Icydeath's Multi-Tank Build

[icydeath]

Grabbed a 55, 20 long, and 40 breeder during the Petco Dollar Per Gallon sale. Gonna put some pictures up of how I'm going to have the oriented soon. It will be freshwater and I am playing with a few ideas right now. Building the stand on Friday. Stay tuned!

 

[icydeath]

Alright, I bought the cinderblocks on Friday! I got 21 blocks. I will show pictures when I build on Monday or Tuesday.

The array will be 3 pillars of 3 under the 55, 4 pillars of 2 under the 40 breeder, and 2 pillars of 2 under the 20 long. I am using 2x4's to rim the bottom of the tanks so they don't sit directly on cinderblocks.

I am going to run a C-360 on the 55 (maybe) if not I will run an Emperor on a 400. I will also run the Emperor on the 40B and I will run a Marineland 100 on the 20 long.

Not sure on the lighting yet though.

 

[icydeath]

I had to line all the blocks on the bottom with tape to protect the carpet. Didnt take too long.

Then I screwed my 2x4 frame together.

I stacked all the blocks and had to hammer some of them flatter. Then I put the frames on the blocks then the tanks on the frame, it is coming together really nicely.

Tomorrow I need to get a saw and fix lengths on the frame for the 40B.

In the future I am looking to ask my mom or dad or stepmom to buy me some waterproof spraypaint to waterproof the frames.

 

[icydeath]

Equipment List:

Filters
Marineland C-360
Two Marineland Emperor 400s
Marineland Penguin 100
*not biased to marineland, just happens to be what I have

Heaters
Four Aqueon 100W Heaters
Aqueon 50W Heater

Substrate
20 lb EcoComplete Black
Two 25 lb National Geographic Black Sand

Lighting
24" Coralife T5 HO Fixture
Two DIY LED's

Supplies
Aqueon Water Changer
API Master Test Kit
FloraPride
Liquid CO2

 

[icydeath]

I plan on using a spare 10 G for a sump that I can disconnect and use as a QT or temporary fry tank.

 

[icydeath]

Finished water proofing the stands. I used a Rustoleum water proor enamel and I am happy with the results.

 

[icydeath]

I noticed that the tanks don't meet the wood flushly. The first picture is of the 40B. The right side is 3/16 of an inch from meeting the wood. The second two are the 55. It is 1/16 of an inch off of the wood in the front middle. The back middle is flush. The wood is off the cinder by 2/16 of an inch. I used paper to fill that gap. The last picture is the 20L and it is 1/16 of an inch off the wood on the right side.

Will this be problematic? If so, what should I do?

 

[icydeath]

Does anyone know where to get replacement tubes and tube fittings for the C-360?

 

[t4runnr]

You could try 1/8" foam insulation board from a hardware store. Put it on top of the wood and then set the tank on top of that.

 

[icydeath]

How would that help?

Just for extra info, the corners of the 55 are meeting flushly and so are the 20L but the 40B has the right corners off

 

[t4runnr]

How would that help?

Just for extra info, the corners of the 55 are meeting flushly and so are the 20L but the 40B has the right corners off

The styrofoam will fill the gaps as the tanks compress that foam panel. Some people swear by this method. I don't use it because my tank sits flush on my home built stand. But I was prepared to use it if I couldn't get it to sit level.

 

[Fresh2o]

Maybe a sheet of plywood in addition to the foam.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[t4runnr]

Maybe a sheet of plywood in addition to the foam.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

+1. I should have mentioned that. My tank sits on a 3/4" thick plywood on top of the stand.

 

[Fresh2o]

+1. I should have mentioned that. My tank sits on a 3/4" thick plywood on top of the stand.

I did not see that. I think that with the foam should provide adequate support for the tank.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[icydeath]

Congrats on 5400 posts!

So if I get 1/2 insulation foam at the hardware store I should be set?

 

[icydeath]

I got the styrofoam insulation board but it only came in one 48 x 96 size so I had the guy cut it down for me and I had enough to use two pieces for each tank except for the 55 because that cut was really messed up.

Hopefully the double insulation will help keep the heat in.

Tomorrow I plan on getting sand, should I go for black in all of the tanks or go white in the 55?

 

[DeeLee2013]

Following!


? Diana Lee ?
? the St. Augustine Redhead ?
http://floridaorchidendlers.com

 

[icydeath]

Put about 35 pounds of sand in the 20 L to get a nice deep substrate for the plants and a thin layer (about 10 pounds) for the 40 B because I don't plan on planting it.

White or black for the 55? I will be getting 4 festivum, 8 trilineatus cories, and 12 amano shrimp.

 

[DeeLee2013]

I'm always a fan of black. Makes everything pop!



? Diana Lee ?
? the St. Augustine Redhead ?
http://floridaorchidendlers.com

 

[icydeath]

Went with black. Thanks Dee

On Friday I attempted to fill using my Aqueon water changer and the sink in my apartment backflows into the cabinet underneath it once it hits head pressure so I ended up dripping like a gallon of water under the sink. I only filled like 7 gallons in the tank.

My waterchanger is 25 feet so this kinda left me hanging because the kitchen sink is too far away.

I ended up making a plywood platform with wheels and buying a 32 gallon trashcan. I used a ratchet strap to keep it from bowing and deforming too much. I used two swivel casters in front and two rigid casters in the back so it was like steering a shopping cart.

Then I bought a MaxiJet 900 half off to fill the tanks. It went pretty well and I got the 40 B filled yesterday.