Ray's 120g cichlid tank, finnaly coming together.

[chronic]

So, my name is Ray, some of you know that.

I bought a 120g on boxing day. Its been sitting at my parents for a month now while I finished things like the stand, and canopy.

Finnaly, its going to come together. Next weekend I'm thinking its going to get set up. Which is good, being on my parents floor... I'm suprised my dad hasn't smashed it yet.
Things got scuff marks all over it from the vacuum or something :scry: That makes me worried lol

But yeah, so today I started moving things around in the apt. I have my stand here. My 55g goldfish tank is going to an old home, i offered it back to my dad and he wants it :D He missed fish, he's excited, and now because of what I and my sister know about proper fish care, I'm sure he'll have a little more luck now-a-days.
So this is perfect, my computer desk will go where the 55g was. And then my 120g will be on the wall adjacent to it. So now I can finnaly sit on the computer and waste hours on end with my buddies beside me.

I'll be using a fluval 404 and 405 canister filter for the 120g. Hopefully thats enough.

I've posted these before, but for the sake of starting a tank journal I'll post them again
Here's the bathtub.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture061-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture062-2.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture064-1.jpg
And canopy. I have the canopy done, I covered it in oak. It looks nice!

The stand will forever be an ugly piece of furnature, but one day I'll think of something to cover it up with.



So happy its finnaly coming together. Every week I've been thinking ugghhh... I want it now! And then there has been the heart burn thing with my big tank being at the mercey of my clumsy!! father...

So yeah, I'll take more pics as things happen here.

[chronic]

So I checked my floor out before I moved my computer desk, but apparently its kind of... off near the wall where I couldn't check lol
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/th_Picture022-1.jpg (http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/?action=view&current=Picture022-1.flv)
I have a good 1/4" to figure out. Bummer, but oh well.

A couple more pics to show you the placement.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture020-2.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture021-2.jpg
So yeah, computer desk will be where that 55g is.

[Oskar]

Solid stand.Looks good.It will look even better with a tank full of water,and the canopy!

[chronic]

For sure! I can't wait. Oscars will be so happy in this new tank, I can make all kinds of hiding spots for the pleco, JD can hide where ever mean while the oscars have room to fight, or swim... which ever lol It will be nice.

[chronic]

After messing around with shims, kind of looks like my stand is twisted from sitting outside for a few weeks.

I need some weight on it then I can be sure. Floor looks decent when I throw a level across it.

[Northernguy]

Thats what took me so long to get my stand finished!
The humidity here is a wood killer.

The next large stand I build will have two laminated spruce 1x4's for 2x4s.
They stay much straighter.

You did a great job.It will hold.Have you sit the tank on it to see if the weight straightens it out?
Is it glued and screwed?
It is best to have weight on it when you aren't working on it.It will help to keep it straighter but its a pain in the butt.

[chronic]

Thanks buddy! Yeah its glued and screwed.

I did it on a level floor, and it was pretty level when I finished. So garaunteed its just twisted out on me.

So I guess I just need to toss the tank on top and put some water in. Gf and I sat on it and it didn't level out too much haha, so I guess we need more than 300lbs.

[EmmanuelJB]

Nice job with the stand! thumbs2:

[Crispy]

It will straighten out with that tank on it holding water. Nice tank!

[xasuma]

Thats a really nice stand .
Im working on mine also, it should looks like yours at the end.

i hope
lol!

[chronic]

Ahh it will look great! Just go over kill so your mind is at ease lol



Well, today is the day hopefully. Its tough, this damn cold will not let up. Got a pounding head ache, feels like I have a hang over. But not the case, I wish it was... then I would know in a few hours I would be feeling better lol


But what ever, I'll just keep drinking water and eating halls haha.
Got my 55g almost all taken apart. All thats left in there is 6" of water and my pleco who is sooo confused.
I'm going to miss the goldfish, they're so cute. The two moores I didn't even used a net, I just grabbed them and put them in the travel container. Comet I needed a net, he wasn't so easy going. Pleco is going to cause water to fly I know.
But they will be care for by my parents.

Bloody oscars aren't making my day any easier, they have this continuous war going on. So every ten seconds I gotta go in there and break up a fish fight.



But yeah, Just need my dad to come over. Then I can take the 55 over to their place, then bring my tank over and update once again. Hopefully I survive hah

[chronic]

Wow what a long day, it does not feel like it was only 5 hours worth of work. I hate being sick!!!

This sucked, I broke the aqua clear hob filter for the 55g when I was helping my dad set it up. Of course being in the back of a truck in winter, the plastic was brittle and not thinking I grabbed the side and broke it :( I guess my mom is going to buy him a new filter tomorrow, so goldfish are rockin' a sponge filter for the night.
Other than the filter, was a pretty good move.


Then an hour ago here, I finnaly got away from my parents and got my tank home. FINNALY!!
So stoked!!
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture024-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture023-1.jpg
Binx is checkin' out the wood work. Stand looks soooo horrible in comparison to the canopy lol
I need another hinge on the door too, could only find two of those hinges at my parents.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture025-1.jpg
Had soo many troubles making this thing, but in the end it turned out really nice!
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture026-1.jpg
I really dont understand what the purpose was to putting that electrical outlet in the middle of the wall there. So I had better make sure I never need to plug another, or unplug my power bar from there.

I dont think I'll get the fishies in there tonight, I would love to. But thinkin' about it, I really should buy a bigger net. Plus I want to get some more egg crate.
Not to mention I need to make this place look livable again, got sand all over the floor, things are crammed together.

A smart man would do this before his gf got home from work lol

[chronic]

I have my little area set up kind of like I wanted it a year ago. Computer desk, then 90 degrees and there's my little aquatic buddies!
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture029-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture028-2.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture027-1.jpg
Cat fish joke right?

Dudes such a cool cat, take the lid off and he's immediately inside the tank checking things out.

[chronic]

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture030-1.jpg
Awesome!

Super excited.
I'm only putting a little water in to set the stand down, I need a smaller level though. I have this big 48" thing I was using on the floor.

What do you guys figure, can I trust the plastic trim on the top of the tank to be accurate? Or should I stick to using a level on the sides of the glass?

[Crispy]

Do your best with the level and when it's full, the tank will do the rest. Looks good!

[lowlight]

I would use a plastic ruler and measure the depth of the water at each corner. Tank is looking good.

[chronic]

Got it leveled and full!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture032-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture034-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture035-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture036-1.jpg

[chronic]

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture038-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture037-1.jpg
Moving the oscars sucked somthing fierce man! I'm still soaked, walls soaked, floors soaked...

Wow! Not sure who's more stressed lol Pleco was a breeze! And my god is he big in person!

I have a few things I need to sort out yet, but things are coming together!

So happy, oscars look small in this tank :D

[chronic]

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture040-1.jpg

[Mith]

Outstanding! You can easily whip that stand from "ugly" to beautiful! You've already done all the hard wqork, the rest is easy!

I chuckled when you talked about that electrical outlet! How close is your tank to the wall? Seems you could have just plugged an extention chord into it and placed the end of it where ya could have accessed it hehe.

Anyway, cudos on the tank! And ya placed it where you can enjoy it the most! I have all four of my tanks (8.8g, 20g, 50g and 125g) all in my bedroom where I also enjoy them the most!

[chronic]

Funny story! I started to fill the tank, got it 3/4 of the way and then "doh!!! the plugin!!"

So I had to crawl under it and plug my power bar in, kind of hurt but I got it lol

[chronic]

Well day two, oscars are doing better than I thought they would. Still freaked out, which is nice cause they're not fighting. But they never ate this morning, so hopefully they calm down.

Pleco doesn't care, dudes eating half the shrimp now haha.

[Scrup]

looks great!

[chronic]

Thank you! I'm content, I love having it right here! It was such a drag having them in the other room!

Can't decide whether I want to put sand in or not now. I know the bare bottom is freaking the oscars out, all they're doing is swimming around looking for sand or the end of the wood bottom heh.
But cleaning looks like it would be soo easy like this, plus it looks kind of cool.

But I dont know yet. Maybe I'll just leave it for a bit.

[Northernguy]

A glass bottom casts a reflection that will freak out the fish.
I think a substrate on any kind would be better.Yes I agree its easier to clean.

I have white sand and it shows everything but it is very easy to vacuum.

Love the tank though!lol

[chronic]

I still have a bunch of white sand that I got with my 80 g. I liked it because it was heavier than the black sand I was using, so it didn't get sucked up as easy.

But I do like the black sand better. I should just stick with black maybe. Definitely need more of it though.
Thanks man! I'm so happy with it, everything... Stands on a solid floor now, not carpet, rocking around like my 80 did. Fish have tons of room, thing looks gorgeous. So happy.

[Northernguy]

lol I do know the feeling.:19:
It is a good one.
thumbs2:

[Cliff]

I like how you built the stand. Once its a little warmer here in Saskatchewan, I was going to build a stand for a 75 gallon. Got no room in the house so I'll have to use the un-heated garage. I've got a really good plan in mind for it. I was going to frame it a lot like you did.

Looking at your canopy gives me a few ideas on how to build one..


Thanks for posting

[chronic]

No problem!

Yeah the canopy worked out alot better than I thought. Only thing I screwed up on, was I made the frame sit on the trim of the tank all around. Well, when I put it on last night. I though oh no... How are the wires and hoses going to sit in there?!

So I had to cut out a few sections. I could have run everything over the frame of the canopy, but then I would have to take everything out every time i wanted the canopy off.
So I was kind of angry I forgot about that. Funny thing though, I dont have a saw at home here. I do everything at my parents, so i'm like
"AAGHH! How do I cut it!!!......................steak knife" Its not prety, but I got through lol
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture042-1.jpg
Mcgyver style ;)



I have to change the hoses on my 404 filter too, the one hose is way too short. So since I bought a new hose kit, might as well just change them both. Then I dont have to clean them since they are about a year and a half old. I'm sure they're pretty caked inside. I think thats worth 15$ every year rather than trying to fish a pipe cleaner through there lol

Got some more black sand too, so I will just stick with black. God I hope my EI cheque comes in soon, otherwise I might not make it to the end of school lol Had to buy too many odds n ends for this project lately I'm runnin' low on coin lol

[Crispy]

Lookin' good chronic! thumbs2:

[chronic]

Thanks dude! Getting some sand in there. I dont even think I needed to buy sand.
Its weird stuff too, couldn't figure out why it was so expensive, but its like... instant aquarium? Has water conditioner in it and some anti ammonia stuff???

I think I might return it lol I want nothing to do with this strange entity.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture043-1.jpg
Kind of think I might ditch the cork screw val plants too. Oscars just chew on them. The 5-6 I have left are just clinging to life. So meh...

Ahh this is an awesome day, good tunes, cold beer. And new tank! I wish I could do this everyday.

[chronic]

EEEkk I had a leak, one of my canister filters was leaking. I couldn't figure out what this weird smell was, but it turned out to be the cinder block I had that filter on. Smelt like, dust... It was weird, then I looked down OMG!! lol

Weird, that thing has never leaked, it was my old 404. No biggie.

That was definitely a bit scarey lol

[chronic]

Looks like my old fluval 404 needs some tlc. It wont stop leaking, I can't get it to prime, and it just leaks out the sides by the clasps...

Bummer... but good thing I got the 405, seems good.

[chronic]

Ahh, I have a cycle going on here... Ammonia is at .25ppm No nitrites or nitrates registering.

Really sucks I'm down a filter... But not surprising I guess since I stirred up the sand.

[chronic]

:( This sucks, kind of looks like my fluval 404 is done...

I bought a new main o-ring, new quick release unit, and its still leaking. Seems to slow down after it gets going, but I dont know if I trust that. Boo


Had to sepperate the oscars too, they aren't liking the move.

[chronic]

Got a background finnaly, looks awesome!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture050-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture051-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture054.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture052-2.jpg
Oscars have to be sepperate for a while. I think the move really has them messed up and they're trying to establish territories.

[chronic]

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1chronicpls/Fishes/Picture053.jpg

Pleco has been enjoying him self, since the oscars aren't eating that much lately, dudes just been gorging on shrimp and pellets. Plus every one is leaving him alone.

[Crispy]

Looks great! Love that background (makes the tank look deeper). thumbs2:

[chronic]

Totaly hey! When I saw it I thought, yeah!!

The otherside is pretty cool too, its got some rocks and sticks and junk. Looks cool, but I love blue! And this is just cool!