finally

TriMax · Apr 19, 2012

I have finally gotten so tired of my tank looking like I do not care if you can see through the front "glass" (it is acrylic) that I have decided to clean it as best I can and put enought substrate in it so that it is only as deep as I can reach. The tanks is 30 inches deep. I cannot reach that far down without having my face and most of my arm pit in the water. So, the tank never was/is clean several inches from the substrate. The result was that I sometimes would just let it go and you could not see through the front at all. This week I reached my breaking point. I was trying to do some rearranging to get some stuff ready for the swap. There I was unable to rearrange because I could not see what I was doing. My face was getting wet and I was still not getting it done.

I have added substrate to the front half of the left side. It is not finished yet. I looks way to deep. BUT, I can reach the substrate without having to wear a swimsuit.

I may even get it to the point that I may feel able to take pictures and send to Mel for the Facebook page. Who knows.

If someone you know is about to buy a 30inch deep tank, and they are planning to do anything except fish only, beg them not to, and then send them to me. :wink:

EvilMel · Apr 19, 2012

I would love photos for the FB page.

This brings up an interesting topic Eddie. I have always said that I will never have a tank deeper than 24" because that's how far down I can reach without having to worry about whether I'm wearing deodorant or not. I try to tell people all the time that 30" deep tanks are a serious pain and you can't light them all the way to the bottom very easily. Well, *I* could because I've got the 400W MHs but most people run 250s and I would think it would be much more difficult to grow corals near the bottom on a tank that's that deep if only lit by 250W.

H@rry · Apr 19, 2012

Just FYI - I bought some high power neodymium magnets off the net cPath_1_5 | products_id_42 | Rare Earth Magnets 1 in x 1 in x 1/2 in Neodymium Block N42 - Applied Magnets & WindMax Wind Turbines. They were 1 x 1 x .5 inch. These are seriously strong magnets (don't let them get together). Then went to Lowes and bought some Velcro material. Put that on the sides of the magnets (don't let them get together). Then got some Mr. Clean Magic Eraser *WITHOUT* and chemicals and cut a very thin strip of that material. I put that on the inside piece of the Velcro that was stuck to the magnet (don't let them get together). Hold that up against the inside of the glass and put the other magnet on the outside about 6 inches away and slowly slide it up next to the one on the inside (hold it tight so it doesn't get taken away from you and snap to the other one). Now; you have a serious algae scrubbing tool! That will scrub down to the sand bed. But whatever you do don't let the magnets get together!

cee · Apr 19, 2012

H@rry said:
Just FYI - I bought some high power neodymium magnets off the net cPath_1_5 | products_id_42 | Rare Earth Magnets 1 in x 1 in x 1/2 in Neodymium Block N42 - Applied Magnets & WindMax Wind Turbines. They were 1 x 1 x .5 inch. These are seriously strong magnets (don't let them get together). Then went to Lowes and bought some Velcro material. Put that on the sides of the magnets (don't let them get together). Then got some Mr. Clean Magic Eraser *WITHOUT* and chemicals and cut a very thin strip of that material. I put that on the inside piece of the Velcro that was stuck to the magnet (don't let them get together). Hold that up against the inside of the glass and put the other magnet on the outside about 6 inches away and slowly slide it up next to the one on the inside (hold it tight so it doesn't get taken away from you and snap to the other one). Now; you have a serious algae scrubbing tool! That will scrub down to the sand bed. But whatever you do don't let the magnets get together!

I did all that with a Great White Shark magnet and still hated my 30" tank. That's a big part of why I got out of big tank.

k2parkstar · Apr 19, 2012

I'm sure your enjoying the view your getting now. I love having a sand bed IMO it adds to the ocean feel that were all trying to mimic. My tank is a mere 18" deep and which is great for when you have to get your hands wet.

Rob.D · Apr 20, 2012

Glad to here that Eddie. I have a few corals for you, let me know the next time your planning to come up to Aquatic Marine and I'll leave them there for you.

EvilMel · Apr 20, 2012

H@rry said:
Just FYI - I bought some high power neodymium magnets off the net cPath_1_5 | products_id_42 | Rare Earth Magnets 1 in x 1 in x 1/2 in Neodymium Block N42 - Applied Magnets & WindMax Wind Turbines. They were 1 x 1 x .5 inch. These are seriously strong magnets (don't let them get together). Then went to Lowes and bought some Velcro material. Put that on the sides of the magnets (don't let them get together). Then got some Mr. Clean Magic Eraser *WITHOUT* and chemicals and cut a very thin strip of that material. I put that on the inside piece of the Velcro that was stuck to the magnet (don't let them get together). Hold that up against the inside of the glass and put the other magnet on the outside about 6 inches away and slowly slide it up next to the one on the inside (hold it tight so it doesn't get taken away from you and snap to the other one). Now; you have a serious algae scrubbing tool! That will scrub down to the sand bed. But whatever you do don't let the magnets get together!

So what you're saying is that I should let the magnets get together.

H@rry · Apr 20, 2012

EvilMel said:
So what you're saying is that I should let the magnets get together.

Ding Ding; everybody hold your cards, I think we have a bingo! :haha:

EvilMel · Apr 20, 2012

Yay! I win.

Engloid · Apr 20, 2012

My tank is 30in deep, and although it's difficult at times, moreso than my old 125 gallon, I kinda like it. I guess if it were acrylic, I'd hate it, but with it being class, I used a piece of 1"pvc with a razor blade in it and I can clean all the way to the sand without getting wet. I will probably never own an acrylic tank, just due to them being so much harder to clean.