DIY Bigscreen TV tank

[DJDAudio]

After looking over the possible places to place this thread. I found this one to be the most fitting.

I am very new to the whole aquarium world and to fish (although have had many gold fish tanks) haha

I had an old big screen die on my not to long ago and I got to thinking... What a great fish tank that would make!

So here are some of my pictures from the process,

http://img2.putfile.com/main/9/26521472037.jpg

http://img2.putfile.com/main/9/2652147209.jpg

http://img2.putfile.com/main/9/26521471915.jpg

[DJDAudio]

http://img2.putfile.com/main/9/26521471925.jpg

http://img2.putfile.com/main/9/26521471858.jpg

http://img2.putfile.com/main/9/26521471997.jpg


Took about 2 days off and on at a cost of about $200 including tank and parts.

I built the base to support 600lbs 400 for the 45gal tank and 200 for extra parts glass and misk weight.

It has a custom made 36" modded office light for the now opening lid.

As well as it pops completely apart wit no tools in 10 sec for cleaning.

The gravel is clear and the tank is up lit with color changing lights.

I am also working on a custom wet/dry sump filter with bio balls.

Again I am a newb to this stuff so anything I may have as really wrong please let me know!

And yes the lights in the glass tubes are on a special GFCI in case they fall into the water and don't kill my fish.


Oh If you are wondering about the odd reflection.
Inside a big screen tv is a large Fresnel lens and mirror. so I put the lens on the back of the tank and the mirror directly behind it so anything in the tank gets reflected forever but you do not see your own reflection.. kind of creepy if you ask me but really neat effect. Also the room is reflected back and projected onto the front of the tank but upside down. also a fun effect.

I will post up more pics as I can.

Here is some Video,

http://media.putfile.com/Tank2-28

http://media.putfile.com/Tank-1-88

[cocoa_pleco]

you, my friend, are the god of DIY projects. EXCELLENT job!

[DJDAudio]

you, my friend, are the god of DIY projects. EXCELLENT job!

Thank you for the kind words.

[cocoa_pleco]

Thank you for the kind words.

lol, no prob.

is this your first aquarium?

[~Erik3.8.07~]

holy carp!!!! thats amazing, and such a great idea too

[DJDAudio]

lol, no prob.

is this your first aquarium?

Yup,

So all new to me haha.

I know fluid dynamics pneumatics fabrication and engineering...but when it comes to the chemistry of a fish tank I am so lost... <reading all the info I can on this site as we speak>

As you can tell my last pic I made a sealed filtration system for both my filter medium and bio balls then to just find out I need them exposed to the air for them to work well. so I am re making the works.

[sergo]

welcome aboard friend from s10 forum. that is one spectular tank and very original none the less. you'll find this place much nicer than the other board and everyone is actually willing to help instead of saying "use the search button"

[DJDAudio]

welcome aboard friend from s10 forum. that is one spectular tank and very original none the less. you'll find this place much nicer than the other board and everyone is actually willing to help and say "use the search button"


Thanks man!

Yea s10forum can get to you some days. ahhh

[cocoa_pleco]

wow, you'll be a pro in no time with your knowledge!

[MeganL3985]

Very Nice :)

[crackatinny]

Great job, about the best example of a fishtank TV I've seen:thumb:

[Futureboy]

wow nice work

[2manyfish]

That is really awesome and unique!! Great job!! :19:

So what are you planning on putting in there??

[cocoa_pleco]

i wouldnt recommend it if youre a beginner, but it would make a wicked saltwater reef

[Drumachine09]

Cool looking tank!

[Incredulous_Ed]

THIS is your first aquarium? i suddenly feel very unworthy.lol

[cocoa_pleco]

THIS is your first aquarium? i suddenly feel very unworthy.lol

lol, when i think of my first tank (5.5g, enough fish to literally stock a 55g, cloudy always, fish dropping like flies) i do feel unworthy!

[spudbuds]

Very original with amazing visual effects!

I was so proud of my 55g. Now I feel inadequate. :ezpi_wink1:

Keep us updated.

- Bill

[tropfish]

lol, when i think of my first tank (5.5g, enough fish to literally stock a 55g, cloudy always, fish dropping like flies) i do feel unworthy!



my first tank (i was like 10) one bala shark, and one goldfish! lol

seriously, thats an amzing tank! You'll be a pro fishkeeper in no time.

[cocoa_pleco]

you dont want my 5.5g,-

no heater
aquaclear mini
3 goldfish
1 otto cat
2 common plecos
1 ghost shrimp
2 zebra danios
3 platy's
5 neon tetras

[Rue]

Very innovative! I'm impressed! :D

[gm72]

you dont want my 5.5g,-

no heater
aquaclear mini
3 goldfish
1 otto cat
2 common plecos
1 ghost shrimp
2 zebra danios
3 platy's
5 neon tetras

Please tell me that you don't have all of that crammed into a 5.5? Please?

[cocoa_pleco]

Please tell me that you don't have all of that crammed into a 5.5? Please?

my first tank 6 years ago did

[tropfish]

you dont want my 5.5g,-

no heater
aquaclear mini
3 goldfish
1 otto cat
2 common plecos
1 ghost shrimp
2 zebra danios
3 platy's
5 neon tetras


OK! you win the bad tank award haha, but i come in second.

[cocoa_pleco]

lol, when i think of that tank i get sick to my stomach. the water was cloudy 24/7, and looked like a milkshake. one poor goldfish got popeye, hazy eye, and finrot all at once. back then i had to go by store advice and they said medicate the whole tank, then what bacteria i had died, and so on

[DJDAudio]

Update,

New home and new custom made filter assembly.

http://img2.putfile.com/main/10/2792334459.jpg
http://img2.putfile.com/main/10/27923344540.jpg
http://img2.putfile.com/main/10/27923344418.jpg
http://img2.putfile.com/main/10/27923344457.jpg


Here is how it works,

It has a overflow drain in the tank that feeds a siphon that deposits out a 'T' down a drain line into the top of my main filter tube. The water runs through 3 levels of filtrations then through 2 feet of Bio balls. out the bottom through a line then dumps into a small sump in the base here the watter will be heated and or airated then sucked up and fed back into the top of the tank.

The extra line in the bottom is on the top of the filter tube if for any reason I get a clog or the filter gets to dirty to pass water quickly water will come out of this bypass and let me know it is time to clean the filter.

IT is setup to auto re prime after a power loss and if there is ever a problem there is just enough water in the sump as to not allow it to overflow the main tank.

So far everything is working great and is realy quite in operation.

Any questions just ask!

Also do Bio balls need light to work well?

[DJDAudio]

http://img2.putfile.com/main/10/27923344466.jpg
http://img2.putfile.com/main/10/27923344367.jpg

[cocoa_pleco]

HOLY CRAP, youre a genious to say the least!

and no, bioballs dont need light. they are mainly used in canister filters too so theres no light in the canisters

[Futureboy]

So whats going to be going in there eventually?

[cocoa_pleco]

So whats going to be going in there eventually?

exactly what i was thinking. dont be afraid to ask for ideas!

[spudbuds]

You my friend are a DIY fishtank GOD! Well done!

[TowBoater]

Thats amazing. May I hire you to build me something of that nature?:laugh1blue:

[DJDAudio]

So whats going to be going in there eventually?
no real clue any sugestions? :confused:

[cocoa_pleco]

no real clue any sugestions? :confused:

hmmm, do you want cichlids, or a community tank?

[DJDAudio]

hmmm, do you want cichlids, or a community tank?


My Girlfriend would take a liking to this species of cichlids haha

http://www.howard.k12.md.us/res/aquariums/cichlids.jpg

We are actually looking for a colorful small hardy fish... I may be asking the imposable here. but something to complement the tank.

[DJDAudio]

Also fun news, I have had so many requests to build another for sale.

I have gained access to a 60" Big screen TV to purposefully make into another fish tank and sell on ebay. (pick up only of course... or freight shipment)

My question is though is $1,200 to much for a tank of this design?

Like I said before I have no clue when it comes to aquariums haha

[cocoa_pleco]

how many gallons would the 60" be? i would say $800-$1000

those fish in the picture are dyed, and scientist bastar*s stick needles into their skin and insert a dye which makes them look supposedly "good", but its ugly and takes years off of their life.

however, un-dyed ones, called bloodparrots, are wonderful cichlids that are fairly peaceful. you can have 2 as a pair in a 40g or one with a few larger danios and tetras

if you dont want the BP's, you could go with a hardy, peaceful community of-

5 platy's
15 neon tetras
10 cory's
a dwarf gourami

or,

25 serpae tetras
5 cory's

or

15 tiger barbs, 5 cory's

its all up to you!

[DJDAudio]

how many gallons would the 60" be? i would say $800-$1000

those fish in the picture are dyed, and scientist bastar*s stick needles into their skin and insert a dye which makes them look supposedly "good", but its ugly and takes years off of their life.

however, un-dyed ones, called bloodparrots, are wonderful cichlids that are fairly peaceful. you can have 2 as a pair in a 40g or one with a few larger danios and tetras

if you dont want the BP's, you could go with a hardy, peaceful community of-

5 platy's
15 neon tetras
10 cory's
a dwarf gourami

or,

25 serpae tetras
5 cory's

or

15 tiger barbs, 5 cory's

its all up to you!

Wow thank you for the information, Scary about the injected fish :ssuprised:

5 platy's
15 neon tetras
10 cory's
a dwarf gourami

Sounds and looks like a great group of fish!

Could I get away using some of those to cycle my tank? or should I non-fish cycle it then add the fish?

My g/f is going crazy staring at an empty tank haha

[cocoa_pleco]

you should do a fishless cycle, but platy's are tolerant to poor conditions, and since you have a fairly large tank it would be fine to add the 5 platy to cycle the tank. generally you want to do fishless, but with tanks 40g+ its not too much harm to add cycling fish

[DJDAudio]

you should do a fishless cycle, but platy's are tolerant to poor conditions, and since you have a fairly large tank it would be fine to add the 5 platy to cycle the tank. generally you want to do fishless, but with tanks 40g+ its not too much harm to add cycling fish

Sorry for all the questions, I assume I will need a tank heater for these fish?

[DJDAudio]

I just noticed you are from Edmonton,

I installed the Robotics exhibit at the odyssium there.. The new TELUS World of Science if you will. haha

Nice place but the -40C got to me brrrr

[cocoa_pleco]

lol, that was a bad winter. i live pretty close to the odyssium, maybe 5 minutes away.

yep, you need a heater, the rule for heaters is 5W/g so you need a 200W heater

[DJDAudio]

Here is how my new filtration system works,

http://img2.putfile.com/main/10/2802136019.jpg

(1) The main tank
(2) Custom made overflow system with syphon
(3) 4" PVC tube with small and medium mechanical filtration and carbon
(4) 246 Bio balls
(5)Main sump with pump and heater and air rater
(6)main pump discharge
(7) flow adjustment valve
(8) discharge back into tank

The overflow system for my tank works but is slower then the pump so instead of choking the pump down to match the speed I built my own recirculation system.

How it works,

Pump pressure is diverted into to passages one to the tank and one back into the top of the filter. Some of the water goes to the tank anything not needed is run through the filter again until it is needed. this way I can filter the same water 12 times over before it goes back into the tank. this gives me the effectiveness of a filter 12 times its size.

Not sure if this system has ever been done before but it works really well.

[cocoa_pleco]

yep, its kinda like a sump. very impressive!

[DJDAudio]

Got the Cycle fish in :)

http://img2.putfile.com/main/10/28111424211.jpg
http://img2.putfile.com/main/10/28111424214.jpg
http://img2.putfile.com/main/10/28111424234.jpg
http://img2.putfile.com/main/10/28111424282.jpg

[DJDAudio]

http://img2.putfile.com/main/10/28111424320.jpg
http://img2.putfile.com/main/10/28111424379.jpg

[Futureboy]

small colourful and hardy eh

well tetras obviously

or how about fancy guppys?

[cocoa_pleco]

hes trying to cycle it, and theyre platy's. neons can be added after its cycled. platy's are tolerant of poor conditions.

really nice setup!

[DJDAudio]

Small update things are going well now,

Had a small air leak in the overflow so would loose suction.

All fixed now and filtering fast!

The little Platy's love to play in the incoming current ...very amusing.

My levels have remained constant so only time will tell.

[squirt_12]

very vice tank. I like how you built it right into the tv. Very impressive. :thumb:

[DJDAudio]

Thank you.

I am leaning towards making it a normal tank possibly as in remove all the glass and ad plants gravel sand and rocks..


Not sure yet.

[squirt_12]

why?? i would leave it the way it is... i think it is cool and unique the way it is.

[DaleJr08]

I have seen people turn TVs into tanks before, but yours is done very nicely. It still looks like a tv unlike others I have seen on the web. If your going to change it up, I say just add some black gravel and leave the glass uprights in there. Its a very cool looking tank, Good Job.

John

[spudbuds]

Hey DJDAudio. Quick question. Did that TV have wheels on it? If so, do you leave them on and maybe strengthen them in some way so you could move the tank around? That would be really cool. Not terribly useful, but still really cool.

Anyway, I think you've done a great job with the tank. It'd be a shame to see it converted to a "regular" tank, but it's your call. None of us have to live with it. :ssmile:

[tropfish]

I wouldn't change a thing, maybe a thin layer of gravel, but that is one COOL looking tank.

[mitcore]

that is awesome i just love it.

[DJDAudio]

Thanks guys not sure what I was thinking but it has now grown on me ;) so no 'normal' tank in its future.


Yes it still has the stock wheels on it.

I jumped up and down on the frame and they held fast so I had no need to reinforce them. But I never plan to move it when full ;)

I am having overflow problems again, I may just buy an off the shelf part for this.

Thanks for the kind words guys!

[Dixie]

Ok I know this is an older thread but I'm kinda new here and just saw it. I gotta tell ya I think it's just amazing. Everything about it is...from they way it still looks like a tv, to the clear glass in the bottom and uplighting, to that mirror thingy in the back that looks like a tunnel effect, right down to the flitration which I'm totally clueless about but know it's very complex and took a great deal of knowlege to set up. BRAVO!!!!

At one point you were talking about making it more traditional. I'm glad you didn't but if you wanted to give it a more aquatic feel and still keep it (ummm what word am I looking for... techno? futuristic? whatever lol) looking, I'd go with blue clear glass pebbles on the bottom the color of the blue things in those 2 tube things going up in the tank with lights in it. So it would look like water and water bubbles coming up in the tubes. I'd go with white lights and then stick a couple tall green plastic plants next to those 2 tube thingys. The kind of plants I picture looking nice is what looks like tall semi broad leaves of grass with twists in them (sorry I dunno what that plant is called).
This is just my thoughts if you'd want a little change. It's gorgeous the way it is but I would like bigger fish lol. Even if it's only a couple of really colorful bigger ones. Sometimes it is true... bigger is better lol.

Really way cool tank you got there and a job more than well done.thumbs2:
Thanks for sharing it with us & would love to see an update on how it's doing now.
Dixie

[DJDAudio]

Ok I know this is an older thread but I'm kinda new here and just saw it. I gotta tell ya I think it's just amazing. Everything about it is...from they way it still looks like a tv, to the clear glass in the bottom and uplighting, to that mirror thingy in the back that looks like a tunnel effect, right down to the flitration which I'm totally clueless about but know it's very complex and took a great deal of knowlege to set up. BRAVO!!!!

At one point you were talking about making it more traditional. I'm glad you didn't but if you wanted to give it a more aquatic feel and still keep it (ummm what word am I looking for... techno? futuristic? whatever lol) looking, I'd go with blue clear glass pebbles on the bottom the color of the blue things in those 2 tube things going up in the tank with lights in it. So it would look like water and water bubbles coming up in the tubes. I'd go with white lights and then stick a couple tall green plastic plants next to those 2 tube thingys. The kind of plants I picture looking nice is what looks like tall semi broad leaves of grass with twists in them (sorry I dunno what that plant is called).
This is just my thoughts if you'd want a little change. It's gorgeous the way it is but I would like bigger fish lol. Even if it's only a couple of really colorful bigger ones. Sometimes it is true... bigger is better lol.

Really way cool tank you got there and a job more than well done.thumbs2:
Thanks for sharing it with us & would love to see an update on how it's doing now.
Dixie

Thank you very much for the kind words that means allot!

Sorry for the late reply been very crazy this time of the year,

Small update my filter system has worked great and my tank has now cycled and is ready for more large fish. I like your input as well on the Blue glass :c3:

And too top it off I now have 4 baby platy's swimming around in the tank ;)

[Tolley]

Wow looks great!!! how many gallons is it? thumbs2: thumbs2: thumbs2:

[DJDAudio]

Wow looks great!!! how many gallons is it? thumbs2: thumbs2: thumbs2:


45 gallon :19:

[fishfanatic33]

Holy Cow, that tank is out of this world!!! I wish I had the money and the know-how to build something like that. You must be a genius. that thing makes my "ideas" of a cool tank embarrassing. Congrats!!

[guppymanrob]

that tank is awesome

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

and this thread is a year old. :)

[cocoa_pleco]

old thread

[DJDAudio]

and this thread is a year old. :)

Ans so is the tank ;)

It is still alive and kicking thumbs2:

[Lady Hobbs]

Yeaaaaaaa......you are still here! As long as you are still here, your thread is still with the living.

How's it going for you? Anything you would have done differently? We had a guy here last year that had a tank in his fireplace. That was very neat and I will go in search to see if I can still find it.

[DJDAudio]

Yeaaaaaaa......you are still here! As long as you are still here, your thread is still with the living.

How's it going for you? Anything you would have done differently? We had a guy here last year that had a tank in his fireplace. That was very neat and I will go in search to see if I can still find it.


Yup still here lol

and
Different hmm....

I would buy an off the shelf filter :) Although making it your self has a element of pride to it.

I would also spend a little more time designing a splash guard for the bubbles in the tank, from those and the filter, the Wood lid got soggy, and I now have to keep it open.

Other then that?, Nothing I love the tank as it is :19:

[Lady Hobbs]

That's great. You could have used a glass top to keep the wood dry perhaps. Or even screwed some plyglass to the wood to protect it but then you already know that being a handy guy and all.

I have the same problem with my bubblers getting my lights and glass top covered in hard water stains and from my canisters water flow as well. I'm hoping a spray bar may eliminate that because looking at crusty water is so not appealing.

I couldn't find the fireplace tank. I know right where it was posted, too, and I can find every post the guy wrote but that one! It was rather awesome.

[Sharon]

That is an awesome tankthumbs2: ...I wish I was " handy" ...

[cocoa_pleco]

youre alive!!!!!!!!

[anthamm]

old thread but any pictures

[BirdOfPray]

I agree -- just read the whole thread since it was bumped up, but the pictures are gone. :( Any chance of getting new ones?

[BIO-Linist]

AUGH!!! Those pics were awesome.:scry: :scry:
:worthless:

[aelwero]

I too have just now read the entire thread and would not only like to second the motion on some pics, but also can't pass up the chance to resurrect a previously resurrected thread ;)

[cocoa_pleco]

lol i still remember this thread, epic tank

[Ashley]

I wish the pictures were still there!!!!

[CrazedMichael]

This sounds awesome! But i could not say, none of the pics are showing up! I've refreshed loads of times and no luck! I'm in Dubai but this is the first instance of this happening

Edit: Sorry i read the first 3 pages then jumped straight to the Post Reply button. Maybe we can get some new pics for new members like myself?

[taralm13]

I just joined today....specifically to see your pics. Now they will not load...no matter what I do :(

I know this is a seriously old post but I can't help myself to ask for some pics...I simply MUST see this tank that everyone says is so amazing...so if anyone has these pics please repost them. Thanks in advance!

Tara

[HeatherB]

restating: Pics pics pics!

This tank sounds awesome!

Hobbs: wish you could find the fireplace one! It sounds great!

[Rob66]

yayaya, i know this is an old thread, but i wanna see some pics of this bad boy!!!!!

[Lady Hobbs]

Guys.......the thread is 3 years old, the pictures are no longer on his website and the OP has not logged in himself for nearly 2 years.