So, for those of you like me (hasty and impatient, unlike JK47) here is my take on how you can get this done in about a day. In my case, I was setting up a new tank but had existing filter and gravel and half of a full tank of cycled water. I started by measuring out the BG to fit my tank (65G reef style 36wx18dx25h) with the 36"x24" BG from DBN. My particular BG has about 3" total of depth at the deepest part and was perfect for my vision. I wanted depth with the pattern without taking too much precious real estate in the tank. I also wanted to hide all of my equipment (which as of tonight, is complete) I had a fluval 204 to start and just upgraded to the Eheim 2217, both had simular setups in this particular install and I will share how I made it work. I had to cut the BG but wanted the seam to be as irregular as possoble, I made a score in the back and then snapped the BG (yeah tat was a little nerve racking) as to get a nice irregular crack. I then scooped out a channel in the BG for the intake of my canister to hide. Poked a hole through the front in a shadowed area to allow the water into the intake. Then siliconed the thing together in the tank. I have found you do not need to silicone the sides unless you are creating an area in the back for extra equipment like JK47. It looks better if you just do the back, top and bottom. Then I let it cure for a day, filled and enjoyed!! Because I wanted to have a spray bar creating surface agitation, my only option was to secure the spray bar to the glass hood with the suction cups. Please let me know if you have any questions. I will now post pics:
^ clean seam of silicone where BG meets back of tank
^ during the curing of the silicone
^ original setup with the Fluval, would have kept this if it wasn't so underpowered for this tank and it's unhabitants
^ closeup of the hole, you really can't see this without a light directly ast it (like the flash), the wire is a temp probe, this was the intake from the Fluval and now has the Eheim one in there. It is a little shorter and you cannot even see it with a light in there.
^ this is how it looks with the Eheim setup, notice the white plastic. It is a piece of plastic from a ilk jug with a hole cut in it, this keeps the water from being pulled from up top down into the filter intake in that crevice. Notice the spray bar and how simple it is to hook up and still be inconspicuous.
^ better shot of the spray bar attached to the glass hood, the jets are pointing down at about 45 degrees into the tank
^ top view of the tank to show how little room the BG is taking up in my tank.
^ pic of the new Eheim and the in line heater, crucial in hiding the equipment without an extra area behind the BG
^ the end result (I have a little extra driftwood now and the Midas has a little more girth to him.
^ taken tonight with the light pulled forward a little for a more dramatic effect
^ Why we do what we do, he (to me at least) is one of the most perfect Midas/RD's I have ever seen, he deserves a palace.
^ clean seam of silicone where BG meets back of tank
^ during the curing of the silicone
^ original setup with the Fluval, would have kept this if it wasn't so underpowered for this tank and it's unhabitants
^ closeup of the hole, you really can't see this without a light directly ast it (like the flash), the wire is a temp probe, this was the intake from the Fluval and now has the Eheim one in there. It is a little shorter and you cannot even see it with a light in there.
^ this is how it looks with the Eheim setup, notice the white plastic. It is a piece of plastic from a ilk jug with a hole cut in it, this keeps the water from being pulled from up top down into the filter intake in that crevice. Notice the spray bar and how simple it is to hook up and still be inconspicuous.
^ better shot of the spray bar attached to the glass hood, the jets are pointing down at about 45 degrees into the tank
^ top view of the tank to show how little room the BG is taking up in my tank.
^ pic of the new Eheim and the in line heater, crucial in hiding the equipment without an extra area behind the BG
^ the end result (I have a little extra driftwood now and the Midas has a little more girth to him.
^ taken tonight with the light pulled forward a little for a more dramatic effect
^ Why we do what we do, he (to me at least) is one of the most perfect Midas/RD's I have ever seen, he deserves a palace.
