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33 gallon stream tank


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#1 MrCatfish

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Posted 16 February 2015 - 10:22 PM



#2 keepnatives

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Posted 16 February 2015 - 10:38 PM

I love that tank.  It's just like one I've dreamed of making for years.  Nice to see it as a reality for someone!


Mike Lucas
Mohawk-Hudson Watershed
Schenectady NY

#3 Matt DeLaVega

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  • Ohio

Posted 17 February 2015 - 06:55 AM

Very nice setup, and very busy, just the way I like a tank.

The member formerly known as Skipjack


#4 Riffledace

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Posted 17 February 2015 - 10:07 AM

That's such an amazing setup... I can't believe it's only a 33 gallon. The rock ledge and the background make it look so spacious.

#5 MrCatfish

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Posted 17 February 2015 - 02:47 PM

Thanks everyone,It really turned out nicely. I'm thinking about doing something similer to a 100 gallon long. If I can find one decently priced.

 

Matt, do you still have your 8 foot darter tank? It has been one of my favorites.



#6 Matt DeLaVega

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Posted 17 February 2015 - 03:43 PM

I still have it, though it is currently uninhabited. It may get started up again soon as I have my eye on breeding a couple of species. I will likely only have 2 or 3 species of darter in it this time, rather than a whole stream community. My garage gets down to the high 30's in winter, so it is perfect for spawning darters.

The member formerly known as Skipjack


#7 Chasmodes

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Posted 17 February 2015 - 08:35 PM

Awesome tank MrCatfish!  Very inspiring and natural looking.  I like the ledge/current break for species that don't feel up to hanging in the current. Nicely placed wood too!


Kevin Wilson


#8 Sean Phillips

Sean Phillips
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  • Allegheny River Drainage, Southwest PA

Posted 17 February 2015 - 09:47 PM

Awesome setup! I've been looking for some ideas on how to scape the 125 gallon darter tank I'll be setting up soon and I think I've just found my inspiration! Would it be doable to replicate that but with different substrates (for me it'd be gravel in the raised section and sand in the lower) without the substrates mixing? Also, where'd you get the large divider rock in the middle? It fits so perfectly.
Sean Phillips - Pine Creek Watershed - Allegheny River Drainage

#9 MrCatfish

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Posted 17 February 2015 - 11:18 PM

Awesome tank MrCatfish!  Very inspiring and natural looking.  I like the ledge/current break for species that don't feel up to hanging in the current. Nicely placed wood too!

Thank you!

 

 

Awesome setup! I've been looking for some ideas on how to scape the 125 gallon darter tank I'll be setting up soon and I think I've just found my inspiration! Would it be doable to replicate that but with different substrates (for me it'd be gravel in the raised section and sand in the lower) without the substrates mixing? Also, where'd you get the large divider rock in the middle? It fits so perfectly.

Thanks, It is doable and keeping them separated. You just need to use rocks or driftwood to separate them. The center rock was found at a local river.I collect all of my materials.



#10 Chasmodes

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Posted 19 February 2015 - 05:19 PM

How did you make your background?  I can't stop watching the video :)

 

I just found your pre-build video on YouTube with the foam layout, big rock, empty tank.  Really turned out nice!


Kevin Wilson


#11 MrCatfish

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Posted 20 February 2015 - 12:02 PM

I will have a video of the background build soon.



#12 MrCatfish

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Posted 21 February 2015 - 11:36 AM

Background video



#13 Chasmodes

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  • Central Maryland

Posted 26 February 2015 - 09:41 PM

That is a really cool background!  Nice work!  That really turned out nice in the tank.

 

I've seen on some other sites that some people spray the foam directly to the tank wall.  Others zip tie rocks to egg crate, then spray the foam to fill in the gaps.  Many use epoxy to seal the foam along with sand.  This is the first time that I've seen polyurethane spray used, which really seems easier and cheaper to me.  And some people team it up with concrete.

 

The people that use the white foam say that the epoxy/sand protects the foam from UV light, so I'd imagine the polyurethane spray does the same thing?  I've also heard that the black spray doesn't require anything to protect it, but still it might look nicer with the sand coating.

 

It goes to show that there are many ways to do things.  I know at first you weren't expecting all those crevices and caves because you didn't have enough sand, but I think it looks terrific like that.  I can see many reef aquarists drooling over your background.

 

Again, nice job.


Kevin Wilson


#14 Beeker

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Posted 27 February 2015 - 08:25 PM

Wow.

That is absolutely amazing.

I'm just going to take my inadequate little tank and crawl into this small dark hole over here...



#15 keepnatives

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Posted 27 February 2015 - 09:57 PM

I love the look of all the crevices. I'm thinking perhaps of doing something like this only not as a background but a
number of mounds of those crevice filled "rocks". Using a flat rock instead of Styrofoam, spray on the great foam cover
with sand, spray with the polyurethane like you did. Use 2 or 3 on the tank bottom covering the rock base with sand. It
would be movable if wanted to redecorate and provide some nice hiding spots for gobies, blennies and such. Thanks for the
inspiration. Do you think it would stick to rock or would it be best to wrap the rock with some of that plastic web sheet
stuff from the craft store?
Mike Lucas
Mohawk-Hudson Watershed
Schenectady NY

#16 mattknepley

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Posted 28 February 2015 - 05:19 AM

Nice!
Matt Knepley
"No thanks, a third of a gopher would merely arouse my appetite..."

#17 Chasmodes

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Posted 28 February 2015 - 11:41 AM

Do you think it would stick to rock or would it be best to wrap the rock with some of that plastic web sheet
stuff from the craft store?

 

Mike, I think that the foam will stick to almost anything, including rocks.  If the rocks are somewhat porous, then it will definitely stick.  Many reefkeepers have used Great Stuff and other foams to connect rock formations together for their aquascaping.


Kevin Wilson


#18 MrCatfish

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Posted 02 March 2015 - 10:31 AM

Thanks everyone, the foam should stick to a flat rock. 



#19 Betta132

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Posted 02 March 2015 - 03:31 PM

Beautiful tank! What all do you have in there?



#20 MrCatfish

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Posted 13 March 2015 - 08:16 AM

7 Rainbow darters,2 flagfish,2 tadpole madtom,1 orange spotted sunfish,2 white suckers,5 yellow fin shiners,1 spotfin shiner,1 fantail darter






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