weekend project- building a fry tank rack

[Flareside]

Plans are to build a rack to house 10 gallons for raising fry.

Because I sold off almost all of my fish room last year, including 125 gallon tanks, 55 gallon tanks (over 20 tanks total)...my wife isnt exactly excited that I am adding more tanks right now, so I am on a strict budget.

I plan to build a rack out of 2x4's. Once built, the rack will be painted satin black. I plan to build the rack so that I can place 2 two ten gallon tanks side by side on each shelf. Probably three shelves total. That would enable me to grow 6 different species at a time. Breeding groups are currently in my two remaining large "show" tanks.

With the advice that you guys gave me in the sponge filter thread, I ordered sponges, airline, and the air pump from Kens today (his prices are great and he is local, so shipping is very minimal)

I have a toddler who loves crafts, so I am crossing my fingers that if I get her involved in some way she can "assist" me by painting the tank backgrounds with blue latex. (hoping if she is involved and excited in the creation, she might not be so inclined to try and be as destructive to the final project- ie...no swimming Barbies in the tanks etc...

At some point, I plan to add shop lighting above the tanks, attached to the underside of the shelves but thats a few weeks away.

To get the tanks set up and filled asap, I plan to use water and some substrate from the main tank to lessen the cycling process.

Anything you guys think I should do or add to this build that I havent considered yet. Any advice from those who have done this before?

Thank you all for giving me the inspiration to jump back into the hobby with some enthusiasm again

[fischfan13]

Pictures?

The rest sounds like a plan!

[Flareside]

I will post pics. Unfortunately, they will probably be rather embarassing. Looking at all the great DIY stuff you guys have done, this is on a puny scale. :colrface:
Not like I am building any more racks to house 75 gals again...
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YET...

hope my wife doesnt read this

[Mark]

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a256/hearagen/36_11_23.gif

Dont tell the wife???????


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a256/hearagen/36_1_30.gif

How can we sneak this by her? She even warned you not to get rid of ALL your stuff.


I will be around tonight, wobbly pops or coffee?


Mark

[Flareside]

no wobbly pops- this thing has to be level

[Shabe]

Might want to check this guys site out for some ideas. Looks like phase 3 might be what your looking to do.

http://www.tedsfishroom.com/wp/fishroom/aquarium-racks/phase-1-aquarium-racks

[Flareside]

THANKS FOR THE LINK!

As it turns out, the rack I built is very similar in design to what he built.

I will post pics soon. When I started out with an idea to build a rack to hold a few 10 gallons, I decided during the building stage that "bigger is always better" so I decided to build it right the first time. The rack is built- its actually 7 feet tall and 6 feet wide. It will hold much more than 10 gallon tanks if I choose to expand later

[Flareside]

Rack is done. Painted satin black. 6 ten gallon tanks have had the backgrounds painted, they are filled and on the shelves. I installed shop lighting (and being anal, had to paint the outside of the reflectors black- white just didnt fit the color scheme) above each shelf to illuminate the tanks.

Just waiting for the UPS man to bring me the sponges, airline, and pump.

I took a few pics as it went along. I will post them once I get the sponges in place and the pics downloaded.

(The rack is a full 7 feet high and over 5 1/2 feet long. I got carried away)

[AMBUSHPREDATOR]

The ten's are great but you'll need some twenties too unless you want to get to major stunting .

[Flareside]

I have 30's, 29's and a 75 for growing the juvies. I did make the bottom two shelves the right height to allow for 29's and
30's. The tens will house only fry.

[Flareside]

here are some pics of the rack build:

Had to dust off the "garage queen" and go pick up the 2x4's, plywood, some lag bolts, paint ect...
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/LesWebb/100_2876.jpg

I first built the 6' shelves:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/LesWebb/100_2878.jpg

Then began to, screw and lag bolt the shelves to the 7' uprights:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/LesWebb/100_2879.jpg

[Flareside]

With my buddy Mark helping, and a few "wobbly pops", the rack build came together well. 6 feet wide on the wall, and 7 feet tall- and amazingly level:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/LesWebb/100_2885.jpg

Plywood was screwed to the shelves and later painted black to match:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/LesWebb/100_2900.jpg

Next came the lighting, Walmart shop light $9.97 for each shelf, this was painted black as well to match the rack (reflector side was left white):
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/LesWebb/100_2903.jpg

[Flareside]

tanks were filled, painted, and sponges placed in each tank:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/LesWebb/100_2915.jpg

The shelves are adjustable and the lower shelves will house the 30's, 29's and a 75 (that I already have in storage) once fry grow to juvie size. The rack only sticks out from the wall by 18", so using floor space is minimized.

Total cost, inlcuding 6 new ten gallon tanks, paint, lumber, screws, lag bolts, sponges, air pump, airline, airstones, and shop lights was about $173.

[fischfan13]

Great Thread, Great Pictures and what is absolutely the best part of it is that you spent under $200 and have an "entertainment center". I spend more on beer and pizza for lunch.
Three :woot::woot::woot: For FS!

[joe_jaskot]

How are the shelves adjustable?

[phillyofish]

i like the low maintenance aquarium on the 3rd shelf. Nice build. you got it all in that room, i sink and a fishkeeper's bathroom. all you need is a nice recliner and a fridge for the beer. :partay: