Tank Build - "Planted Big Foot" 67 GAL

First off, this is my first build thread.

I was at a buddy's house and noticed an abandoned tank off to the side filled with misc aquarium junk. It had been used as a sump years ago and was used as a storage bin for quite some time (somewhere between a few years). As soon as I showed some interest, he offered to let me have as long as I was willing to take it. The foot print of the tank is 36" X 24" X 18"! Beast of a foot print. The tank was really beaten up and really needed some loving. I also resealed the joints just because.









The tank was drilled on the right side of the tank because it was used as a return flow. So I had to find some bulkhead fittings. So I found these, monstrous looking things at a local hardware store.



Test filled passed.





There was a scratch so severe that I was unable to polish out. So being that it was on the outside of the tank and would show even if I covered it with some paint, I decided to get thin piece of acrylic and glue it on to the back of the tank from the inside. I lost about an 1/8 of space. But the back looks great now.





I decided to construct my own stand because the I didn't like the quote I got from a local fish store, plus the stand would have to customized costing me a whopping and estimated $350 .







Square drive is KING!





Then I added some rigidity.





Skinning stage.





Ready for paint!



Fresh Coat of Paint and Primer, Satin Finish.




Going to test the stand tomorrow with the tank on top and filled.

More Pics tomorrow.

Thanks
Chonh

tharsis;4516457; said:

Nice! I like it...That is a sweet footprint for a planted tank. Lots of options, are you going to go with rocks or wood as your hardscape?

That stand looks nice too, no cross bracing though?

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No cross bracing. The entire frame doesnt move at all after I wacked in the 90 degree braces.

I was thinking the hardscape was going to be a branch of manz and some smooth river rocks.

jcardona1;4516600; said:

looks great! cant wait to see it filled and running. dont know if i asked you, but what are you doing for filtration? use a sump! 20g tank would be perfect for a sump

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That was an option but I have 3 canisters sitting aside. But who knows, I also have a 15gal sump sitting here. LOL.

FLESHY;4518891; said:

Plants! Where are the plants!? Excited to see progress on this one, cool footprint.

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Well the plants I have now are:

Hygrophila corymbosa 'Kompakt
Java Fern
Needle Leaf Java Fern
anubias petite
riccia fluitans
Eleocharis montevidensis "giant hairgrass"

The plants I will be receiving monday are:

Staurogyne repens 'Tropica 049G' - 5 stems
Blyxa japonica - 5 stems
Limnophila sp 'Vietnam Mini' - 5 stems
Rotala macranda 'Japan Red' - 5 stems
Limnophila sp 'Wavy' - 5 stems
Rotala sp Green 'Narrow Leaf' - 5 stems
Poaceae sp 'Purple Bamboo' - 5 stems'
Pogostemon sp 'Blume' - 3 stems
Polygonum praetermissum 'Ruby' - 3 stems
Sphaerocaryum malaccense - 5 stems
Rotala sp 'Singapore' - 6 stems
Hydrocotyle verticillata sp 'Japan' (small, short form) - 3 nodes
Rotala macranda sp 'Green' - 5 stems
Limnophila aromatica - 5 stems
Limnophila sp 'Sulawesi' - 3 stems
Nymphoides sp 'Taiwan' - 12 inches tall with 6 leaves
Ludwigia repens X arcuata - 5 stems
Hygrophila sp 'Guinea' - 3 stems
Polygonum sp 'Green' - 3 stems
Staurogyne sp 'Bihar' - 3 stems
Staurogyne sp 'Porto Velho' - 6 stems
Pogostemon stellatus 'Narrow Leaf' - 5 stems
Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Green' - 6 inches tall (two plants)
Bolbitis heudelotii - 4 inches rhizome
Myriophyllum mattogrossense - 10 stems

those1;4519643; said:

nice work you can hook up a ball valve system to one of those bulks and use it for quick water changes. were you planning on working on those scratches some more are are you just going to keep it how it is.

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More elbow grease coming tomorrow right before setting up.