Custom DIY tank Canopy - HELP

[TankMaster]

So I am in the process of building a custom 120L tank (770X340X450). As with all custom tanks, there must be a custom canopy/hood/roof/cover.

I know supawood is the way to go but are there lighter (weight wise) alternatives that I could use and what thickness would be Ideal? I am not familiar with any other woods other than chip board and ply board.

I was planning on painting the outside with matte black and the painting the inside with white silicon so I get it waterproof.

There's also other things like lighting and stuff (2X 20W white CFL and 2 X 14W blue CFL) so it has to be rigid enough to hold at least 2kg and thick enough to drive screws in.

What did you use?

TM

EDIT:

The glass is only going to be 6- 8mm thick

[Pistolshrimp]

i used pine planks, painted it with woodoc marine, that was stained black

[TankMaster]

Cool. Is it possible to get pine sheets?

[Pistolshrimp]

Yep but they are expensive, you could get away with plywood, my marine cabinet is built from that stuff

[TankMaster]

Hmm, plywood sounds good but can I get 12-15mm supawood by any chance?

[dangerousd]

i used pine planks, painted it with woodoc marine, that was stained black

I also used pine planks - made the top of the cabinet almost like a DECK with bigger space between each plank so I could feed the fish BUT still keep the light in
(the lights are mounted under the planks)

Looks like this = http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?5215-My-4-Foot-Angelfish-Congo-Tetra-tank....&highlight=foot

[Kyle]

Aliminum is cool but expensive. I made my stands from steel how do you guys do it?

[dangerousd]

I like the aluminum corners / beading round all the edges... hides the bad silicone job and algae growing in the silicone

[Zoom]

I wouldn't use supawood.. it don't like water at all. ANY water that get's into the wood and it just swells like a balloon on steriods. Even Chipboard is more water resistant than supawood.

Marine ply would more than likely be your best option. If you find a timbercity near you, they may be prepared to take some of it and plane it down thinner for you. You do get one that is about 4mm thick... but not structurally great, and has the tendancy to warp under moisture and heat.

[Pistolshrimp]

be prepare to pay thru the nose for marine ply, i used normal ply, you can get it at builders express and they cut to size, i was lucky i got mine for free while i was driving past a furniture manufacturing place they where throwing some away and i asked them for it

[TankMaster]

The whole plan is to do what Vis did here

4936

3d illustration by Linga

4937

Now, imagine my 2.5ft (120L) tank in that ....

Don't they use marine ply for boats and hulls?

Hope ply wood does not split on me.

If I had a table saw, I would cut the board up myself but going to get it cut from pennypinchers or builders express.

TM

[Kyle]

Why did you choose 120L ?

[TankMaster]

Why did you choose 120L ?

Because there's this serving area between the kitchen and the lounge and its only 800mm wide, perfect for this size tank. Had my 2ft tank in the same place but this tank is 70L more. It's the only available/visible space I have to put a show tank for now.

I think I am happy with the size, especially the height of the tank.

Odd dimensions . . . that's what makes it "Custom"

TM

[Vis]

TM if you are not going to put it on a black service like mine you need to make the bottom part taller.
Building one like it next week for my other Nano will show you then.

[TankMaster]

Hi Vis

Don't really understand what you mean?

I sketched the tank with the cabinet at a 100:1 ratio and the bottom looks well balanced.

The surface is light stained beech wood so its brown. Making the bottom part 40-50mm high, depending on the thickness of the wood.

I estimate around R350 for making it out of supawood . . . ply board may be cheaper.

I was just going to use normal oil paint / spray paint (Car Paint) on the outside. Not going as far as to buy special pond paint.

The part that you have white on yours will also be white on mine but painting it with white marine silicon so vapour does not kill the wood.

TM

[Linga]

hey TM- Just remember supawood needs to be sealed very well cos it will swell when wet. Ply/ Pine will be a little more forgiving in this respect. marine ply is extremly expensive. you can use shutter ply 16 or 18 mm and then just use a marine sealer on that. also if you go with supawood it will be a solid look to it, with ply you will get a grain look which is excellent if you want that rich wood look. also most stains now can be mixed in with the sealer so can be done as one excercise.

[TankMaster]

I think I have some wall sealer that I can use on the wood but I don't know if the wood will absorb it or not. I can always use car paint on the outside so its got a sure seal! I have a compressor and my brother is good at spraying cars so a cabinet should not be a hassle.

What do you think?

TM

[Linga]

i dont know about the car paint really, no expect, only i know that wood sealer will protect the wood which is what we want, the car paint stuff may crack. there are many types of wood sealers and its not too expensive. you are putting alot of tort into this tank so imo i think you should really get your hood/ cabinet rite

[TankMaster]

Yeah, the last thing I want is a crappy, bubbly enclosure.

So wood sealer then paint?

The paint wont crack. I have done this with audio enclosures made from supawood. Its just going to be 2 coat. Nothing major.

[TankMaster]

Okay, I need some help with stocking ideas.

I am definitely adding 6 X 4cm discus in there. Just this limits what I can put in. So might have to forget about this.

Thinking more like rams and dwarfs . . . maybe a few neons and rummy noses with a mother load of white clouds(20)

It is a planted tank but thinking about adding some starlight bristlenoses too . .

Anyone have any full community ideas for a 120L planted?

TM

[Zoom]

When I had Rams + Dwarfs (assuming you talking about dwarf cichlids/ Apisto's) I have major problems. The male Ram was hugely territorial, and almost killed the apisto. Had to get rid of Ram very fast. (This is in my 300Litre). When I bought my 1st pair of apisto's, I could also only get 1 pair... because my tank was too small for 2 pairs. (This was my 160litre) So think carefully of your stocking levels.

I still think 120l will be too little for 4 discus.

[TankMaster]

Yip, will sell the Discus and buy smaller ones when they get bigger. Will sell them at Cost to TASA members.

I haven't kept Apistos before and never kept rams . . .Just need a good list of fish for a heavily planted tank.

Thinking, 6-8 small corydoras or clown loaches . . . a healthy amount of white clouds,neons, rummy noses . .and 4-6 small Discus.
Any other suggestions?

I'm Going to think this out well because I'm not spending another R4000 on fish just because I've changed my mind on the setup

TM

[Zoom]

Just check the temp requirements of all those fish... I don't think any of the ones you mentioned can handle the temps you need for discus. This is the BIGGEST constraint you have... the temperature!

[TankMaster]

Lol, Zoom . . not putting all those fish in the same tank . . . they are just fish I intend having but with the Discus there . . . only the clown loaches will be happy . . I might have typed them as if they are going to be but I know better than to put those poor white clouds in 30+ degrees

I have to go with maybe some small Discus and rams with a shoal of small clown loaches (They grow painfully slow). Now to source some cardinals. . .

I've seen some people keep emperor tetras with Discus. Can this be done?

Unless I change my whole approach and go for schoolers/shoalers . . a mix of tetras with some rams?

I am clueless

What fish does everyone have in their planted tanks?

TM

[Linga]

hey TM i really think you should not go with the discus, even if you plan to sell them while still small, there demand on water conditions and quality will limit your other fish choices. also there temp requirements not only limits tank mates but some plants too.

[TankMaster]

Yeah . . going for apistos and schoolers. ..

[Linga]

cool were you getting the apistos from im looking for some

[TankMaster]

Well, we are on the same boat :) . . .

The water Zoo is getting some soon . . can check with Jungle Aquatics too

[Kyle]

Are you putting your filtration in the hood?

[TankMaster]

Huh? No?

Will run 2 X internals.