75 Tanganyikan Tank

[Spyder]

I have a 40g Tanganyikan tank. I have an empty 75 and I decided to up-grade using the 75.

I presently have 3 pairs of Lamprologus caudopunctatus with many fry and juvi's, 4 pairs Juli Ornatus, again with lot's of fry and Juvi's, 8 Zebra Danios and many fry and one old CAE. I am going to add 14 - 16 wild Cyprichromis leptosoma, small not Jumbo.

To start, I took my 75 gallon tank, all cleaned up and I siliconed a Styrofoam background & base (or bottom) using GE 1 silicone.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p2a48f0fc0885174813b4048dff19284c/e8e12f98.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p75d60fe400f0ae8bf275888dc6809315/e8e12f1c.jpg

Next I took some styrafoam pieces I had and made a cave wall using "Great Stuff" to glue it together.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p912a17eb6771bc7b0961a6a2920b6f75/e8e12e45.jpg

[Spyder]

This is the back showing caves.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pc985575e569bcb94d788d900b20108f2/e8e12dc2.jpg

And on the background, not yet glued

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p65f01e0e56fd99a5491a8116883c27df/e8e12b3f.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pdcf2e7c2b92cbc7320d3c9daae412a7f/e8e12ad4.jpg

The left side has three small cave entrances on the bottom

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p42e45b62bc6a3266b0ca0f64b2fde8ec/e8e129f1.jpg

[Spyder]

The right side has three small individual caves
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p44c6288733a7bd1ea2c3cb2563871e32/e8e1298c.jpg

[Spyder]

I while later I decided to made a few minor changes. I was concerned about the caves at the end. I thought it would look bad when you look into the tank from the ends. I made the bottom into an off center island with the caves on that. I also shortened the hight of the styrofoam.

Here's a few pics

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p1fc412e6be4e598c41524bff3b4a364a/e8d2b2f6.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pa49b08f4ffd54726ad818c3b1f930b0f/e8d2b2b1.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pcc137023986669bd5ef14e4e11655116/e8d2b265.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p10209bd6fa10f38599ad5117a249f62d/e8d2b232.jpg

[Spyder]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p669a3a7d4a8bdec07ca0740d914555a9/e8d2b207.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p4246721d0b7dc97dd5348ed58ef25ad1/e8d2b1d9.jpg

Next I will add some more "Great stuff" to fill in and begin with the cement. I am going to add a charcoal color to the cement, I hope I like the color.

[tropfish]

looks really good so far! keep us updated. i really would like to build some styrofoam things. i don't think you can just buy a block of it tho lol. what type of paint are you useing?

[Spyder]

I added more "Great Stuff" the the caves and did some torching. I put the first coat of cement of and as you can see I added a charcoal coloring to the cement. The gravel will be Eco-Complete cichlid sand, which is a black & white sand so I think the coloring will look good.

The caves with lot's of Great Stuff on it
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p6e7d369ecfe3c94721fa497fe58db302/e8b9fdc2.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pbe0abd7bbb6c84771fa23a68a95897a6/e8b9fda8.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p0ecfd17e596c413f40c64a0320a5fa6f/e8b9fd95.jpg

Torched
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p9ca11c78bf29c61f880fe52eba0b34cb/e8b9fd69.jpg

[Spyder]

looks really good so far! keep us updated. i really would like to build some styrofoam things. i don't think you can just buy a block of it tho lol. what type of paint are you useing?


No paint, I am adding coloring to the cement

[Spyder]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p38af577f68dcb96c472c5ed86863b552/e8b9fd2c.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p0dc7ac8b850f7487068eaefce0154635/e8b9fcf1.jpg

Fresh wet cement, it looks much better in person, I think
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p1e62cfbcfb1fdd40eb956d3d3a0749a9/e8b9fcda.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pe1db441058d45864109034ca06645cee/e8b9fcbb.jpg

[Spyder]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p7b60c94c482a746dfc4c5c575ff3535e/e8b9fca7.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pd2f467918e62bfb0eafb1588abb2d93b/e8b9fc95.jpg

[Spyder]

I finished the styrofoam and torched it

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pc9d29ba7649de48cf8dd6507d3d65366/e898c336.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pbea6b3c9bbc12021cefbdf04ef1b2add/e898c2fa.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p39cd1475651ea38598385900edeeb288/e898c2bb.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p6b888ebce0f0894f17ef2809c8b2eddf/e898c28e.jpg

[Spyder]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p2d741aedd47f4f70a9fe10f713bb9a71/e898c240.jpg

Here I have my first complete coat of cement on. Cement was still wet
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pb051157a4628e62745975a7445c01cdd/e898c14b.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p3be2937221571fc7688489e2a3e8e824/e898c10c.jpg

[Spyder]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p8ed644ce0c23ca85c04413668e317d2b/e898c0be.jpg

Close up of left side
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pe43a88dd486f4b097839f1de0b4e2092/e898c062.jpg

Center
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pdaf7163e3a0296054749ea408d0fb8e4/e898bffc.jpg

Left side
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p6e3c7271f4d70c77d79c5c250ad5aee8/e898bf7e.jpg

[Spyder]

Looking down - right side
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p2d40784ae1284d7f498e4da297c75229/e898bf2b.jpg

Looking down - left side
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p9898f90a78bf7ec10391264f3e3ff04f/e898beeb.jpg

[Spyder]

This was a 6 week process to this point. As of today.

YES! The cement has cured and the tank is ready to go. I have some work to do on the stand but I hope to have it running by the end of the weekend.

Here are pics with water in the tank. I like it, hopefully the fish will to.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pcaf976a77543689378e7036555196e9f/e83b77fc.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/peb6bbd6489c2e2c6da6e1f10e0615612/e83b77ca.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pccb2c68b0362f8c556cbc90bda6b0b10/e83b778b.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pfa932b9cef04f1256ad6994fd802c12a/e83b7731.jpg

[Spyder]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p4c2e1e076021f80b30153d0436543629/e83b7645.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pd9795f35cc902f18754d0805f6ef3a8f/e83b7602.jpg

This is up to date, I am planning on setting it up and will post pics as I go.

Thanks for looking

[TowBoater]

Very nice. As I said before, I wish I had half the skill and patience you had.

[tropfish]

really cool spyder! i don't know how you could wait 6 weeks lol it would be IMPOSSIBLE for me.

[Spyder]

Ya know, I just love doing this. It's a challenge of creativity but relaxing to. And it's so rewarding. To me, fish keeping is patience and relaxation. If you want something to happen fast, don't be a fish keeper. Don't ever rush it.

[TowBoater]

That is why I buy all of my decor. I would love to do that. I may buy a 20 gallon long and try it with Styrofoam.

[Spyder]

Go for it, I think you have much fun doing it.

[TowBoater]

Yea, I may just set my 10g saltwater on the back porch and place a 20L on that table. Parents won't let me get another tank unless I get rid of one I already have.

[salman]

Spyder, if you stuff your tank with trash it will still look good. I love everything you do!!

[Incredulous_Ed]

Lookin good Michael! I also enjoy diy projects but I don't think I could do one as nice as that!

[Spyder]

I'm sure you could Ed. This was my first try at this.

[salman]

Spyder when do you think you will finish this tank? I want to see pictures of it when its final, well tanks will never get finalized but, you know what i mean..

[Spyder]

I hope to have it stocked by the end of the weekend, but you know me, I don't rush things.

[TowBoater]

So..... How is it going Spyder? I mean the tank.

[Spyder]

Ah man, I dropped the tank and broke it :(

Joke...I'm waiting for a filter to come in. I am going to run two Eheim 2026 filters. I have one on their 40g so when I get the other I can put it on the 75 and add the fish, no cycle. Don't know if I will get the filter on Friday or Monday.

Thanks for asking.

[TowBoater]

Soooooo You got it going now?! Man I wanna see it with fish so bad.:13:

[Spyder]

No fish yet, I won't get the filter til Thursday. I have a pump circulating the water and I put on an Eheim 2222 I had laying around to clean things up. I have a LFS holding 2 male and 4 female Cyps for me.

I still need to get some small shells.
Water is not yet crystal clear but it's getting better. I love the Eco-Conplete sand.

This is how it looks now.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p95830abcde9c4dc8d6cb805936ba785e/e81105dd.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pba0b92b6efaeafc12b1c962e42ef5a5b/e81105b2.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p1bc05152feca0364aa73d329a77343e0/e811056f.jpg

This is a 40g with hundreds of CuadoPunks and Juli Ornatus that will call the new tank home
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p1ef690db8c23506ba2b8c8c7ce94992b/e811058a.jpg

[*Sarah*]

VERY NICE! I love that background :)

[TowBoater]

Man that thing is awesome!! Wish I had the time and money for it or I would do it also, although I may be getting a 55g for free soon and I may turn it into a jack tank.

[Lady Hobbs]

Spyder, I can't believe this entire thread got passed up by me!! Unless the P had told me it was here, I never would have seen it.

You've done a great job. Also a very good idea how you sealed off the styrofoam all around the edge to keep water from sneaking in behind it. I've read that others later wished they had.

I have styrofoam pieces already cut out and in a box ready for a project such as this. I have burned all the edges to smooth them out which works great. But using the Quik-rete (Or is it Quik-crete) even eliminates all that detailing as you do it all with the cement and your hands.

Pretty darned novel stuff as well as the Great Stuff, I'd say.

How many coats of Quik-rete did you do? I also love your subtrate!

I did read that the cement needs to cure in strong salt water for a couple weeks with several water changes. Is that how you cured it as well?

You did a really nice job and I like it a lot. Good job guy.

[Spyder]

Thank you all,

Lady Hobbs,

I used two coats of Quickrete. It took about two weeks to cure and I did not use salt. Just waited for the pH to come down. The fish are already spawning in the tank so I think they are happy.

[crackatinny]

I also missed this somehow, that is an amazing job:thumb:

[Spyder]

Thanks for the positive comments. Here are some new pics with fish in the tank. Hope you enjoy

[cocoa_pleco]

very nice! any lamp. brichardi?

[Spyder]

No, no Brichardis.