Any idea's?

[Namor]

The very second i saw this, something screamed Aquarium
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj177/Namor_Sask/fp.jpg
This is a standard 10 gal. There is about 6 inches of space behind and a couple on the right. There is just no way to make a 10 gal. work, but was thinking of building my own tank. The only problem i can see is it will have to be fairly shallow. Just out of camera shot is a hole in the front which could be used for electrical. I just wondering what kind of fish would do well in a tank that shallow? I was thinking of a newt or muddskipper but haven't kept either so any suggestions or comments will be much appreciated.

p.s. (the tank wasn't in when i 1st saw it.):laugh:
-also, it has never been used as a fireplace.

[James]

Building your own tank is really quite easy, although not cheap. But that way you could make it the exact size you need.

10 gallon would make a nice grow out tank for guppies.

James

[Melody]

Definitly a good baby tank - good idea! Cory's like shallow water too. As long as they like the top or bottom, they should be fine - middle swimmers might object to there being such a sad excuse for a middle :laugh: Shrimp would like it - you could do those with lots of plants and a snail or two. Definitly no jumpers, if that wasn't obvious already.

It will look tres cool in there!

[KnaveTO]

A nice vibrant shrimp tank would look good there and the red of the brick should help accentuate the colours of the shrimp. Use a black substrate and mosses and it will be a stunner!

[CACAdmin]

Perfect little spot to put a tank. I too think you should go with a black substrate. Shrimp or fry or snails (something colorful against the black substrate and the brick.)

[Namor]

Thanks for all the idea's. I think i may go for a shrimp-snail tank. (Will be setting up a grow-out tank this weekend.) -Was kinda brainstorming last night about this, and was thinking of building a fold down shelf along the side and making some kind of "trolley" system to roll the tank out for maintenance.:GEEK:

[Pamelajo]

Snail/shrimp tank sounds good. You know we will want pics of the whole process!!:yes:

[Melody]

Thanks for all the idea's. I think i may go for a shrimp-snail tank. (Will be setting up a grow-out tank this weekend.) -Was kinda brainstorming last night about this, and was thinking of building a fold down shelf along the side and making some kind of "trolley" system to roll the tank out for maintenance.:GEEK:

You have a local snail breeder too:

http://www.northernsnails.com

::D:

I wondered about having a roll-out shelf, but it would be a lot of weight for it to take. That's about the extent of my hardware knowledge though...lol...so maybe there's a way to make it work. :Blush:I am SUCH a girly girl :rolleyes: .

[Namor]

:smile: Thanks a bunch for the link Melody, i drive through Rosetown every couple of months, so will have to check'm out next time by.

p.s. i'm starting to wonder if i'm going to have to build a windmill for extra power.:laugh:

[KnaveTO]

hmmm... you may have an issue there with lighting... but I was thinking (I know... I know... dangerous:twitcy: ) but you may want to think about a pair of 5.5gal tanks rather than a single 10. There should be space for them to go in there and you can still do shrimp/snails... just two different types. Furthermore they are a bit lighter for removal for cleaning purposes and a tad bit shorter for lighting fisxture placement. Also with the way the set up is you would see the one on the short side and the second on two sides.

[Pamelajo]

I am SUCH a girly girl :rolleyes: .
A true girly girl would never in a million years have fish and snails!!:laugh:

[blainep]

I was thinking about the maintenance side of putting an aquarium in there.

If you could mount the light to the top of the fireplace opening and use an air driven sponge for filtration, that would cut down on the electrical side.
Critters that are comfortable at room temp would eliminate the need for a heater.

I like the idea of a slide out shelf for maintenance, you would need heavy duty drawer slides. Maybe drawer slides for a mechanics toolbox.

Maybe something like a U shaped frame made of 1x3 or 1x4 lumber, anchored and glued to the inside bottom of the fireplace opening, attach the drawer slides to the wood frame, then use a piece of 5/8 or 3/4 inch plywood for the shelf.

I don't know if that would work from the picture, but it might give a few ideas.

[DaFishMan]

"A true girly girl would never in a million years have fish and snails!!"

What if the girly girl was a Mermaid ? :twitcy:

Signed,
Bratt

[Pamelajo]

"A true girly girl would never in a million years have fish and snails!!"

What if the girly girl was a Mermaid ? :twitcy:

Signed,
Bratt

If she was a mermaid than of course she would like fish and snails, but we are living in the real world, unfortunately.:twitcy:

Signed,
Sassy Brattess # 2

[Melody]

Hmmm... well you have a point there Pam, I guess I'm a selective girly girl.:wink:

Mr. DaFishMan, I really hate it when people misrepresent themselves online so I have a confession to make....

That's not really my pic in the avatar. :swoon:

[Pamelajo]

Hmmm... well you have a point there Pam, I guess I'm a selective girly girl.:wink:

:yes::laugh:

[Jungle Girl]

Hey Namor,

What a cool spot!!!

Now, I know you're thinking snails already, but NEWTS are so much fun!!! They like room temperature water and they're very active and silly. Firebelly newts (Cynops orientalis) would look GREAT in there.

For newts, you would definitely need a lid and slightly lower water level, which you may not be into... It would be less weight on your roll-out thingy, though.

... I just had to put in a vote for the super-aquatic amphibians!!!

[Katalyst]

A true girly girl would never in a million years have fish and snails!!:laugh:
Hey!:laugh:

[Pamelajo]

Let me rephrase that A 100 % girly girl would not but a 85% would.:yes::laugh::wink:

[Katalyst]

Let me rephrase that A 100 % girly girl would not but a 85% would.:yes::laugh::wink:

This is too much for my heart to take! Melody is not a Mermaid! :swoon: I'm only 85% girly girl!?! :Eek: :Think: :Confused: :Dunno:

I think I need to buy some fish to make myself feel better.

[Pamelajo]

:ChargeIt:

[CACAdmin]

I think I need to buy some fish to make myself feel better.
What? You need an excuse to buy more fish? :nah:

[Pamelajo]

What? You need an excuse to buy more fish? :nah:
:laugh: No she buys the fish and then makes excuses later.:wink:

[Melody]

Fish when we feel good... fish when we feel bad....fish when we're bored.... fish when we're sad....

One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish...

Seriously - I just made that up!

[DaFishMan]

"Mr. DaFishMan,.....That's not really my pic in the avatar"

* stops drinking my coffee for a sec, and looks up at you...*
WHAT ??? :swoon:

:confused:

[Melody]

:rofl: Sorry to ruin a perfectly good cup of coffee, Mr. DaFishMan, carry on then.:wink:

[Namor]

Just a quick update.-

First off, i feel a little silly for thinking a mudskipper would fit in a 10gal., i had no idea they got so big.:eek:

Being that this spot is between my dining room and the kitchen and the fact i love seafood, iv'e decided against a shrimp & snail tank.:rolleyes:
(jk) -I'm just trying to save on work.

I was looking at an Exxo-Terra reptile home, but only the small one would fit in there. It measures 12x12x18. I'm just wondering if this is large enough to be a good home for anything reptile-wise.?

If not, i think i'll take Jungle Girls idea and go with Newts.

[tiff]

Just to turn this around, I think a betta tank would be cool. To breed, they don't like lots of water, too hard to take the eggs back up to the nest.
I think I'd go with white LEDs that are water proof and could be partly submerged that way if there's an oppps then who cares. No harm no problem.
There's some smaller cubes that may work if you take them off the stands at walmart

[Namor]

:Think:
More food for thought, thanks.

I'd really like to get this spot going soon.

Whatever goes in there, i'd like to finish off with some plastic "viney" plants around the edges.

<crossing fingers Brandy won't make short work of that idea.>

[Melody]

Now that's funny... for years I had trippled lengths of Ivy at the outside base of some tanks. I had them kicking around and just up & did it one day. Great minds & all that.::D:

[Namor]

:bump-5:

Brainstormed the other night (scary):rolleyes:
Used a drawer from one of those "tank stands" as a base.
Cut it to size, and with the lip around the edges, it all easily slides out.
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj177/Namor_Sask/idea.jpg
Might serve as a good photo tank until i gain the knowledge and inspiration to whack out a few rows of bricks and set up a reef.

[Melody]

Looking good! Any idea what's going in there yet?

[CACAdmin]

Looks great! :thumbup: Now awaiting the occupant list.

[Namor]

Thanks, not sure as it's 3 gal.
Was thinking photo tank, but can already see where acrylic may pose problems.
Open to more suggestions...

[CACAdmin]

Well, you could always make it a Q-tank. Q-tanks don't have to look boring. I have two 2.5g ones I use for that. One houses an adult marisa, the other houses shrimp and some red ramshorn snails. This way they're always cycled and always have something in them as the fish I qt come and go from those tanks.