2ft tank inspired by forum

Howsit everyone,

I'm pretty new on the forum but I've been quite impressed with some of the smaller setups that I've seen, especially the tanks with sumps built on the back. I've always been turned off of tropical tanks by the quality of water in tanks that I have seen but almost all the tanks I've seen with sumps have had immaculate water clarity and that what I am hoping to achieve.

I went and bought all the glass I needed for my tank and did a mock assembly this afternoon, I'm still going to change the height of the dividers in the sump section as I think they are a bit long, then I've got to drill the overflow and silicon the bugger together...

Here's a couple of pics..
the dimensions are 600L X 450W X 350H all in 5mm glass... 150 of that width is the sump section, its big ya, but like I said, I want absolutely crystal clean water.

 

nice! i saw similar tanks at a pet shop in pe, most of their tanks are like that. i have considered modifying my 2 ft a few times to be like this.

 

nice start!

 

Very cool, just remember to have the inlet and outlet on the sump section low enough so you don't have to top up on water every day. You'll want it so you can leave it for at least a week without maintenance.
You might also want to make those dividers a bit shorter so that you won't starve the last chamber of water if the filter section fills up with gunk and slows down the water flow. You could most likely get away with just 3 sections in the back if you wanted to.

 

@Whipme, wish this had come sooner as I've finished all the silicon work...hahahaha, I had a feeling I should of cut those dividers shorter. Oh well, I'll have to see how it works and make any changes along the way. Luckily my girlfriend worked for the owner of the local glass shop for 2 years and we get along really well so no charge for cutting and drilling.
I'll do some tests and post some more pics.
Thanks

 

Hi

I used 3X 6mm holes in a 1ft tank with a single devider at the overflow.
The pump was a 250L/H return and if you did not get it right it would flood the tank
or the pump will run dry.

So make sure you test it outside first and get a adjustible pump for flow.

 

Hi guys,
I filled the tank this morning and switched to pump on and to my surprise, it runs perfectly...Basically the tank overflows into the sump section....and the pump is used as a return from the sump back to the display section of the tank. I'm pretty happy with this because all my water changes and topups get done in the sump.
All the water going into the sump is through the surface skimmer though, do you reckon I'll need to install bottom suction using a u-tube or something like that? Or is the surface skimmer sufficient?

Also, I need to block out the filter/sump section and am worried about paints n stuff...Any suggestions? I was thinking a piece of black perspex or black plastic or some sort...What you guys think?

 

Hi

Check in the DIY section for a thread Custom 1Ft with cabinett.
There I used the plain LPS background but inside the tank.

 

Thanks Vis, I reckon thats a perfect plan...I'm going to grab one tomorrow on my way home...
My next challange is building the cabinet.

 

Hey Bud! Tank is looking sweet! I reckon you owe that skilled oke that helped you out a few beers!

 

Ya, I'm very chuffed with the results eh....Thanks again...Fridge will have stock of beers for the weekend...

 

looking forward to getting my tank and sump going now! have you got the gravel and everything in yet?

 

Na, wanted to go to the petshop to get a background today but had to take the landy to be fixed and pick up the golf. Maybe tomorrow and then I can fill the tank and put all the filter media in

 

Cool man, i'm sure its going to look awesome when its all done and up an running!

 

Howsit all,

Been a bit busy doing a ropeaccess course so havent had much time to fiddle with the tank but had a chance to fill the tank from my jojo tanks in my garden and put a couple of plants in along with the filter media, looks like I might need some more bio balls, gunna break up some clay bricks and bomb them in with the ceramic rings.

Also gotto get a piece of perspex and install to hide the sump, get lighting and build the stand/cabinet.... eish,One bite at a time as they say eh...

lukah

 

Hey rob! looking good! one step at a time! I like your substrate! what is it? oh, & someone is gonna tell you this, so it may as well be me... you need to take the plants out of those little pots & wash the rockwool off the roots. (lotsa us made that mistake, so don't feel bummed!) Have you any plans re fish?

 

Hi Tracy, ya its coming along slowly...I'm quite chuffed cause its my very first DIY ever and I didn't have any leaks...
As far as I know it is volcanic substrate, found it at a lps for R25 for 4kg's....Hope its decent stuff, looks really nice!!!

hahahaha, no worries about the pots...I've got to move the tank so I'm going to drain the water into another container and when I do that I am going to do some aquascaping, going make a pathway with white sand and pebbles and put some decent rock and wood in as well and then fit the tank into its cabinet and refill it with the same water, I just wanted to start cycling the tank..but thanks for the advice on that anyway, I do appreciate it.

Plans on fish are still on hold at the moment, I saw some neon glassy fish today....I have no idea what they are really called but they are epic and I would like to have some in my tank, other then that....I have no idea...

 

Those are glass fish. They injected with that neon ink to give them that colour. Most people around here frown upon that as it is a horrible practice and not permanent.

 

dude.. some of ur plants arent aquatic as well they'll rot on u soon..

 

hmmm, things are not looking good for me then...hahaha, I'll see how long they last and pull them out when they look bleak.....
I thought building the tank would be the difficult part, how wrong was I eh.... and to top it off, I got ripped off for those plants, found them for 1/3 of the price at a lps....was not happy!!!