Latest 4ft built-in fish tank

[Lubber Duckie]

This is my latest project, 4ft fish tank built into a false partition(courtesy of my dad) in the balcony.

Glass tank size: 4ft x 18in x 18in

Equipment: Canister filter, 4xT5 light and C02 tank

Fertiliser: Brighty K and Flourish

Subtrate: approx. 40l Gex soil
Vegetables: Japanese hairgrass (foreground)
Micranthemum umbrosum (mid-foreground)
HC (abit in between rocks and wood)
E. Tenellus (3 groups, 1 on left, 1 in mid-midground, 1 mid-rearground)
Rotala (red, on the the right)
*Unknown (on the left)

Live stock: Just some refugees from the decomissioned tank)




You should have noticed that plants are swaying towards the window due to natural sunlight.

[fotoudavid]

Oh my god!!!

Lovely!!!

[jasonchua1982]

Thats nice....was thinking of doing that in my new home....will you face any algae issues due the strong sunlight?

Btw, how does ur partition opens up?

[Lubber Duckie]

Alamak.
I should have takened photo of the back.
The tank is actually resting on a 4ft wide, 1.2m height cabinet.
The back of the front parititon is the opening of the cabinet.
The front of the entirely gypsum board entirely painted white, built by my dad. No openings in front.

Algae won't be an issue as this is not my first tank that is facing the window directly.
But plants tend to sway to the window during the day and straight back up at night.
Best viewed only at night.

[Augustine_81]

Woohoo , very nicely done up !!

[Shadow]

somehow all the plant pointing to the left. Is it because of the light from windows?

[Lubber Duckie]

That's because of the sunlight from the window.

[madnugget]

beautiful tank you have bro!!

[TKS7011]

Very nice! The water is crystal clear. What filter are you using?

[jasonchua1982]

Alamak.
I should have takened photo of the back.
The tank is actually resting on a 4ft wide, 1.2m height cabinet.
The back of the front parititon is the opening of the cabinet.
The front of the entirely gypsum board entirely painted white, built by my dad. No openings in front.

Algae won't be an issue as this is not my first tank that is facing the window directly.
But plants tend to sway to the window during the day and straight back up at night.
Best viewed only at night.

Thanks for the info bro, its a great setup, will look forward to your next update

[Lubber Duckie]

Very nice! The water is crystal clear. What filter are you using?

I'm using GEX soil and Jebo canister filter.
The water has never been cloudy even when water is first introduced into the tank.
May I highlight that Gex has never failed me, this is my 5th tank using 100% Gex soil.
In terms of pH condition, clarity, maturity and etc, it's simply flawless.
The initial tough part of Gex soil is to allow water to trickle into the tank without disturbing the soil, at all.
A useful medium of water transfer would be a smaller water tube, e.g. CO2 rubber tube, and a credit card on the soil to allow the water to fall on the card instead of the soil.
Hope this helps!

[cydaph]

Very nicely done!

[cydaph]

You really don't have problems with algae since your tank is facing a natural lighting? How do you do it? I mean the maintenance?

[koolman]

May I ask you how much did you spend on the entire set up?CheersKoolman

[Lubber Duckie]

You really don't have problems with algae since your tank is facing a natural lighting? How do you do it? I mean the maintenance?

To prevent algae, my method, 10-30% water replace about once every 2-3 weeks, controlled dosage of fertilisers.
Heavily planted tanks are less likely to get algae due to competition for CO2.
Usually, algae starts to form in between front soil and glass, so use a black paper to cover up that area and algae will die of natural death.
My other 2-year-old 4ft tank that also faces the window has been algae-free.

However, this tank still still too early to tell if it's going to be 100% safe and I'm seldom at home.
I also forgot to mention an additional equipment, an UV light filter that passes through the water flow between filter.
I'll definitely keep you guys updated if murphy's law does exist in my tank.

[Lubber Duckie]

May I ask you how much did you spend on the entire set up?CheersKoolman

Here's the breakdown:

New 4ft tank - $120 (bought direct from local tank manufacturer)

40l GEX soil - est. $200 (Seaview)

Japanese hairgrass - $25(CRS)
Tenellus - $20(seaview)
The rest of the vegetables - est. $27 (Pasir Ris farmway aquatic plantation farm)

Filter, CO2, T5 lights prolly cost about $250.

False partition & cabinet, excluding my dad's sweat, est. $500.

[koolman]

Here's the breakdown:

New 4ft tank - $120 (bought direct from local tank manufacturer)

40l GEX soil - est. $200 (Seaview)

Japanese hairgrass - $25(CRS)
Tenellus - $20(seaview)
The rest of the vegetables - est. $27 (Pasir Ris farmway aquatic plantation farm)

Filter, CO2, T5 lights prolly cost about $250.

False partition & cabinet, excluding my dad's sweat, est. $500.

Its really worth it.. Very nicely done.. How I wish I could do a partition like yours.. I am thinking of making a 2 tier 6 ft IOS tank and use a partition to cover up.. Do you think that anybody can help me in this?CheersKoolman

[Alvin Koh]

Love the clean look - it looks like a painting hung on a wall.

IMO there is little incentive for opti-clear tanks if the silicon is neatly hidden - that is already an additional cost saving there!

[psp1000]

Bro, nice tank you have. You staying in private house? what is the blue color fish in yours tank? look nice...

[BFG]

To prevent algae, my method, 10-30% water replace about once every 2-3 weeks, controlled dosage of fertilisers.
Heavily planted tanks are less likely to get algae due to competition for CO2.
Usually, algae starts to form in between front soil and glass, so use a black paper to cover up that area and algae will die of natural death.
My other 2-year-old 4ft tank that also faces the window has been algae-free.

However, this tank still still too early to tell if it's going to be 100% safe and I'm seldom at home.
I also forgot to mention an additional equipment, an UV light filter that passes through the water flow between filter.
I'll definitely keep you guys updated if murphy's law does exist in my tank.

If you keep up with the maintenance, I'm sure you be on top of things.