[JBeehler]

So I am ready to drop my recent build up.

I received my 12g long for Christmas 2021. Absolutely loved it. Just didn’t have a stand to place it on or a counter or table it would work on. So I started a build on the stand shortly after Christmas 2021. As you can see I built it like a mini big stand. Instead of 2x4s I used 1x2s.1 at each corner setting height and then 2 at each corner for load bearing.

Previous picture is missing the forward most 2 load bearing 1x2s. Also this stand is much taller than typical aquarium stands, top of stand sitting at 41”. Basically after this picture I tinkered with the stand through spring summer and fall making very little progress here and there as other projects popped up. As we set on to Christmas ‘22 I knew I needed to get this setup and finished. So I bought some more wood, bought a router, hinge jig and went to work.

I skinned the stand in 1/4” oak sheeting.

At this point I hadn’t decided on door options as this is the first time I have gone past a 2x4 stand build. I decided I would build real doors and added a center piece so I could run 2 doors.

also took a piece of oak sheeting and tried a few stains to see what matched the wood in the house.

At this point I was afraid I would be cutting it close on oak sheeting so I used 1x2 surround for doors but doubled them side by side to require less sheeting for the centers.

So now I am getting excited. I am making real progress and can see the stand getting done. I routed the back for the sheeting insert and should have done it last. Messed up routing the front due to material thickness for the bearing to ride on. So that done and tons of hand sanding to get the mistakes to smooth out and look normal-ish. I glued in the sheeting and hoped for the best.

 

[JBeehler]

I stained and finished the stand and doors in old American color to match the wood in the house. And installed the doors with soft close hinges (not pictured).

 

[JBeehler]

As stated before this is a much taller than typical stand and much narrower than typical stand at 41” high x 36” Long X 9” Wide.
So after level the stand I pulled it out one more time and made a solid connection to wall stud in its location.

 

[JBeehler]

So after securing the stand to ensure it does fall over, I placed the tank. Transferred my 2 fluval nano plated lights. Added UNS Controsoil and a couple pieces of mopani driftwood. And added the UNS 60 filter.

 

[Scully]

I really like 12 longs and your setup looks amazing so far!

Just a bit of advice though since I can't tell how long that wall mount is. You should, in my opinion, have it span at least two studs. Better yet, if you haven't filled the tank yet, span a 1x2 or bigger on edge across the width of the stand and have it screwed into the frame of the stand. Use that 1x2(or bigger) to secure the whole stand to the studs of the wall, you may need to shim it depending on your baseboards. Cabinet screws would be the best idea for screwing to the wall since they're designed to hold loads like this. And most definitely make sure everything is level after doing this.

You may be fine the way it is, I can't really tell based on your photos. But I'd feel better doing it this way if it was my tank/stand since it's so thin and tall.

 

[JBeehler]

I really like 12 longs and your setup looks amazing so far!

Just a bit of advice though since I can't tell how long that wall mount is. You should, in my opinion, have it span at least two studs. Better yet, if you haven't filled the tank yet, span a 1x2 or bigger on edge across the width of the stand and have it screwed into the frame of the stand. Use that 1x2(or bigger) to secure the whole stand to the studs of the wall, you may need to shim it depending on your baseboards. Cabinet screws would be the best idea for screwing to the wall since they're designed to hold loads like this. And most definitely make sure everything is level after doing this.

You may be fine the way it is, I can't really tell based on your photos. But I'd feel better doing it this way if it was my tank/stand since it's so thin and tall.

That is understandable it is level side to side. And it slopes towards the wall ever so slightly(bubble on level still in the marks) and that it is attached to just one stud. Being that this is under 150 lbs, in a corner of the dinning room and we have no kids to mess with it I feel safe with it how it is. I gave it a pretty good tug test and it’s pretty secure. Thanks for the advice. I will make another wood shim just in case and the next time I am at Lowe’s or home depot I will grab screws long enough to grab another stud just to be safe though. I appreciate it. Better safe than sorry.

 

[JBeehler]

And now it is wet with plants, went with simple plants, squeezed a sponge filter from my 75 in it to jump start the cycle, placed 2 P25 heaters in the corners, added a UNS mister in hopes to avoid hard water lines on the tank, at least minimize them.

 

[JBeehler]

1/6/2023
1 week
Have 3 peacock gudgeons 5 signifer rainbows.
CO2 1 bubble every 2.5 seconds.

 

[Asteroid]

Looks good, love the 12 Long. I've rescaped mine several times now. Looks much bigger than it is, if one isn't in a position to have a big tank this is the one to get. As you probably know keep a tight leash on the lighting since the tank is so shallow, change lots of water and dose. Your tank isn't heavily planted so those things become even more important.

 

[JBeehler]

Yeah I am not sure about what to plant. It has rotala indica, crypt wendetii brown, micro sword carpet(unsure how that will pan out), and ar mini. Might try and grab another pot of micro sword and get a bet better coverage to start the carpet

 

[JBeehler]

Well here is another week down, getting closer to letting this one grow out I think. Still want to go overboard on light to eliminate the center having less par than under the lights. I will be starting that after I build the stand for my fiancés 40 breeder.

what’s new:
Moved the micro sword to in front of the wood pieces and planted Monte Carlo through the center, picked up 5 celestial pearl danios, and they threw in a free peacock gudgeons cause they caught it when catching another fish for my big tank.

1/14/23
4 peacock gudgeons, 5 signifer rainbow fish and 5 celestial pearl danios, added a pot of Monte Carlo for a carpet.

 

[ElvishDuck]

Nice looking tank (and stand)! Did you get the rainbows locally or did you have to seek them out online?

 

[JBeehler]

Nice looking tank (and stand)! Did you get the rainbows locally or did you have to seek them out online?

I got them locally, we started with the gudgeons and wanted chili rasboras and were told that they would be snacks. They had these guys on hand and ended up with 6 for a small school. They calmed the gudgeons down a bit because they were so jumpy before. Still skittish but not near as bad.
I received and installed glass pipes to clean up the look some more. And started building another stand for a 40 breeder. The addiction is coming on strong again.

 

[JBeehler]

So local aquarium club is having an aqua scape contest. I decided I would enter and take a shot at it. Rescaped the tank a bit and ordered more plants. Here is a picture from the rescape last weekend. Added lilly pipes.

 

[JBeehler]

Purchased auto dose setup. Got new plants planted. Will post pictures after tomorrows water change.

 

[Aaronious]

So local aquarium club is having an aqua scape contest. I decided I would enter and take a shot at it. Rescaped the tank a bit and ordered more plants. Here is a picture from the rescape last weekend. Added lilly pipes.

Personally, I think your rocks are too small for this scape. I would cluster them more or just add a little bigger ones. or just move that left one over and find a larger one to go with those plants. the one that's there will disappear in no time. Unless that's what you want.

 

[JBeehler]

The ar mini I want to be a large bush but I am not sure on rock placement. I have added much more plants that I hope will grow in by end of March. Large crypt, trident fern, more Monte Carlo, myrio and a couple others. I will post an update on them soon in hopes of getting some more guidance

 

[JBeehler]

Ok I meant to post an updated picture. After I put the 3rd nano fluval light on I couldn’t get on board with the look. I sold them and now waiting for the replacement light to show up. Went with the twinstar 90b light with a dimmer in case it is too much. Also got my doser on and working. Pictures will be coming as soon as I get the new light on.

 

[Scully]

I'm curious to see how well the twinstar B-series does on this high tech tank. All the vendor descriptions say it's low light but I found a post with par values and in a shallow tank, like this, it could be very high light. I've been looking into starting a shallow tank like this and the B-line is the best looking cheaper option.

Also is that auto doser feeding all the way up to the top of the tank? Is that working well so far? I was under the impression that they didn't handle a large head height very well.

 

[JBeehler]

Ok so day 2 of Twinstar light on. While I was using questionable lighting setup waiting for it to come in I shut the c02 off and ran minimal lighting. The dosing pump I believe is working just fine. I have to admit I have it dosing right as lights go off which I haven’t physically watched it handle the pumping. I was worried about head height as this is a taller stand. That is why I added the shelf and lifted it pretty high in the cabinet. The instructions put the limit at 4.5-5ftish. I trimmed the carpet for the first time. It’s a pain to keep the plants rooted but it is growing a lot. I have till the end of may before contest pictures are to be submitted. I added some super red ludwiga and rotala h’ra.