Theo's 2.1m Show Tank

Finally! Since school I always told myself one day I will do the big tank thing.
Today a 2.1m, 800 litre show tank (to be) found its place in my living room.
Djheeeezzzz – was this thing heavy. On short notice we only managed to get 4 guys together. Started out fine, but it nearly fell at the end. Note to self: Never ever try this again. Pay someone else! I really felt bad afterwards for asking the guys to quickly help with the thing.
I was looking for a tank that stood high enough since it will be behind the dining room table. The size is quite odd. It is 2100Lx500Wx800H, but that actually suited me as I did not plan to take over the room and wanted something that will be very visual.
Currently the tank is still very dirty and there is a lot of work before I can even start cycling it. I guess I will just have to get inside and start scrubbing.

 

Looks awesome so far!


I take it the table is meant to stand in front of it from that picture? So looks almost part of the table?

 

Very Nice! Has great potential

 

@ SauRoN - The table stands about a meter away from the tank - just out of the picture. The stand still needs to be covered with a cabinet. I can not leave the sump open even if I wanted to. I will get cryons and toys and probably even bubble bath in there. My boy is not even two so he wouldn't know any better.

If anybody knows of someone doing cabinets please let me know. I can do a melamine cabinet myself, but the pressed wood will probably swell over time. I'd rather do it right than having trouble in a year or two.

 

Man am i jealous now!!
That tank will look awesome i,m sure.

 

Nice - 250 ++ Kg of glass 840 liter capacity ... makes this just over a 1000 kg + sump ... I think it is going to look awesome. Hope the floor holds and that it is solid concrete under that wooden floor.

 

Wow!
It gonna take a while to fill that baby up!

 

Very Nice - I like the height

 

that tank has great potential.......
I picked my up yesterday so I know how heavy they are....

 

Ja me and gareth picked one up yesterday and man was that thing heavy and also want one but after that I will think twice especially if you have to move it

 

The tank looks great - can't wait to see it with water, substrate, plants and of course FISH in

 

WOW... That tank is a beaut. I sincerely hope your water changes and fiddling inside the tanks is a lot less messier than what I do... I would hate to have the missus complaining about the water messing on the wooden floor.

That tank has such potential...

Oh the beauty of seeing an empty tank like that... makes me so jealous of the hours and hours you have lined up in front of you... cleaning sand, buying and planting plants, de-tanning wood, cleaning, and then cycling.... and don't forget... as you about done with the cycling, you realise you want to re-scape it... so you empty half the water... rescape, only to land up with the same scapr you had before... but now have to recycle a few more days....

Um... I think I feel an MTS headache starting....

 

I have a 800mm high tank as well. Let me give you a word of advice... If it's going to be a planted tank, you will need something BRIGHT for lighting. I have 2 x 150watt Metal Halides supplying the lighting in my tank. Mine is only 1.2m long though. You're going to need a hell of a powerful light setup for it.

Also, the 800mm height will make planting extremely difficult. When I change plants, or decor, I have to remove the canopy in order to reach down to the bottom. I suggest you buy a set of long tweezers and scissors if the tank is to be planted.

Also, make sure that the canopy is easy to remove. With it being 2.1 meters long, It would definitely be a 2 man operation.

It is a beautiful tank. I'm sure, no matter what you decide to put in it, it will be majestic, to say the least.

 

I realised a few things tonight.

1. Slagter is right about the 800mm and deep dive exercise. Luckily I am fairly tall. And the canopy - I can't remove it myself.
2. Never mind the missus Zoom, I installed that floor myself and is quite attached to it - I had to dry the floor 3 times tonight not counting the drops you can't avoid. Luckily small spills.
3. The bigger the setup the bigger the effort! I am going to work like a slave to get this baby up and running!

Started the cleaning process with a little kitchen step ladder I was planning to use with this tank. To get inside you know ush: ... Ja reg! I ended up getting the big ladder (see pic) from the garage and started climbing the thing all night like a Jungle Gym! Over and under and around and dive and....This is going to be fun :sick:. Can't wait for the sump as it will mean less work inside the tank.

But the tank is clean. I still need to get to the overflow, but since the pipes and sump is not in place I'll have to leave it for now or really ruin the floor.

 

I hate to say I told you so, but... I told you so!! LOL!!

Looking good boet! What you going to do about lighting in this baby?

 

Moer that thing is big! Its only put in perspective next to that big ladder!

You can swim in there!

 

Filled the tank up last night to wash out all the traces of the previous guy's setup. I ended up filling it to the brim - just to see. Damn it is a lot of water. Took 1 hour to fill and two hours to drain through the same hose pipe...

I bought two bags of pool filter sand today and washed it when I came home. Not a pleasant job as many ppl has indicated before. The sad part is that I probably need another bag. And wash that "another bag" too :evil:

I am slightly concerned about the foam underneath the tank. When transporting it here small pieces broke off. It will obviously add stress to the bottom pane of glass. The glass is 12mm for a water head of 730mm. Is there anybody that know whether I should replace the entire foam strip or should it be OK? The biggest pieces missing is less than 50mm diameter. And maybe only two or three of that size. In the middle of the attached pic I have tried to put a 50mm piece back. it will be covered later so it won't be visible.

 

on my MUCH MUCH smaller tank, i just cut a square where the foam went MIA, and added a fresh square in with some silicon, and bob's someone's uncle!

 

buiders sell huge pieces 3X2m 30mm for about R80 id replace it all you cant be to safe with that baby.cant wait to see it up and running , what you gonna put in it ?

 

I know this is a bit late, but ...
I know someone who supplies clean pool filter sand. She actually washes it before she sells it. I bough some and from the first rinse the water was already running clear. So easy compared to river sand. That stuff is such a mission to get clean. I rinsed twice just to be safe though. It was pretty cheap as well. I think I paid R1.50 a kilo. If anyone wants her contact details then you can PM me.
HIH.

@Theo there is also a place in Parow that sells sheet foam as well. I am pretty sure that they would even be able to cut it to size. The type I bought seemed to be a lot 'sturdier' than the normal stuff you get at the bottom of tanks. It is quite thick and does not compress very easily. I will try and post a pic as soon as I can learn to use my wife's camera. LOL. I think the place's name is Foamcore. I know where they are though. If interested I can give you directions.
HIH