Nice write up. Reminds me of when I started my 20 gallon long. You did a way better job of derimming though. 
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" Endlers Island " - turned dutch/grow out/ whatever I want tank
2
Hello and welcome to my 20 gallon long build log!
It is a bit premature to start the build log at this point because I am missing the majority of, everything, but I just couldnt help myself now that I got the tank up on the stand I built.
The tank is a Petco tank from their $1/gallon sale that I took the top rim off. I wrote a step by step how to article on how to derim an aquarium that you can check out here. The stand I made from 2x3s.
Right now all I have is the tank, stand and a full 5lb co2 tank that I picked up today for $20 on craigslist. The only other thing I have at this point is a Marineland Magniflow 160 canister filter that I picked up open box, but unused for $50 shipped off fleabay. Its still in the mail, should be here soon.
As for the plan... I am very torn right now... I would like to either go with a dirted tank with a black blasting sand cap, with a Blyxa background and a carpet plant foreground, pretty simple. I would like to do this, but there is no challenge with this, I know it will be great but pretty simple. It would give me the opportunity to do a dirted tank which I havent really ever done.
The other idea is to do something with spider wood and really go all out with a kind of scape I have never done before.
Either way it will be a high-tech tank.
On the other hand, with this being a small tank, it wont take long to complete either scape, so I think I might do one, then the other. we'll see...
Anyway, I'm rambling and will probably edit this out later... here are pics for now
Here is the tank up on the stand. The stand is 36" tall, I prefer my tanks to be up higher, closer to eye level. This tank is going to be in the corner of my office, where I can enjoy it in the room I am in most of the time.
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The full 5lb co2 tank I grabbed off craigslist, I think its expired, but its full. a 5lb tank should last well over a year on a 20 gallon tank, so I'm not too worried about it.
![]()
It is a bit premature to start the build log at this point because I am missing the majority of, everything, but I just couldnt help myself now that I got the tank up on the stand I built.
The tank is a Petco tank from their $1/gallon sale that I took the top rim off. I wrote a step by step how to article on how to derim an aquarium that you can check out here. The stand I made from 2x3s.
Right now all I have is the tank, stand and a full 5lb co2 tank that I picked up today for $20 on craigslist. The only other thing I have at this point is a Marineland Magniflow 160 canister filter that I picked up open box, but unused for $50 shipped off fleabay. Its still in the mail, should be here soon.
As for the plan... I am very torn right now... I would like to either go with a dirted tank with a black blasting sand cap, with a Blyxa background and a carpet plant foreground, pretty simple. I would like to do this, but there is no challenge with this, I know it will be great but pretty simple. It would give me the opportunity to do a dirted tank which I havent really ever done.
The other idea is to do something with spider wood and really go all out with a kind of scape I have never done before.
Either way it will be a high-tech tank.
On the other hand, with this being a small tank, it wont take long to complete either scape, so I think I might do one, then the other. we'll see...
Anyway, I'm rambling and will probably edit this out later... here are pics for now
Here is the tank up on the stand. The stand is 36" tall, I prefer my tanks to be up higher, closer to eye level. This tank is going to be in the corner of my office, where I can enjoy it in the room I am in most of the time.
The full 5lb co2 tank I grabbed off craigslist, I think its expired, but its full. a 5lb tank should last well over a year on a 20 gallon tank, so I'm not too worried about it.
1 - 20 of 37 Posts
4
A little hardware update.
Recived the light and the filter today.
I got the 30" Finnex Fugeray Planted+ light used off ebay for $60. I did also buy a Finnex Fugeray Planted + 24/7 used here on the forums, I will decide which one I want to keep and sell the other. A rough lumens to PAR calculation, by deviding lumens by 70 puts be around 78 Par with this finnex light.
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I also got the Marineland Magniflow 160 Filter in today, its so tiny and cute
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So, progress is being made! At this point, all I think I need is a diffuser... Then im ready for substrate and plants and time to get this thing going.
Recived the light and the filter today.
I got the 30" Finnex Fugeray Planted+ light used off ebay for $60. I did also buy a Finnex Fugeray Planted + 24/7 used here on the forums, I will decide which one I want to keep and sell the other. A rough lumens to PAR calculation, by deviding lumens by 70 puts be around 78 Par with this finnex light.
I also got the Marineland Magniflow 160 Filter in today, its so tiny and cute
So, progress is being made! At this point, all I think I need is a diffuser... Then im ready for substrate and plants and time to get this thing going.
I wish I had just one PC as good as yours, you have 2 and you use one soley for Netflix.
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4
Alright! Well out with the Marineland Magniflow 160 and in with the Eheim 2215!
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got it all plumbed up
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While im waiting on the rest of the hardware in the mail, I figured Id fill the tank up and get it cycling ahead of time. Giving this Fluval Cycle product a try, it has great reviews on amazon.
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I also picked up a piece of the hardscape today. It will be a mix of rocks and this piece of drift wood, already boiled. Gunna let it soak in the tank while I cycle it. I think it will be another solid week before we get this thing hardscaped.
![]()
got it all plumbed up
While im waiting on the rest of the hardware in the mail, I figured Id fill the tank up and get it cycling ahead of time. Giving this Fluval Cycle product a try, it has great reviews on amazon.
I also picked up a piece of the hardscape today. It will be a mix of rocks and this piece of drift wood, already boiled. Gunna let it soak in the tank while I cycle it. I think it will be another solid week before we get this thing hardscaped.
1 - 20 of 37 Posts
