40b Crypt jungle rack system w/sump
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Came across some pygmy cories a while ago and found them to be pretty cute. Had nowhere else to put them but my shrimp tank. I figured it was high time to get them a more dedicated home and courtesy of the petco $/gal sale came home with 2 40b's. Decided to get this started before the weather is too cold to do all the prep work outside. Big thanks to 0live's thread on the 40b rack or else this may never have happened.
Plan is to make the top tank the display and the bottom tank the sump. I hate bending over to look at tanks so the bottom will be a sump and refugium. Since I am a chronic overstocker of fish, the extra water volume can't hurt.
Pics
Didn't like how the tank rested on the metal so went to HD and got some super heavy duty plywood to provide a more stable base for the tank.
Leak test:
No leaks! also, used the pump to see how fast I can fill the top tank. Calculated to roughly 500gph! The fish are going to be plastered against the glass, just the way I like it :tongue:
Well, since I way oversized the pump, I'll go with 2 returns to split up some of that pressure and probably need to restrict some of the outflow.
Sweating bullets! I ran out of adrenaline and nerves to continue(Actually it was getting dark and I was getting hungry and so were the mosquitos. Will finish the rest of the holes tomorrow.)
Finally what you've all been waiting for, a rough scape idea. Driftwood courtesy of Tom Barr
Rough plant idea. that cyan colored area is supposed to be s. repens.
I dont like to trim so will be keeping this mostly low-light crypts, ferns, and mosses. The overflow will be a beananimal (I know its overkill but I'm drilling it anyway and it will be a good learning experience for the eventual discus tank) with a return on each side. Going to go with a deep sand bed to test it out and since the cories dont use the top part of the water anyway, no loss. Will put a refugium in the sump to grow stems and since I dont care how they look, trimming will be 5 secs of snip and remove.
Advice on planting the display is always welcome
Will also put some fiss covered slate perhaps or lava rocks completely covered with moss around the tank.
Will also be using black sand.
More photos tomorrow
Plan is to make the top tank the display and the bottom tank the sump. I hate bending over to look at tanks so the bottom will be a sump and refugium. Since I am a chronic overstocker of fish, the extra water volume can't hurt.
Pics
Didn't like how the tank rested on the metal so went to HD and got some super heavy duty plywood to provide a more stable base for the tank.
Leak test:
No leaks! also, used the pump to see how fast I can fill the top tank. Calculated to roughly 500gph! The fish are going to be plastered against the glass, just the way I like it :tongue:
Well, since I way oversized the pump, I'll go with 2 returns to split up some of that pressure and probably need to restrict some of the outflow.
Sweating bullets! I ran out of adrenaline and nerves to continue(Actually it was getting dark and I was getting hungry and so were the mosquitos. Will finish the rest of the holes tomorrow.)
Finally what you've all been waiting for, a rough scape idea. Driftwood courtesy of Tom Barr
Rough plant idea. that cyan colored area is supposed to be s. repens.
I dont like to trim so will be keeping this mostly low-light crypts, ferns, and mosses. The overflow will be a beananimal (I know its overkill but I'm drilling it anyway and it will be a good learning experience for the eventual discus tank) with a return on each side. Going to go with a deep sand bed to test it out and since the cories dont use the top part of the water anyway, no loss. Will put a refugium in the sump to grow stems and since I dont care how they look, trimming will be 5 secs of snip and remove.
Advice on planting the display is always welcome
Will also put some fiss covered slate perhaps or lava rocks completely covered with moss around the tank.
Will also be using black sand.
More photos tomorrow
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How does the water go down? Does it skin the water off the top like a reef tank? What happens when the power goes out and your pumps fail?
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That driftwood is fantastic....
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Awesome build
yes, after the holes are drilled, I will put in an internal overflow box.
Thanks! the hard part comes next with rocks. I'm horrible with rocks.
Thanks!
Was a bit busy yesterday and still feeling a little under the weather so didn't go to Lowes to pick up pvc supplies.
I did finish drilling all the holes, stuck on a background and attached the bulkheads though
Also picked up some plants and rocks yesterday for the tank. Ignore the gray slate, that is not staying and is only there for color comparison. I dont like how the color of the rocks match so well with the wood and will try to find other options.
Plant holding tank
Will go pick up some pvcs this weekend for sure.
I did finish drilling all the holes, stuck on a background and attached the bulkheads though
Also picked up some plants and rocks yesterday for the tank. Ignore the gray slate, that is not staying and is only there for color comparison. I dont like how the color of the rocks match so well with the wood and will try to find other options.
Plant holding tank
Will go pick up some pvcs this weekend for sure.
Waiting for plumbing parts sucks. All I got to show for it is a messed up string of pvc that doesn't work because I forgot to account for the low height of the space above the bottom tank which I already glued lol. Oh well, pvc is cheap. Just staring at the wood soaking in a bucket for now.
Got tired of staring at the wood. ordered some plants online and went into the city to share with friends when I ran into some habrosus at the most random big box pet store last week. Couldn't resist and picked up a few. This was the second day in tank. Dripped them overnight since I didnt get home until late. Would you believe they dont like chopped up live blackworms? Even now they still spit it out.
Pulled some foam from the canister filter and put it into a HOB on the 20L plant holding tank for some filtration. Also put down a small layer of sand.
*repeat to myself 3 times* this is only a holding tank, this is only a holding tank, this is only a holding tank. *whew* bullet dodged. MTS is dangerous.
Back to the main tank. Tested the drains for leaks and figured out how the bean animal actually works. Going to silicone the baffles & overflow box and rework the drain lines for something prettier that wont take up so much room.
Now I know why nice tanks cost so much, my silicone job looks like it was done by a 5 year old.
Will hopefully get in the last shipment of plumbing supplies tomorrow and can have the tank up and running by next week.
Pulled some foam from the canister filter and put it into a HOB on the 20L plant holding tank for some filtration. Also put down a small layer of sand.
*repeat to myself 3 times* this is only a holding tank, this is only a holding tank, this is only a holding tank. *whew* bullet dodged. MTS is dangerous.
Back to the main tank. Tested the drains for leaks and figured out how the bean animal actually works. Going to silicone the baffles & overflow box and rework the drain lines for something prettier that wont take up so much room.
Now I know why nice tanks cost so much, my silicone job looks like it was done by a 5 year old.
Will hopefully get in the last shipment of plumbing supplies tomorrow and can have the tank up and running by next week.
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Sub'd.
Pygmy cories are epically adorable
Pygmy cories are epically adorable
Things are going pretty well. Getting some new fish today from Rachel.
Full setup shot. Sump is still pretty sparse with planting as those are all the stems I had in the 12gal lol oh well, better than nothing. seeded the sump with some live blackworms but not the display as I dont really want anything else to shift the slope. the cories already do enough of that.
Also moved the old marineland doublebright down into the sump because the legs are extendable and also bendable.
Full setup shot. Sump is still pretty sparse with planting as those are all the stems I had in the 12gal lol oh well, better than nothing. seeded the sump with some live blackworms but not the display as I dont really want anything else to shift the slope. the cories already do enough of that.
Also moved the old marineland doublebright down into the sump because the legs are extendable and also bendable.
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I love pygmy cories. I also love what you're doing with this tank; looks great!
Going to be doing my first drilling in the coming week or two. Hopefully I'll manage as clean a job as this one.
Going to be doing my first drilling in the coming week or two. Hopefully I'll manage as clean a job as this one.
thanks, luckily the bulkheads cover up the imperfections quite nicely
haha those people you are referring to must be the ones that dont come on tpt cos there are some awesome ones here that mine doesn't compare to
Its been a while since I updated this. I wonder what caused all this poop in one night? new fish!
Giant tweezers to go fishing with
Filling up after planting and wc, side shot
The long awaited FTS, I'd like some more smaller crypts to fill in the front and sides. Also will be putting in those NLJF in earlier pics in the back.
new fish!
Giant tweezers to go fishing with
Filling up after planting and wc, side shot
The long awaited FTS, I'd like some more smaller crypts to fill in the front and sides. Also will be putting in those NLJF in earlier pics in the back.
thanks! who doesn't need more 40b's lol
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