Its up and running. These are the best pics I could take with my cell but I will take some decent pics with my camera tomorrow. 
Build Avice Please!
- Thread starter L~C~G
- Start date
A few better pics of the tank and a few of the happy fish in their new home. I just need to get off my ass and get the lid done now 
There was a gap of about 1/2" from the sides of the acrylic to the tank wall and the same gap from the bottom of the acrylic to the base of the tank.
I turned the tank onto its face and added about 5 thick layers of pond paint in all of those gaps, it could not run out with the tank lying on its face and it actually molded a really thick gasket. It took about two weeks to fully cure but this paint I got locally sticks to the acrylic like crazy so it seems to be working well.
It has been full for 10 days now with no leaks.
Here is a diagram of what I did. top view
I turned the tank onto its face and added about 5 thick layers of pond paint in all of those gaps, it could not run out with the tank lying on its face and it actually molded a really thick gasket. It took about two weeks to fully cure but this paint I got locally sticks to the acrylic like crazy so it seems to be working well.
It has been full for 10 days now with no leaks.
Here is a diagram of what I did. top view
Don't you live in S Africa?
And you keep African cichlids?
I guess you get the best specimens, huh?
Tank looks great, are you going for a tall top?
And you keep African cichlids?
I guess you get the best specimens, huh?
Tank looks great, are you going for a tall top?
Thanks for all the great comments guys! I cant stop looking at this thing 
Yep, I am from South Africa but most of the pet shops are pretty limited as far as African stock goes, surprisingly, they are big into marine stuff here now and normal tropical`s. I have been to about 6 local shops to get my stock list to what it is now.
There is a breeder about 12 hours away that is willing to ship to hobbyists and he will be the guy I will contact for any rarer species that I am after but I don't want to waste his time with just one or two fish. He breeds from wild caught stock.
Im not totally sure what to do with the lid yet, I am a pretty tall guy and and I can only just reach the bottom of the tank as it is so a tall canopy may be a real pita, so ill probably keep it fairly shallow.
The stock list at this point is:
1 x male Acei
1 x male Borleyi
1 x Juvi borleyi (not sure on sex yet, looking like a female)
1 x Venetus (Not sure on sex yet) showing blue tinge so maybe male?
1 x male Milomo
1 x male Baenschi
1 x male Jacobfreibergi
1 x male Stuartgranti Flavescent
1 x Male Gold Peacock (Hybrid)
1 x Male Peacock fire fish (Hybrid)
1 x male Hongi island (juvi) Matured this weekend, moved to a new home
1 x male Ahli
1 x Male yellow lab.
1 x Plecostomus for cleaning duties.
I really like the balance it has at the moment and will only add more if I find something really special. They are growing so fast in this tank and are looking more amazing every day.
The Venestus might be a problem in the future as far as his aggression goes but right now the Flavescent is keeping him in line. The flavescent goes almost completely black when he chases the Venestus.
I will only really up the stock if aggression becomes a big problem, Im not a fan of hugely overstocked tanks but for now they are almost all matured and behaving quite well.
My Borleyi was taking a beating from the gold peacock but since I added the fire fish peacock the aggression is split and both are doing fine with the occasional chase from the gold.
Yep, I am from South Africa but most of the pet shops are pretty limited as far as African stock goes, surprisingly, they are big into marine stuff here now and normal tropical`s. I have been to about 6 local shops to get my stock list to what it is now.
There is a breeder about 12 hours away that is willing to ship to hobbyists and he will be the guy I will contact for any rarer species that I am after but I don't want to waste his time with just one or two fish. He breeds from wild caught stock.
Im not totally sure what to do with the lid yet, I am a pretty tall guy and and I can only just reach the bottom of the tank as it is so a tall canopy may be a real pita, so ill probably keep it fairly shallow.
The stock list at this point is:
1 x male Acei
1 x male Borleyi
1 x Juvi borleyi (not sure on sex yet, looking like a female)
1 x Venetus (Not sure on sex yet) showing blue tinge so maybe male?
1 x male Milomo
1 x male Baenschi
1 x male Jacobfreibergi
1 x male Stuartgranti Flavescent
1 x Male Gold Peacock (Hybrid)
1 x Male Peacock fire fish (Hybrid)
1 x male Hongi island (juvi) Matured this weekend, moved to a new home
1 x male Ahli
1 x Male yellow lab.
1 x Plecostomus for cleaning duties.
I really like the balance it has at the moment and will only add more if I find something really special. They are growing so fast in this tank and are looking more amazing every day.
The Venestus might be a problem in the future as far as his aggression goes but right now the Flavescent is keeping him in line. The flavescent goes almost completely black when he chases the Venestus.
I will only really up the stock if aggression becomes a big problem, Im not a fan of hugely overstocked tanks but for now they are almost all matured and behaving quite well.
My Borleyi was taking a beating from the gold peacock but since I added the fire fish peacock the aggression is split and both are doing fine with the occasional chase from the gold.
