30 Long to 55 Upgrade

Rychek · 03-02-2008, 09:24 PM

This section is looking a little bare, so I thought I'd help build it back to what it once was by documenting the FW upgrade that is coinciding with my SW upgrade. I currently run a 30 gal long tank with the fish in my sig. I want to add more fish so I don't have any lone wolves (with the exception of the dwarf puffer that is). Anyway, I've got a 55 gal SW tank running that I'm upgrading to 90 gal, so I'm going to clean and convert my 55 to FW. I'm so excited I can hardly wait! I'll post a few pics once I get things going. Until then, we all must wait.

Rychek · 03-20-2008, 09:44 PM

I'm afraid I don't have any pics yet, but I did order my filter today. I was going to use the Emperor 400 I already have, but the tank is going to be setup in an area that won't permit the filter to hang on the back, so I purchased a Marineland Magnum 350 canister instead. It may not be the best canister on the market, but it was in my budget.

Rychek · 03-27-2008, 02:22 PM

My filter came in yesterday. I decided to go with a Marineland Magnum 350. The price was right and it will allow me to put the tank very close to the wall.

I'm preparing to build a custom shorty stand (about 14" tall) for it, then I can begin my tank juggling.

Rychek · 03-30-2008, 12:33 AM

I've got the Magnum 350 running on the 30 gal and I framed my custom stand. I'll post a few pics of the stand tomorrow. Next week I'll be working on skinning and finishing the stand. It feels good to be making progress again.

Rychek · 03-30-2008, 10:45 AM

As promised, here are a few pics of the construction of my shorty stand. This stand is being constructed for a 55 gal tank with a maximum height (to the top of the 5" tall lights) of 40". The reason for the short height is space constraint and my daughter likes to watch the fish and she will be able to see them very well at that level.

These are the top and bottom framing pieces:

This is the above pictured assembled:

This is the completed framework:

Now all I have to to do is skin the frame and finish the wood.

Duffee · 04-01-2008, 01:08 AM

Looks good so far. I'm interested in seeing the finished product. I've never seen a shorty tank before. You might have to invest in a nice bean bag to enjoy the view.
Side note. I've had a mag 350 for years and can't say anything bad about them.

Rychek · 04-01-2008, 07:02 AM

I'm beginning to see a few disadvantages to a short stand (mostly storage space related), but there will be another tank in the same room, so I can put my dry goods in there instead.

So far I like the Mag 350. Once the canister filled up all the way, it runs fairly quiet. I'm looking forward finishing the stand this month. I'll pics as I move along.

Rychek · 04-06-2008, 10:56 AM

It just realized that I haven't posted any before pics. After pics are all fine and good, but without the before pics they lack context.

With that in mind, here are the before pics as well as a pic of my now complete sump.

30 gal before:

Rychek · 04-12-2008, 01:45 PM

Here's the "finished" product:

I plan to add a few more fish to it, but I've got to let it settle in first.

I decided to paint the back of this tank like I did for my 90 gal SW tank. I used Performix Plastic Dip spray paint from Home Depot. It took nearly the whole can to do the tank, but it works well and gives the back a rubber mat type texture. The only thing I don't like about the paint it that you have to be careful when removing the tape from the edges of the tank after painting. I managed to peel off a bit of the paint because it had dried to the tape as well as the glass.

Rychek · 04-13-2008, 01:11 PM

In order to wrap this build up, I feel I need to spec the system. Current Configureation:

Filtration: Marineland Magnum 350 Deluxe and Marineland Penguin 160 bio-wheel.
Heater: Marineland Visitherm Stealth 250 or 300 (I can't remember which right off the top of my head).
Substrate: 40 lbs of Tahitian Moon Sand
Decor: Texas Holey rock, fake plants and a wood ornament.
Inhabitants: see signature.
Background: Performix Plasti Dip spray paint.
Future plans: I plan on adding at least two more Polka-dot loaches for a total of 5. I also plan on adding a few more Blue Rams (the black substrate and background have made my current Ram's colors explode). From there, I don't know what I'll do. Time will tell.