JF adventures in tank building

[jammedfool]

I'd be loathe to use it with water in even with the silicone, the water might actually push it right through.
Plants ahoy!

might make a nice cold frame!

There's just one leak I can spot now in a different place, I must have missed it before

One last try!

[fr499y]

Acrylic is fun isn't it I don't cut my own anymore. I used to do it with a laser cutter, but now I order it in the size I want/need.

[jammedfool]

Acrylic is fun isn't it I don't cut my own anymore. I used to do it with a laser cutter, but now I order it in the size I want/need.

And to think I used a jigsaw (freehand!) and an electric planer - I've never even used them before! No wonder I'm having difficulty... still, it is character building

Next project I'll just go all out on a fully planted braceless, rimless tank with RO system, sumped, CO2 system and full spectrum LEDs plus ADA backlight. I like the glass diffusers and in/out pipes you can get too
...in my dreams!

[fr499y]

Never say never! I've certainly done it before ( minus the over priced cr*p they call ADA )

[jammedfool]

Never say never! I've certainly done it before ( minus the over priced cr*p they call ADA )

I was thinking about the backlight panel as you're right theyre so expensive, but they do look nice on a scape...
Theres stuff called EL wire and it comes in panels too, it looks basically like that... maybe one could just get a sheet of that and make it water tight?

[fr499y]

Frosted screen, cheap LED strip and you got yaself back lighting. I've got the same sort of thing setup for my tv, it shines at the wall behind which gives it a fade up the wall

[jammedfool]

I have one of these over the quarantine tank, and again one back of the TV...

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com ... L1500_.jpg

Must remember to get a proper aquarium lamp eventually to avoid zzzt...

[jammedfool]

I finally made some progress on this project

One change I made was to lower the column that houses the pump, however it has left a very small window for filter to draw in water, but I can't see the pump struggling so far

After many attempts of bonding acrylic using capillary method having already stuck them together, I finally have no leaks... Still a dab of silicone won't hurt and covers up the mess I've made a little

I ditched the Coco husk/silicone/liner and went for some coco liner which worked much better
Added gravel and placed rocks (some are siliconed onto the waterfall) it's super quiet but I was hoping for a slight trickle, I might try adding moss to the rocks to channel the water a little. There's going to be a patch of (terrestrial) moss in one corner


I reckon theres just 15L in there,
Questions...

Is it worth heating
If I don't heat what could I stock?

Either way, Fish, semi aquatics, or shrimp only?
Seems a shame to have a land area and not have something semi terrestrial.. some kind of crab?

I'll also be adding some cuttings from other tanks to bring a bit more life in while the cycle gets going, though i have a nice wodge of filter media spare in another established filter I'll probably steal

Sorry for the darkness in this pic and thanks if you read all of my ramblings !

[plankton]

Those little red freshwater crabs might be interesting.
I'm pretty sure they'll need heat.

[jammedfool]

Still not stocked but I had my first 0 on nitrite the other day. I did add some pre-used sponge near the start but it doesn't seem to have sped things up this time.
I have now added the moss I bought aeons ago which has stayed remarkably fresh in the packet from swell reptiles. Also added some java moss in the more wet areas

Lid on


Lid off


I shall most likely move the rocks around, add some semi aquatic plants and also try to get some fauna in there once cycled.. I could go hunting for some springtails in the meantime though

Also.. needs a heater and a light!