Planted planning...

Ok, so step one, done. I have some GLASS!!!!!! 3 sides of Starfire, the rear panel is normal clear float glass, which will be covered in black perspex. I'm getting that on Friday. I must say, starfire is pretty. Will be better with plants and fish in though!!

PICS because it has finally happened!!


With the midget!!


I'll have the cabinet by the end of the week as well! Stunning Mahogany finish! Can't wait!

 

Awesome man. You going to run an external canister on that?

Does your connection do tanks regularly? I have been promised a tank of my own design when we move into our own place

 

Yup, my connection does tanks for a living. He is expensive though. This tank cost me R2500. JUST the glass. I am working on a whole bunch of things though. This December will be practice for my tank building skills. I have already ordered the glass for 2 x 450mm cubes, and I will be putting them together in the holidays. I will move on to bigger tanks after that.

I have an Eheim 2224 for this tank. I am looking for an Eheim 350T Professional though. It has a built in 300watt heater. I would prefer to not have any equipment in the tank at all. Just Lily Pipes and Diffusers.

 

Still your original dimensions of 60X60X50? 2.5k for 10mm starfire isn't too bad actually

 

Yup, 60x60x50. Remember that only 3 panes are starfire. Not all 5. But anyway, it's beautiful, and I'm totally pleased with the build quality! I just need to paint the poly board black, and stick on a black background!

I managed to find some really nice rock, but I'm not sure if it will work for the scape I have in mind. It looks pale pink when dry, but it turns into a deep purple/blue/grey colour when submerged. We shall see what happens.

 

The more I see cubes the more I want one of my own. How much different is the starfire glass to standard 10mm float? And what's the price difference?

 

The price difference is huge. But the clarity from Starfire is far superior to normal clear float glass. I am going to be selling cubes like this. That is the point of getting this one built. As an example to show off what I'm selling. I am going to try and source a cheaper builder as well. So In december I am going to be building some tanks myself. I think this tank would have been around R1500 in normal glass...

 

Yea and thanks to this thread Im planning one as well I just dont think I want to ship a glass tank from up there to here - I know my luck and it will break Otherwise I would have been first in line to order

 

@Sean J, Hehehe... I thought that you were thinking of putting the midget into the tank as a feature... He's too cute.

 

I could, but he wont be too happy with me! Hehehe... Thanks. He is a cute little bugger! Can't believe he's already 15 months old! Feels like he was born just the other day... I hope he grows up with a love for fish like his dad!

 

If i may ask what is the price for a 1m square of Starfire glass? And is it available in other thicknesses?

 

Yes it is available in different thicknesses, but if you need 10mm or thinner, go with normal glass. You can only really see the difference from 10mm upwards. You can double the price of normal glass for a sheet of starphire glass.

 

@BugMan - Ja it's available in lots of sizes. As singularity says though, it's a waste to get anything less than 10mm in Starfire. I don't know what it goes for per square, but I could find out for you.

So, I got the cabinets today!! They are stunning! Yes, more than one! I will be selling these cabinets from The Planted Tank but I'll start separate threads in my forum over there!

I am well chuffed with this cabinet for my cube tank! I will be removing the white poly board with a sponge layer, black layer If I can find one. But on with the pictures. I'll take better pics soon!

The 60cm cube! The poly board WILL be replaced.


For the 45cm cube:


Loving these cabinets!!

 

Seriously nice Sean. I really wanted a cube like this some time back and could not quite afford it. Now after the move even less but one day.
Might have done my cabinet a little different for some reasons but these would look real cool after hiding the poly.

And in line with cubes this is my idea but replace the fish with angels.

http://aquatic-photography.com/gallery/files/1/6/5/3/reddiscus1fullcopy.jpg

http://www.thehouseofdew.com/fish/adg/adgtank3.jpg

 

Thanks man! I am loving these cubes! They have a lot more floor space for planting than your standard dimension tanks. I hope to get the most out of this tank. I have some big plans for it. I'm not going to hide the poly. I'm going to replace it with high density sponge. It will be much better.

We have a cube like the one with the discus at our office, but it's a marine tank. Looks almost identical.

 

back then i Couldn find sponge to replace for my 4 ft i just used polystyrene black paint to paint it.. Can tell the difference if u dont look closely nice man.. I can just imagine the thoughts running thru ur mind when u look at this tank Hehe..

 

Simple way of hiding poly - take some black electrical tape and stick it over it....inobtrusive,inexspensive and unless you REALY look for/at it...invisible!

 

LOL! Thanks for all the hiding tips, but I hate the poly... It must come off and be replaced.

 

@Sean J You can get closed cell rubber here ---> http://www.jmp.co.za/

 

double post...