andywg
Bored into leaving
Well peoples, it's taken a week of fixing leaks in my shonky plumbing, countless swear words at how unfair life is and an interesting eppisode on fish acrobatics (see below) but I've finally upgraded my community tank from the 35 to the 100 gallon. 
Firstly, thanks to all who have advised on how to get this thing set up with the two sump/filter tanks (just a quick aside, wouldn't it be cool to have a pinned thread of people who can come out and drill tanks? It took me ages to find someone to do it...).
Well, last Saturday was the first fill up, and it was somewhat catastrophic
The Weir leaked, the downpipe leaked, the pump join leaked and the first 5 bends on the return leaked...
Soooo...I fixed all that and last night finished the construction, and not a moment too soon since the Pim Pictus had started to really disagree with each other, thus commenced the fish transfer. The first fish I wanted to get was my skittish Silver Shark (Sharky). So I just about get him and *flip* out he jumps, straight down between the old tank and the wall...
Cue me and the fiance running around siphoning half the tank out and me lifting the tank accross the room to get to him. Got him within 10 minutes, held him in the water and after a little while he started to swim and by this morning he seems fine and loving the new tank. The other problem was a Pictus getting his right pectoral fin caught in the net. I ended up cutting the net (as we couldn't get it out withou ripping the fin off) and he now has it attached as he swims. Anyone know how bad this is for them, or a good way to get it off him?
Anyway, to cut a long story short, I moved most of the gravel, the old Fluval cannister down, fired up the sump filter and away we go. Now, the water is clearing at an amazing rate and I have a fine centrepiece for the living room. I dread to think of the cost though...
Anyway, a little bit of a waffle but there you go. I guess I'm just overjoyed that I finally finished my big project (Only taken me about 3 months) Hope you enjoyed the tale.
Lastly, pics will be going up - probably at the weekend - of theis project (I think I have pics from the tank arriving to being set up) as well as hopefully pics of my self-made tank and hood for my betta tank.
Laters all
Andy
Firstly, thanks to all who have advised on how to get this thing set up with the two sump/filter tanks (just a quick aside, wouldn't it be cool to have a pinned thread of people who can come out and drill tanks? It took me ages to find someone to do it...).
Well, last Saturday was the first fill up, and it was somewhat catastrophic
The Weir leaked, the downpipe leaked, the pump join leaked and the first 5 bends on the return leaked...Soooo...I fixed all that and last night finished the construction, and not a moment too soon since the Pim Pictus had started to really disagree with each other, thus commenced the fish transfer. The first fish I wanted to get was my skittish Silver Shark (Sharky). So I just about get him and *flip* out he jumps, straight down between the old tank and the wall...
Cue me and the fiance running around siphoning half the tank out and me lifting the tank accross the room to get to him. Got him within 10 minutes, held him in the water and after a little while he started to swim and by this morning he seems fine and loving the new tank. The other problem was a Pictus getting his right pectoral fin caught in the net. I ended up cutting the net (as we couldn't get it out withou ripping the fin off) and he now has it attached as he swims. Anyone know how bad this is for them, or a good way to get it off him?
Anyway, to cut a long story short, I moved most of the gravel, the old Fluval cannister down, fired up the sump filter and away we go. Now, the water is clearing at an amazing rate and I have a fine centrepiece for the living room. I dread to think of the cost though...
Anyway, a little bit of a waffle but there you go. I guess I'm just overjoyed that I finally finished my big project (Only taken me about 3 months) Hope you enjoyed the tale.
Lastly, pics will be going up - probably at the weekend - of theis project (I think I have pics from the tank arriving to being set up) as well as hopefully pics of my self-made tank and hood for my betta tank.
Laters all
Andy
