Building Up A Tank On A Budget

[adambrum]

Well it seems that i need to build up a new tank for all the fry im getting, my 20g is looking a bit on the full side and there still only fry.

So this time im going to keep an eye on the cost and build up a juwel rio 180 on a budget and show the build up on here.

First off the tank this was second hand juwel rio 180 with stand for a bargin of £68.00 from ebay and a 340 mile round trip ( company car so free fuel ) with this came the heater and filter which were binned. As i said this is on a bit of a budget but things like heater are not worth skimping on.

Next off to lfs for a few bits

1 rena xp3 filter £79.00
2 pond filter seperaters £5.00 each

on the way back home into the diy shop

1 small tin of black paint £1.49.

Total so far £158.49 (Im regretting doing this now)

Next on the list is to cut some holes in the stand so i can get the filter pipes in and paint the back of the tank.

More in a couple of days.

 

[Nick Sw]

Cool Project , keep us informed.

 

[Druchii]

startings of an excellent article - btw what are the sizes of the gaps in the seperators??

 

[Matt Gleadow]

Sorry if this is a dumb question. What are you using the separators for? To keep different species apart?

 

[jayjay]

I'm guessing to keep rocks off bottom though in a fry tank I doubt that or to use to keep females that have just spit separate for a while or to just let the females spit?

 

[adambrum]

Its to keep rocks off the bottom.

The holes are about 20mm square.

This tank is for the older fry to grow in while the new fry go in the 20g until they are about 1/2" and can swim out of trouble, Even fry can be aggressive older fry will pick on the younger, I even had two 1/4" long pelvics shaking at each other !


More on the tank tomorrow.

 

[Druchii]

Keep the fish tank diary coming

 

[Marcos]

Nice, it's amazing how cheaply it can be done if you're prepared to wait for a decent price. I have two Rio 180's, the first cost £67 and I sold the cabinet on for a tenner (I built cabinets in my living room to fit the room) and the second I got for £57 then sold the cabinet for £25! so that worked out £32 for a Rio 180!!

 

[adambrum]

Update, Still cleaning sand !

Aragonite sand is a sod to clean and the pack says a couple of rinses.

 

[adambrum]

Another quick update came home to night to find a puddle !

Looks like a bit of a filter leak ,going to need some investigating, just got to find somewhere to test it laminate floor and water dont mix.

At least it goes to show what can go wrong this tank should have been up and running last weekend so its another weekend to try and get it finished (still need to xmas shopping as well !)

 

[Ferris]

Glad to see you've got your priorities right - fish 1st, xmas 2nd!

 

[adambrum]

You can bet im not getting anything fish related from the girlfriend this year

 

[Ferris]

Get her a fish tank - she may get hooked.

 

[adambrum]

It would have to be a gucci tank with some designer fish that cleaned its self

 

[Ferris]