chriscoli
Administrator
I'm finally about to update my first rack of tanks. I've got a 4-foot set of Edsal shelving (the bulk E-rack stuff from Lowes). So far, it has 13 tanks on it...mostly 10s with a few 5s. All are running with Poret mattenfilters with air from an Alita AL-15A linear air pump (uber quiet!) and overall, these tanks have been pretty darn successful.
But, I've been wanting to further maximize the use of this space for a while without losing the number of tanks. I have some larger tanks elsewhere, but have been making a tremendous amount of use of these smaller tanks for grow-out, quarantine, and dwarf cichlids. I also like that they are all separate because I can adjust the water conditions in them depending on what I've got going on in each one.
I've seen some 15 gal tanks at some other club members houses and really thought they were the perfect size. So, I've been collecting 15 gal tanks to swap out some of my 10s for. My plan (since, yes, I realize that these shelves are EXACTLY 4 feet across and I have to take into account the frame on each tank) is to put 3 15s and a 10 on each shelf. It'll barely fit, but from the measurements I've been taking....it's do-able.
I picked up several 15s from Tony recently, a few from the catfish convention auction, and picked up one new one to make a total of 9 tanks.
So I spent tonight scraping old paint off the tanks, removing the overflows (since they were on the wrong side for me, anyhow), and patching the overflow holes.
Tomorrow I hope to give them all a really good scrub and make sure that all traveled well back to my house and are still water-tight.
This weekend, I'm also planning on picking up some plywood and cutting new shelves. I've currently got the wire decking that sometimes comes with the Edsal shelving on there right now, with a layer of foam under the tanks. It's ok, but not great. The 15s will extend from the absolute front to back of the shelves so I'd like to have some solid wood under them all the way around.
Also, still on the to-do list: decide if I want to paint the bottoms of the tanks; cut new Poret; cut new glass lids for each tank...I'm sure there are a few more things, too, before it's all done. I've also picked up some more pool filter sand as well.
Here's a pic of what the rack currently looks like with the 10s in place. I've also cleaned off all of the stuff on the top shelf and plan to put a 33 gal tank up there, too!
But, I've been wanting to further maximize the use of this space for a while without losing the number of tanks. I have some larger tanks elsewhere, but have been making a tremendous amount of use of these smaller tanks for grow-out, quarantine, and dwarf cichlids. I also like that they are all separate because I can adjust the water conditions in them depending on what I've got going on in each one.
I've seen some 15 gal tanks at some other club members houses and really thought they were the perfect size. So, I've been collecting 15 gal tanks to swap out some of my 10s for. My plan (since, yes, I realize that these shelves are EXACTLY 4 feet across and I have to take into account the frame on each tank) is to put 3 15s and a 10 on each shelf. It'll barely fit, but from the measurements I've been taking....it's do-able.
I picked up several 15s from Tony recently, a few from the catfish convention auction, and picked up one new one to make a total of 9 tanks.
So I spent tonight scraping old paint off the tanks, removing the overflows (since they were on the wrong side for me, anyhow), and patching the overflow holes.
Tomorrow I hope to give them all a really good scrub and make sure that all traveled well back to my house and are still water-tight.
This weekend, I'm also planning on picking up some plywood and cutting new shelves. I've currently got the wire decking that sometimes comes with the Edsal shelving on there right now, with a layer of foam under the tanks. It's ok, but not great. The 15s will extend from the absolute front to back of the shelves so I'd like to have some solid wood under them all the way around.
Also, still on the to-do list: decide if I want to paint the bottoms of the tanks; cut new Poret; cut new glass lids for each tank...I'm sure there are a few more things, too, before it's all done. I've also picked up some more pool filter sand as well.
Here's a pic of what the rack currently looks like with the 10s in place. I've also cleaned off all of the stuff on the top shelf and plan to put a 33 gal tank up there, too!
