New Nano

You get timers that you wire up directly and can fit into panels like these. They are also better then the one you buy in the notmal Pick&Pay store. Almost looks like a Electronic Main board switch. Ask @Zoom he knows about them and where to get them.

 

oh i know those timers, have them at home for the outdoor lights, they cost about 750 bucks, i think the cheaper ones are about 500

 

Yeah, I had a timer like that but it was an old school NATIONAL analogue timer. That thing was older than me.

Not going to have a stand. This setup is so simple that you can build the stand separately later on.

Considering a stainless steel heater with the external temp gauge. Might build that part in.

TM

 

does anyone use inline heaters, i see alot tanks in the US etc use inline heaters, and lots of planted tank guys use UV, is UV really needed.

 

Well and update well maybe sort off , i have been away from home for the last week or so wrt work stuff, so havent done anything on the build. i have however in some spare time reading like crazy about this palm fibre and chemicult thing. so i have decided to do my nano with this base substrate topped with pool filter sand i think. i mailed some pics of what i need to a friend and he picked up the stuff for me. was really suprised that he pfp and chemicult only came to around R70. only need like 1/6th teaspoon of chemicult need to figure out what to do with a whole bag. well sorry for the not so great update, just means i have to do more this weekend to catch up

 

I use the rest of the bag to feed my indoor plants. I mix the chemicult with the water and voila.. a plant fert. granted I have only used a sixth of a teaspoon in the past 6 months!!!

 

ok thats good to know, we have a huge garden at home im sure the plants well appreciate the extra nutrition . Ashley have you had any ill affects using this method in you nano, do you any fish in your tank

 

A LOT of people use it in their planted tanks with fish, and no ill effects. You just need to make sure that the PFP is capped properly, and that when you do routine maintenance, you don't disturb the gravel too much.

 

Yeah, a thick layer of pfs works better than anything else because of its small grain it eliminates "peep holes" for small pieces of PFP to float up...

The thicker the PFS the better is seals off any tannin leaching . . .

Trying to source some cheap black sand in durbs is harder than I thought. . .

 

yep will cap of properly got plenty of filter sand. been looking for some balck sand with no luck what so ever, so i will just mix the filter sand with some flourite from my main tank and that should work out for me.

 

Update !!!! YAY!!!

ok well finally got some work done this weekend, had to was tired of just seeing the glass lying around.

the glass (all 6mm) overkill for such a small tank get a safety factor of about 15 well thats the glass my silcone work thats another story

 

ok then the tank assembly, word of advice to the newbie tank builder like myself, tape cover every bit of glass you dont want silicone on, as you can see i learn't the hard way, and my silicone work looks disgusting

 

Looking good Linga

I planned to mask the entire surface of the glass excluding 16mm "borders" where the silicon goes . .

You can just wait for the silicon to dry, cut a straight line along the seal with a blade and just rub it off with your finger.

The real stuff is going to be the cabinet

TM

 

then pain stakingly i had to try and remove all the extra silcone my hands are still sore by the way. it turned out pretty decent well for me anyways im sure some tank builders will find many a fault . after that i put in the rear sump dividers and the middle glass with the drilled overflow, have to say drilling the glass was kinda fun for me and was actually easier than i expected. was playing around with the timber for the bottom of the cabinet, doesnt look great now but thats the fun part still got the sanding and wood filler then a nice coat of varnish to fish it off, should be another week maybe 2 at most

 

@ TM please note dry silicone stills leaves a residule mark behind that i only managed to take out but scaping off with a blade.

 

Looks really good though! . . .

Filled and everything . . .

Makes me want to get my glass next week

TM

 

yep filled in the water last night with the pump on as well just to test, and as off this morning no leaks , will leave the water in for a week i think before i move the tank inside.

 

well a trick for next time when u working with silicone, tape, with masking tape, the sides of the area u want to silicone. after you done, while the silicone is still wet, just peal away the tape.. very neat, clean strait lines

---------- Post added at 11:10 ---------- Previous post was at 11:10 ----------

weldone on the no leaks though i certainly dont have the courage to do a DIY tank..

---------- Post added at 11:10 ---------- Previous post was at 11:10 ----------

u going to leave the background see through?

 

yeah i was totally suprized at no leaks . i dont think i would normally have the courage to do one either but its a small tank so i tort i would just give it a try, with that said it would probably be esier to do a larger tank, more space to work with, its very difficult getting a chaulking gun in such a small space. as for the background, definately not gonna leave it see through still need to pick an option; 1) black, 2) some gravel/ pebble look, 3) a natural moss wall

 

How about pebble background with moss growing in between?

TM