New project

[Jim_Leyland]

Well i just got my 55 on sat. ( thanks Jeff) and have been messing around with some my base rock i have.. Heres some crappy pics i got from a camera phone lol .. I have about 45 lbs in my 29g im going to be using also so don't worry, I also have about 15-20more lbs of base if needed.. Im going to be using a Hydor #4 for the flow.. I want to try to get some rock in the path of the flow so it will break it up some so my softies won't be blown away, im waiting for my canopy to dry ill get some pics of it tomorrow, It doesn't look the best but w/e lol.. I also am going to try to see how this works, insted of getting expensive reflectors im going to line the inside of the canopy with tin foil.. its shiney and reflective so why wouldn't it work? I still need 1 more ballast for my light and just ordered 2 'knock' off bulbs from ebay for 40 bucks.. I should have my other ballast in 2 weeks or so.. Im in no hurry as i don't wanna have to redo any of this! anyways enough talk heres 2 pics, im trying to hide the powerhead if you couldn't tell!

 

[crazyseany]

I saw a guys tank where he used aluminum flashing and secured it with stainless steel screws. looked ok and seemed to work.

Sean

 

[funkyman]

 

[Jim_Leyland]

are those mirrors? I thought about using those also but tinfoil is alot cheaper lol

 

[funkyman]

It's aluminum reflector material. I did it out of some scrap from work.

 

[Jim_Leyland]

have any left? lol

 

[funkyman]

PM sent.

 

[Jim_Leyland]

PM returned

 

[Jim_Leyland]

Got my tank set up yesterday, got my lighting wired up in the canopy i build, anyways heres some pics.. enjoy!

Got some pics here ya go, leave me some feedback even if its negative! Enjoy,

Grape Idaho

Mushrooms

Zoas

Orange Cap

Frogspawn

More Zoas

Right Side of Tank

Center of Tank

Left Side of Tank

FTS heres the canopy i built

As of now i only have 1 mh light on the tank, im ordering my other 1 tomorrow so hopefully it will be in by the end of the week. Any thoughts on the tank?

 

[fambrough]

That's come a long way. Considering the narrow footprint of the 55, I think you did a pretty nice job with the rock. You've got plenty of room for a sump. Can I presume a sump and skimmer and in your future?

I would consider masking that tank trim. Aesthetically, I think it distracts the eye and detracts from the full view. It's a personal decision, but I think a dark border would bring the tank forward to the eye, while the light border keeps it pushed back. Does that make sense?

Keep the updates coming. We could use more local tank build threads here for real.

Cheers,
Ben

 

[Jim_Leyland]

I toatally agree with the tank trim! Lol i was going to do it now but i just wanted to get it up and running, yes im going to be adding a sump, probably going to use my old 29 i had and a skimmer, nothing to expensive tho.. That canopy was alot easyier to build than expected! It was about 20 dollars worth of wood and about an hour woth of work. Only because i had to keep comming up from the basement to measure lol.. Theres got to be close to 80lbs of rock in there now and i have alot more that wouldn't fit! Ill probably throw it in the sump.. Will it turn purple in a sump?

 

[CleveYank]

Think Camouflage

Think Camouflage

Borrowing from the French (blech tewy) for a moment. [Mel Brooks reference, sorry.]

Way back when, I had a win fall of a free stand and canopy for one of my tanks. But it was black. And the tank was lt. oak trimmed. I didn't want to paint it. I cleaned the trim squeaky clean with 90% rubbing alcohol. I then had a fresh roll of black electrician's tape and very carefully taped the trim with two strips. I sold that 29 setup to a friend something in the neighborhood of 15 or 20 years ago. And the tape is still on the tank and you cannot tell it's electrician's tape unless you are looking for it.