Rack Em Up! Garage tank rack project
- Thread starter DMD123
- Start date
I finally did it! Got the Fluval Flex out and all cleaned up. AND I got the 40B in the rack now.
I do want to fill the tank and do a leak test next. Likely will leave it up for a while in preparation of getting a new fish to quarantine.
I do want to fill the tank and do a leak test next. Likely will leave it up for a while in preparation of getting a new fish to quarantine.
Ugh, thought I had a heater to put into the 40B and I was going to have it running today. Well I kind of did but they were bigger 300 watt ones and I didnt want that physically large of a heater in the tank. I ordered a 200 watt Fluval which should be here on Monday. Then I will swap a seeded filter off my 90 and it will be ready for QT... if I can find fish
Im thinking about putting the light fixture directly on the tank as opposed to up inside the racking. Up higher looks nice but the tank is not quite bright enough. I am not sure about substrate at this point, have some left from my other tank which would look better than bare bottom.
Im still not sure about the lighting, the tank seems very dark with the fixture tucked up into the racking, but it does have clean look about it. My redwolf tank also has the light in the racking and that tank looks good. The other 65B is directly on the tank due to the dark black substrate. If I did it in the racking it was really dim too. I will have to play with the lighting on the 40B and see what I think.
I did end up using the leftover substrate and it is just not enough to cover it well. I need like 10 pounds more and it would be adequate. But if I do end up having to get more, Im not sure if I want to just redo the entire tank to something new or try and get more of the Estes Deep River. I feel like Im way overthinking this tank, I was supposed to be downsizing and simplifying, lol
The filter thing was so awesome. I loved being able to pull a seeded AQ110 filter off one tank and putting it on the 40B and then taking a fresh, new filter and put in on the other tank. the interchangeability is perfect. Previous to this I had an Aquaclear 70 and a Penguin 200 in the mix. This just made things a bit frustrating. I still would like to get one more Aquaclear 110 as my backup for emergency use but thats not needed at the moment.
I did end up using the leftover substrate and it is just not enough to cover it well. I need like 10 pounds more and it would be adequate. But if I do end up having to get more, Im not sure if I want to just redo the entire tank to something new or try and get more of the Estes Deep River. I feel like Im way overthinking this tank, I was supposed to be downsizing and simplifying, lol
The filter thing was so awesome. I loved being able to pull a seeded AQ110 filter off one tank and putting it on the 40B and then taking a fresh, new filter and put in on the other tank. the interchangeability is perfect. Previous to this I had an Aquaclear 70 and a Penguin 200 in the mix. This just made things a bit frustrating. I still would like to get one more Aquaclear 110 as my backup for emergency use but thats not needed at the moment.
Added a 10lb bag of stuff from Petco and it was just enough to make the gravel level in the 40B look right. It was about half the size of the other stuff so it made a nice size mix and looks pretty good. I feel like the tank is ready for something now. I do notice that the intake tube is so close to the bottom substrate. I need to either remove the extension or put a sponge over the intake
Pics or it didn’t happen
What is causing you hesitation with placing the light right on the glass like you’ve done on some of the other tanks?
Just not as clean looking, but it's so far above the tank that you just cant see anything in there. I will end up moving it… but a pain because its zip tied in place under the rack supports
I will have to get the picture after moving the light.Pics or it didn’t happen
This is the light at full intensity with it in the racking and the new gravel mixed in with the old
The problem is that, at full intensity like that, the algae growth will be horrible. Im better off lowering the intensity of the fixture and putting it directly on the tank. Plus you can see how close the intake is to the gravel... one good digging fish and that filter is toast.
The problem is that, at full intensity like that, the algae growth will be horrible. Im better off lowering the intensity of the fixture and putting it directly on the tank. Plus you can see how close the intake is to the gravel... one good digging fish and that filter is toast.
I agree, the intake is a bit low….it the diameter of the substrate small enough to get sucked into the intake? It appears it’s larger than the slits in the intake, but it could be the perspective of the picture .
As for the lighting, you have me thinking about the difference of a light being higher up at full intensity vs closer to the tank at a lower intensity. It would be an interesting experiment to see if your hypothesis is correct. In my experience lower intensity lights will still grow algae if the light is on for a prolonged time.
It makes me wonder if you could have the light set up for a shorter amount of time at high intensity and achieve the same results as closer with less intensity but turned on longer.
As for the lighting, you have me thinking about the difference of a light being higher up at full intensity vs closer to the tank at a lower intensity. It would be an interesting experiment to see if your hypothesis is correct. In my experience lower intensity lights will still grow algae if the light is on for a prolonged time.
It makes me wonder if you could have the light set up for a shorter amount of time at high intensity and achieve the same results as closer with less intensity but turned on longer.
Getting the itch to get fish for the 40B to start and do the QT process. My idea is to start a group of Roseline sharks or clown loaches out in this tank. Then move them into the 90g community and then into the 300. Another possible fish of interest is an electric blue acara. really looking forward to changing out the 300 with a nice mix of smaller fish with the red tail giant gourami as the main focus fish.
I had electiric blue acara and really enjoyed them, but they did top off at about 6”.
You’d like the clown knives except the grow painfully slow! Roselines are beautiful when large, but have never really paid attention. To them when small? Do they still have similar colors when small