55-Gallon Process

[uscamaro]

Originally Posted by theotheragentm

What you have hiding your drain to your sump...is that custom? I'd love to just hide my intake tube on my cannister, even if it meant lose some more space. I'd just drill out the whole thing rather than just the top.

As for the drilling of the holes on the bottom of the tank (I assume that is what you were talking about), the guy at my LFS told me that you can do it to any tank and it will cost about $20 a hole at a glass store. The only problem is that they do not guarantee that the tank will not crack. Even though he has not heard of it happening, the risk is still there, one I didn't want to take.

[theotheragentm]

Yeah, I didn't want to drill it. I just wanted to possibly hide some items behind it. I think I'd take a piece of PVC pipe, cut it into 1/4 and paint it. Then just jam it into my substrate. It'd hide my cannister filter intake tube and my heater.

[Andos99]

Got any fish in there yet?

[uscamaro]

Yes I do, I have been really busy lately and have not been able to take/upload any pictures. I will try to do that later on today.

[uscamaro]

Finally my crazy/busy schedule has subsided! I have been able to take, upload, and post new pictures of my tank. Since the last update, I have added a black background, fish (mollies, danios, guppies, and tetras), and fake plants. I wanted to go with real plants, but I had to put fake ones in for the meantime, until I get more money.

I am almost 100% sure that 2 guppies and a molly is pregnant, that is why I added all the floating plants. I also bought a 10-gallon breeder/quarantine tank--but since I will be going away for a week, I figured I'd just wait until I come back to transfer them since I only have 1 automatic feeder.

Anyway, to the new pictures...




Cave, plant, and fish




Floating plants (right side).




Complete setup.





Right-side angle shot (one of my favorites)




Sorry about all the crappy pictures. I wish they were more clear (I should invest in a tri-pod). I will have to wait until my sister, who is a photographer with a much better camera, can come and take a few good pics. Hope you guys like!

[marchmaxima]

Its looking great. I've been finding it hard to take good piccies too.

[FiveSix]

Originally Posted by uscamaro

You paid too much for the ON whey. haha I'm JK. Everything's looking nice. Even though I have overflow boxes I'm not using I really want a tank with an overflow so I don't have a flood risk.

[uscamaro]

Haha, you actually got me on that first sentence of yours. Anyway, when I was buying the wet/dry system, he gave me one that was 75-gallon-rated that had just come in without a pricetag. He then said he wasn't sure on the price and went to go check it out. He told me $177, which I had seen on the 125-gallon-rated prior, so then I asked him about it. I could tell easily he was trying to get a few extra $ out of me but came back with "well [the 75-gallon-rated] is the new model, that is why the [125] is cheaper... would you rather go with the 125?" And of course I went for it!

[pitt420dude]

Nice tank, I like the black sand. that would look great with some black substrate too. Mmmm... that would be hot. Maybe when you go planted you'll have the Johnny Cash planted tank.

I love my 55 gal.

[uscamaro]

That would be a nice idea. As soon as I can pay off some other bills, I'll invest in decent lighting and a few live plants.