That is a beautiful stand, and definitely one of a kind! How long did the trim and latch take you to make?
"Aquascape Wannabe" 20G High (56K)
9
Hello folks, this is basically my second tank. I moved out of my parents house where I have kept my first tank for about a year, and now it is time... For a new tank!!
Here is the tank today, freshly planted:
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So, the big ingredients:
-Home made stained wood/forged steel tank stand
-PetCo $1/Gal 20 High
-Plants from over the years + Gordon Richards Crypts, moss & anubias
-Activ-Flora (16lbs) + 5lbs fancy plant substrate
-DIY lights
-Lots of patience :flick:
So all this text and no pictures, boring...:icon_roll
Heres the build as it progresses chronologically. Enjoy
roud:
Old Tank W/ Plants
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New Glass
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Plans For Guts of new stand
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Guts of New Stand. Got to love plywood & 2x4 :flick:
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Trim & Wood of the door
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Stain
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I am a blacksmith's apprentice so I get to indulge in the steel forging arts
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Here's the front trim & Latch all cut, forged, welded, and ground
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Here is the tank today, freshly planted:
So, the big ingredients:
-Home made stained wood/forged steel tank stand
-PetCo $1/Gal 20 High
-Plants from over the years + Gordon Richards Crypts, moss & anubias
-Activ-Flora (16lbs) + 5lbs fancy plant substrate
-DIY lights
-Lots of patience :flick:
So all this text and no pictures, boring...:icon_roll
Heres the build as it progresses chronologically. Enjoy
roud:Old Tank W/ Plants
New Glass
Plans For Guts of new stand
Guts of New Stand. Got to love plywood & 2x4 :flick:
Trim & Wood of the door
Stain
I am a blacksmith's apprentice so I get to indulge in the steel forging arts
Here's the front trim & Latch all cut, forged, welded, and ground
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
Thanks Dave! It took about 6 hours of work time i'd say.
Today I am going to patina the steel, mount it, and bring this puppy into my room and start fiddling with hardscape ideas
Today I am going to patina the steel, mount it, and bring this puppy into my room and start fiddling with hardscape ideas
10
Complexity - this next update will answer you..
Tank on top - all flush!
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I made some feet from an old dried up piece of firewood in my back yard
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Finished!
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Leaf up close
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Latch
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Door open, I put verathane on the whole inside to waterproof it
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Hardscape materials. I screwed in some wire mesh to the DW so it stays solidly in place under the soil. Mesh so that roots can still grow freely.
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Tank w/ stand in my new house!
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Anyone feel free to give some ideas on how to set up this hardscape. Im taking my time with it, taking a few days to get it perfect. Here is some ideas I came up with in the first 15 minutes.
NOTE the soil that is in the tank is merely the first layer, there will be another 16 lbs of activ flora and maybe a strip of pool filter sand as well..
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Tank on top - all flush!
I made some feet from an old dried up piece of firewood in my back yard
Finished!
Leaf up close
Latch
Door open, I put verathane on the whole inside to waterproof it
Hardscape materials. I screwed in some wire mesh to the DW so it stays solidly in place under the soil. Mesh so that roots can still grow freely.
Tank w/ stand in my new house!
Anyone feel free to give some ideas on how to set up this hardscape. Im taking my time with it, taking a few days to get it perfect. Here is some ideas I came up with in the first 15 minutes.
NOTE the soil that is in the tank is merely the first layer, there will be another 16 lbs of activ flora and maybe a strip of pool filter sand as well..
7
Yeah guys, that was just the first time I threw the stuff in..
Check it out, I got it up and running today! Hugely nice to have this set up finally!
Check it out
Final Hardscape
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Moss tying... Took a long time to do it right! Its Willow moss from Gordon on here. Used brown sewing thread to tie.
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Plants laid out
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Planting all done
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Cloudy, as expected bit not too bad. This immediately after filling and turning on the filter.
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Side view, which I treated as its own scape because this is the side most frequently seen in my room.
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Now I cross my fingers and wait! Hopefully all this hard work goes to a nicely grown in, low tech aquarium. This is my first time trying to actually "aquascape" haha. I'll update later when she clears.
Check it out, I got it up and running today! Hugely nice to have this set up finally!
Check it out
Final Hardscape
Moss tying... Took a long time to do it right! Its Willow moss from Gordon on here. Used brown sewing thread to tie.
Plants laid out
Planting all done
Cloudy, as expected bit not too bad. This immediately after filling and turning on the filter.
Side view, which I treated as its own scape because this is the side most frequently seen in my room.
Now I cross my fingers and wait! Hopefully all this hard work goes to a nicely grown in, low tech aquarium. This is my first time trying to actually "aquascape" haha. I'll update later when she clears.
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
