Aquascaping inside table aquarium

3298 Views 17 Replies 7 Participants Last post by reinhout, Jun 2, 2017

reinhout

Discussion Starter · Mar 9, 2017 (Edited)

Hello to you all!
I'm new to the aquarium hobby and I guess I'm starting off with a rather challenging aquarium: the aquatlantis aquatable. It's a glass aquarium inside a small table. The outside table will be ditched and I'm going to weld a steel frame as to give a more open view to the aquarium itself. I'll also make sure the table is not acoustically coupled to the aquarium (so the fish are not stressed out because of the noise).
dimensions: 1m by 1m, 400 litres in total.

As a complete newbie in the aquascaping world I'm having difficulties on how to do a scape that is to be viewed from 4 different angles (top view, 2x side view and the front view). Every layout plan I've drawn comes down to a hardscape in the centre of the aquarium. It's like a eternal circle in my head. Important detail: I can't put in huge hard-scape pieces because the access to the aquarium is limited to a width of 15cm by 90cm.

I came here to look whether there are other people who have done anything like it and if they have a more interesting layout in mind. I lack the experience to see the options rather than the difficulties.

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BettaBettas

· #2 · Mar 9, 2017

how did you hook up filtration is that an overflow in the back?) and other things like that to it? and lighting? if the table has a top then that will be very difficult I'd imagine. tbh with a table your pretty limited here... IMO
if it has just that hole in the top, then its going to be hard to grow high light plants, so immediately your going low tech which really limits you down to
java fern
java moss
anubias
crypts
and some others but not a lot

sohankpatel

· #3 · Mar 9, 2017

He is not limited to low light, depending on lighting, he can put high light plants in the areas that get more light, but there will be a couple areas that can only support low light plants. It depends on the frame he builds as well, as it could be open enough to allow good light spread and grow high light plants.

BettaBettas

· #4 · Mar 9, 2017 (Edited)

sohankpatel said:
He is not limited to low light, depending on lighting, he can put high light plants in the areas that get more light, but there will be a couple areas that can only support low light plants. It depends on the frame he builds as well, as it could be open enough to allow good light spread and grow high light plants.

my apologies thats what I meant lol, looking back I forgot to include that first part you stated. I was just going by the picture he gave btw, didn't know he was building this?

IntotheWRX

· #5 · Mar 9, 2017

reinhout said:
Hello to you all!
I'm new to the aquarium hobby and I guess I'm starting off with a rather challenging aquarium: the aquatlantis aquatable. It's a glass aquarium inside a small table. The outside table will be ditched and I'm going to weld a steel frame as to give a more open view to the aquarium itself. I'll also make sure the table is not acoustically coupled to the aquarium (so the fish are not stressed out because of the noise).
dimensions: 1m by 1m, 400 litres in total.

As a complete newbie in the aquascaping world I'm having difficulties on how to do a scape that is to be viewed from 4 different angles (top view, 2x side view and the front view). Every layout plan I've drawn comes down to a hardscape in the centre of the aquarium. It's like a eternal circle in my head. Important detail: I can't put in huge hard-scape pieces because the access to the aquarium is limited to a width of 15cm by 90cm.

I came here to look whether there are other people who have done anything like it and if they have a more interesting layout in mind. I lack the experience to see the options rather than the difficulties.

interesting idea, but i would find it a pain to look at the tank sitting on the floor. you can't really enjoy it as much as if it was waist height or higher. you cant enjoy the aquascape from the top down. all you see is the water surface jiggling around. you have to see it straight on like a TV screen through the glass.

reinhout

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 10, 2017

Let me update some info for you guys:
The glass aquarium itself has been designed so that the water level is slightly higher than the topside panel. So the panel is in the water.
The filter system consists of 2 biobox filters (each with a heating element and a 400l/h pump). The pumps are fully submersible inside the biobox box.
The lighting consists of 4 24W t5 lights sitting on the outside perimeter of the topside glass panel so the whole aquarium is nicely lit.

To have an idea about the steel frame I will be using: it's 2cm by 2cm steel tubing. The filter side of the aquarium (left side on picture in my original post) will not be viewable. I have yet to figure out if I will put a panel between the steel tubing or if I will paint that side of the glass. The topside of the table will remain the same as the original since I'd like the electronics and lighting to remain hidden. The topside can be slid open as to access the aquarium itself.

I'm glad you are helping me out with this one

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Nordic

· #7 · Mar 10, 2017

A most important aspect of a tank like that is that you either need to run it heaterless, or heat it by heating the room to prevent constant condensation of warm water against cooler glass...
Just thought I'd put that out there.

Alternatively lift the top a tiny bit so air can move through and add a small PC fan inside to keep the top dry.

Reactions: 1

reinhout

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 12, 2017

Nordic said:
A most important aspect of a tank like that is that you either need to run it heaterless, or heat it by heating the room to prevent constant condensation of warm water against cooler glass...
Just thought I'd put that out there.

Alternatively lift the top a tiny bit so air can move through and add a small PC fan inside to keep the top dry.

Thank you for the idea but how can I get condensation when the topside glass panel is inside the water plane. Give me a sec and I'll upload a picture of what I mean.

The center glass panel is actually a shallow box. There is nog air beneath the glass.

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TFC

· #9 · Mar 12, 2017

2

Wow! Fun project!.... I say go for it!!
Aquascaping is in the eye of the beholder...basically any layout you like works...I have an awesome design idea... trees.. a wild forest filled with beautiful upright sticks, driftwood etc.... I'll try to attach some picts of what I mean..
Good Luck!!

Bump: Here's anothother.. I just love this idea for the angles in your tank.

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Bunsen Honeydew

· #10 · Mar 13, 2017

reinhout said:
Thank you for the idea but how can I get condensation when the topside glass panel is inside the water plane. Give me a sec and I'll upload a picture of what I mean.

The center glass panel is actually a shallow box. There is nog air beneath the glass.

I need to build a lid like that for my tank, just to keep the condensation from distorting the light.

BettaBettas

· #11 · Mar 13, 2017

I think im lost or behind a bit, are you building this?

Bunsen Honeydew

· #12 · Mar 13, 2017

BettaBettas said:
I think im lost or behind a bit, are you building this?

If I understand correctly, buying the tank in a table, scrapping the wood table part for a steel frame instead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV0Ut9loTsY

BettaBettas

· #13 · Mar 13, 2017

Bunsen Honeydew said:
If I understand correctly, buying the tank in a table, scrapping the wood table part for a steel frame instead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV0Ut9loTsY

aaah ok, thanks lol. I was pretty far behind I guess

Nordic

· #14 · Mar 13, 2017

Does the water get exposure to any air? You know, for gas exchange.

Ps, I think it looks wicked. I'd still try and keep the wood dry as long as you can unless you use a nice oily wood like teak or something.

I also like the 4 lights in the photo

reinhout

Discussion Starter · #15 · Mar 13, 2017

Bunsen Honeydew said:
If I understand correctly, buying the tank in a table, scrapping the wood table part for a steel frame instead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV0Ut9loTsY

That's it

I'll move to a new home by the end of the month. Before I refurbish the aquarium table itself, I wanted to have some ideas on how to do an aquascape in this somewhat special type of aquarium. This way, I can still change the design of the table slightly.
Also on the plus side, it'll save me time after I move to the new house: I can move in, put the table down, put the plants in place and let it cycle.

In the mean time I can keep my wife happy by making her a new loundry room, closet, living room furniture..and the aquarium doesn't annoy her all to much.

reinhout

Discussion Starter · #16 · Mar 13, 2017

Nordic said:
Does the water get exposure to any air? You know, for gas exchange.

Ps, I think it looks wicked. I'd still try and keep the wood dry as long as you can unless you use a nice oily wood like teak or something.

I also like the 4 lights in the photo

It does, but you make me wander whether it's enough..On bottom of the photo, you see where the two filter units are. That's a part that's exposed to air and on the opposite side of the table there is a similar sized opening. Over al it's a surface of +-25 cm by 90 cm..
I'm still thinking what type of wood I'll be using for the topside. I really like a worn oak table top, but I need to find a piece that's stable enough and a wipe-on product that makes it durable in a moist environment.

reinhout

Discussion Starter · #17 · May 21, 2017

2

The table is almost ready

The project has been on hold because of work but now things are changing

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reinhout

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jun 2, 2017

3

Water is in, neons and shrimp are in.
I present you my first tank..what do you think of it? The white sand is an underwater waterfall I made using the dirty water extractor principle. I already know I will not be using that a lot. Even though the white stuff is 1-2mm, it creates a mild white fog that takes days to settle

I'm still getting into the hobby so I just bought a bunch of different plants without knowing their name. I got them with advice from the shop so I hope they will take off in my tank. If anyone know the names..let me know. I'm having a hard time looking to find the right name. There are so many species of plants :s
Bottom material is vulcano stone.

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