PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished

[PokeSephiroth]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

Getting Closeeeer.... - 96.3% Complete!

Almost done with the frame for the tank, and it's turning out looking pretty neat! Just have to fill in the gaps where the corners meet, and put a glossy finish to it, and it'll be DONE. Hope to get it done by this weekend.

Still don't know what I'm going to put towards the bottom, to cover up the lower part of the frame, where it's sitting on the hearth... maybe the stones can stay there, or... I don't know. I'll get my Martha Stewart on and think of something. But for now...he's what I have so far.

 

[Salzabar]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

The pictures are real this time? WOW! Great job Poke. The illusion of having the frame going around the tank with the top frame appearing to be blocking the lid is awesome. First thing someone observant is going to comment on then you pop it off with the magnets and feed the fish. It will blow their minds. :clap:

 

[Anonymous]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

:bounce: WOW!! That is really cool.

 

[PokeSephiroth]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

Salzabar & theChad, Thanks!! Yes, pictures are real this time Frame is nearly done, it just needs a couple more coats of gloss. Managed to get in 1 coat last night, Also have to liquid nail the chords into the little crevices of the bricks, to have a cleaner look

Yeah, the frame really does give off that illusion, people will ask "how do you feed them?" something I've been thinking about, is to just either feed them everyday by taking off the frame, OR... just getting one of those automatic feeders and hanging it off the back of the tank, less maintenance that way, I s'pose :

 

[Anonymous]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

In the last couple posts your project went from a tank shoved in a hole to something that looks like it belongs there built into the house. Its pretty awesome. I brought up the idea to my wife about doing the same in my home with a corner tank on top of our corner gas fire place. That was shot down ha!

Although I enjoy hand feeding my fish I think the auto feeder is a good idea too. If you ever notice at pet stores they have lids over their tanks with hinges that hold up. You MAY be able to find a glue (like liquid nails) that may hold up that top piece with hinges. Or... IF there is enough space... Wedge a 1X4 up under the roof of the fire place opening thus creating something you could install hinges that lock in the UP position. This way the top cover piece can swing up and stay up like the ones at the pet store...

 

[PokeSephiroth]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

theChad, Oh, I added neodymium magnets on the glass cover (behind the handle), so that when I open it, the magnet on the fireplace will hold the glass cover open for me I don't think I've ever seen one that has hinges that hold up, that's pretty cool though!

Going to be using liquid nails for the cords though, that's for sure! Just so that it's less messy looking. Hehe

One of the reasons why we thought of putting the tank in the fireplace, was because we never use the fireplace, and it was DIRTY... So much ash build up, soot EVERYWHERE, it was just a mess. I'm glad we were able to convert it into an aquarium. Putting the aquarium in there has been the best thing that fireplace has been used for. I'd say. =P

Who knows, maybe your wife will think twice about putting a corner tank on top of the gas fireplace at some point! Work up those brownie points!

 

[Anonymous]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

Im working on those brownie points believe me! Im seriously contemplating stepping into saltwater reef and having issues convincing wife to let me set up the 100 gallon tank I just picked up for $20.... Lol!!!

 

[PokeSephiroth]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

DANG!! $20 for a 100 gallon? Now THAT...is a deal!!! Did it come with a hood/lights?

 

[Anonymous]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

The stand was garbage. So I opted to leave it. The owners barely knew anything about proper fish tank care. It's an older tank and looks like it was recently resealed and done very well. The only thing I can visibly tell that is wrong is the micro scratches inside the tank. They showed up after I cleaned the tank. I think at one time someone used something inappropriate to clean algae off. I couldn't see the fine scratches when the tank was filled.

It's a friend of a fiend buy so I got lucky on the deal...

But it is just the tank only.

 

[PokeSephiroth]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

That's still pretty impressive I still have to reseal my 100gallon tank. Calls for a nice summer project!

 

[Betty]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

Nice job! :spoton:

 

[PokeSephiroth]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

PROGREEEESS!!!! - 99.999996% Complete!

Well, we finally put the finishing touches to the frame/border of the tank (gloss, and magnets), and I must say... it looks pretty darn awesome! The frame is made out of oak, and has 2 coats of polyurethane gloss, and it just.... I LOVE HOW IT TURNED OUT!!! Installed two neodymium magnets on each corner towards the top, and it sticks to the steel bar that's towards the top of the fireplace. I was surprised that it only needed two magnets! Strong enough to keep the frame from falling, but easy enough to take off, during maintenance.


Really wouldn't have been able to do this without the help of my wonderful and supporting boyfriend. Thank you so much!

I also would like to thank lars On for all the stuff she has given me, and coming to my rescue when one of the filters cracked! You saved my butt! Thanks!!

pbmax, for the Celestial Pearl Danios, they're in the tank now, and they're still hiding. I hope they come out of hiding after a couple days. If not, I'll see about putting in some dither fish...

Betty, for the beautiful Albino Bristle Nose Plecos, Malaysian Trumpet Snails, and Cherry Shrimp, they are still currently in my 10 gallon planted tank, I plan on moving the BN plecos and some of the shrimp into the 36 gallon once the BN plecos get larger. They're still itty bitty!!

Gizmo, for letting me borrow his LED light fixture for the time being, it looks so cool! I wanna buy one for myself when I have the money for it!

JesseM, for selling me SUPER AWESOME pieces of Petrified Wood, at the Swap! They make the tank look beautiful!!

jrmakawoody, for the fancy guppy fry and the preggo guppy, once the fry get bigger, I will transfer them into the 36 gallon, I'm sure their red tails will add to the overall appeal!

Aquarium Co-Op, for holding some rummynose tetras for me! I can't wait to pick them up when your store opens!

lloyd378, Anthraxx, theChad, Gryphon, BillHN, Salzabar, Lamental Jester, and JimA, for all the tips, tricks, and advice you've given me along the way, following and supporting me throughout this project. You all have been such great help!

I apologize if I've missed to mention anyone, but please know that I thank you all from the bottom of my heart! This project was really fun, and now I can't wait to just sit or lay down on the couch and watch my new tank

I can't wait to stock the tank with more fish!

 

[Lamental Jester]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

eeeeeeeeeeerrrrmaaaaahgeeeeeerrrrd! That's freaking gorgeous :spoton:

 

[PokeSephiroth]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

Lamental Jester, Thankies!! ~~ It's so relaxing, being able to just lay on the sofa/couch and watch the fishes (Celestial Pearl Danios) come out of their hiding spot...I can't wait to transfer my Julii Corys in there!! HRMRMRMRMRMRMMMMMM!!!

 

[Salzabar]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

Now throw a party and invite everyone over for beers and a viewing.
Seriously, you did great with the tank and it has been an honor to watch the progress along with everyone else on the forum.
Whats next? A fish tank inside an old 25" RCA boob tube TV set? You can pick up those old TV's for cheap at Goodwill. Tune in folks.

 

[PokeSephiroth]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

Salzabar, hahahaha our house is but a small one, can barely fit 5 people in the livingroom. hahaha!

Next project!! Planning on adding an additional 20 Gallon Long tank, in our grow room (We're growing holy basil) . . . figured I'd turn this 20 Gal Long into a Planted Walstad Tank

 

[Anonymous]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

8) .oO love these DYI projects. Always learn something coOOool. Like the drain tube out the ash trap, or the magnets holding the frame together. Well done :clap:

And, it came out looking magnificent.

Thank you for sharing! Was better than an episode of TANKED

 

[pbmax]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

Looks great!

One piece of constructive criticism however: Can you replace the white power cord with a black or brown one? Or find some way to hide both cords together that obscures them? Running 1 cord instead of two would be better too, from an aesthetic standpoint.

 

[PokeSephiroth]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

pbmax, thanks! There's a reason for the white cord, and a reason why there are two cords instead of just one. =P

The white cord has a on/off switch along the cord, which is connected to a water pump, that., when turned on, pumps out water through a hose, and goes through the ash chute... reason why I wanted a switch on the cord, is because I just need the water pump to pump enough water through the hose, to "prime it" . . . once that happens, gravity takes care of the rest, and drains the tank about halfway (about where the water pump is leveled). That way, I don't have to watch/monitor it while the water drains. I can just start the pump, wait for 5 seconds, turn it off, and let the tank drain on it's own, w/o having to worry about the tank draining all the water out figured, it would be more work to bend down, reach for the plug and plug it in the outlet, and unplug it after 5 seconds, when I can just flick a switch to turn it on and off.

But yes, I would like to get a black one... I just haven't found one yet. Maybe I should spray paint it. LOL.

The reason why I have another cord, is for stuff that will be on all the time, such as the filter and heater. Then, I placed a timer on one of the sockets on the 2nd cord, for the light fixture.

On another note, we thought about drilling a hole somewhere through the concrete or the hearth, but we did not want to compromise the integrity of the structure, because part of the tank is being held by the hearth, as it is not fully inserted into the fireplace.

 

[pbmax]

Re: PokeSephiroth's Fireplace 36 Gallon Bow Front Tank (Finished Project)

How about run a single cord back behind the tank to a splitter or power strip that sits back there; then you connect a remote on/off switch from there to your pump and the rest directly to the splitter / strip. That way you only need one cord and you can keep the remote switch fob anywhere. I have a remote on/off switch for christmas lights that I picked up a while back that works great - the fob still works after 3 years with the original battery.

Also, while you're at it, make sure you have the whole setup on a GFCI. If your wall circuit isn't a GFCI then you can get a plug-in GFCI for the aquarium stuff - better safe than sorry!