Drilling my 55

**DiabloCanine** · 05-14-2006, 11:39 PM

I lost a Heckel when it got caught between the filter plumbing and glass so I looked for a way to get all that crap out of the tank. Finally decided to drill my tanks and move all equipment under the stand. My 55 gallon was the first experiment since it would be the cheapest to replace if we broke it. We drilled 4 holes in the back of the tank, 2 on each side of the tank for ¾” bulkheads. Why 2 sets of bulkheads? Two reasons:
1. My stand has a bookcase in the middle which leaves 2 small compartments for equipment.
2. I wanted to use 2 Fluval 304 filters to ensure good flow to both sides of the tank since I would be using a reactor and external heater.
Inside the tank was a Won Titanium Heater, Milwaukee SMS122 Probe, A SCWD Utube Attachment which I used as the outlet for the Fluval 404, and a PentAir Aquatics Customflo Water System which served as the inlet plumbing for the Fluval 404. Here is what the stand compartments looked like before we drilled the tank.

Old RH Side

Old LH Side

The RH side of the stand now contains; CO2 cylinder w/Regulator, Hydor 301 External Heater, Fluval 304, plumbing and electrical.

Heater and Plumbing

More Heater Plumbing

Picture of the RH side

The LH Side of the stand now contains a DIY CO2 reactor with the SMS 122 PH probe installed inline, Milwaukee SMS 122, Timer for Moonlights, Timer for Icecap Ballast, Fluval 304, plumbing and electrical.

DIY CO2 Reactor I made, you can see the PH probe (the black plug with the wire going to it) and Fluval plumbing.

Milwaukee SMS 122 PH Monitor/Controller and Digital Timer for Moonlights

Picture of LH side (the Digital Timer for the Icecap Ballast is on the RH side).

Picture of LH side with Fluval 304 installed.

Picture of both sides (please excuse the flash).

Tank Rescape (please excuse the flash).

New inhabitants

ALF Caves

Everything is working great! Initially, was not to sure about the probe in the reactor since I could not find any previous reactors built with PH probes inline. Well it works, works great as a matter of fact. Only problem I have is the Discus are looking at the cories like they are food.

We will be drilling two more tanks in the near future. I will take pics of the drilling and bulkhead installation to post.

Special thanks to RMC for drilling the tank and helping do the set up. And another special thanks to RMC for babysitting my Heckel and Snakeskin while this tank was in work. And one more special thanks to RMC for the rest of the Discus, the awesome Corydoras Aeneus Peru-Gold Stripes, and the beautiful Albino Long Fin Ansistrus Bristlenose.......DC

rrguymon · 05-15-2006, 03:33 AM

Looks great. I need to do something like that. I need to get off my behind and build me a decent stand first. hah. Could you show more detailed pictures or explain how you got your SMS prob in the plumbing and how you seal it and remove it to calibrate it if needed? I hate that floresent yellow thing in my tank. haha

Rick

yoink · 05-15-2006, 03:39 AM

Dang, I just missed the new discus. They look great and the tank looks awesome, even more so in person.

**DiabloCanine** · 05-15-2006, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrguymon

Looks great. I need to do something like that. I need to get off my behind and build me a decent stand first. hah. Could you show more detailed pictures or explain how you got your SMS prob in the plumbing and how you seal it and remove it to calibrate it if needed? I hate that floresent yellow thing in my tank. haha

Rick

When we do the next one, I'll slow down and take pictures of the whole process including build-up of the reactor.....DC

**DiabloCanine** · 05-15-2006, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yoink

Dang, I just missed the new discus. They look great and the tank looks awesome, even more so in person.

Yes, but you can come by to see and feed them whenever you want. I forgot to give you some plants I had for you in my endler tank and shrimp nanos. Did you get the new tank set-up? The glosso we planted is hanging tough.....DC

yoink · 05-15-2006, 06:15 AM

The plants you gave me filled it up nicely. It's ready to go and waiting on the shrimp to come in. Thanks again.

rrguymon · 05-15-2006, 09:30 PM

I am concidering discus too. I need to start reading your posts and learning what I can about keeping them with plants. I have tons of questoins on discus but its off topic here so I will wait. Haha.

Rick

Brian A · 08-30-2006, 03:53 PM

what did you use to make those caves?

landlord · 08-30-2006, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiabloCanine

Tank Rescape (please excuse the flash).

got any update pics of this, im interested on how this tank is progressing, looks good!

**DiabloCanine** · 08-31-2006, 07:54 AM

I did not make them, got them from RMC. If you want some, let me know. You still need to meet him, he lives down 31 a little. You still got my number?.....DC

Quote:

Originally Posted by flash69x

what did you use to make those caves?

**DiabloCanine** · 08-31-2006, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landlord

got any update pics of this, im interested on how this tank is progressing, looks good!

The tank is doing well, still recovering from a major munch by a bunch of spixi babies. I am growing out several dozen rams in it now....DC

crazie.eddie · 08-31-2006, 09:29 AM

Nice tank.

What's the dimensions of those caves? I'm interested in them as well, since I can probably use them for my plecos.

**DiabloCanine** · 08-31-2006, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazie.eddie

Nice tank.

What's the dimensions of those caves? I'm interested in them as well, since I can probably use them for my plecos.

Plecs love them, actually have wars in my 110 over a cave. I think I can still get some, PM me......DC

**Hoppy** · 08-31-2006, 04:53 PM

What is this plant? It looks familiar, but I can't remember what it is.

**DiabloCanine** · 08-31-2006, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoppy

What is this plant? It looks familiar, but I can't remember what it is.

Anchored Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia azurea)

05-14-2006, 11:39 PM	#1
DiabloCanine Everyone has an opinion (View User Tanks) PTrader: (88/100%) Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Greenwood Posts: 1,674	Drilling my 55 I lost a Heckel when it got caught between the filter plumbing and glass so I looked for a way to get all that crap out of the tank. Finally decided to drill my tanks and move all equipment under the stand. My 55 gallon was the first experiment since it would be the cheapest to replace if we broke it. We drilled 4 holes in the back of the tank, 2 on each side of the tank for ¾” bulkheads. Why 2 sets of bulkheads? Two reasons: 1. My stand has a bookcase in the middle which leaves 2 small compartments for equipment. 2. I wanted to use 2 Fluval 304 filters to ensure good flow to both sides of the tank since I would be using a reactor and external heater. Inside the tank was a Won Titanium Heater, Milwaukee SMS122 Probe, A SCWD Utube Attachment which I used as the outlet for the Fluval 404, and a PentAir Aquatics Customflo Water System which served as the inlet plumbing for the Fluval 404. Here is what the stand compartments looked like before we drilled the tank. Old RH Side Old LH Side The RH side of the stand now contains; CO2 cylinder w/Regulator, Hydor 301 External Heater, Fluval 304, plumbing and electrical. Heater and Plumbing More Heater Plumbing Picture of the RH side The LH Side of the stand now contains a DIY CO2 reactor with the SMS 122 PH probe installed inline, Milwaukee SMS 122, Timer for Moonlights, Timer for Icecap Ballast, Fluval 304, plumbing and electrical. DIY CO2 Reactor I made, you can see the PH probe (the black plug with the wire going to it) and Fluval plumbing. Milwaukee SMS 122 PH Monitor/Controller and Digital Timer for Moonlights Picture of LH side (the Digital Timer for the Icecap Ballast is on the RH side). Picture of LH side with Fluval 304 installed. Picture of both sides (please excuse the flash). Tank Rescape (please excuse the flash). New inhabitants ALF Caves Everything is working great! Initially, was not to sure about the probe in the reactor since I could not find any previous reactors built with PH probes inline. Well it works, works great as a matter of fact. Only problem I have is the Discus are looking at the cories like they are food. We will be drilling two more tanks in the near future. I will take pics of the drilling and bulkhead installation to post. Special thanks to RMC for drilling the tank and helping do the set up. And another special thanks to RMC for babysitting my Heckel and Snakeskin while this tank was in work. And one more special thanks to RMC for the rest of the Discus, the awesome Corydoras Aeneus Peru-Gold Stripes, and the beautiful Albino Long Fin Ansistrus Bristlenose.......DC __________________ My show tanks are drilled with all equipment in the stand. Visit links below to see how I did it. Disclaimer: Do not try any of these w/o adult supervision. 37G Drilled/Plumbed46G Drilled/Plumbed55G Drilled/Plumbed110G Drilled/Plumbed/SumpedSliding Glass Tops for Any TankInline CO2 Reactors with and w/o CO2 ProbePortable UV Sterilizer for Tank to Tank UsePVC CO2 Multi Valve Manifold for Multiple TanksRO Water Filtration/Storage/Changers/Distribution for Large TanksBuilding My Fish Room* Last edited by DiabloCanine; 05-15-2006 at 03:04 AM..

05-15-2006, 03:33 AM	#2
rrguymon Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ABQ NM Posts: 419	Looks great. I need to do something like that. I need to get off my behind and build me a decent stand first. hah. Could you show more detailed pictures or explain how you got your SMS prob in the plumbing and how you seal it and remove it to calibrate it if needed? I hate that floresent yellow thing in my tank. haha Rick __________________ _____________________________________ 50g, Eco complete, AH 4x55w, Pressurized co2, Azoo reg and controller, Filstar xp3 filter.

05-15-2006, 09:30 PM	#7
rrguymon Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ABQ NM Posts: 419	I am concidering discus too. I need to start reading your posts and learning what I can about keeping them with plants. I have tons of questoins on discus but its off topic here so I will wait. Haha. Rick __________________ _____________________________________ 50g, Eco complete, AH 4x55w, Pressurized co2, Azoo reg and controller, Filstar xp3 filter.

08-31-2006, 09:29 AM	#12
crazie.eddie Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: May 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,681	Nice tank. What's the dimensions of those caves? I'm interested in them as well, since I can probably use them for my plecos. __________________ 125 gal (473 liter): Low Tech (1.5wpg PC for 10 hours, no CO2/ferts, gravel substrate), Equipment (72" Coralife PC, Eheim Pro II 2128 w/built in heater, FilStar XP3 w/Hydor ETH201 inline heater), Fish (6Discus, 2Angel, 5Clown loaches, 4L-018 Gold Nugget pleco, 1L-260 Queen Arabesque pleco, 7Cories, Farlowella cat)

08-31-2006, 04:53 PM	#14
Hoppy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (57/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 17,287	What is this plant? It looks familiar, but I can't remember what it is. __________________ Hoppy

05-15-2006, 03:39 AM	#3
yoink Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (69/100%) Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,981	Dang, I just missed the new discus. They look great and the tank looks awesome, even more so in person.

05-15-2006, 06:15 AM	#6
yoink Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (69/100%) Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,981	The plants you gave me filled it up nicely. It's ready to go and waiting on the shrimp to come in. Thanks again.

08-30-2006, 03:53 PM	#8
Brian A Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (16/100%) Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 298	what did you use to make those caves?

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