Clare's Small Tank Journal!

[babybell911]

Ok so I have a small 24" x 8" x 8" tank just lying around that I wanted to do something nice with. I believe thats just under 7USG. I wanted something for my khuli loaches so I want lots of cover hiding places and places to dig. I drew up a rough plan.

Then I got to work on it. I ordered an eheim hang on filter so it doesnt take up any room in the tank, a lighting system, the juwel background and a small jager heater.

Then I started work. This is the tank and the lights. It's an arcadia starter with a sylvannia 15W gro lux bulb.

While I was waiting for everything I ordered to arrive I made some caves for the sand part out of flower pots.

Then everything arrived so I stuck in the background which I was going to use as a divder between the sand and gravel so it would match the back. But it was a bit more inflexible than I thought so I had to think of something else.

So I went round the nearest garden centre and got a big plant pot so I could cut the top off and use that instead. I siliconed gravel to it so it would blend in and be barely noticeable, then siliconed it to the tank. I weighed it down with rocks for the first day now it's stuck nice and firm!

Now I have to wait til this afternoon, when the silicone will be completely cured, to add the sand and gravel. Then I have to wait until I can colonise the filter material in another tank before I can get it started.

So what do you think?

 

[paul_219]

Nice tank. I liked the gravel the way you are going to have put it in the tank.

Nice tank. I liked the gravel the way you are going to have put it in the tank.

 

[babybell911]

Thanks I'm going to java moss some pebbles or slate and then I'm going to get some quick growing but smallish plants to keep the algae down.

 

[fishbone]

brilliant idea with the flower pot! I was trying to figure out a way to do something similar in my corner tank, you've given me some inspiration. Was the pot hard to cut? Can't wait to see the finished product, looking really good so far.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

good idea with the plant pot

can't wait to see how it looks when it's done

 

[babybell911]

Thanks. The pot is just a plastic one and I cut it quite easily with sisscors (sp?) you have to be careful though as it cracks if you rush it. Only cost me £2.99 round the garden centre.

 

[Gill]

Really Nice Idea. Mmmmmmm That plant pot Idea gives Ideas to me, Terraces of planting

 

[guppy_man]

i agree nice idea, i like the size of that tank.
Its looking good so far, make sure to keep us updated.

 

[babybell911]

Ok gravel and sand are in now and one of the sand caves too though you can barely see it.
I've put in an order with aqua essentials for some plants and a nerite snail as they looked pretty cool!
Tomorrow I'm going to put the filter media in my external already going on my 120l for a week or two to colonise it then move the khuli's over and decorate!

 

[The-Wolf]

looking good so far Claire

 

[babybell911]

Why thanks paul. Much appreciated can't wait to get in there and plant it out! xx

 

[richchappy]

thats some good thinking, looks good, cant wait to see how it looks finished

 

[Barb82]

Looking good!
Where did you find a lid to fit the tank cause i have one that size and cant seem to find a lid

 

[helsekia]

looking good cant wait to see thefinished tank

 

[babybell911]

Looking good!
Where did you find a lid to fit the tank cause i have one that size and cant seem to find a lid

My lid came with it but you can get them on ebay. For this size tank you can't get one's with the flaps just the light plastic ones. Search clearseal lids.