my cichlid tanks

[sblosser]

Heres a few pics of my tanks and stands. i'll get better at taking more pictures!

stand i built for my 75gallon:

 

[Convict2161]

Looks good. Can't wait to see the finish product.

 

[sblosser]

Heres the only pics i have of the rock wall construction with "caves" i have. wish i would of taken a lot of pics now :/

 

[sblosser]

Here's the only pic i have so far of the finished rock wall. I will take more soon especially after i get a new filter system for it and have it mounted in the utility room with hoses coming through the wall into the tank.

the utility room is on the other side of the wall behind the tank and has floor drains, water source and plenty of space. my XP3 filter has seen better days.... it leaked real bad replaced all the gaskets and the motor and it is still leaking... the leak has got worse over the last month. the filter is about 10 years old and i am just gonna go buy a new filter, tired of messing with this one. however, with having multiple tanks water changes would be easier with having a ready source of filtered and cycled water. so i am thinking of using the XP3 on a 55 gallon trashcan in the utility room to have water readily available for both cichlid tanks.

 

[Convict2161]

Looks good. Rock wall looks really good. The plants are kinda hiding such a great job!!! Just my opinion.

 

[sblosser]

heres some pictures of the 55 gallon tank. im kind of done with this for awhile. concentrating most of my tank time on the 75 now. but, i am still happy with the results from this as well.

My cat just loves to watch the 55 gallon tank. he sits on the stool in front of it for hours at a time.

 

[sblosser]

Looks good. Rock wall looks really good. The plants are kinda hiding such a great job!!! Just my opinion.

thanks, i put the plants in front of the "cave" openings to try to give them even more seclusion. once i add some more rock to the foreground the plant set up will change for sure.

 

[sblosser]

well i found a few pics of the gallon. i dont remember taking them though, lol.

 

[Convict2161]

well i found a few pics of the gallon. i dont remember taking them though, lol.

Nice work!

 

[Rare]

I like what you did Must be hell if you need to take one out for whatever reason..lol

 

[sblosser]

I like what you did Must be hell if you need to take one out for whatever reason..lol

yea.... they are set up so that they are removable. however they are set up that they shouldn't need to be removed as well.

 

[ff.rice]

Question.... I really like your idea with the PVC caves, did you paint the ends of it and if so what kind of paint? And there is no need to glue the joints, correct?

 

[sblosser]

Question.... I really like your idea with the PVC caves, did you paint the ends of it and if so what kind of paint? And there is no need to glue the joints, correct?

correct there is no need to glue the joints. i used the plasticoat paint as it was referred to me from my local pond store. they use that paint and the pond foam all the time in the custom ponds they build with no issues at all. i sanded the pipes before painting them to get any inks off of them and a better bond for the paint. i also drilled a couple small holes in the tops of the middle sections of the caves to allow air to escape if it was to get trapped in them. been up and running for awhile now and no issue whats so ever.

i have a few more pics i could post up as well.

 

[sblosser]

some pics i took today while doing a PWC

 

[sblosser]

a couple more pics from today.

 

[Convict2161]

Looking good

 

[ff.rice]

That looks outstanding!..... Is that a tiger barb in with your cichlids?

 

[SicMalawi]

Great idea did you get this idea from someone else? Amazing job

 

[sblosser]

That looks outstanding!..... Is that a tiger barb in with your cichlids?

yes, i have 2 tiger barbs, 2 green barbs i call them commando barbs lol, and 1 albino barb.

i also have a yoyo loach, a large fin spotted pleco, red tail shark, orangeish algae eater.

9 cichlids as well.

some may say its got a lot of fish in it. but it looks nice and i am in the process of getting a 220 gallon and setting it up for when these outgrow this tank.

 

[sblosser]

Great idea did you get this idea from someone else? Amazing job

im not claiming to be the original on it but no i have not seen this done before. i just thought it would be neat to make some caves built into the wall figuring it out lead me to use PVC. then i did my research and it works i love it. cant wait to get another tank and get even more creative with it.