New 5x2x2 DIY

[david11]

Gday,

Thought I would also put up some pics and info about my new 5x2x2 display setup. This kept me busy for a week while on holidays from work.

First up I built a cabinet from pine. This was the second one I have done so it was a lot quicker than the last one I made. It only took a couple of days not a couple of hours like the pro's. I routed, sanded it and gave it a couple of coats of waterproof gloss finish.

The tank is a 5x2x2 with a weir cut at a right angle in the back left corner. Its a little different from the ordinary. I picked up the tank with some other tanks I got in a deal so I didn't design or order it like that... but I don't mind the design. I installed a 32mm Durso and plumbed it using 32mm fittings. For the return I used clear 25mm PVC hose and a few 90 degree bends.

The background is a Universal rocks oversize 6x2 escarpment cut down to size and siliconed on. Substrate is washed sand from the hardware store. I probably will ad some more grades to this like Bruce's 8x2x2 substrate.

I am hoping to put a couple of colonies of Tropheus in there. I have started with 20 Duboisi Maswa. Any suggestions to go with them would be great.

The sump is DIY. It consists of a 52L storage tub with a food grade 15L bucket. It is filled with 3L of cycled matrix, 6L of Bio Balls and some course Japanese filter matting divided into 3 separated layers. There is few hundred holes drilled in the bottom to direct the flow through. The pump is a Resun King 3A 4200L Hr.

Feedback welcome.

Cheers,

David

[kingtiger]

David,

Your cabinet look so professional. You should start making cabinet and hood for a fee.

You can put moorii varient in with the Dubosis but a lot of ppl prefer single varient for breeding.

Cheers

Hilton

[Bruce]

Very nice, if I were you I would raise the durso right up to the top of the weir to reduce noise further.

I agree with Hilton; put some moorii in there or even some sp. red.

Bruce

[mark_82]

Tank looks great I like the DIY cabinet, are you planning on staining it?

I agree that you should raise the durso, mine is setup like that and it's whisper quiet.

[Mattnshez]

looks fantastic mate

i love the background looks great (may have to get one myself)

and good work on the sump it will work a treat

[david11]

Thanks for the comments guys. Much appreciated. As was suggested I will be raising the durso for sure. I will do it in the next couple of days.

This is my first crack at Tropheus and I am sold already. I started with duboisi Maswa's because I have read that they are a little hardier than other variants?? I want to put 2 variants in this tank as it is more for display than breeding. I certainly will be looking at moorii & sp. red's but I am going to wait at least a few weeks and do some more research on them & other variants. In the meantime I can build up some cash to pay for them & after a short time I will be looking to for some. To get good quality Tropheus's at the right price I might need some help.

A few months back I stained another DIY cabinet. I didn't really like the finish as much. It came out ok but not quite like the one I had in my head. It also didn't suit the other furniture in the house, plus it took ages to do properly. All of this influenced my decision this time around. As for building the cabinets I think I will leave it to the pro's. I spent at least 20 hrs labour on this one and another few hours sourcing bits and pieces. I really did enjoy building it but efficiency was not part of the equation. They do what I can do much better and 10 times faster. I just like looking at the finished product after the journey with a cold beverage..

[Matthew]

Thanks for the comments guys. Much appreciated. As was suggested I will be raising the durso for sure. I will do it in the next couple of days.

This is my first crack at Tropheus and I am sold already. I started with duboisi Maswa's because I have read that they are a little hardier than other variants?? I want to put 2 variants in this tank as it is more for display than breeding. I certainly will be looking at moorii & sp. red's but I am going to wait at least a few weeks and do some more research on them & other variants. In the meantime I can build up some cash to pay for them & after a short time I will be looking to for some. To get good quality Tropheus's at the right price I might need some help.

A few months back I stained another DIY cabinet. I didn't really like the finish as much. It came out ok but not quite like the one I had in my head. It also didn't suit the other furniture in the house, plus it took ages to do properly. All of this influenced my decision this time around. As for building the cabinets I think I will leave it to the pro's. I spent at least 20 hrs labour on this one and another few hours sourcing bits and pieces. I really did enjoy building it but efficiency was not part of the equation. They do what I can do much better and 10 times faster. I just like looking at the finished product after the journey with a cold beverage..

Love the filter, it looks remarkably similar to mine although mine is not as pretty. And those pics are also great. After building one of these why in the world would you pay for a so called professionally priced item when this design works just as well. (Thanks Baz for helping me many moons ago! )

Raise the Durso sooner rather than than later, you will not regret lifting it up higher.

cya Matthew