Well I want to do a progress thead so I am showing the 125 gallon at it's ugliest. After x-mas this tank is going to shine. (both my sons bdays are this month with xmas right after so cash in my house does not exist right now) This is how it sits today. "fugly" stand and canopy, scratches and sponge powered. I had to do a quick setup because I am taking in a friends fish this week and am putting the fish first... 
It's in our dining room so the wife ain't gunna be down for it looking like this for long. Paint, acrylic buffing, FX5, sump or both & aquascaping are in the my future...
The tank will be bare bottom, clay pots & sponge powered for a while...
The day I got it. Paid $100 but already had the stand and canopy.
Leak tested, "mother approved" in the garage first.
Looking at this tank next to the 225g makes this one look "cute".
The tank in it's final resting place in the dining room.
Squeezed the hell out of the sponges so the water is pretty dirty in the pic below. I am doing a fishless cycle on this tank even though the filters are already established. Just bumping up the ammonia level and getting the filters adjusted before I pick up the fish.
Don't expect any compliments, just benchmarking where I am starting from on this tank. It's a true "economy tank" so any suggestions on saving cash are welcomed. I will post a budget on this tank the same as my last build later this week.
Justin-
It's in our dining room so the wife ain't gunna be down for it looking like this for long. Paint, acrylic buffing, FX5, sump or both & aquascaping are in the my future...The tank will be bare bottom, clay pots & sponge powered for a while...
The day I got it. Paid $100 but already had the stand and canopy.
Leak tested, "mother approved" in the garage first.
Looking at this tank next to the 225g makes this one look "cute".
The tank in it's final resting place in the dining room.
Squeezed the hell out of the sponges so the water is pretty dirty in the pic below. I am doing a fishless cycle on this tank even though the filters are already established. Just bumping up the ammonia level and getting the filters adjusted before I pick up the fish.
Don't expect any compliments, just benchmarking where I am starting from on this tank. It's a true "economy tank" so any suggestions on saving cash are welcomed. I will post a budget on this tank the same as my last build later this week.
Justin-
