Tallenskinny Free Tanks

[tallenskinny]

Okay I'm excited to do this
Starting: 2 55 gallon Tank's

To Do:
1.Build Stand ( I saw on this forum, building them with cinder blocks and plywood that's what I want, I think i read it from Lady Hobbs)
2.Clean/Maybe Reseal one of the tanks
3.Find a Lid or build one (if I can I don't Know)
4. Backgrounds (Black, also would like suggestions)

Buy/Find:
1.2 Heater (Suggestions would be great)
2.At most 3 More Filters ( Suggestions would be great)
3. Black Sand

Overall Plan:
Have Three Tanks Stack on each other
Top 55 gallon (2 Baby Turtles the size of quarters)
Middle is 20 long to 40 gallon (Crayfish Tank)
Bottom 55 Gallon (No Idea)


Note: Progress will be slow due to college student, and lack of money LOL, but it will happen

*Will post pictures tomorrow of tanks
* I know i have alot of *suggestions would be great* I am also doing more research so ya

[Wild Turkey]

Okay I'm excited to do this
Starting: 2 55 gallon Tank's

To Do:
1.Build Stand ( I saw on this forum, building them with cinder blocks and plywood that's what I want, I think i read it from Lady Hobbs)
2.Clean/Maybe Reseal one of the tankscheck out the thread in my signature, thanks to NG
3.Find a Lid or build one (if I can I don't Know)you can get a piece of glass cut to fit at the hardware store for pretty cheap, leave some space in the back for the filter and tubing
4. Backgrounds (Black, also would like suggestions)I use black felt and scotch tape, simple but it works. Some people vasoline the background to the tank or just simply spray paint the back using non toxic paint

Buy/Find:
1.2 Heater (Suggestions would be great)Visi-Therm stealth heater, you will be glad you did.
2.At most 3 More Filters ( Suggestions would be great)Shoot for 2 times whats recommended for you tank as a general rule. (so a filter rated for 40 gallons for a 20g)
3. Black Sand Call around to pool supply stores and ask about 3m color quartz in black.

Overall Plan:
Have Three Tanks Stack on each other
Top 55 gallon (2 Baby Turtles the size of quarters)
Middle is 20 long to 40 gallon (Crayfish Tank)
Bottom 55 Gallon (No Idea)
This is kind of dangerous because leaks and drips can cause damage to the equipment below, but its doable just keep this in mind.

Note: Progress will be slow due to college student, and lack of money LOL, but it will happen

*Will post pictures tomorrow of tanks
* I know i have alot of *suggestions would be great* I am also doing more research so ya

My suggestions are in red, hope they help. Make sure to check out the cycling stickies before you set up if this is your first time or need a refresh on cycling. Good luckthumbs2:

[tallenskinny]

ok thanks, ya ill cycle them and everything before stocking
and i apreciate the advice thanks

[aspects]

Okay I'm excited to do this
Starting: 2 55 gallon Tank's

To Do:
1.Build Stand ( I saw on this forum, building them with cinder blocks and plywood that's what I want, I think i read it from Lady Hobbs)
if youre good with powertools (or hand tools if you have the patience) a wood stand is pretty easy and cheap to build. though i too have cinderblock stands.
2.Clean/Maybe Reseal one of the tanks
remember, if it has a leak, its best to redo the whole seal or the whole tank, not just one spot. silicon doesnt stick well to silicon
3.Find a Lid or build one (if I can I don't Know)
i agree with Wild Turkey. getting a piece of glass or acrylic cut to size will be pretty easy. but again, if you know your way around some wood and tools, a cannopy is not too hard.
4. Backgrounds (Black, also would like suggestions)
black bg FTW! i use krylon fusion to paint just about all of my tanks.

Buy/Find:
1.2 Heater (Suggestions would be great)
2.At most 3 More Filters ( Suggestions would be great)
*see my sig*
a diy wet/dry is easy, cheap, and by far the most efficient filter you could have. if you dont feel youre ready to go that route, a couple of AquaClear110s will do the job nicely
3. Black Sand

Overall Plan:
Have Three Tanks Stack on each other
Top 55 gallon (2 Baby Turtles the size of quarters)
Middle is 20 long to 40 gallon (Crayfish Tank)
Bottom 55 Gallon (No Idea)
you could just turn the second %% into a filter for the other two tanks.


Note: Progress will be slow due to college student, and lack of money LOL, but it will happen

*Will post pictures tomorrow of tanks
* I know i have alot of *suggestions would be great* I am also doing more research so ya

if youre on a budget, and arent in a rush to set it up, this is the perfect chance for you to try your hand at some DIY work.

[tallenskinny]

most likely i will end up building more of my stuff or trying to find it off craigslist,
and ya thats a good idea for the filter ill read into it

[aspects]

here the good ol cinderblock stand

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b126/bitteraspects/IMG_2544.jpg

3 blocks on either side

then i built a 2x6 riser for it

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b126/bitteraspects/SU1HMDAxMTItMjAwOTA5MTktMTQzMS5qcGc.jpg

needed to raise it a bit to fit the bigger wet/dry under it, and so i could run the plumbing through the riser for extra suport

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b126/bitteraspects/SU1HMDAxMTctMjAwOTA5MTktMTcyNi5qcGc.jpg

[tallenskinny]

my stand will prob be exactly the same, that wet/dry thing looks interesting
i might have put to much on my plate..might just do one 55 for now

[aspects]

the "sump" is actually still empty in the first pic. i was testing my overflows.

this is the wet/dry before the riser
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b126/bitteraspects/IMG_2579.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b126/bitteraspects/IMG_2583.jpg

and after i ran the plumbing through the riser and relocated the UV sterilizer
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b126/bitteraspects/SU1HMDAxMjAtMjAwOTA5MTktMTgwNi5qcGc.jpg

its a cheap, easy, and most of all, effective means of filtration. definitely something to look into

[tallenskinny]

Okay tank is setup, stand is cinder blocks with a piece of wood on top, cheap and flimsy ino....

Todo:
Cycle
Decor lol
Stock
get black background
make/find lid

ideas so far

Crawdads and thats about it lol
give me ideas
i like fish but not that much sorta more into crayfish. newt salamnders
a fully aqautic newt or salamander that would be cool

already have 2 turtles

hmmm what else?

[tallenskinny]

im still lookin into the sump thing

[aspects]

maybe a nice waterdog set up

[tallenskinny]

i might do a water dog setup with a 20 long idk yet though

and that powerhead filter that you guys help me identifiy, is making a huge current, i put rocks in front of it, but now the sand on the ground is moving and there a bare spot

might just have to get a big thing of driftwood to stop it
well see

[jay2487]

I was going to build a stand like that but then thought about moving and disassembling the setup and decided to just build one from plywood and 2x4's. It only cost me $33 worth of materials and 45 minutes work to build one 6' x 2' x 3' tall. Holding up 110 gallons of water and a 6ftx20" tank worth of 1/2" glass so it's pretty sturdy. The stacking thing sounds a little dangerous and hard to work with but I bet would look cool. Those turtles are going to love that 55gal and that should last them quite a while. Definitely until your out of school;) I really need to build one of those sumps for my 110. My 4 HOB's just aren't cutting it for all the noise they make.