cashman's 6' adventure (2 x 12L)

[cashman]

So, I found the thread about the 12L club and got inspired to jump back into the aquatic realm. I work from home, so the tanks will be in my office. This will not be a speedy process, as the old adage says "nothing good happens fast in an aquarium". I've done fast tanks in the past due to impatience, and always regretted it.
Still a lot of planning going on, so ideas are welcome, but don't be offended if I don't respond to every one offered.


Tank - Mr. Aqua 12L (2)
Light - will be looking for the Sept release of Finnex FugeRay 36"
Filter - contemplating one filter for both?
Substrate - Black Diamond Blasting sand or wait until I can afford Amazonia
Hardscape - planning
H2o - Bulk Reef Supply RO/DI filtered water
CO2 - planning
Heating - Hydor 200W Inline
Flora - planning, but definitely HC is in the plan
Fauna - I have 4 kids, so fish will definitely be residents

I still have to skin the stands, but you get an idea. B/C I'm an upstairs room, the wall that the tanks are on is only about 52" tall, and the ceiling slopes up from there. The lights will hang from the ceiling.

Subscribers enjoy, but be patient!



Just for fun, this was my last tank, a 2.5g 4 years ago:

[julianmuerto]

looking forward to the end result. question, wont the finnex cause algae? my roommate asked me this question when i told him you convinced me to get the finnex.

[KenRC51]

Very nice, can't wait till you flood this thing. BTW, how do you run 1 filter in 2 different tanks?

[cashman]

Originally Posted by julianmuerto

looking forward to the end result. question, wont the finnex cause algae? my roommate asked me this question when i told him you convinced me to get the finnex.

I think the Ray2 would be to bright, but I think the FugeRay, especially as I will hang it above, should be fine.

[cashman]

Originally Posted by KenRC51

Very nice, can't wait till you flood this thing. BTW, how do you run 1 filter in 2 different tanks?

Not sure, but I'm researching it. I know it's been done before.

[flowerfishs]

another 12g long.

[KenRC51]

Originally Posted by cashman

Not sure, but I'm researching it. I know it's been done before.

I really don't see a way on how that is going to work out unless you can find a way to have the inflow and outflow at the same rate in both tanks.

One way I know can work with 1 filter and 2 different tank is a wet dry filter. 1 sump and 2 inflow box. You can even have flow rate for different tank since you will have two pumps.

[if_fishes_were_wishes]

oooh....staying tuned Love this tank!

[HolyAngel]

Subscribed! Looking forward to what you do with these ^^

[the_intricacy]

Very sweet! I guess someone else has beat me to the punch, with doubling up on these beauties! Btw... these tanks are 12 Gallons, not Liters!

Some questions:

1) Are you going to keep the edges not touching as shown in the OP photo? I'm wondering if there'd be a problem having the glass of two separate tanks touch each other. I'm in a seismic zone, so I might have additional problems doing that.

2) Are these stands are DIY? Did you put a top face underneath the tanks, or does the top look like the bottom, upside down? Are you planning on putting faces on the sides, or leaving it open? Was there an advantage to making two 36" stands instead of one 72"?

3) How tall are the stands?

4)

Originally Posted by KenRC51

BTW, how do you run 1 filter in 2 different tanks?

What's wrong with two of these?

... and double the intake and outflow hardware? I was thinking that would work, but haven't tried it yet...

[KenRC51]

nothing is wrong what that. What if one end get clogged up or the flow rate changes in one end? Then one tank will over flow.

[the_intricacy]

Originally Posted by KenRC51

nothing is wrong what that. What if one end get clogged up or the flow rate changes in one end? Then one tank will over flow.

lol, damn I'm glad SOMEONE was thinking ahead!

[cashman]

Originally Posted by the_intricacy

Very sweet! I guess someone else has beat me to the punch, with doubling up on these beauties! Btw... these tanks are 12 Gallons, not Liters!

The "L" was for Long.


1) I haven't decided how they will be positioned yet.

2) My office is up a narrow steep set of stairs, so two smaller stands were easier to manage. I did make them myself, but they are not yet done. There will be plywood (on the top at minimum) yet to come.

3) I chose a 30" height. I tried 24", but it was way to short to look right

The more I think and research, there's not a cheap, reasonable method to run two tanks on one filter, so I will be going with two filters. Will just extend the build out time of the second one as I wait for additional funds.

[cashman]

So, I'm having this idea of "use what you have". I have some leftover 3/4" solid red/white oak flooring that is 5" in width. Also have 3 custom oak stair treads leftover. I'm tossing around the idea of using the treads for the top, and running the flooring boards vertically in such a manner that I can create the illusion of 1 stand. On the front side, I would let the 'tongue' of the last board of one stand stick out and fit in the 'groove' of the other stand. That way I would only have to skin the two outsides, since the two middle sides would be hidden.

Hate to keep letting the extra wood just sit in my garage. Might be just enough to make it happen.

Here's a picture of my bonus room after I laid it. Yes, it was unfinished. Got high quality, hand milled for $2/sq by an Amish gentleman in Ethridge, TN.

[cashman]

Well, I went a whole different direction. I rebuilt one stand in an open format. I will be staining it a dark mahogany or similar, as well as putting a shelf on the lower level. Definitely harder to put together to make sure that it's all square and level, but I like the look. The brackets aren't cheap (~$5/ea), so, I will be staining and finishing this one stand out and then build out the other as the money comes in as each stand will take 8 brackets.