Slate Bottom / Condo towers..

[Zoban]

Will tag pics here as I get time and energy to work on this lil project, so here we go...

Dirty tank still
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0435.jpg

Vinegar and Water are amazing eh?
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0436.jpg

The base materials at this point
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0437.jpg

Forgot to take a pic of the Wetsaw and stacked cut material so here they are in a "test fit"
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0438.jpg

http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0439.jpg

http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0440.jpg

Had to go back in the house at this point beer was empty and other stuff to do :(

From here you can sort of get a lil better understanding on the idea here. I also decided to split the second level and higher as shown to allow for the intake on the AC-150 (ignore the dirty 150 body used for sizing)

[taza]

That looks really cool! Can't wait to see the finished product!

[klc]

How big is the tank? I like the slate bottom - nice idea. Does away with gravel and should be easy to clean. How high is the tower to be? My plecs are lazy and probably wouldn't go above the 2nd level (but they've proved me wrong before). Ciclids might also like the structure.

P.S. How do you keep the work bench so neat and tidy? Even with beer, mine doesn't look that good.

[Zoban]

Tank height is only 15-1/2" inner dim. the plan is to have both towers almost reach the top with a possible emersed flower bed on the very top but not sure yet on that part.

[Zoban]

Forgot to take camera out to the garage, but I now have the next two levels for both sides cut and the facers which will stick up about 1/2" past the top roof aswell as little pieces for the sides to match the facers for placing sand and smallish plants.

In total so far..
1st floor will be all the way across with two 6" caves and one at 7-1/4".
2nd ->5th floors will have two 6" caves on the left and one 5-1/4" on the right
Top will have a 1/2" deep corral for planting

All the pieces are currently rinsed and layed out in order to dry and the tank has been rinsed and wiped again to clear any of the dusty bits that stick to the slate while cutting.

PS: keeping the bench clean is an illusion :P

[klc]

Wow, you sure had me fooled. From the photos, I would have guessed tank depth at over 20". I'm sure we'll all be interested to see how it looks when you're done. Plants on top, a neat idea. You could use some marginals.

[Zebrapl3co]

Don't mind me. But it doesn't look right. I think the pleco prefers 6" deep, not 6" open on the side. Also, they like deep dark caves where the end is dark rather than ending with a window look out of the glass. Also, if the pleco breeds and lay eggs. You might have to pick out the entire building to just flush out one of the cave. And there is the distinct possibility that some might hang on for a min or so and then just jump out to their death(or make a painful splat on the floor) while you are flushing the cave.

[Zoban]

Good points ZP.

More thinking that if anything breeds in the caves great and will let nature and the fish do thier best.

The structure will actually be siliconed in place and not removeable save a lot of time and a good razor blade or hammer.

The back of the tank will be painted so there will not be a huge window. The ends to the sides of the tank will also have a slate piece as shown (don't need it but choose to anyway)

Had I been planning this for the L046 or similar I would have made the caves much different. At the moment I am thinking more about either moving my red marble trio or getting another trio (possibly long fin).

I do appreciate your points though and welcome comments as such.

[Zoban]

Only a small update as I forgot I was semi low on silicone..

Here are pics of all the pieces that I left to dry last night.

The three bottom slabs and all the tower pieces. You can see the two tiny pieces at the top for creating the flower beds.
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0444.jpg

The four front face pieces with one of the holes drilled for lower right. Ignore the slate "quarters" I forgot to move them for the pic. Hole is 1-1/8" for those that want to know.
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0445.jpg

Should have taken a pic of the silicone but anyway I made a good bead all around the outside and then criss-crossed good and thick through the whole center to create a floating pad idea.
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0446.jpg


When I pick up more silicone there will be a nice neat bead all around the outside again and down the two seams you see in the pic. The thick beads under the slate allowed me to almost get the slate to be flush to each other at the two seams this will become fairly smooth with the bead to seal the seams.

[Zebrapl3co]

Ah, I see what you're trying to do now. That's sounds a lot more promising. You might want to keep some kind of option open. Just incase one of them die in the cave ....

[Zoban]

Got the chambers all siliconed into place tonight will post some pics tomorrow as I am having a slight DNS issue at the moment for the CFF site that should be resolved soon.

Just need to let the silicone all cure some before laying the tank on it's back and doing the facers. Then once that has cured some stand er back up and paint the back.

[klc]

With all that slate, where are you going to put the wood? After all, every pleco tank needs at least some wood.

[Zoban]

Lots of room in the front of the tank still for a nice piece of wood.

[Zoban]

Cave units all siliconed in place with some weights on the top.
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0449.jpg

Top down view of same
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0450.jpg

Spacers removed
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0451.jpg

Front Shot
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0452.jpg

On her back to double check size and placement of holes
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0453.jpg

Large section showing 8 of the entrances
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0454.jpg

More test fits
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0455.jpg

Weights holding all the fronts on till dry/cured
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0456.jpg

[klc]

I see what you're doing now. A pleco high rise. It might be a bit hard to clean. Cyclids etc would probably love the upper levels.

[Zoban]

Here are couple shots with tank upright again and weights removed..

http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0457.jpg

http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0458.jpg


And with two coats of black tremclad on the back and "subsides"
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0459.jpg

http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0460.jpg

http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0461.jpg

Now to let paint dry and figure out where I'm going to set the tank up..

On a side note the tank did gain a "few" pounds with the added slate :)

[Zoban]

Yep thinking Apistos for the higher condos.

[klc]

15 apartments. You'll be able to charge rent!

[Zoban]

Looking around I found a stand not quite what I was looking for but more then capable of doing the needed job and very sturdy. So home came the stand and it was put together in came the tank and misc filter parts required from the garage and here is what we have now.

http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0462.JPG

Slightly different angle.
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0463.JPG

The whole corner shot showing 3 tanks and equip drawers.
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0466.JPG

Oppostite corner as a bonus shot showing 3 tanks there.
http://www.canadianfishforums.com/images/zoban/slatetank/HPIM0467.JPG

The entertainment unit completes the rest rest of the wall between the two corners shown. The unit is not exactly small (8 feet long and taller then me) but I still need a bigger house!!!

[CanadaPleco]

thats a lotta slate work.. looks cool, hope the plecs like it!

[klc]

Zoban: How has the pleco condo worked out? Its six months later and I'm interested to know what you've done with the tank. Did you try plecos or did you go with Apistos? Inquiring minds want to know!

[jordsonsmum]

Wow, what an idea!!!! As far as fishy accomidations, YOU ARE BRILLIANT!!!!

[Zoban]

Been doing well.. turned into a krib tower for time being as the plecos gro out a lil..

They seem to (krib and plec) enjoy all the compartments..

[Pleconomous]

wow what an awesome idea. Im sure they'll love that tank. Would really like to see some shots of the tank with fish in it :D!