The Tropical Tank

alip01 · Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:31 am Post subject: Shell Dweller Journal

Well as I've finally got the rocks sorted out, I decided it's time to start the journal for the Rekord 60 I got from Ade a couple of months ago.

The fish will be 3 or 4 Lamprologus Meleagris.

I've only ever found them in one shop of all the ones I've looked at that have listed fish online, and it's only 30 minutes away. Mr. Green

Now for the tank.

To aid with designing and siliconing of the rocks, I've made a cardboard tank, complete with filter box. Laughing

This means that I can easily arrange the rocks, and I won't end up getting silicone smears everywhere in the tank.

I managed to find a bag of rocks in a garden centre, that have turned out to be just about perfect. Mr. Green

It seems to be a rounded slate, which makes it nice and easy to stick together.

Of course, no shell dweller tank would be complete without shells! I bought this tub of Escarogot shells a while ago, from France on ebay.

I've started laying out the rocks, and siliconing the first ones together (ignore the rocks in the front of the box, they were just staying there whilst I was sticking them).

The left hand pile.

The right hand pile.

The centre piece, which will go near the front.

I've ordered 20kg of coral sand, so hopefully that should arrive in the next few days, and once I've stuck some more rocks onto the piles, I can start cycling the tank. Mr. Green

_________________
Alistair

60L Planted Tank
Juwel Trigon 350 Mbuna Tank
Juwel Rekord 60 Shell Dweller Tank

damselfish · Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:32 pm Post subject:

brill!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Laughing

cant wait for more pic`s
the ideas are never ending
making me want to change all my tank now????? Mr. Green

Apistogramma · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:25 am Post subject:

I've been getting that feeling too Damselfish. It'll have to wait a few years before I have the tank space though I think!
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Becky

*Aimlessly drives around in the steam roller with Karena's now fairly blunt scissors...and Lisa's hedge trimmer*

alip01 · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 3:51 am Post subject:

I've pretty much finished sticking the rocks together, just a few more to put on, but it won't change it much.

Hopefully the coral sand will arrive soon!
_________________
Alistair

60L Planted Tank
Juwel Trigon 350 Mbuna Tank
Juwel Rekord 60 Shell Dweller Tank

damselfish · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 5:25 am Post subject:

alip01,
cant help but think you watched "blue peter" too Cheeky

when i change my tank decor i know who to come too,
looks ace Cool

alip01 · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:30 am Post subject:

Thanks.

I've just stuck the final rocks on, a few more to the left hand pile, and one on the right hand one, so after 48 hours I think it is, the silicone will have cured, and it can go in the tank, with the sand that will hopefully have arrived. Talking of the tank, I need to swapt the background over, so it's black rather than blue. Smile

_________________
Alistair

60L Planted Tank
Juwel Trigon 350 Mbuna Tank
Juwel Rekord 60 Shell Dweller Tank

Apistogramma · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:46 am Post subject:

Now I'm questionning all over again what to put in my new 3' Rolling Eyes

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Becky

*Aimlessly drives around in the steam roller with Karena's now fairly blunt scissors...and Lisa's hedge trimmer*

moocowmoneybox · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:03 am Post subject:

alip01 · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 1:03 am Post subject:

san-ho-zay · Member Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 3180 Location: Bury, UK

I'd give them a ring and find out what their best estimate for a delivery date is Alistair. Those automated restocking messages aren't always right.
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Richard

damselfish · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 2:58 am Post subject:

oh alip01,
now got to wait all over bank holiday for new pic`s Angry

was looking forward to them.
phone them and tell them damselfish!!!!! Cheeky

alip01 · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 4:14 am Post subject:

Liakern · Member Joined: 29 Mar 2009 Posts: 135 Location: Ct USA

Exactly how do plan on putting the rocks in the tank?

Are they that solid that you can pick up each pile with out they falling apart?

What did you use to glue them?

looks VERY nice btw
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here we go again

alip01 · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 10:09 am Post subject:

I made sure that each rock fitted the space it was going in, roughly. I then used big blobs of silicone to secure them in place, and left that to cure. This morning I tested it to see if I could lift it, and I could, though a few joints were wobbly, so I reinforced them with the putty, which is harder than silicone, so they can't wobble anymore. Mr. Green

As the tank's hood comes off, I can just lower each pile into place. Smile

_________________
Alistair

60L Planted Tank
Juwel Trigon 350 Mbuna Tank
Juwel Rekord 60 Shell Dweller Tank

alip01 · Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 3:52 am Post subject:

I've been thinking about the sand, and as they're still showing on their website they've got it in stock, they might order it in every time someone orders it. I'm not in too much of a hurry, I wouldn't have had time to do anything with it, as I need to practise for my French oral exam which is next week. Confused

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Alistair

60L Planted Tank
Juwel Trigon 350 Mbuna Tank
Juwel Rekord 60 Shell Dweller Tank