I finally finished my custom built tank. Working waterfall with overflow and drain. I put in plants and decor last night after a week of redos due to leaks found when testing. Every thing is more or less from scratch. Plywood with venier and ariclic panels all sealed wil silicone. 1/4" Epoxy coating for wood sides. GS foam covered in silicone and coco bark. If anyone wants to know what anything is or how I made it let me know. I am definatly no expert but I can give you info on materials if anyone wants it but I figure this came in at around $150-175 give or take as I also had to buy a few tools that I can use again and I am not counting these (saws and power tools). You can count $20 or so went into extra stuff that was wasted or will go unused by either poor planing or limited supplies (one size that was to big)
Bargins:
For the lights after I made a box with a sliding arcitic etc. I found a few cheap parts at a hardware store and attached the spotlights in the picture at $5 each and plugged into each other it was quick and easy.
I added some moon lights I already had and since the wood was made from left overs from the tank part and silicone I already had the whole thing was like $25-30.
The pet stores sell gravel for $15 for 25 lbs. For basicly the same thing at home depot you can get pea gravel (that needs to be cleaned) for $3 for 50 lbs. (it was 40 or 50 as it is labeled as 3 cubit yards or something like that I used 1 1/4 bags)
Home depot also has a very nice looking 3/4" plywood for $25 and they will cut it for you in one direction. I had a scrap piece of 3/4" regular of the back for like $5.
I plan to add tree frogs in a few weeks after I make sure everything is running good.
