DIY TANK - The beginning of a planted tank

Pricey . . .

Well, I will be adding 2 valves to the Canister. 1 on/off valve and 1 ball valve. The ball valve stays open all the time but I will close the main valve at night.

Anyone have a DIY for a bubble counter?

 

sounds good just that you must remember to turn the stuff on and off. ok for a bubble counter really simple. just get any airtight container, cool drink bottles will be best as they are made for c02, have 2 pipes go through the lid with one almost reaching the bottom and one just enough to go through the cap. fill with enough water to be above the longer pipe turn on and count the bubbles . oh and please get a non return/ check valve and put that in or you might get water getting into you c02 tank.

 

Hey! Thanks for the advice.

Now I have a major "blockade" on my road to DIY extremism . .

Glass is filliping expensive!

Ok to have the tank made by Pro Tank makers (Qualipet) - R300
To get glass cut from [company name here] - R375 + VAT

I have to call one more glass merchant tomorrow. Hopefully the 6mm glass I want is less than R300 so I can get it.

Oh and someone said that Qualipet is going to make it in 4mm glass? That's just a recipe for disaster. 6mm is has safety factor of 2.5 anything lower and 130Kg of water will crack the glass like it's a biscuit.

I cant wait to start this DIY . . . might just start a new thread seeing as we are already 5 pages early. . .

TM

 

Just gave the go-ahead to Qualipet to make my tank . . . Quoted R450 this time around . . . (apparently glass prices went up)

I called the other glass company and got a quote for R380 cut from 6mm to size . .

So I just hope these guys don't mess this tank up or I will be selling it @ cost to any takers. . .

If the silicon is not done how I want it to be done . . (like Franssny's tanks ) . . . I will strip the tank and redo it (That will be a real DIY)

Anyway. . .

Really excited . . finally putting my thoughts into action..

Definitely planting the tank . .

Trying to get this CO2 sorted out . . Might DIY a system until I get all the gadgets necessary (Solenoid valves, gauges, regulators etc) to setup a pressurized one . .

This thread will have pics by next Monday . . .

@Linga and @Vis . . when are you making those new cabinets?

TM

 

I am off to the glass people right now to get the glass for the filter and then in the next few days the carpenters.

---------- Post added at 14:10 ---------- Previous post was at 14:10 ----------

P.S Linga I am also going to mail your plants now will send you the WAYBILL

 

hey TM nice to see you getting things going. sounds about right for Glass 6mm is about 280-320 per square meter. if the guys are going build th etank with 4mm glass i think you should maybe add some braces. wrt the cabinet, i have been busy with work for the past week or so, and will only/ maybe get home tmr or wednesday

 

Ok schedule behind with one day more. My wife has my bank card and she just went away this morning for 3 weeks

TM yours might just be done before mine. Although the tank will be ready tomorrow to pick up so hopefully my cabinet will soon follow.

Linga your plants will also only be sent tomorrow sorry.

 

no Probelm Gehard, in no hurry mate. Looks like TM's tank might be up before the both of us, it becomes a little irritating when you have everything planned out and just cant do anything about it.

 

Yeah . . . sorry guys . . I can wait so we all finish together? I'm not in a hurry either?

I'm only getting my plants on the 30th and stocking on the 5 November . . . Cabinet still has to be designed . .

Just lucky I get R2000 spending money on the 1 November . . .

I'm just going to take it easy for now . . .I have a few investments planned for this month so cash flow for my tank will be slowed down a bit . . until the 1 November that is . .

I'm starting to question the affordability of this hobby . . . I think I need to start breeding something to earn a little cash so this hobby can support itself..

So this project is only going to be an empty tank this month . . .

@Linga . . where did you get your chemicult and pfp from? Need some leads bro . .

Selling and giving away some of the fish I have . . .to make space for my investments

TM

 

TM... most builder's warehouse will carry it (PFP + Chemicult) actually. And a big nursery will do so too!

 

Well here in Umhlanga we have Builders express . . . is it the same thing but a retail instead of wholesale/bulk sales?

 

Builder's Warehouse and Builder's Express is the same store. The express is just the smaller version, so you might not find it there.

 

I believe I bought a brick at the express yesterday

 

Okay, Picking up my PFP and Chemicult this week . . .

Kind of an emergency really . .

My dad's orchid's flowers fell off and now the stem is drying up . . . so chemicult will probably be in order ....

Any advice on orchids ? . .please PM me . . we are kind of new to the orchid keeping hobby. .

TM

 

Lot's of double and even triple posting in this thread . . . .sorry guys . .


So my friend from PG glass calls me with a price on glass. . . .

So now I scrapped the idea of getting it built and now going to have fun building it myself!!!

I don't mind getting my hands dirty . . .knowing that I am doing things, like I want it done, makes it worth it.

This is another 2 week setback . . .

TM

 

hey TM got the palm peat (R20) and chemicult (R53) from the builders express in springfield (the new builders warehouse in nandi drive doesnt have any) - well not me my friend did actually. he mms'sd the pics to me before he got it, its the same stuff that was in the profs thread

 

Can you send me the link to that thread so I know what I am looking for?

 

http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/s...eat-soaked-in-Chemicult-as-a-substrate./page4

check out this thread its under the ask the prof stuff

 

Okay . .will look out for that...

My tank is being put on hold till next month . . .

TM

 

Okay . .

I've been real busy with so many things at the moment. I have even forgotten about this until a new member said something about rams . . .

I will only be able to complete the setup by February next year since my fluval filter and heater are only arriving then . .

Still going planted. Trying to get a whole box of 120 plants for this tank. Will probably sell the unwanted stuff at giveaway prices. . .

Still haven't settled on stocking plans . . .

Might just go with a school of tetras and a pair of Apistos . . or rams . . but I am not going to rush the selection . .

I've got about 4 months to completion so thinking through everything properly.

Any stocking suggestions with dwarfs?

TM