Exactly. I thought it might be more of a mystery!
Fish Room History, Tour, and Upgrade 2021.
- Thread starter sir_keith
- Start date
fishguy1978
Legendary Member
Ah, so. You were testing us.Exactly. I thought it might be more of a mystery!
I don't think I would have known what it was- if I didn't know what it was- if you get my drift.Ah, so. You were testing us.
But they actually are useful little pieces.
A week or so ago I went to the Home Depot to get the first batch of 96" 2 x 4's for my stand modification project; they had tons of them for about $6 each. That seemed pretty pricey, but when I went again today to buy another batch, the supply was low, and they were $8 each. Yikes! Thinking I'd better get everything I need before this gets too crazy, I made two trips to the HD, and now have all the lumber I need. Two trips? Yes, that's what happens when you have a CCV (cargo-compromised vehicle).
Two-thirds of the stash; the rest is inside already drying out-
Two-thirds of the stash; the rest is inside already drying out-
fishguy1978
Legendary Member
Construction materials have gone up 160% this past year!!A week or so ago I went to the Home Depot to get the first batch of 96" 2 x 4's for my stand modification project; they had tons of them for about $6 each. That seemed pretty pricey, but when I went again today to buy another batch, the supply was low, and they were $8 each. Yikes! Thinking I'd better get everything I need before this gets too crazy, I made two trips to the HD, and now have all the lumber I need. Two trips? Yes, that's what happens when you have a CCV (cargo-compromised vehicle).
View attachment 8833
Two-thirds of the stash; the rest is inside already drying out-
View attachment 8834
Glad I'm just building some tank stands, not a MacMansion!
Finally received the last shipment of materials that I will need for the stand rebuild- 24" x 48" MDF panels that will go under the tanks. Here is a pic of the stands moved into their new positions, further from the wall (the pretty kitty is Pixie, a sealpoint Ragdoll)-
Here is a pic with the panels just lying on top of the stands. I will be building 6" extensions onto the back of each stand to support the added width of the 75s, and thought about cutting the panels down to the exact size of the new footprint (48" x 18"), but I think I'll leave the panels at their current 48" x 24" size- that way there will be 6" shelves that extend behind the tanks, preventing things from falling onto the floor (see post above!). The tanks need to be that far from the wall anyway to provide room for the two AC110 HOB filters that will be on the back of each tank.
It's supposed to rain next week, so let the construction begin!
Here is a pic with the panels just lying on top of the stands. I will be building 6" extensions onto the back of each stand to support the added width of the 75s, and thought about cutting the panels down to the exact size of the new footprint (48" x 18"), but I think I'll leave the panels at their current 48" x 24" size- that way there will be 6" shelves that extend behind the tanks, preventing things from falling onto the floor (see post above!). The tanks need to be that far from the wall anyway to provide room for the two AC110 HOB filters that will be on the back of each tank.
It's supposed to rain next week, so let the construction begin!
The first two stand modifications are complete; I'm just waiting for a friendly neighbor to help me move the new tanks from the garage to the fish room!
I don't know whether to paint the uprights black; I'll wait and see how they look with the 45L's in place to decide. It would be easy enough to do at this point
I don't know whether to paint the uprights black; I'll wait and see how they look with the 45L's in place to decide. It would be easy enough to do at this point
fishguy1978
Legendary Member
Looks good. I would paint them if just for moisture absorption mitigation.The first two stand modifications are complete; I'm just waiting for a friendly neighbor to help me move the new tanks from the garage to the fish room!
I don't know whether to paint the uprights black; I'll wait and see how they look with the 45L's in place to decide. It would be easy enough to do at this point
View attachment 8934
That's a good point. Thanks.
Mission creep! The first bank of stands and tanks is now nearly complete...
... but while I'm doing the second bank I thought I'd do the 75 show tank in the living room as well. The plan is to paint the back black- just can't keep it clean- and polish the front panel.
... but while I'm doing the second bank I thought I'd do the 75 show tank in the living room as well. The plan is to paint the back black- just can't keep it clean- and polish the front panel.
fishguy1978
Legendary Member
Now that the living room 75 is sitting on a flat surface is the bowed bottom gone?
Yes, it is, much to my delight. How'd you know about that?
I did find another issue, however: I was getting condensation inside the canopy that was running down the back of the tank, and the underlying rubber mat was damp. The stand was dry, thankfully, but still not a situation you want to live with. I think the problem is that the canopy traps all the moist air that emanates from the tank, and because it has nowhere to go (at least easily), condensation forms inside the canopy and then becomes a problem. This obviously doesn't happen with an uncovered tank. So my approach has been to fit new covers to the tank inside the canopy that will limit the amount of evaporation that actually escapes from the tank. So far so good.
Here is the tank after I got it running again this morning; I've decided to go minimalist as regards gravel and rockwork in all my Tropheus tanks.
I'm really thinking that I should retire this tank- it's 35 years old- and am keeping my eyes open for a 60" x 18" 100g. New acrylic ones are crazy expensive.
fishguy1978
Legendary Member
I think you posted a picture somewhere, but I do remember that you did mention it in a post .Yes, it is, much to my delight. How'd you know about that?
I did find another issue, however: I was getting condensation inside the canopy that was running down the back of the tank, and the underlying rubber mat was damp. The stand was dry, thankfully, but still not a situation you want to live with. I think the problem is that the canopy traps all the moist air that emanates from the tank, and because it has nowhere to go (at least easily), condensation forms inside the canopy and then becomes a problem. This obviously doesn't happen with an uncovered tank. So my approach has been to fit new covers to the tank inside the canopy that will limit the amount of evaporation that actually escapes from the tank. So far so good.
Here is the tank after I got it running again this morning; I've decided to go minimalist as regards gravel and rockwork in all my Tropheus tanks.
I'm really thinking that I should retire this tank- it's 35 years old- and am keeping my eyes open for a 60" x 18" 100g. New acrylic ones are crazy expensive.
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