DIY
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Started this thread to share my “fish tank stand.” It’s made out of this IKEA TV bench: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40105340
Each of those board thingies is about an inch and one half or two I think. Screwed them together, one on top of the other, bought IKEA table legs (6) and sawed them down to size. Screwed them on, and Presto! Big fish tank stand for only $100!
Going to get another to hold part of my new fish tank, and buy more legs.
The structure is fairly good. Need to add more weight? Add more legs!
Got other fish DIY projects you want to share, any one?
– Atlantis
Finally figured out the picture posting thing. :wink:
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/AC101Atlantis/?action=view¤t=CIMG1135-2.jpg
– Atlantis
We have to rope Atlantis into the “live plants addiction”… heheh…
No…no. I’ll resist all attempts…
Don’t have the money for it. Though my galaxy tank is nicely planted. I’ll post a picture of that when I can get take a decent one.
– Atlantis
Anyway, coming soon, cheap and DIY aquarium covers that are durable, see-through, and in my opinion, kinda awesome looking.
– Atlantis
That is a stunning tank atlantis i am very impressed. I am working on the pics so i can show a step by step guide to making spawning mops and large home made sponge filters..
Atlantis’s Aquarium Top
Doesn’t prevent spills, but keeps jumpy fish in.
1. Buy a piece of water-proof shed roofing. I got a piece at the local hardware store for $20. Way more than I need currently for my 3 aquariums, but it didn’t come any smaller. Comes in different tints. For best visibility, I chose the clear. The one I got was UV proof, but I don’t know if all are like that. Doesn’t bother me as I side-light my one planted aquarium.
Lie it down somewhere flat.
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/AC101Atlantis/?action=view¤t=CIMG1178.jpg
2. Measure your aquarium width and lengh (duh) and add an extra inch or two in case of mistakes and for easier removal
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/AC101Atlantis/?action=view¤t=CIMG1180.jpg
3. Cut it out with the “waves” on the width. It’s so much harder than it looks…Get a sharp pair of scissors, or some other pretty accurate sharp, cutting thing.
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/AC101Atlantis/?action=view¤t=CIMG1184.jpg
4. Place on top of aquarium.
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/AC101Atlantis/?action=view¤t=CIMG1185.jpg
5. Cut out a hole or holes for things like hang-over filters and heaters.
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/AC101Atlantis/?action=view¤t=CIMG1188.jpg
6. Place on aquarium. Take off and trim edges for straightness, excess etc.
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/AC101Atlantis/?action=view¤t=CIMG1191.jpg
I found mine had some condesation, but since there are waves it’s not to bad at all. Add trim if you find the edges too ugly.
– Atlantis
Now that I’ve had the cover on for a while, I’ve noticed it’s very good at keeping heat in. My heater’s not on nearly as much as before.
I akso built a new table, same as old, but smaller. I used the thick part of two of these:
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/00095036
I’ll edit this post soon as I can take pic’s and upload.
Now when will you guys post yours?
– Atlantis
Wow nice, how does the roofing plastic fit so perfectly over your aquarium? Other than measuring it I mean… it seems like the corrugations are just right… you know? It goes up and down, up and down, looks like there’s 4 complete “rows” and you didn’t have to cut a row halfway. Coincidence?
Finally figures out a divider that works. Tried the cross stich mesh a few times in different way, but they got through at the sides. Dwarf platies seem to take pleasure in squeezing through and into small spaces. :roll:
Used my roofing plastic. It doesn’t allow filtration yet, so I’ll have to swap the location of filter every few days or so. Not perfect or a permanent solution
But it keeps those little buggers in their place.
I’ll think about how to punch holes, but they have to be smaller than a fry. Or maybe a few small holes close together with big holes sewn on in mesh. Hm…
Good thing I have a ton extra of that stuff.
– Atlantis
Atlantis,
this won’t help much for an already-wet tank, but another thing you could do is to use some silicone to put in plastic “brackets” (think cheap — strips of your roofing material? a thin slice of a square milk jug?) at the front and back where you want the divider. Once the silicone dries and the tank is full, you can just slide the divider down into those guides when you want it in. The downside, of course, is that the position is sort of a permanent choice.I think your plastic mesh idea is fantastic for allowing water to flow through, but not fishies. I once saw an idea on the web for using mesh like that to grow a “living wall” of java moss on the back of the tank. I’ll see if I can find the link.
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