "outstanding" is going to be a foot note when you are totally finished and have honed it all into the masterpieces you have had in your mind's eye.
I am definitely subscribed and I wish you much continued success with the remainder of this terrific project you have going on. I wish I was back home in Portland, OR. I too would come and help out, but 1500 miles is to far to travel right now. Maybe someday in the near but distant future I could do it, but not right now. (Does that last sentence make plausible sense?) At any rate . . . you are an amazing young man with a beautiful family and a wife with a good heart. Thanks for sharing everything with us all and cheers to your continued success. ~David
I have seen several threads which have really been great personal projects, but I have never seen anything like your's. This is truly an outstanding thread. Never in my life have I seen such determination, attention to detail, and personal pride. This is not to say that other threads do not have the same, they all do. But for some reason, unknown to me, yours just appears to elevate itself to a higher level of epic proportions in monster tanks. I've been reading the thread from begining to end , so far and it's just amazes me how well you have done, with the help of your family and MFK member friends. Hats off to all of you. I'm am excited to see how these tanks all turn out and I think the term "outstanding" is going to be a foot note when you are totally finished and have honed it all into the masterpieces you have had in your mind's eye.
I am definitely subscribed and I wish you much continued success with the remainder of this terrific project you have going on. I wish I was back home in Portland, OR. I too would come and help out, but 1500 miles is to far to travel right now. Maybe someday in the near but distant future I could do it, but not right now. (Does that last sentence make plausible sense?) At any rate . . . you are an amazing young man with a beautiful family and a wife with a good heart. Thanks for sharing everything with us all and cheers to your continued success. ~David
Hey Matt! At least you won't forget this customer any time soon lol.. Hmmm, the Justin rule huh? I like it!shyro77;4537959; said:LOL, i'm working on the 30" tall , that should help out alot of peeps. As for the right side up instructions, im gonna call it the "Justin Rule", and start spray painting the back with...... TURN AROUND w/ a big arrow saying THIS SIDE UP.
It's not often I receive a message of this caliber. I will be succinct and just say thank you David.David K. Bradley;4538066; said:
That means allot. I put my heart into my hobby and hopefully one day my boys will put just as much into their interests. Updates/pics coming soon tonight. We got allot done today and finally got the 120 wet, for about 30 minutes..
Painting the background black put me a day behind but I feel better so that's all that matters. Someone tried shoplifting my 10 gallon. We made a little progress on that wood and were trying to work out the lighting. I know what's in my head but kind of hard to put it into words.
Got everything taped off and ready for paint. Yes those are a buttload of scrubbies in the 300g. I still have not put in the sump yet. I'm waiting until the background is done.
I ended up doing two pretty thick coats. Roller style I don't like spraying tanks..
You may only count 2 but there are actually 6 ninjas in this pic.. That's totally not aclockworkorange if that's what your thinking lol.
Plumbing and background came out nicely. I am happy with both.
I pulled about 20 galllons from my 300g to test the silicone and make sure I didn't pull it apart when I pulled out the overflow towers. The good news is the silicone is 100% fine, no tears where the silicone met.
The bad news is I have a leak in 3 of the 4 bulkhead fittings.
It's not the plumbing because the inside of the plumbing is not wet, only where the threads on the fitting meet. No these are not DIY bucket filters. Leaking doesn't count as a "drip system" does it??? Now I have to flip the tank and see what's up with the AGA bulkhead fittings.
Got everything taped off and ready for paint. Yes those are a buttload of scrubbies in the 300g. I still have not put in the sump yet. I'm waiting until the background is done.
I ended up doing two pretty thick coats. Roller style I don't like spraying tanks..
You may only count 2 but there are actually 6 ninjas in this pic.. That's totally not aclockworkorange if that's what your thinking lol.
Plumbing and background came out nicely. I am happy with both.
I pulled about 20 galllons from my 300g to test the silicone and make sure I didn't pull it apart when I pulled out the overflow towers. The good news is the silicone is 100% fine, no tears where the silicone met.
The bad news is I have a leak in 3 of the 4 bulkhead fittings.
It's not the plumbing because the inside of the plumbing is not wet, only where the threads on the fitting meet. No these are not DIY bucket filters. Leaking doesn't count as a "drip system" does it??? Now I have to flip the tank and see what's up with the AGA bulkhead fittings.
While we were waiting for the paint to dry on the 120g, we switched to the 300g and got the external Durso pipes cemented together and ready to rock. I have an idea I want to try with these and I really hope it works.
I bought a length of airline and some of the connectors with a threaded wheel so you can adujst the amont of air running through the airline.
These are the nozzles up close. The wheel is to reduce air flow.
I cut a quick length of hose, attached the nozzles and used a 1/4" drill bit (below right) to drill the top of the pipes.
1/4" hole drilled in top of the cap and length of line ran down into the overflow..
Now with my redition of the external Durso's seated, I am hoping that by adjusting the amount of air being pulled down the overflow, I can make it silent. Even if I switch out pumps down the road etc.. I can just recalibrate both of them again.. On the inside of the tank (other side of bulkhead fitting) there is a 90 degree elbow pointed down.
The back of this tank looks really clean IMO.. I am really happy with it. I will be using 1.5" pond hoses to connect to the sump. I didn't want hardline below the bottom of the tank in case I ever (Monday) pull the tank off the stand and set it down, now I can.
I coulnd't resist catching a quick shot of my Satanoperca sp. "redlip" pair. Such a beautiful species, I am really lucky to keep them. This species is available every now and again but not at this size. Both are 8" TL and look amazing in their tank. One of those species you need to see in person..
Sorry for jumping back and fourth on each tank. I am trying to keep momentum going when something goes wrong. I thought the 120g would be done last night and all day today was going to be 300g background. I guess we will see what tomorrow brings. My goal being obviously to stop the leak and get the BG back in the tank. I am testing the pond foam tomorrow too.
I bought a length of airline and some of the connectors with a threaded wheel so you can adujst the amont of air running through the airline.
These are the nozzles up close. The wheel is to reduce air flow.
I cut a quick length of hose, attached the nozzles and used a 1/4" drill bit (below right) to drill the top of the pipes.
1/4" hole drilled in top of the cap and length of line ran down into the overflow..
Now with my redition of the external Durso's seated, I am hoping that by adjusting the amount of air being pulled down the overflow, I can make it silent. Even if I switch out pumps down the road etc.. I can just recalibrate both of them again.. On the inside of the tank (other side of bulkhead fitting) there is a 90 degree elbow pointed down.
The back of this tank looks really clean IMO.. I am really happy with it. I will be using 1.5" pond hoses to connect to the sump. I didn't want hardline below the bottom of the tank in case I ever (Monday) pull the tank off the stand and set it down, now I can.
I coulnd't resist catching a quick shot of my Satanoperca sp. "redlip" pair. Such a beautiful species, I am really lucky to keep them. This species is available every now and again but not at this size. Both are 8" TL and look amazing in their tank. One of those species you need to see in person..
Sorry for jumping back and fourth on each tank. I am trying to keep momentum going when something goes wrong. I thought the 120g would be done last night and all day today was going to be 300g background. I guess we will see what tomorrow brings. My goal being obviously to stop the leak and get the BG back in the tank. I am testing the pond foam tomorrow too.
Wow...this is truly an epic build thread!! Can't wait to see end results. I wish I was as DIY savvy!!! Those fish are SWEET!!!
that's a great idea for the durso pipes. I've seen all sorts of methods used to get the airflow right but this is easily the simplest. I hope it works like you want it to... I know those dursos can be really noisy!
