Dewalltheway's - "The 125 Dream" (See Post 205 - Need Opinions)

[dewalltheway]

Well...it has begun and what better way to start it off then with getting the journal going. Yes..this is my dream tank. To some, it may be ordinary, but to me, it will be fun! Will I ever go bigger, maybe, but my dream is to have a 6'-0" long tank. Aquarium Adventure was having a sale on tanks and I went Saturday morning to make my decision on one and I bought the 125 gallon...dimensions of 72" long x 18" deep x 23" high. I won't lie and say that the 180 gal was not impressive, but at this point, the 125 made more sense for me. The tank still sits at the store while I make preparations in my basement for the tank. I will post photos of the building progress and installation of the tank. Work should begin later this week as I need to make a trip to Lowes for building supplies and then also switch my fish & plants over from my 90 gal to a 55 gal for temporary holding. So let the fun begin!

[jkan0228]

Let the waiting game begin too. subscribed bro. Can't wait to see what you come up with. Any ideas so far?

[dewalltheway]

Ideas...plenty. I will be cutting a hole in one of my interior basement stud walls so I can access the back of the tank from what I call my fish room. This will be the major re-modeling of the family room to build a base and soffit so it blends in with the room.

As far as filtration..Plan on using at least 3 fluval filters possibly 4. I will be plumbing into the lines a hydor in-line heater, atomic inline diffuser, UV sterilizer, rex style CO2 reactor and possible a PH probe. I have (4) new LED 7000K flood lights coming from Dealextreme.com that will be my lighting. I will also be ordering tomorrow 4 pieces of Texas select wood from ADG, with thanks to Frank Wazeter for picking out and photographing the pieces that I choose. I will be using Eco-complete for my substrate and will order more bags tomorrow but will use what is in my 90 gal now as well. I also have all the supplies from FiltersFast and will be building (3) Purigen reactors per a build I saw here on TPT. I just need to find some nice rock to go around the pieces of driftwood so I will have to stop in at a landscape place to try and find some. The tank will have a black background and will use the plants I have currently in my 90 gal. Well..that is a start and can't wait to get going on it.

[dewalltheway]

Checklist...

125 Gal Aquarium from Aquarium Adventure...check - ($333.59)

LED Lights from Dealextreme...check - ($132.50)

Additional 6 bags of Eco-Complete from Petco...check - ($102.18)

Wood hardscape from ADG (Aquarium Design Group)...check - ($135.00)

Purigen Reactors from Filtersfast....check - ($108.64)

Fluval rubber end caps from [Ebay Link Removed] - ($35.22)

CO2 Atomic Inline Diffuser from GLA...check - (~$45.00)

Lowes for building supplies & plumbing....not checked - (-)

[dewalltheway]

Ok...I haven't posted any pics and I know that pics are alot better to look at then to read a bunch of words so here you go....

Preparing for a new tank always seems like it takes the longest but want to do this right. Here is a pic of the wall that the tank will be centered on.



Demo and construction is slated for next week but before that could begin, I needed to clear out my fishroom that is behind that wall



and get to the floor that needs to be re-done



The floor has been scrubbed with TSA and also some cleaner for concrete and now waiting for it to dry.



May put a coat of paint on it later tonight if we aren't to late getting back from my daughters basketball tournament game, otherwise a coat of paint on it tomorrow and then wait 24 hours before I can do anything else. The next step after the floor is done is to set back up the 55 gal tank to be a temporary holding for the fish in the 90 gal tank so I can tear that down and start on tearing out the wall and build the tank base.

[dewalltheway]

Floor painted! Tuesday night I can move the 55 gal tank back in there and start moving my plants and fish to it so I can tear down the 90 gal. I hate having to move the fish twice, but I have no other choice because that tank is in the way of the new construction.

[dewalltheway]

Tonight I was able to get my 55 gal holding tank cleaned up and put back into the fish room so I could transfer my fish from the 90 gal to it. Took me about 6 hours to get everything switched and still alot of cleanup to do.

55gal up...



Then the fun began...getting ready to tear out the plants...



Tank one last time before being tore down (Looks like crap!!)



Then filled up the 55 with the water from the 90 gal and ready to transfer fish



(Wow..look at that algae build up. Can someone say neglect!)


Transfer complete and now an empty tank



Will start to clean up and get ready for demo & construction Thursday night

[ua hua]

I can't wait to see this come together. It would be really nice to have that room right next to where your going to put your new tank. You have quite a few bylxa aubertii in there. I have 1 out of the 2 left that I got from you as my roselines took a liking to the other one when I was out of town for a week. If you ever have any extras you want to get rid of let me know.

[dewalltheway]

Originally Posted by ua hua

I can't wait to see this come together. It would be really nice to have that room right next to where your going to put your new tank. You have quite a few bylxa aubertii in there. I have 1 out of the 2 left that I got from you as my roselines took a liking to the other one when I was out of town for a week. If you ever have any extras you want to get rid of let me know.

Actually..the plants on the right are the Blyxa Aubertii and the plants on the left are Cyperus Helferi. One of the fish in my tank is eating at mine as well and completely destroyed one and was working on another. I haven't found the culprit yet. After splitting one last night I have 5 plants left. Hope to propagate more once they are in my 125.

[GMYukonon24s]

That was a nice corner tank. I haven't seen to many corner tanks that nice before.

[dewalltheway]

Originally Posted by GMYukonon24s

That was a nice corner tank. I haven't seen to many corner tanks that nice before.

Thank you but it actually looked terrible when I tore it down last night. If you want to see this tank in it's glory, go HERE and scroll to post #175 and that, in my humble opinion is the best this tank has ever looked

[Craigthor]

Got any barbs in your tank? I know my Odessa Barbs have started to tear my plants up...

[dewalltheway]

Originally Posted by Craigthor

Got any barbs in your tank? I know my Odessa Barbs have started to tear my plants up...

Nope....I have a feeling it could be my Pictus Cat or my SAE or possibly my Clown Loaches but I just don't know.

[GMYukonon24s]

I checked out post #175. The thing that popped into my head was WOW lol that's a beautiful picture.

[mountaindew]

Lots of work!
Aquarium room looks like fun! Inspired to build one myself this year.
I have been thinking about building a studio for planted display setups and photography.
md