ADA 55 gal aquascape (new pics)

Nugget · 03-02-2012, 01:05 PM

Okay so here goes
I am going to build a 4ft aquarium based on the ADA 120P setup. I got the wood (18mm supawood) and damn this wood is heavy.
In the past few weeks I have been collecting supplies to build the beauty its gonna be. Today I bought a 4x54w T5 Pendant, midday Giesemann and aqua-pink giesemann tubes.

Got the wood

Where the build is now on day one

Nugget · 03-02-2012, 01:06 PM

Supports are glued and screwed

Started fitting the supports

Supports in

Planning the base

Everything glued and srewed

Where I went crazy with the polyfiller

Nugget · 03-02-2012, 01:07 PM

Sanding.....

Primer....

Paint (rear)

Paint (front)

Nugget · 03-02-2012, 01:07 PM

tank

silicone thickness

fingers crossed

Nugget · 03-02-2012, 01:08 PM

Cut hinge hole (35mm)

Spacing of doors]

Doors hung

Doors closed

Nugget · 03-02-2012, 01:09 PM

filling after planting

Bushkill · 03-02-2012, 02:57 PM

That looks like absolutely awesome work. MDF by any name is just very heavy. Great job taping off the outer silicone beads. One of the cleanest DIY's I've seen in some time. What adhesive do you use?

What are you planning on keeping in the cabinet long-term? It looks like it may be a little too air-tight depending on what's in there.

Can't tell how thick the glass is, but have you seen any bowing across the long panels?

Nugget · 03-02-2012, 03:04 PM

adhesive for silicone was plain bostik aquarium silicone. the glass is bpar and 10mm thick.
their is a few holes (sides and back) so its not air tight at all. Inside the cabinet is the filter, co2 bottle, ADA ferts, timers ..etc
Their has been no bowing and this tank is regit!!
tank dimensions are
120x45x45 (cm)

menoseloso · 03-02-2012, 03:08 PM

nice DIY

Nugget · 03-02-2012, 03:11 PM

Thanks all!!

Nugget · 03-29-2012, 12:18 PM

update:
week 1

week 2

week 5

Now

Nugget · 04-26-2012, 06:51 PM

SURPRIZE!!!

Layout

filling

Next morning

Next few days/weeks

Trimmed

sorry for the crappy phone pics

kwheeler91 · 04-26-2012, 08:05 PM

Do you have any pics of the tank building process? Looks great I never would have guessed diy.

Nugget · 04-27-2012, 12:11 PM

Have a few, but nothing showing the tank build.

**thesawguy** · 04-27-2012, 12:25 PM

That's very nice, I really like how the simple clean lines of the stand and rimless tank bring all the attention to the contents of the tank. What kind of rocks are those and where did you get them?

03-02-2012, 01:05 PM	#1
Nugget Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 36	ADA 55 gal aquascape (new pics) Okay so here goes I am going to build a 4ft aquarium based on the ADA 120P setup. I got the wood (18mm supawood) and damn this wood is heavy. In the past few weeks I have been collecting supplies to build the beauty its gonna be. Today I bought a 4x54w T5 Pendant, midday Giesemann and aqua-pink giesemann tubes. Got the wood Where the build is now on day one Last edited by Nugget; 01-08-2013 at 02:55 PM.. Reason: new pics

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03-02-2012, 01:06 PM	#2
Nugget Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 36	Supports are glued and screwed Started fitting the supports Supports in Planning the base Everything glued and srewed Where I went crazy with the polyfiller

03-02-2012, 01:07 PM	#3
Nugget Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 36	Sanding..... Primer.... Paint (rear) Paint (front)

03-02-2012, 01:07 PM	#4
Nugget Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 36	tank silicone thickness fingers crossed

03-02-2012, 01:08 PM	#5
Nugget Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 36	Cut hinge hole (35mm) Spacing of doors] Doors hung Doors closed

03-02-2012, 01:09 PM	#6
Nugget Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 36	filling after planting

03-02-2012, 02:57 PM	#7
Bushkill Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Bushkill, Pa Posts: 412	That looks like absolutely awesome work. MDF by any name is just very heavy. Great job taping off the outer silicone beads. One of the cleanest DIY's I've seen in some time. What adhesive do you use? What are you planning on keeping in the cabinet long-term? It looks like it may be a little too air-tight depending on what's in there. Can't tell how thick the glass is, but have you seen any bowing across the long panels?

03-02-2012, 03:04 PM	#8
Nugget Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 36	adhesive for silicone was plain bostik aquarium silicone. the glass is bpar and 10mm thick. their is a few holes (sides and back) so its not air tight at all. Inside the cabinet is the filter, co2 bottle, ADA ferts, timers ..etc Their has been no bowing and this tank is regit!! tank dimensions are 120x45x45 (cm)

03-02-2012, 03:08 PM	#9
menoseloso Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: mcallen, texas Posts: 80	nice DIY

03-02-2012, 03:11 PM	#10
Nugget Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 36	Thanks all!!

03-29-2012, 12:18 PM	#11
Nugget Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 36	update: week 1 week 2 week 5 Now

04-26-2012, 06:51 PM	#12
Nugget Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 36	SURPRIZE!!! Layout filling Next morning Next few days/weeks Trimmed sorry for the crappy phone pics

04-26-2012, 08:05 PM	#13
kwheeler91 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 934	Do you have any pics of the tank building process? Looks great I never would have guessed diy.

04-27-2012, 12:11 PM	#14
Nugget Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 36	Have a few, but nothing showing the tank build.

04-27-2012, 12:25 PM	#15
thesawguy Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 224	That's very nice, I really like how the simple clean lines of the stand and rimless tank bring all the attention to the contents of the tank. What kind of rocks are those and where did you get them?