The Puffer Forum

My wife noticed "we have too many tanks"...rather than getting rid of some- I'm consolidating them to a single stand in a huge build project.


This stand (when finished) will have 2 sets of cabinets and is designed to hold 2 10g and a 30g on top. However, I've made it large enough to hold a 55 on top and 30 in the bottom. So it's not a unitask plan.

The top tank will sit at 49"- which IMO is perfect for getting into the tank and watchin the fish. The top tank is gunna be a planted community tank with focus on Blue Rams, Killis, Lemon Loaches and wood shrimp. I still have to build the hood for that tank- but it will match the stand.

Right now, the 2 10g tanks are: 1 tank of feeder shrimp and 1 tank as a hospital/nursery. I plan on using curtains on tension rods to hide them. But I'm also going to try my hand at custom backgrounds when I get to that stage. Doin the old cement on stryofoam method- but that's another step down this road.

I haven't started the cabinets yet- but they will have doors and food shelves, an automatic light that comes on when the doors are opened- so you can see!

Oh and labeled, mounted power supplies.

The cool thing- this stand has only cost me $60 for everything!

Here are the pics of my WORK IN PROGRESS- it still has a ways to go to being done...

Wow- that's really cool, you must be excited about the new toy...

Looks like it will be great! I am currently finishing up a cement on styofoam BG myself. I actually made another about a year ago now but with that one I used a tint in the cement for color. This one has no color yet. Do you know what type of paint is the best for painting one of these backgounds?

JustinPSmith wrote:Looks like it will be great! I am currently finishing up a cement on styofoam BG myself. I actually made another about a year ago now but with that one I used a tint in the cement for color. This one has no color yet. Do you know what type of paint is the best for painting one of these backgounds?

No I sure don't but I'm interested in anything anyone has to share on the topic. I read all the articles and see people use a variety of materials and they all seem to come out ok. But what are the best practices? Is there a more/less desirable type of foam? Can you use florest foam? Paints...

But at the same time, my wife is saying piant the tank with a deep blue/green and be done with it... who knows- the journey is half the fun!

I used the pink syrofoam used with insulation in walls because it doesnt break apart as much. Then a quick setting concrete fill with fiberglass pieces in it...works great! Just make sure you let it dry slowly and cure all the way or you will have big problems. My last one took about 5 weeks to dry properly...

I'm not sure if I have that kind of patience- we'll see. I may just paint the back of the 10s and experiment with colors- I have a black, but I want a green/blue...

Funny thing though- I spent a week building that at a buddies house- got it mostly done and brought it home to sand, stain, etc... monday morning this article showed up in my inbox. Seems someone else had the same great idea as me!

Next phase is done. Looked a bit like this...





Then I moved it in:



Here's where I'm at now...



My color coded electrical "system"...and check out those in cabinet lights (I watch too much t.v.)

Looks great!

nice job!

That is very awesome! I just had Shayne build me a "tank rack" that is similar but its not as pretty, not for display.

It holds 2 20H's on top (or a 20L and a 20H) and 4 10's side by side the long way on the bottom. More for breeding/grow out tanks than displays.

Yours is much nicer to look at!

Myaj wrote:That is very awesome! I just had Shayne build me a "tank rack" that is similar but its not as pretty, more for display.

It holds 2 20H's on top (or a 20L and a 20H) and 4 10's side by side the long way on the bottom. More for breeding/grow out tanks than displays.

Yours is much nicer to look at!

That sounds very functional... I like that!

This is coming along nicely- the large tank (55L) on top is going to become my community tank- my existing 15 gal tank sprung a small leak today...so pressure is on to get this done now and move the fish over.

Hilly has motivated me to jump the gun on the the "not finished til after Christmas" plan. So yesterday I got the substrate and filled the 55 with water. Next come the plants and bogwood. The fish are excited about a new home!!

LOL, looks good XTC. i'm gonna have a few days off now and then get back on it.

Congrats, it looks fantastic. I wish I had the tools, knowhow, etc. to pull something like that off. Nice work!!

That looks awesome... I am too short to change water in that tank, though! lol