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About a month ago I got the idea to have a tank in my office. I started looking around and wasn't happy with any of the small cube kits. The prices were too high and they always had something that I didn't like.. The lighting was bogus, the filter was crap.. something.
After a week or so getting no where with off the shelf ideas I thought that for a tank this small it should be fairly easy and inexpensive for build it my self. I hadn't built from scratch before, but I had resealed plenty of tanks.
I contacted a local glass shop and was able to purchase all the pieces for about $25 (this included a piece for a glass top) I had the sealant already, so I didn't need to buy any.
![Flooring Floor Wood Grass Gadget]()
![Plant Wood Table Urban design Flooring]()
Once the edges were sealed and cured for a few days it was time to test. It sat on the back deck full of water for 3 days. I made a point of putting it in the path of the dogs and humans on the deck so that any vibrations from walking might bust any weak seams.
View attachment 164369
Once I was confident I wasn't going to bust a seam I set about scaping. I used Black Diamond Blasting Media for substrate. Last time I boulght a bag I got 20/40, this time I grabbed 30/60. It's a much finer substrate and reminds me a lot of beach sand. I'm not sure how I like it, but I think it looks good so far.
I sloped my substrate and added a piece of driftwood I picked up from Unique Aquarias moving sale. I planted the tank with plants I received in this RAOK by kingjombeejoe: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=361193
Current Plant List:
Hygrophila lacustris
Alternanthera reineckii
Eichhornia diversifolia
Ludwigia repens
Rotala rotundifolia
Hydrocotyle leucocephala
and some willow moss. One bunch that stayed tied to the wood during the move and another that started floating.
View attachment 164337
Added the light.
![Plant Rectangle Leaf Water Terrestrial plant]()
This morning I drained the water, loaded the tank in the hatch of my tiny car, and carted the whole thing into work. I set it up on a heavy duty filing cabinet and found to my surprise that it was level.
![Plant Pet supply Houseplant Water Aquatic plant]()
I tested the water from the tap kH 3, gH 4-5 but we also have RO available in the office.. I'm thinking this might become a nice little shrimp haven. I forgot to test pH, but I'll do it when I refill my coffee.
I plan on bringing the glass top piece back to the glass shop to have them cut it down so it fits with the filter. And I'll bring in a bottle for DIY co2 in the next few days to get that up and running.
It's been set up for a little over 2 hrs and one of my co-workers has already asked if we could build another for her work area.
After a week or so getting no where with off the shelf ideas I thought that for a tank this small it should be fairly easy and inexpensive for build it my self. I hadn't built from scratch before, but I had resealed plenty of tanks.
I contacted a local glass shop and was able to purchase all the pieces for about $25 (this included a piece for a glass top) I had the sealant already, so I didn't need to buy any.
Once the edges were sealed and cured for a few days it was time to test. It sat on the back deck full of water for 3 days. I made a point of putting it in the path of the dogs and humans on the deck so that any vibrations from walking might bust any weak seams.
View attachment 164369
Once I was confident I wasn't going to bust a seam I set about scaping. I used Black Diamond Blasting Media for substrate. Last time I boulght a bag I got 20/40, this time I grabbed 30/60. It's a much finer substrate and reminds me a lot of beach sand. I'm not sure how I like it, but I think it looks good so far.
I sloped my substrate and added a piece of driftwood I picked up from Unique Aquarias moving sale. I planted the tank with plants I received in this RAOK by kingjombeejoe: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=361193
Current Plant List:
Hygrophila lacustris
Alternanthera reineckii
Eichhornia diversifolia
Ludwigia repens
Rotala rotundifolia
Hydrocotyle leucocephala
and some willow moss. One bunch that stayed tied to the wood during the move and another that started floating.
View attachment 164337
Added the light.
This morning I drained the water, loaded the tank in the hatch of my tiny car, and carted the whole thing into work. I set it up on a heavy duty filing cabinet and found to my surprise that it was level.
I tested the water from the tap kH 3, gH 4-5 but we also have RO available in the office.. I'm thinking this might become a nice little shrimp haven. I forgot to test pH, but I'll do it when I refill my coffee.
I plan on bringing the glass top piece back to the glass shop to have them cut it down so it fits with the filter. And I'll bring in a bottle for DIY co2 in the next few days to get that up and running.
It's been set up for a little over 2 hrs and one of my co-workers has already asked if we could build another for her work area.
