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  #1  
Old 09/22/2007, 10:10 AM
Octopussie Octopussie is offline
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My Escape proof Octopus Tank

well i have just constucted my first octopus tank. whatcha think? its a 50g tall tank, xp2 canister filter, seaclone 100 skimmer (modified a little), 36 watt uv sterilizer, inline heater.

i cut a piece of plywood for the top and constructed a surface skimmer for my canister filter out of a breeder box(i made the slits in it as small as i could). no octo yet but i do have a xl domino damsel (this thing has cycled 3 of my setups so far, hes been threw hell and back many times) to cycle the tank.

so just tell me if ya see any flaws.
tanks,
Anthony

  #2  
Old 09/22/2007, 12:02 PM
Thales Thales is offline
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I am a little worried about the underside of the plywood getting wet and molding/dripping back into the tank. Painting all the wood with marine epoxy paint would make me less worried.
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  #3  
Old 09/22/2007, 12:15 PM
Engine 7 Engine 7 is offline
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Why not use the wood as a pattern and trace it onto a piece of 1/4" acrylic? How are you planning to get light into the tank?
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  #4  
Old 09/22/2007, 04:54 PM
Animal Mother Animal Mother is offline
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Looks like the ambient light from the room will be enough for the tank.

Like Thales says, the wood will eventually rot/grow mold. Acrylic would be best, or maybe plexiglass. Some people use "Light diffuser" material with mesh screen over it, would be relatively cheap. I used the glass aquarium lids, and cut out styrofoam to fit around the filtration and fill in gaps, with lots of duct tape to hold it in place. Looks pretty redneck but it works. Yours is much more appealing to the eye!
  #5  
Old 09/22/2007, 05:33 PM
Octopussie Octopussie is offline
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do you think i could use some 2 part epoxy and coat the underside of the the top or maybe a bunch of coats of polyurethane?
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  #6  
Old 09/23/2007, 12:16 AM
Octopussie Octopussie is offline
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i have yet another question. i want to keep a bimac or valgaris. i did some research on the internet and it said that bimacs to better with tempertures between 65 and 72 degrees. i took out my inline heater and my temp wont go below 75.3 degrees. is this ok or do i NEED a chiller?
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  #7  
Old 09/23/2007, 01:46 AM
Octopussie Octopussie is offline
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you were right. i only had it running for 5 days and its already starting to mold. im going to lowes tommarow and looking for a big plastic cutting board that i will cut ant fit on it. i want to use a material that i can easily cut with a table saw.
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  #8  
Old 09/24/2007, 01:29 PM
Octopussie Octopussie is offline
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Well i made a new top today. its made out of 2 plastic cutting boards hinged together. i screwed one side to the aquarium and used lag bolts with wingnuts to hold the door shut. i also made a spot for the light to shine threw. Goodbye mold.

So now what do you guys think?
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  #9  
Old 09/29/2007, 11:09 AM
scuba kid scuba kid is offline
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Wow, that looks awesome! Great work!
Just one question though, where do you open the top?
  #10  
Old 09/29/2007, 05:14 PM
Animal Mother Animal Mother is offline
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Very, very nice.
  #11  
Old 09/29/2007, 05:57 PM
Octopussie Octopussie is offline
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you just undo the wingnuts and lift up.
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  #12  
Old 09/30/2007, 02:56 PM
ryan_paskadi ryan_paskadi is offline
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awesome....I think i will copy the idea of using cutting boards
  #13  
Old 10/02/2007, 02:45 PM
Octopussie Octopussie is offline
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Dont use plexiglass on the light opening. i warps and comes off from the heat. i switched to glass i works a lot better.
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  #14  
Old 10/05/2007, 09:42 PM
Echidna09 Echidna09 is offline
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Do you plan on adding live rock? If not I would get at least enough for him to hide in. He won't be very active or happy without any.
  #15  
Old 10/09/2007, 06:38 PM
Octopussie Octopussie is offline
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  #16  
Old 10/11/2007, 02:04 PM
wmfsoll2 wmfsoll2 is offline
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Nice work. How long till you are able to inhabit the tank?

Bill
  #17  
Old 10/11/2007, 05:11 PM
kydsexy kydsexy is offline
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beautiful. why dont you get fish that will last long and not a short lived octo?
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  #18  
Old 10/12/2007, 06:20 PM
Octopussie Octopussie is offline
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well i have always wanted an octopus since i was a kid, so here i am haha! i will have my octo a soon as i find a place to buy one.
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  #19  
Old 10/16/2007, 12:05 AM
melev melev is offline
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I would suggest you replace the metal screws with nylon bolts. That way they won't rust. The wing nuts are fine made of metal, since water won't be in contact with them.

Looks very child proof. The test will be the octopus.
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  #20  
Old 10/16/2007, 10:07 AM
ryan_paskadi ryan_paskadi is offline
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did u use cell cast acrylic or extruded acrylic from lowes or home depot before you switched to glass?
  #21  
Old 10/17/2007, 07:10 AM
Octopussie Octopussie is offline
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extruded acrylic
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  #22  
Old 10/22/2007, 01:39 PM
Myrddraal Myrddraal is offline
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Is that your return line near the wingnuts on the left side? If so, are you planning on shutting your pump off every time you need to open the tank?
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  #23  
Old 10/23/2007, 04:29 PM
Octopussie Octopussie is offline
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yup that exactly what i do to. i just pull the lever on my canister and it all ready to go
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  #24  
Old 10/28/2007, 11:20 PM
jmarti705 jmarti705 is offline
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I like it alot! post some pics when u get a creature in there.
  #25  
Old 11/09/2007, 01:12 AM
underWoasisjake underWoasisjake is offline
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WOW!! very koo setup i like it alot looks very clean!!
i wouldnt suggest to use pexiglass on the light openings... like they said before on one of these posts it will warp, it would be better to use glass. You shoud be alright for a while just watch it cuz it will warp eventually with the heat.
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