melbournebetta

awwh sorry to hear it we Luv'd lil lov / i.o.u / rov (:

How is little i.o.u going? -Ness

Michael, I have one of those reptile mats heating the underside of my tanks, but find it fluctuates from 23-26 (this is probably a problem, right?) do you find these cords hold a steadier constant heat? I think the pad heats up, then drops off, then heats up - but allows fluctuation more than a normal heater. I'm thinking I might try putting bluestone over the top (or something that will warm up and buffer the heat, i.e. hold it) opinions oh DIY master? Or should i just suck it up and get some of these cords? -Ness

Razzi - THERS MORE?!!?!? Isnt that your study too? Did you fix up the damp issues and insulate that window? I only has a shelf as a "Fishroom" as it's also my Bedroom / art studio / design office / Kelpie's house -multitaskingNess

Arrrhhhhh Tonight's the night (I think) going to put this one and the 3.5-4 foot tank to the water-tight test... if the 3.5 foot beast leaks I will probably cry... and then get all DIY on it... no more phodos.... nearly got silicone in my lense.... hmmm maybe timelapse? -watertightNess

Davo, My winter greens are thriving off the fish waste - it's kind of aquaculture..... but there's more biodiversity in my 1950's paisley revolting carpet now that it's a touch damp underfoot. *frightening* -Ness

The flamebacks have the most amazing colour! I like the lil snowflake eels, their little white faces are so damn cute - but i can see how they're not exactly community tank mates! Is it silly that they remind me of 1950's mens shoes? -Ness

Oh My! it's a fishroom-off, this not only LOOKS fantastic but seems really functional - look at all those BARRACKS! Michael I'm really impressed, for someone who isn't big into DIY - you smashed this one out of the ballpark! Great GREAT work, love it! -Ness

OH OH - YAN.... you live my DREAM Black and white Clowns are my dream fish - along with Pterois/Lion fish.. ohhh Jellus... they look amazing. xNess

I felt myself cringe when you said "next silicone job" I have a 4ft eBay tank ($10 + stand!!!) in the shed that looks decidedly like it it's going to need me to strap on some rubber gloves and do a FULL INSPECTION (be very afraid Busman) Heheh -glovedNess

Dave, Yeah, and with all the water changes I do daily, I just can't be bothered with substrate, my boys love their river rocks and live plants. Yan, I have killed a few of those big W tank transformers, (now I know how) I think I'll wait until they're all gone and investigate removing the lids and putting a long 90cm fluro over the lot... means I don't have filtration, but the filters work so poorly (and are so STRONG) that I only have them on for a few mins every day, at which point I think the good bacteria in the filter is useless anyway. Waterchanges it is! Don't ask about my power bill, between this and the web design business I run out of the same room, I've shorted this circut at least 20 times. -powerlessNess

I knoes! Anyhoo - I'm full time at work this week, and have a busy social calender (oh i'm so important) so I haven't had a moment to look at the tank, I'm sure it's still sitting there curing... will make some time to test it before the weekend. Shall keep y'all posted with leak updates.... fingers crossed! -tankfulNess

They're beautiful Hai!! Looks like some of those Auction plants are settling in well (; x Ness

I remember now, yes - they was in front... and were very naughty and won a lot of things I was bidding on

They're beautiful Hai, please tell Mark that I approve of his beautiful L33t fishus. If I didn't have 6 species (including myself) sleeping in my room tonight, I'd definitely add one of those! (6 4 week old kittens, one sheep dog keeping said kittens in line, myself, the BBS and the MW & the 200+ splendens in the corner) OhhOohhhooooooooo I did just repair that old tank............... Lucky I didn't do that before the auction! xx

Can't say as I've had as much with my other fish room efforts - with the excitement of 6 kittens arriving for some itty bitteh kitteh committee help (babysitting overnight) I left an airhose siphoning out my salamander spawn I GOT HOME TO A CENTERMETER OF WATER LEFT IN THE TANK. They all look so ANGRY at me and the original 1950s carpet smells .......bad.... Anyhoo - yes, puddles under tanks, hopefully not with that one. Sheesh.. -Ness

Wayne, I had checked that it was food safe - so that's one more on the list - this was so easy! [maybe i shouldn't get too excited, haven't seen that it's water tight as yet] -Ness

'Razzi, Yeah, I left the joins in tank with the old silicone, I am trusting that the application of the new silicone is strong enough to hold the whole thing together, and make it water-tight. I have to admit it was a little wobbly, so the silicone between the joins was all that held it together while i was doing this job. However, the black struts down each corner (on the outside of the tank joins) seems to have held the whole thing in place... I would recommend getting some of those if you were building tanks - extra surface area and strength. Didn't wait for the silicone to skin, it's the same principal as paint - and i don't wait for that to skin either. -Ness

<wait 8 mins> ...this was the brand I was sold at Coburg Aquarium... if all my fish die I'll know who to blame. -END- <for now> when the tank's set up i'll throw another shot on here to prove it's water tight. -DIYNess

<woah this is taking much more effort than I had anticipated> ...Where was i? oh yes - masking tape removal Here's the wet finished product: It's not all that tidy - but as I said, that wasn't an objective, if YOU want it tidy, you can always wait the 1-2 days until the silicone is completely dry and clean up by cutting it with a razor The masking tape did a good job of keeping it between the lines

Now for the fun bit - trust me, I have a doctorate in DIY... Hot Tip: Silicone is strong, put gloves on This is the fun bit!! Remember this stage is about spreading the silicone and making a neat edge, it increases the surface area, you don't want to push it around, but just manipulate it into the corners and change it's shape. Some say wait, some say go for it, I say go for it... take the tape of fairly quickly after you have smoothed it out (this is a messy process, my hot tip: leave the bloody gloves on!) - I wish i had

Brilliant tank, love it, will you be putting it into the Aus Aquascape competition? (have a look under general discussion) Entries close may 22nd I didn't see you at the auction - did you see all the Vic Betta gang being silly somewhere on the right in the middle? I wish I'd known you were there - always good to have a face to a name! Great looking tank... glad the EDAS auction was fruitful for you. -Ness

(thanks bus) ... Made sure everything was super dry, and applied the masking tape - I should have slowed down at this point but I kept thinking "it's just a grow out tank" and I didn't want to have to do it AGAIN, so i made the gaps between masking tape rather large: ...and obviously didn't worry too much a bout making it all straight. These little black "corners" were great, I used them as a guide, and I can see how they are a great cheat as you can't really see the silicone job behind it. Hot tip: Make the joins at the bottom slightly larger and use a little more silicone Time to look at the silicone gun and piece the cannister, but before you do that, here's another Hot tip: cut the top of the nosel on a slight angle, this will give you more control of the silicone as it comes out. another Hot Tip: PRACTICE WITH THE SILICONE FIRST! it is easy to control, and when you have completed one corner, release the tension on the trigger so the silicone dosen't keep coming out.... THATS how you make a mess Practice: ....awwww Used the blade to cut the nosel on an angle: comment pls ! ...not the most perfect job, but you get the hang of it pretty quick.... my youtube video said work from the bottom up... so I did all the bottom first (with a bit more silicone here than for the sides) Then did each corner from the bottom towards the top