My Aquarium Tank has been set up



At last, my new aquarium has been set up! Well, it was up since mid 2011 but I am putting up this post to share how I designed and built the tank and sump, and how it is doing now.

It took me a while to settle down after moving to the new apartment. I have always wanted to get a bigger tank with proper cabinet. Most importantly, it has to please my wife's eyes and fit well with the home furnishings.

My budget could get me a tank set between 422 (4 feet x 2 feet x 2 feet) and 522. I needed a tank maker who is willing to customise according to my design at affordable cost. In an attempt to cut cost, I bought a second hand metal stand (5 feet x 2.5 feet x 2.5 feet) and got Tank Junction to build a cabinet over the stand. The bigger metal stand met my requirement as I wanted a spacious cabinet for my sump system. It also gives me the option to upgrade my 422 tank to a bigger 522 tank in future without the need to change the cabinet.

  


To illustrate to the tank maker my desired output, I drew a number of specifications with Google Sketch. (See below... Warning: Picture intensive!)

The final product!













One CRUCIAL lesson learnt...... Make sure the tank and cabinet can get into your place!
The cabinet is bigger than 5x2.5x2.5(feet). It passed through the door but was stucked at the L-turn to the Living room. Out of choice, the shoe cabinet at the L-turn had to be temporary dismantled to make way for the fish tank and cabinet. This was definitely not within my plan and budget!
Can you see the dismantled shoe cabinet on the left (below pic)?

 



I will share about my sump design in my next post.