100 Gallon MS Journal...Update Today! 10/25/2009

[Coltonorr]

So I bought this used tank. It's 100 gallons and its dimensions are 72"x18"x18". IMO a nice tank for a planted setup.

My first project was to move a closet door/thermostat and wall switch and "create" 6' of wall space.



My equipment list...
Lighting...fishneedit.com 2x36" T5HO fixtures with a total of 8x39watt lamps 4-10,000k and 4-6700k
Filters...Fluval 405, Eheim 2028
Pressurized CO2... Sumoregulator


2-300w submersible heaters
Mineralized soil substrate and capped with Pool filter sand

So far I've painted the back of the tank black...I still have to raise the stand 9-10" so the tank sits higher and you don't get a sore back looking at it or working on it.
I also have to mineralize the soil.
The tank will have no canopy.
Plant list...working on it.

[lauraleellbp]

Awesome project!

Isn't that a 110, tho, not a 100? (I didn't do the math so don't quote me...)

How are you going to raise up the tank, have you worked that out?

I see you've got it on carpet- IME laying down some of those big plastic desk carpet protectors underneath the stand REALLY helps avoid wet carpet and subflooring... and the clear ones don't look that bad, IMO, too.

[Coltonorr]

Laura,
I believe it is like 101.7 gallons.
to raise the tank I bought 8- 2x10's to basically build a platform and so 2x4's for cross braces. Then I plan to finish the front with nice piece of pine and stain it. I will take pics as I go.
As far as water on the floor, I rarely if ever get water on the floor, though now that you mentioned it...
The floor is concrete...and my tanks are in the basement.

[sick lid]

Backing onto an existing closet? You know you want to build that sucker into the wall, don't you?

[CL]

Awesome project! Nice closet door move, it looks great!

[Phoenix-cry]

awesome! Nothing like a totally project!

[Coltonorr]

originally it was going into the wall...but right at that corner lies a supporting beam for the entire house...nope just wasn't into moving that...

[mott]

Nice reg , I think I saw it at the meeting, I remember seeing that dual bubble counter sweet!!

Looking forward to the tank. GL

[Coltonorr]

here is a little update, I've been doing alot of constructing...lol
Since my last update I've started mineralizing the soil...I landed the Muriate of Potash, Dolomite and Clay.

I built this cabinet above the tank for more storage and to hang the lights from...


Put the center brace in the tank

Built a platform to raise the stand 10".



Finished cabinet and stand...

drillled through lights to put suspension points on the lights...use stainless steel parts!


Tank, Stand and lights...

[fshfanatic]

Nice start. Looking forward to seeing this one come around...

[CL]

Very nice! I love the look so far!

[Sixwing]

Wow - that's gonna look great!
Do you have that crossbrace siliconed to the glass or the plastic rim? I can't quite tell from the picture.

[cah925]

I'm very impressed with your carpentry skills. So far it looks fantastic. You did an amazing job matching the 10" rise with the cabinet. My only question is where is the electrical outlets? I didn't see any along the wall after you moved the closet door.

[Coltonorr]

Originally Posted by Sixwing

Wow - that's gonna look great!
Do you have that crossbrace siliconed to the glass or the plastic rim? I can't quite tell from the picture.

I used a product called Lexel for the crossbrace it is not silicone and it it not epoxy...

Originally Posted by cah925

I'm very impressed with your carpentry skills. So far it looks fantastic. You did an amazing job matching the 10" rise with the cabinet. My only question is where is the electrical outlets? I didn't see any along the wall after you moved the closet door.

your good LOL!!!
since I didn't have power there but believe it or not there is an outlet in the closet right behind that wall soooo...I ran 2 extension cords through the wall...to mounted surge protectors on the other side.

[Coltonorr]

I threw everything in the tank yesterday.
I mineralized soil for about 4-5 weeks...it is a time consuming process, not hard but time consuming for sure and dirty. I managed to dry the soil faster with a box fan and I would constantly stir up the soil and turn it over, and break up the bigger chunks

my trusty soil turner...


Then after 4 wet/dry cycles I sifted the soil through a screen...dusty is not the word!!!



I was left with a very fluffy pile of dust...aka nice mineralized substrate...


3 days before I planted I soaked ~2.25lbs of Malone Red clay in a 5 gal bucket filled about 1/3 of water to break it down.


I added the soil to the clay/water mix...then added a little extra water...I was shooting for a cake batter consistency...this was a little harder to judge the right amount because you want the clay to make up about 5-10% of the total mixture. I actually used a very small portion of the 120lbs of topsoil I actually mineralized. I would say I used maybe 1/4 of all the soil I actually sifted.


Ah...Cake Batter!




Sprinkled a layer of Dolomite and Potash...



Then I basically spread the soil across the bottom of the tank...the mineralized portion of the substrate is about 1/2" deep.



Capped the soil with pool filter sand...initially I was going to get black ColorQuartz but since my basement is dark, I figured a room brightening tan sand would look better.


My hardscape...nothing is set here, I like parts of it, and not others. This will change for sure!



Now planting...please be nice.ops:
Full Tank.








Some equipment...


These timers are awesome...they even account for daylight savings time.

Thanks for looking.