Preview of my newest build (Custom 100 Gallon)

[Trevor W]

Well these are just a couple crappy cell phone pics. I havn't posted much of anything about this tank at all. I finally got all my manzanita water logged and started to play around with the placement of it. So I thought I would share some quick cellphone pics of where its at so far.
The temporary light is just a strip light off of a 20 Gallon. The actual light that will be above the tank is a DIY LED fixture that I am currently building. Also the front panel on the stand is a completely removable piece that I am also currently working on. It will be attached to the steel stand with magnets and will not be white. I still have some re-arranging to do to the wood and I might remove one of the smaller pieces, but I feel this was a good start on how I want the layout to look.



Tank: 100 Gallon (48"L x 24"W x 20"H)
Sump: 40"L x 16"W x 16"H

http://i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u603/Trevor_de_W/Manz4_zps46148395.jpg (http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/Manz4_zps46148395.jpg.html)

http://i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u603/Trevor_de_W/Manz3_zps4d8a49e5.jpg (http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/Manz3_zps4d8a49e5.jpg.html)

http://i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u603/Trevor_de_W/Manz2_zps432d0695.jpg (http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/Manz2_zps432d0695.jpg.html)

http://i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u603/Trevor_de_W/Manz1_zpscecdf937.jpg (http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/Manz1_zpscecdf937.jpg.html)

[-gb-]

WOW Trevor, that looks really impressive. Great job!! So jealous :)

[Trevor W]

Thank you!
As of right now I consider it mediocre at best. Hopefully when the light and the stand panels are finished it will look a lot better. Oh and a nice group of single strain domestics like some red turqs or wild crosses, or maybe just maybe I will fill it with some wilds......

[CrazyAngels]

Oh man I really like how wide your tank is. I prefer it to a deep tank and still have lot's of water volume. Congrats I think it's going to look sweet, can't wait to see some discus in there.

[Trevor W]

Thank you! Yeah it was one thing that was a must when deciding on dimensions for the tank. The pictures really don't show off how wide it really is it give so much more depth to the tank

[Octavio Salles]

Looking good! This tank is just the size of the one I'm planning. Wider tanks make the scape look more natural, and I think the fish feels better too, they can get away from the face of the aquarium if they want to. Is that an external overflow box? Mind sharing a pic of it?

[joanstone]

I definitely agree about the dimensions. I'd love to have a custom-made tank some day. Your tank is looking good, nice job.

[rbarn]

Looks nice. Try moving the center branch slightly to the left. Try for a 2/3's by 1/3 landscape balance. It usually looks nice and is a standard for good balanced scaping.

[DiscusBR]

Trevor, you MUST get wilds for this tank. This is an order, not a suggestion :)

Seriously, great tank and setup. How are you fixing the branches at the top?

[Kal-El]

Love the dimension on your tank 48"L x 24"W x 20"H. I love wide tanks... Where did you get this tank from?

[Trevor W]

Looking good! This tank is just the size of the one I'm planning. Wider tanks make the scape look more natural, and I think the fish feels better too, they can get away from the face of the aquarium if they want to. Is that an external overflow box? Mind sharing a pic of it?
Thank you Octavio!
Yes that is the external overflow, the right end pane is notched and covered with one piece of black acrylic with teeth cut into it covering the notch. Here is a couple pics.
http://i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u603/Trevor_de_W/Custom%20100Gal/IMG_20130112_212310_zps035eefb1.jpg (http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/Custom%20100Gal/IMG_20130112_212310_zps035eefb1.jpg.html)

http://i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u603/Trevor_de_W/Custom%20100Gal/IMG_20130112_212348_zps4829d407.jpg (http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/Custom%20100Gal/IMG_20130112_212348_zps4829d407.jpg.html)

http://i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u603/Trevor_de_W/fix3_zps35f6e9e8.jpg (http://s1324.photobucket.com/user/Trevor_de_W/media/fix3_zps35f6e9e8.jpg.html)


I definitely agree about the dimensions. I'd love to have a custom-made tank some day. Your tank is looking good, nice job.
Thank you!
I was actually quite surprised at how easy and affordable getting a custom tank build really was.


Looks nice. Try moving the center branch slightly to the left. Try for a 2/3's by 1/3 landscape balance. It usually looks nice and is a standard for good balanced scaping.
Thank you!
Ah yes the rule of thirds. I am well aware of this rule and it does works very well in building a hardscape. I appreciate the suggestion and I will be moving the driftwood around a little. However I am not really going for a stylized hardscape or planted tank just a more natural basic look of some roots in a flooded area. I might add a couple small river stones but that will be all that will be added.


Trevor, you MUST get wilds for this tank. This is an order, not a suggestion :)

Seriously, great tank and setup. How are you fixing the branches at the top?
Thank you! hahahaha I like your suggestion ummm I mean order hahahaha.
The branches are actually not fixed to anything at all. I guess I could of tried attaching them to the eurobrace but I just first soaked them in the tank till the water logged. I then drained the tank for the last time before starting the cycle so I could arrange the wood and start the cycle with some fresh clean water that wasn't heavily stained. Than when the tank was drained to about a couple inches above the sand I took all the wood out and went at it with some side cutters. I trimmed it until it sat upright on the ground and could easily support itself without losing too much height. Than I filled it back up and there it is. Its hard to tell but none of the tops of the branches are touching the back pane at all.


Love the dimension on your tank 48"L x 24"W x 20"H. I love wide tanks... Where did you get this tank from?
Thank you!
I got the tank made by Concept Aquatics. They are located in Calgary, Alberta.

[Second Hand Pat]

Great tank Trevor and love the dimensions. I am with Mauro on this that wilds are a must :) I like the overflow being on the outside of the tank.
Pat

[Trevor W]

Great tank Trevor and love the dimensions. I am with Mauro on this that wilds are a must :) I like the overflow being on the outside of the tank.
Pat

Thanks Pat!
Yes the overflow being external was an absolute must.

[Octavio Salles]

Thank you for posting the overflow photos!

[Trevor W]

Thank you for posting the overflow photos!

No problem. It is plumbed with the "Herbie" method and so far it has been flawless it really is a great method for an overflow like this and is dead silent which is a huge plus. Feel free to ask any questions about it. I am by no means an expert but I am always more than willing to help out when I can.

[Octavio Salles]

No problem. It is plumbed with the "Herbie" method and so far it has been flawless it really is a great method for an overflow like this and is dead silent which is a huge plus. Feel free to ask any questions about it. I am by no means an expert but I am always more than willing to help out when I can.

Trevor, how big is the water fall from the edge of the overflow "teeth"? I assume you can actually control the height of that fall (to make it silent) by adjusting the ball valve at the plumbing underneath the overflow box... is that correct?

[Trevor W]

It will depend on how high you set the water level in the overflow. This is really just the icing on the cake. The main difference in noise is the actual water flowing through the plumbing. Other methods allow for air and water to flow through the plumbing which inturn creates a lot of noise. This method uses 2 drains: 1 as a full siphon partially restricted with the use of a gate valve ( ball valves can be used but are not recommended because they don't allow for the fine adjustments needed to properly dial the system in) and the second drain that is unrestricted and used as an emergency. So the main noise reducer is the lack of air in the main drain and to Finely adjust it to be absolutely dead silent you just dial the gate valve with very minute adjustments till your water in the overflow is just below the weir teeth. I also set my emergency standpipe height to just above this point so it's guaranteed not to overflow my tank and onto my floors. This is just a quick run down of how it works but there is pages upon pages of material about this method. Also just as a side note the 2 drains should also be separate and at no point tie into one another or this method will not work as intended because the emergency drain standpipe that is above the overflow water line will be sucking air into the main line which should be air free. Also the end of the main drain or siphon drain should be below the water level in the sump by a couple inches and not really much more or else it tends to not allow the air to completely purge from the line which is needed to create the dead silent siphon.

[Octavio Salles]

Thank you! My original plan already included an external overflow box. This method looks good.

[Trevor W]

No problem if you want to know more about the method just do a quick google search for herbie overflow or herbie drain method or something there will be tons of info out there or feel free to ask and I should be able to help you out.

[rbarn]

Best explanation of the Herbie / Bean 3 stand pipe overflow - only way to go.
http://www.beananimal.com/projects/silent-and-fail-safe-aquarium-overflow-system.aspx

[nguyenp209]

Love all the wood in the tank! Can't wait to see discus in them!!!!