55 gallon in wall tank - Aquarium Advice

rlebeau · 01-24-2006, 11:35 AM

This started as a small project. Toss a tank on the ledge between the library and the entryway. Well, the 55g tank didn't quite fit. So I had to build a "stand" for it.

I am hoping to have a nice cichlid tank in the near future. I've not had cichlids before so I am all ears.

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Add a few more 2x4's and some drywall. And hello to all of my fellow x-file fans out there!

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After all of the hard work.

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Believe it or not, the front was the easy part.

I am now a self taught cabinet maker. And it shows!!. Easy access to the top. Still needs some trim, stain, a few more doors and I'll be done with the "stand". I have a filstar x2 canister filter in the bottom cabinet. The filtration plumbing is ran through the wall. Nothing hanging off of the tank. I'll add more pics one I get the whole thing done.

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This is my buddy Big P (11"). I have had him for about 4 yrs. My 30g tank sprung a leak a few days after I put water in the new tank. I had to move him and a few small fish into the new tank. I saved as much water as I could, and moved the most of the gravel. It has been over a week. He is eating algae disks and has his color back. I think he will be ok.

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update 1-31-06

I have just a bit of stain and paint and I'm done.

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I have also changed the gravel to sand and added some decor.

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Let me know what you think. And feel free to leave a few tips on cichlids.

Billsgate · 01-25-2006, 09:45 AM

Great job! Looks awesome.

And your pleco looks great!

BrianNY · 01-25-2006, 12:24 PM

I'm envious of your skills. I think it looks great. Cichlids, eh? Any species in mind?

czcz · 01-25-2006, 09:09 PM

Nice.

rlebeau · 01-25-2006, 10:33 PM

I would like a colorful mix of fish that will not rip each other apart and traumatize any of my 4 daughters. I would like them to be compatible with the pleco. My wife is sternly against feeding anything live to them. I would rather have more smaller than a few large fish.

We are also "debating" gravel vs sand. She likes the gravel because it fits into the decor of the house. I like the idea of sand for ease of cleaning but color choices seem to be either black or white. Not sure what color pool sand it but I am guessing it's very light.

I've been reading several posts and websites but it's information overload.

Glenc · 02-01-2006, 01:55 AM

You have done a great job! Looks awsome. You can't be married. Give your wife a kiss for me. My wife would kill me if I tried to do what you did! She won't even let me have a tank in the bedroom! Imagine!

Lonewolfblue · 02-01-2006, 03:20 AM

Great looking tank and good job. Another idea is that since you have a cannister filter, could get an inline heater and remove the heater from inside the tank. Very nicely done, love it.... Again, great job....

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hydor-Inline-300...QQcmdZViewItem

Just make sure you get the correct sized one for your output line if you decide on this at a later date.

rlebeau · 02-01-2006, 08:02 AM

i was just reading about the inline heaters yesterday.. didn't even know they exsisted. I'll probably get one before I "offically" stock the tank.

thanks for the link

crazycat · 02-03-2006, 01:12 PM

amazing! it looks great! very jealous! please keep us updated.

06-22-2006, 09:56 PM

Tank looks awesome. The rock pile looks great with the sand.

01-24-2006, 11:35 AM	#1
rlebeau Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Avon, IN Posts: 28 Images: 8	55 gallon in wall tank This started as a small project. Toss a tank on the ledge between the library and the entryway. Well, the 55g tank didn't quite fit. So I had to build a "stand" for it. I am hoping to have a nice cichlid tank in the near future. I've not had cichlids before so I am all ears. [center:3201ceaa4e][/center:3201ceaa4e] Add a few more 2x4's and some drywall. And hello to all of my fellow x-file fans out there! [center:3201ceaa4e][/center:3201ceaa4e] After all of the hard work. [center:3201ceaa4e] [/center:3201ceaa4e] Believe it or not, the front was the easy part. I am now a self taught cabinet maker. And it shows!!. Easy access to the top. Still needs some trim, stain, a few more doors and I'll be done with the "stand". I have a filstar x2 canister filter in the bottom cabinet. The filtration plumbing is ran through the wall. Nothing hanging off of the tank. I'll add more pics one I get the whole thing done. [center:3201ceaa4e][/center:3201ceaa4e] This is my buddy Big P (11"). I have had him for about 4 yrs. My 30g tank sprung a leak a few days after I put water in the new tank. I had to move him and a few small fish into the new tank. I saved as much water as I could, and moved the most of the gravel. It has been over a week. He is eating algae disks and has his color back. I think he will be ok. [center:3201ceaa4e][/center:3201ceaa4e] update 1-31-06 I have just a bit of stain and paint and I'm done. [center:3201ceaa4e][/center:3201ceaa4e] I have also changed the gravel to sand and added some decor. [center:3201ceaa4e][/center:3201ceaa4e] Let me know what you think. And feel free to leave a few tips on cichlids. __________________ 55g FW in wall 11" pleco Starter fish View my tank in the Members Tank Showcase http://www.aquariumadvice.com/ftopic70465.php

01-25-2006, 10:33 PM	#5
rlebeau Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Avon, IN Posts: 28 Images: 8	I would like a colorful mix of fish that will not rip each other apart and traumatize any of my 4 daughters. I would like them to be compatible with the pleco. My wife is sternly against feeding anything live to them. I would rather have more smaller than a few large fish. We are also "debating" gravel vs sand. She likes the gravel because it fits into the decor of the house. I like the idea of sand for ease of cleaning but color choices seem to be either black or white. Not sure what color pool sand it but I am guessing it's very light. I've been reading several posts and websites but it's information overload. __________________ 55g FW in wall 11" pleco Starter fish View my tank in the Members Tank Showcase http://www.aquariumadvice.com/ftopic70465.php

02-01-2006, 01:55 AM	#6
Glenc Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,075	You have done a great job! Looks awsome. You can't be married. Give your wife a kiss for me. My wife would kill me if I tried to do what you did! She won't even let me have a tank in the bedroom! Imagine! __________________ 125 gallon, Crypt green gecko, Crypt undulata "broad leaf" Lobelia cardinalis small and large form. H.corymbosa "compact" Crypt parva, Downoi, Bacopa. 2x 150 Wt 10000k HQI Metal Halide, 2x 65 Wt 6700k-Colourmax

02-01-2006, 03:20 AM	#7
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	Great looking tank and good job. Another idea is that since you have a cannister filter, could get an inline heater and remove the heater from inside the tank. Very nicely done, love it.... Again, great job.... http://cgi.ebay.com/Hydor-Inline-300...QQcmdZViewItem Just make sure you get the correct sized one for your output line if you decide on this at a later date. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

02-01-2006, 08:02 AM	#8
rlebeau Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Avon, IN Posts: 28 Images: 8	i was just reading about the inline heaters yesterday.. didn't even know they exsisted. I'll probably get one before I "offically" stock the tank. thanks for the link __________________ 55g FW in wall 11" pleco Starter fish View my tank in the Members Tank Showcase http://www.aquariumadvice.com/ftopic70465.php

01-25-2006, 09:45 AM	#2
Billsgate Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,604 Images: 8	Great job! Looks awesome. And your pleco looks great!

01-25-2006, 12:24 PM	#3
BrianNY Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 4,259 Images: 18	I'm envious of your skills. I think it looks great. Cichlids, eh? Any species in mind?

02-03-2006, 01:12 PM	#9
crazycat Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: nyc Posts: 597 Images: 19	amazing! it looks great! very jealous! please keep us updated. __________________ don't turn your back on the ocean.

06-22-2006, 09:56 PM	#10
Guest Posts: n/a	Tank looks awesome. The rock pile looks great with the sand.

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