School Project

[jrpsaros]

Siliconed the glass into the bottom tank today. Tomorrow I'll take off the weights, put all the doors on, and take a picture for ya'll. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to use as a substrate and how exactly I'm going to stock it. Originally it was going to be my tiger Oscar, firemouth cichlid, rubberlip pleco, rainbow shark, 3 clown loaches, and a peacock eel. Well over the past two days, my oscar decided to chase 1 clown loach out of the tank and kill it, eat another clown loach, and eat the peacock eel (he's never shown agression btw, but just hit around 5 inches).
I think my new plan is going to be to have somoene adopt my oscar, then get 10 or so clown loaches 5 or 6 angles, the rubberlip pleco, then some other schooling fish, maybe some bigger tetras (cardinal maybe?) I feel like this could give a cool effect and have a very active tank. I'd then put the firemouth, and rainbow shark into the lower tank. Maybe add another firemouth and hope for a pair. What does everyone think?
Also I know this is brought up alot, but gravel, or play sand?

 

[redman88]

get some pool filter sand. its a bigger grain then play sand, so it wont get sucked up in the filter as easily

 

[john73738]

I don't have pictures of it, but I siliconed the glass into the top tank today. It's still at the school sitting on its face with weights on it. It looks good, Tuesday I'll bring it home, and may test fill it, I may wait, I'm nervous to fill it. I hope it doesn't have any leaks.

From what I have seen you should be fine. Good looking project.

 

[jrpsaros]

Okay here are a few updates, glass is in on the lower tank. The silicone container says it is 100% cured in 48 hours. How long should I really wait before test filling it? It sure looks cured to me.

The stand doors are on. It needs one more touch up coat of black paint, and the bottom tank will be done, even added all my filter media into the sump, just have to plumb it up. I also still need to build a hood, and plumb the sump to the top tank, then It's pretty much done.

Whats the best way to cycle a sump, I've never had one. I'm thinking I'll fill it with water and let it run, add the beneficial bacteria in a tube stuff to help get it going then after a day or two add some cardinal tetras, or maybe gold fish for a day or two, then slowly start moving all my other fish over. Is this a good plan?


Pictures as promised

Filter media, (far left is aquaclear canister foam, center is prefilter media foam, and far right is polyester fiber fill that I'm using as filter floss) In the first chamber I have the aquaclear canister foam with the prefilter media on top. Second chamber I have a ton of bioballs, and the third chamber is the polyester fiber fill. Is this a good order, or should i switch the bioballs and fiber fill?

Bucket of Bio-balls

Bottom tank almost complete, just needs a coat of touch up paint.

 

[monster convist]

it really workin out good nice thread

 

[Valous]

nice set up and came along rather quickly. Keep up the good work.

 

[juneblood3]

good job on the build just read the whole thread. ITs getting close to that deadline good luck with finishing it up.

 

[jrpsaros]

I'm getting really impatient and want to test fill it. It's been 48 hours, how long do I need to wait for the silicone to fuly cure?

 

[Mr_Altepeter]

jrpsaros,
NICE TANK BUILD!!! As an Old Army guy, you can guess at all the Marine jibes I could throw your way. LOL Really nice job though. I would give it a extra couple of hours. As long as your ambient temp has stayed stable, then a few extra hours shouldn't hurt. You don't need to wait a ridiculous time though. Looking forward to seeing the final product with the Cl's.

 

[jrpsaros]

Mr_Altepeter,
Haha yea I can think of a few jibes I could throw your way too. Thanks for the nice words and help. I think I'll try to test fill it on Tuesday. Along with the top tank, I want to try to get the tank plumbed up, so if the test fill goes well I can let it start cycling.

I've decided that I'm going to use pool filter sand, and create a nice planted tank. Also get some floating plants to provide shade for the clown loaches. Then get either 4 more clowns, or maybe 4 yo yo loaches. Then Definitely get some angel fish, and maybe another schooling fish to create a really cool active tank.