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so here is the new plan LOL

3K views 25 replies 5 participants last post by  bearwithfish 
#1 ·
alright those who know me know that i often change my plans oh about 99 times before i get into one and then i move on it... so i am setting up the 29 gal "show tank with sand, some caves, and maybe some drift wood.
the big plan comes this spring/summer instead of doing a fish room in the basement (as thought about before we moved in) it will be cheaper and nicer to do 4 nice 20 gallon tanks in the dining room along with my 29... now the issue was space but my wife came up with a great idea!!! we are going to remove a build in cabinet widen the hole and build the tanks into the wall!! i am so excited!!
now i know the next part is going to raise an eyebrow or two and some may even suggest against it but for energy savings and ultimately ease of care for 4 units in a wall set up i am going to plum them all into a sump so i can run less heaters, lights, and only one filter instead of 4 seperate ones.. now i know that there is concern over cross contamination however after careful planning we decided that a station in another room will be the 3-4 week QT to keep it all safe from new comers and stock slowly!!!
the top two 20's will be divided into three and each space will house a male Betta :-D
i have not really decided on the bottom two as of yet i may stay with a male only guppy tank and then keep the other one for females or i may go a different way all together... the 29 by it self is my current project so i have time to think about it and plan out the plumbing and everything.. just wanted to share the base plan and get a bit of feed back.... i may even start doing pix soon as it will take months to get there but i want to show the step by step with this one....
 
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#2 ·
Hihihi....:lol: what sand white or black?
If you look under my aquarium log, I also used a heavy duty shelve to house few tanks in 1 spot (these one's for shops) but these day's I'd chose a nice version of it made out of wood :)
Have you considered leaving the last/ top tank on the shelf open tank? With plants growing out of it?

If you set them up properly as you always done so far, proper QT for newbies...I think (pers) you're gonna be pretty safe with this set up.

2 undecided tsssss :roll: considered African Dwarf Frog set up yet? (something "new") Cray set up (like CPOs)?

So are you going to built this in a way that the shelf for each tank sitting on it is also the light 'holder' for the tank in the shelf underneath or what?
 
#3 ·
I really like that idea, its how the stores have their tanks set up basically. This should deliver a very clean look and cut the cost of equipment trifold. A q tank is definitely a must with this setup though!
Make sure all your friends need similar water params though :)
 
#4 ·
ok so picture this two 20's side by side on the top with a light fixture built above and plexi tops. there will be a hinged "door to access if needed then under these another hinged door to light fixture and the other 2- 20's side by side also plexi tops. now there will be a space (not set on size yet) in between the tanks with a pull out shadow box which will hide teh plumbing to and from the tanks. total access and good looks!!! as for undecided the two on top will be Betta's no questions there its the bottom ones.... no i dont think frogs or crays (but one never knows until the time of purchase) the shelves are being built by me and i am gong to over build them so much that they will actually be able to support 3x the amount goin on them... can not do open in this case do to evaporation issues and such an enclosed space.. we are going to use green board to seal the area and massive latex paint to be sure but the plexi will help slow down the evap and the sump is going to be 85-95% sealed for the same purpose.. i think i need to get google sketch up and start to show plans LOL
 
#6 ·
2 ideas popping in my mind (and pls tell me off here if you don't wanna hear ideas, cause you sound very set there already)
Use outdoor heavy duty wood latax, that's what I used before even on backboard's that covered tanks w/out ventilation, works great (I used white to help with the light reflection).
Allow yourself a lil extra space somewhere's in the back of each shelf housing 2x20g where you could wire in a lil Computer fan to help circulation in the summer IF needed. You'd be surprised just how much help these lil fan's can be.
 
#7 ·
yes ideas are always welcome!! :) thats the point of posting LOL.....i love the latex being white idea (and may use it) but i was almost wondering if staying with the natural sand i use would aid in the light enough to go with black paint? or even a nice blue for depth.... as for the fan i thank you a million times over i had not really considered the need... now that the ideas is there would a bathroom exhaust fan system work as well drawing out from the area and drawing in from the surrounding room? or perhaps a build in twin window fan that removes and blows in at the same time? hhmmmmmmmm need to give this part more thought...
 
#8 ·
Pers I think what I'd do if you view the shelf as a box...I'd paint the sides and top's & bottom's white and the back (the background for the tank so to say) either dark blue OR I'd also paint it white but then attach window tint to the back of all tanks.

These normal $5-6 CPU fans work WONDERS to circulate air out - You can go the bathrom fan route; but bare in mind 1) these will be more expensive 2) take up more room then a CPU fan (good size is 120-200mm) 3) Generally much louder (Decent brand CPU fan won't give off 0 sound) 4) Not that I've tested it, but its safe to assume the bathroom fan pulls more power then the CPU too (which is contrary to your low power set up there)
 
#10 ·
Well when your done building 2mrw (the way I know you) let us know how it turned out and post pic's please :)
 
#14 ·
I bet it did....cause we LOVE it when you draw out plans on the nice walls and then go "oh no i'm gonna do it differently" and then we have these "pretty" plan on the walls :)

So you done yet, right!?
 
#15 ·
LOL not yet kiddo .... there are steps involved and i am TRYING to be good about doing them in order....(trying) so for now its the planing and getting the materials together.. so far i have on hand the drip tower for the sump i have designed, the tub for the sump, 2- of the 20's and one coming friday, some of the wood for the shelf build, and a rough outline on the wall LOL
next is to see about jacking the house BEFORE i build in the wall so i dont have to start over
and plans in 3-D....
 
#16 ·
Kiddo!? :shock: I wished...but I'm still 15 in my mind, often wayy too silly & goofy for the adult world:lol:
Heck I wished you were close by, we have a ton wood left over building stuff on the house when we bought it, don't wanna toss it all but also don't really have a use any more myself...I just wanna find someone who could use it :|

Ahhh bracing the floor....crawl space time...nicceeeeee (Crawl spaces FREAK me out :shake:) thank GOD our place has the steel beams that should support quite a tank weight, I'd die to go down there :lol:
 
#17 ·
not jacking just for the tanks LOL bought the house last month knowing some work needed to be done then last week my brother in law came by to plan down a few doors so they would close right.... had to take 3" off one of them!!!!!!!!! we need to get things level LOL... i call every one kiddo i am 34 and i feel about 240 LOLOLOL...
i dont recall where you are from so i can help with "near by" .. i wish i could we could use the materials...
 
#18 ·
:roll: I hear your pain, we bought a house in March last year and while it was structurally sound anything else to the eye was a mess (even thou it was only lived in for 6mos) don't you just *love* working on a house....I'm totally done, I don't want to do any more at this time & point others then my fish :lol:
Just really be sure the way you built your shelf there to level it 100% if your floor isn't level, if you have it just a lil off and the water weight permanently pushing on 1 side of the glass only that ain't good for them seals, which I'm sure you already considered that in your plan too....I'm just saying:lol:
Oh sorry I'm in TN:-D there's 1x4's 2x4's 2x6's 6x6's 8x8's sheets plywood, backboards, metal shelf's, wooden one's....whole big bucket full of bolts, screws in ANY and all sizes.....way too much left overs....but that's fine I'll think of something to built again soon :lol:
 
#20 ·
Well I DO wanna built 1 VERY soon (lol) that's like L shaped for a corner to house 2x10g (but built in a way that the shelf's for each stand will pretty much house 2 more 10g in it so that it could house 4x10g...but hush hubby thinks we're DIY'ing for ONLY the 2 existing 10g's :)
 
#21 ·
i did say in the origonal post that this would most likely change right?!?!?!? LOL in the interest of money and time (i need tanks up NOW) i am going to modify the space and go with two tanks for now and rebuild later if able or needed.... pix soon project started......
 
#22 ·
So you're not going to built the shelf any more now? (for the moment anyway)
 
#23 ·
well not the way it was planned instead of 4 tanks i am only doing 2 and its just because we need to jack the house. i dont want to build it and have to tear it down.. so i am going with two 20's one above the other and no sump... i know its not green but i need the space more than ever right now....
 
#24 ·
Hey at least you're still getting 2x20's up - So be happy about that!!! Another project...another day :)
 
#26 ·
that part of the plan changes by the hour LOL the top one will be divided for the guppies so that we can slow down the population a bit and what births they have will be feeders for the convicts in my 29.. the other i am really leaning on setting up for the desamoni.... but that may change as the days get closer right now i did all the demo and filling of holes and cracks tomorrow sanding, touch ups and if none needed 1st coat of primer....
 
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