hey everyone i have fish since i was a kid but my last 2 tanks i have setup by myself and the benifits both cost and the finish product are well worth it. this is the way i do mine, it works for me but they are totally my ideas so disregard them if you wish.
step 1 design your tank ie choose the fish and plants and rocks in your head before you start. do a drawing mabe. then choose which tank will be best, personally i like the depth of 2ft x 2ft tanks but you might not have the space, but remember for surface area a deeper tank is better then a smaller one.
step 2 find where to buy your tank from, there are guys who build the tanks themself in there garage and sell directally to u so u save heaps. they usually make them for you especially so it may take 1-2weeks but that means they can customise for u so if you want it higher shorter , longer it wont add too much to the price.
step 3 pant the back black, this is the one thing i feel strongly about, black looks 10 times better then anything else. give it a good 4-5 coats, remember if u use acrilic u can get it off with h2o and a razorblade. but it wont come off in everyday use.
step 4 design the stand hood and filter. 2 rules for me have the water level covered by the hood, looks 100 times better, and have the bottom 1cm covered by the stand. 2 little things that make the difference. make the filter bigger then you will need.
now you start building.
the next few posts are what i did with my new tank and how to make a realy good sump filter.
step 1 design your tank ie choose the fish and plants and rocks in your head before you start. do a drawing mabe. then choose which tank will be best, personally i like the depth of 2ft x 2ft tanks but you might not have the space, but remember for surface area a deeper tank is better then a smaller one.
step 2 find where to buy your tank from, there are guys who build the tanks themself in there garage and sell directally to u so u save heaps. they usually make them for you especially so it may take 1-2weeks but that means they can customise for u so if you want it higher shorter , longer it wont add too much to the price.
step 3 pant the back black, this is the one thing i feel strongly about, black looks 10 times better then anything else. give it a good 4-5 coats, remember if u use acrilic u can get it off with h2o and a razorblade. but it wont come off in everyday use.
step 4 design the stand hood and filter. 2 rules for me have the water level covered by the hood, looks 100 times better, and have the bottom 1cm covered by the stand. 2 little things that make the difference. make the filter bigger then you will need.
now you start building.
the next few posts are what i did with my new tank and how to make a realy good sump filter.
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