Putting together a 180gallon Tropheus Tank.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I just couldn't help myself here.....

I have some teasers fro you guys....... I want the tank to be clear when I post it. Plus I only have one fish in it right now.... It's a female lithobates... Just for testing purposes... She's skinny little thing but Very tough! She has gone through hell and back with us. I plan on adding the tropheus when the tank clears up....

Fist one... Alomst Full! Cloudy though. I added the aragonite after rinsing 2lbs at a time, literally like 10+ times each fro all 80lbs. The Kicker!? I didn't even need 80lbs. more like 70lbs at the most...

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Second teaser.... She's full!!!! Tank lights are on and room lighting is off. This tank is our front room which is basically the center room of the house if you take into account that the house has a 20x24', 2 floor addition off the of the back, actually in the background of some of the "soon to be posted pic" you might be able to see the old doorwall that lead to the addition...

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Here is a picture of the intake tube(s) of the FX5 and 404 that are filtering the tank. When you look at the tank froma normal view, you can't even notice them... It's very nice not to see some big bulky intake strainer hanging in the back of the tank...

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This is basically the same shot after I moved the Fluval 404 Spray Bar from the end of the tank (right side) to the back of the tank (more on the left side)....

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Here is the rigth side corner of the tank with the Aquaclear 70 Powerhead tucked back under the Rock in the corner... The Powerhead moves a TON of water through these rocks being that there is no filter media OR the intake cone on it. Just the intake Grate on the bottom of it!

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In this pic I;m showing the places that i cut the silicone after sand was added and then it cured. YOU ilterally can't even tell that it's removable! Just how I planned. I'm happy with the way that this corner turned out. It's funny because I kind of went with the "flow" (no pun intended) on this. It was functional at first, then I decided to deal with it and then I made it happen! I looked through all the scrap that I had and I ended up adding two pieces to it for it to look like this. One of them is hidden but oh well.

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Lastly, Here is the scratch that I buffed out with plastic polish and tooth brushes and then some fine cut paint rubbing compound... You literally can't even see it unless you try to find and it took me about 30 seconds to find and I'm VERY particular about that crap. So good tunrout there too! I highly recommend the process. It took about 1.5-2 hours total but it was worth it!

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Well...... That's the end of the teasers for now! I hope that you'll forgive me and come back and look at the finished product! I think that you will get a REAL kick out of it!
 
kingkarter;4776072; said:
Wow i can't w8 to see a full tank shot


:ROFL:

I want to post it SOOOOOOO Bad!!!!! But I like the clear shots... SO it won't be long!?


It is VERY temping to post the full tank shot but I don't even have the Tropheus in it yet.... Just tough little female Lithobates (African Cichlid)... She's LOVING IT THOUGH!!!!!!!!! NO Mlae sto piss her off or any o the other females (lithobates and Venustus) to Bug her!....

Either way, she'll be happy when I move her out.... Her 4fish colony is going into a 60gal breeder (48"x 18"x 16")with an 8 fish colony of Venustus... FROM a 40gal Breeder (36"x 18"x 16").... So she'll have more room to relax.

I'm more happy for the Tropheus and Other becaus they are all upgrading! Must be nice to have no mortgage payment! :ROFL:
 
Well................................................................


Here it is.... she's still a little couldly for my liking but it's good enought o take pics and share the results. I still have to hide the Heaters behind the main Rock becuase I wanted to make sure that they were going to be calibrated to the right temp first... And I may change the spray bar back to 1 bar instead of the 2 that came with it to create more of roll in the tank... I will get some Video soon!


Enjoy....................

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Garlover;4781821; said:
as good as hoped!!! Tank looks friggin awesome man!


Thank you Both! I'm very happy with the results. I guess we'll see how the algea plays a part of the whole equasion...

I'll be going to the depot tomorrow to get the Sandeply to finish the job... Not sure if I should take the Face and Sides of the stand up far enough to cover the tanks trim though...

What do you guys suggest?
 
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