My 5ft System Journal

Hi all,

So I finally started with my tank after moving into the new house...

Had a overflow box built a while back:



Started putting some sponge and my ceramic rings into the sump and test fitted the 300W heater and return pump:



Tank resting on my workbench/old table whilst we were busy welding:



Modified my tank stand so that it can hold the sump inside the cabinet that I'm planing on building around the stand still, added another 2 x 16mm thick round bars:





Also made a cover for the sump, it's a piece of hardboard painted with anti-rust (didn't have anything else and was busy painting the stand, so I figured "why not?" ), the underside, i.e. sump side, of the cover is covered with one large piece of self adhesive vinyl to avoid water condensation getting absorbed into the wood:



Made sure everything is in place and then PVC-Welded the plumbing into place:



Decided that I'll be keeping my quarantine/breeding tank in the cabinet as I don't have any other place for it, it has it's own canopy and light, which will be running on the same timer as the rest of the tank if and when it has inhabitants:



Everything done and in place:



Still need to get hold of @Altum to enquire about black substrate,need to buy some more 90 degree bends for the return pipe and then I'm going to buy a big piece of hard board to cover the back of the stand so that it doesn't need to be moved again, then the tank can start running and cycling so long.

Will then be buying my wood to finish the cabinet around the stand. Will also start experimenting with DIY CO2 for this tank once everything is in place and ready.

Will update as I go along!!

Advice, comments, criticism welcome!

 

Everything looks good!
I would suggest you leave the back open, for wires, condensation etc.
You can also build your cabinet in a U-shape, that will fit tightly from the front, once pushed into place!

 

Nice setup..

I'm also in the process of building a cabinet around my stand.

 

NICE!!!!

Like the QT tank idea next to the sump.

 

Thanks for the comments guys!!

I'm really excited to get everything going.. only thing holding me back now is that I need substrate, haven't phone @Altum yet.. will contact him today, maybe I can get the substrate and start filling the tank in this week still, will update as I go along!!

@Gert Combrink ... now you've got me thinking if I should leave it open or close it.

 

Looking awesome, very neat.

 

wow.. Nice job dude.. That gravel nex to ur stand looks like my aquarium gravel.. Hehe

 

Haha.. thanks shihr..

Quick update..

Finished the return pipe last night.. looks very neat imho.. just a quick question though.. I used 4 90 degree bends on the pipe.. It's quite a bit shorter than the last time, so that should have decreased loss of flow a little right? But will the flow still stay sufficient coz of all the 90 degree bends?

Pump is a 2700lt/h atman.

Just a little schematic to show what I mean:

 

Would the return pipe setup be okay like this or should it rather be one straight pipe running up to where it enters the tank?

 

Tank and stand looks neat and tidy, nice job. Can't answer the pump question though...

 

Thanks meneer. Will wait for someone to let me know about the pump/piping.

I'll test it out in any case, if it seems to flow less, then I'll revert to a single pipe with minimal bends.. just going to look untidy.

Cheers,

M

 

Looks good so far..what you plan on keeping in this tank?

 

I don't see why the bends would make any difference. It will lesson the flow slightly, but I don't think to the point where it's noticable. As long as you ensure the distance is as short as possible. The more piping you have the more resistance you have to the pump.

 

Update.. so washed round 51kg of substrate and got everything ready..

Tank is in place and running..

So much less hassle living in a house on the ground floor now. Washed the substrate in the yard.. also filled the tank using the hosepipe straight from the tap into the house. lol.

Will upload the pics of everything tomorrow.

Flow on the return pipe has increased quite a bit due to being shorter.. so the bends are fine!!

Now to let the tank cycle and then to scape it..

Still need to find plants and fish.. not 100% sure what I want to get yet.

Pics to follow ASAP.

 

So the pics:

Sump ready for action.



Tank busy filling up:



Tank filled up and running:




Pictures aren't doing any justice to the substrate.. amazing stuff I bought from @Altum.. 100% natural, crushed ruby which looks kind of pinkish/reddish when dry and then some black in between.. goes like a dark desert brown.. very fine and under strong light it has a light shimmer to it as well.. think it will contrast well with the plants and rocks.

I underestimated how much surface area my tank has.. there is a total of 51kg in the tank at the moment yet there isn't really enough to slope the substrate too much, unless I build some structures I can fit under the substrate.. not sure.. will think about it some more.

Still to come.. will be starting with the cabinet style stand cover and hood soon.

Just a quick question..

The water seems quite "milky" and the tank has been running for a day and a half now, I have a little in tank 600lt/h running sponge and some old AC.. should I replace the AC with some fresh AC. Or should I buy a few bags of AC and add that to the sump to clear the water up nicely?

Thanks!!

 

Tank is looking good.

If you want crystal clear water get some Seachem Purigen and add it to the sump. It works.

 

Thanks!! Will see if I can get some Seachem Purigen.

Edit: Just read up on Purigen on the Seachem website.. stuff sounds AMAZING!!

Wonder where I'll be able to get some from.. let me ask @Altum quickly.

Thanks for the info again.

 

Very neat setup Warnoob! Liking the substrate too.

 

@ WaRn00b I must say that the tank looks very neat. I am very impressed with it.

Please post more pics once fully completed. I would love to see how the take looks finally. Mainly I love to see waht you stock inside.

Good Stuff.

 

Thanks for the comments!! Excited about the tank as well!!

I'll be sure to update as I go along..

Not sure what to do with the substrate sloping though, but I'll play around a bit and see.