Ram-Ashwin@cs.yale.edu (Ashwin Ram) (03/15/88)
Does anyone have any experience building aquaria or terraria in the 10-50 gallon
range (or even larger)? Or in building any part of the equipment (the tank, the
undergravel filter, the hood and lighting unit, etc. etc.)?
If so, I'd like to hear about your experiences. Was it easy? hard? What
materials did you use? Were the results better? worse? than the standard
equipment you can buy? More or less expensive? More or less effective?
You get the idea. No experience too small to be valuable, so do send 'em in!
Thanks. Please e-mail (or post if you can't get through); I'll post a summary
if there is sufficient interest.
-- Ashwin Ram --
ARPA: Ram-Ashwin@cs.yale.edu
UUCP: {decvax,ucbvax,harvard,cmcl2,...}!yale!Ram-Ashwin
BITNET: Ram@yalecsRam-Ashwin@cs.yale.edu (Ashwin Ram) (03/25/88)
In article <25096@yale-celray.yale.UUCP>, I wrote: > Does anyone have any experience building aquaria or terraria in the 10-50 gallon > range (or even larger)? Or in building any part of the equipment (the tank, the > undergravel filter, the hood and lighting unit, etc. etc.)? > ... > Thanks. Please e-mail (or post if you can't get through); I'll post a summary > if there is sufficient interest. Here is the promised summary: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TANKS - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- <richard@gryphon.cts.com> - Don't do it. Cheaper to buy them, preferably used. <gatech!dcatla!ittfb> - Easy to build tanks using silicone aquarium sealant. The plastic frames are for show and don't add to the strength of the tank. Make sure the glass is strong enough (double strength window glass for 10 gal., 1/4" plate glass for 55 gal.). Use a center brace if the tank is long. <steveha@tekig5> - Used wooden frames and 1/4" tempered glass to build a 35 gal. hex tank. Used table saw to cut wood, went to a glass shop to cut glass. Main problem - getting everything square (or 120 for hex) while silicone sets up. Check that silicone doesn't have toxic additives. Let silicone sit for 2 weeks, then do several water changes. Lot of fun. <susans@cfisun.cfi.com> - Probably cheaper to buy a tank. <dy0b+@andrew.cmu.edu> - Built aquarium from simple plexiglass and aquarium sealant. Sturdy, didn't leak, but plexiglass got scratched and began to warp after about 7 months. Glass may be difficult. Built indoor ponds for goldfish and koi successfully. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOODS AND REFLECTORS - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- <gatech!dcatla!ittfb> - Use aluminum flashing from a hardware store and spray it with clear or colored krylon. Plastic or glass is best for salt water. Vinyl rain gutter is another possibility, depends on how much ugly you can stand. Wood is possible if you coat it with polyester resin, but it smells. <tektronix!teksce!bucket!patti> - Built a multi-light hood for marine tank. Mounted two full-length bulbs with independent controls in one hood. Used vinyl rain guttering for hood. Cheaper than pre-made aquarium hoods, but "shop lights" are cheaper (though they don't fit as well). Cut guttering to 30" using circular saw, put two inside caps, mount four fluoroscent end pieces. Connect up two 20W starters and ballasts, and two switches. Mount everything in hood. Mount inside endcaps on the hood, using double-sided tape and screws. Add outside endcaps for nicer look if you care, or leave them off for better heat dissipation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UNDERGRAVEL FILTERS - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- <gatech!dcatla!ittfb> - Easy to make out of plexiglass, using a drill and a saw (a band-saw is best). Provide support under main plates; gravel is heavy. Use plexiglass or regular plastic tubing for lift tubes. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- AIR PUMPS - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- <gatech!dcatla!ittfb> - Difficult. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for all the replies. I can forward individual messages to anyone who is interested. I might add that I found DIY instructions in a few aquarium books when I was casually browsing in a bookstore. I don't remember specific names, but you might try your local bookstore or public library. -- Ashwin. ARPA: Ram-Ashwin@cs.yale.edu UUCP: {decvax,ucbvax,harvard,cmcl2,...}!yale!Ram-Ashwin BITNET: Ram@yalecs