Oxquo

Melamine would work well as long as it never got too humid as humidity bleeds through and will likely warp the particle board behind it. I had a plywood tank made out of the stuff once, no I didn't make it but water continuously leaked through to the plywood via pores. As for a desert animal? I think this would be awesome and very easy to clean as well.

Honestly, I am not a big reptile fan myself. Kinda like with fish though, some grow on you. The males are so pretty I couldn't resist. I had a hard time getting use to lizards but now I love watching him. The best way to get to like lizards is to look at baby photo's as with any animal. Even with fish, a baby Dovii is so cute and innocent , the adults well, they can send a shiver down your spine much like jaws.lol. Looking at baby gecko's and their poo eating grins, I'd say this won't be the last lizard for me. Over-all though, Owning one is learning and it's hard to sell supplies without using them and researching them more intensly. He will likely be the Embassador of the bug farm since it was mostly due to him that we realised the need for bugs in the area. Aside from that, watching him stalk a fly made the old lady a fan of his so i think he's here to stay.

I have one but it's a little fuzzy, he isn't really skittish but I'm gonna give him a week before any handling, so I can't get him out for a photo, the little bugger can move pretty good so I don't know how hard it would be to catch him yet. lol.

My new Red headed agama agama in his temporary home. Although he is very young the colors are starting to shine through. The gravel substrate is only for a couple of days then his new home will be set-up.

At first I thought a pond of Africans but the hardness would be a constant battle so I have opted for SA's. I would like to stock some heavy hitters so I need lots of hiding spots as well. Question is, would I ever see them even in a blue bottom pond that is 4.5' deep? The pond is being formed and since out here there are no depth regulations I decided to go deep. My ideal stock if I can find them all is Red terrors, dovii and jags. I will pull them in mid October unless I find a way to possibly place a shack over the entire pond and heating is an option but I can't see it. More than likely I will be building a basement pond or two beside the bug farm to Winter them. The colors these fish can put on outside is intense for sure but the problem is keeping aggression down when moved into smaller quarters. I need some tips from other cichlid pond keepers as to what to do when the Winter rolls in.

Looks good. On the paint though, mixing clearcoat and enamel makes a thick paint, going one side at a time to create a slow drying pool with lots of airflow going across it hides the flaws alot or even just putting 4-5 coats of clear over flat black. J-Roc is bang on though for a 1-2 coater, use flat and never look back. Either way that's a nice finishing touch, great job!!!

Truth is, you could do it sooo easily. If all you had was, a drill, mitrebox and saw and a skill saw or even a handsaw but it may take forever. You could have Rona or Homedepot cut the stuff for you next time in one or your local lumber retailler. You'd still need a drill, glue and some stain but it'd be pretty fun still. I think the stores charge less than 50 cents a cut and you can cut trim and mouldings right there as they charge by the foot. Even if it costs a case of beer to a neighbour, it would be cheaper. No woodworker turns down cold beer unless they drink the hard stuff. This way you could design it, they could cut it and all you need to do is assemble it and stain it. The thrill is in the building anyways not the cutting. Once you finish, you'll be eyeing up all your other stands, lol.

Thanks, it only cost $45.00 to make, but I already had the clearcoat and stain. The frame is made of econo 2x4 sliced in half and plained down to 1.25" so twice the lumber for half the price. Unfortunately as i mentioned, the plans got changed but I still atleast got to keep the TV like shape and legs. The rustic look that supposedly is so popular is not my style either but it's not for my house. For the extra rustic look, I had to burn it lightly with a torch, then lightly sand before conditioning and then staining. Why would someone want to buy something new and make it look old? I also wanted to build a light system into the hood instead but they wanted the cheap plastic one like in the kits. Maybe one day i'll get to modify it for them. Anyways, it was alot of fun like the last two. The girl I sold it too has been busy over the last couple of days building caves so I hope to get a pic of it fully loaded. She wants to start of with some of my saulosi fry so I won't expect the fish to show up too well in the photo but am sure it will look nice, maybe not as nice as a SA tank but nice. For me now, it's time to get the Grain Elevator stand done for a 20 gallon and then I am hoping to find an idea for the 230 gallon plywood tank I am just finishing up. Likely it will be a wall aquarium but I honestly have no ideas for it except making it against a feature wall with a book shelf included into it. Being someone who isn't much into big tanks I am not even sure what to put in it except that a Game warden here said I can get a permit to keep yellow perch providing I purchase them from a hatchery and staple the reciept to my permit. the fish have to come from a Saskatchewan hatchery and you have to sign the permit, vouching to never let them go or their fry into native waters. If this all goes through, I will do 6-8 perch and hook up my old refridgerator chiller to the tank. Now if I can only get a permit for a brown bullhead or two and maybe a school of stickleback or shiners.

Well it's finally done, except for the handle at the top which will be in tomorrow, the knobs on the lid are only there to lift the lid without touching the final coat of clear. This was a fun project, and quite easy. It's always hard to believe it will turn out at all when it is finished at points. I am looking forward to doing a stand with MDF except for the actual stand underneath that is as it is so much easier to work with and more flexible on a large scale. I must say that I am enjoying a whole new hobby, not as much as fishkeeping but damn close at times.

Good to hear it AquaDiva, there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers to legitimate questions. As aquarists we have killed many fish just to learn how to keep them better, maybe our experiences can help to save some lives now. Hope we can be of help to you and even visa versa in the nearest future.....

The RIP is due to a huge chunk of sulfuric acid that came through my well and killed My Beloved Geophag of 5 years, the true Oxquo. Nothing sucked harder than that, Even closed the store that day. Saved every other one except him and another geophag. That's him in my avatar, what a beaut. I'll have to check that site out. thanks.

Maybe not a bad idea, providing I can figure out who is in charge of the funky works these days, I'll talk to J and the others.

Punman that is what I'm talking about, you don't have to post in the hello ad but even the newest fishkeeper can teach us something or even better make us remember some step we often skip. Posts everyday are not necessary but in the case of one of the best breeders I know in Edmonton, everything he does is top secret, seldom does he let out a hint but he always listens intently to every conversation, Why??? I don't know... It was a newbie that actually put me back into the habit of weekly water testing, a habit that I broke a long time ago until my well started causing me grief. It is always good when aquarists can help other aquarists and it's not just a one way street. Truth is RD, that this place is full of salesmen and that isn't a bad thing, the bad thing is when that is all that happens here, when I talk spam, I talk about people who come in spurt out their link and disappear. You and others who sell things on this site contribute alot more than just products and share your knowledge. You have knowledge to share generally when you promote a product related to the hobby, now if you were selling tampax on here I may think differently. Whether I like the product someone sells is irrelevant, but it is good to hear their views on that product so we can make our own minds up. That said, questions are how we learn, statements and answers are how we teach, the more we learn the more knowledge we possess to teach to make smarter, more sucessfull aquarists of tomorrow. I am not saying come in and tell your life story, just say something and let us know you are here.

Well this is kinda what I am saying, some people are shy, understandable, But you learn more by asking, it's not like everyone one on this board has a last name of Schwartzi or Axelrod, As for RD's comment, yeah could you imagine, it would rock! that is why we come here, could you imagine no one posting for say 2 weeks? Hmmm alot of people would go somewhere else wouldn't they. Wouldn't be very good business for all the people advertising stuff for sale on here either would it? I think what we need is a greeting crew or something, someone who is on here alot, to greet the new people to the board, You could learn an awful lot from some of the new arrivals no doubt and they would have someone to turn to that they know. I mean not everyone can be like RD says and walk into a party, sit down and say nothing. Maybe not all of it but I think most of it is shyness, and no, there is nothing wrong with just reading, my whole point in complete is that some of these people may have come from boards around but are really too shy to say anything so don't and soon or maybe already they go back to their other boards because in some way shape or form they didn't feel welcome. As just a person who reads this board may lack seeing that we seldomly see a breeding report, species report or even detailled DIY projects that they could follow and learn from. Basically we all have done most of the 3 but never posted them in true detail. A greeting crew may be a good idea just to make sure they are getting settled and so they know someone here. Growth is Prospertity, shrinkage is getting out of a cold Jasper lake to face the girl your trying to impress.

I suppose, kinda like the old guy who sits at the edge of the playground and says nothing but just watches intently. I guess I see what you mean, it is okay to just peep in.

I thought of the coffee table aquarium but can't fathom putting fish in there since I would have to sit across the room to see them well. Much like that disco place in the states where the dance floor is an aquarium, I am wondering how stressed the fish are. Fish seem to adjust best when they see our faces. We all kinda look alike to them from crotch down and I don't think it is that comforting to have crotches come running up to you unless you are sure who they belong to someone who's crotch you would like in your face I suppose. I do like the headboard design though, except for people like me who seem to do aerobics in their sleep. That could be a hell of a way to wake up with guppies in your shorts and an ear full of molly. For people who sleep normally, it would be trey cool, maybe a foot board though for the true aquarist who wants to actually see their fish. Also I have the free standing aquarium I want to try, the one that hangs from the ceiling but has no legs and is not touching a wall. I will wait for someone who wants to try one though as they are pretty hard to move once in place. For me I love small tanks 55 and under so it may not look as spectacular under 125 Gallons. Wing it hahaha I like that. Or like my old boss use to say, if you can't dazzle them with precision, Baffle them with loads of trim, lol. Oh yeah and a "Gap" is nothing more than an area that screams for silicone. But you are totally right, build a frame to dimension and solidify it and after that, whatever happens, happens. Alot of times it can become much nicer than planned. As for the fireplace stand, it is not done yet as I have been playing around with styrofoam and concrete and am going to try a chiminy on it. I would also like to do a seated area below the tank in real masonry, but need more practice yet. That tile you did on one of your stands though might be an even better approach and likely a cleaner job.

Thanks, yeah it's suppose to be close to a 1959 Telefunken, due to patents though it has to be modified. Due to the person who bought it they want it modified even more. Just when you make a nice design that is working someone buys it and want's to change it on you. I have this idea for a cool 3D background for another tank using concrete. I can't wait to get into that as well. My biggest problem with stands is that what is on paper seldomly works in lumber. The plans change too often during a project so each new project for me ends up being a whole new one while I build it. After seeing a group of Yankees on My doorstep taking pictures of our old crappy grainery, I decided the grainery tank stand must be next. They travelled here from Iowa 6 of them just to photograph Graineries. I told them I would build the stand, they said if they liked it they would pay top dollar for it. Cool enough I salvaged some actual sheathing from the other grainery down the street that is just beat to hell, it's 82 years old and no longer in use. I wonder what top dollar is these days? They only want a 10 gallon tank as to not take away from the grainery, go figure??? I like your site it's good inspiration. At this point I am just hoping that the Americans can find Runnymede Saskatchewan a second time lol.

Oops, thanks Jayaa great idea didn't mean to take credit away where it was due.

No, seriously, What a CO2 reactor is suppose to do is intensify the amount of dissolved CO2 that gets to your tank. Without it you try to bubble straight to your tank and dissolve it via a bell or even a fine airstone. The CO2 reactor dissolves the bubbles into the water making it more concentrate and mixable. it's like going through a second diving bell, oh yeah, it looks really cool. Oh and it gets rid of the white fungus looking crud that clings to your diffuser.

Yeah, now if I can rig it up so the CO2 from my unit would carbonize my beer and my tank I'd be a happy drunken sailor. What i have also found with this unit is that my pressure stays more steady, I would guess I will also have two extra days atleast to make another batch of CO2 mix while my reactor clears out if I cap the line, if nothing else it looks really damn cool, pressures up really good and makes me look like David Suzuki lol. I never met a person who has had more follies with DIY CO2 than myself yet, although the addition of cheap spirits has led to many spawns that I could not seem to do without it, I am sure behind the cloudy haze, cories were gettin it on with angelfish like a reminiscence of the 60's. Truthfully, I have no idea what other benefits this reactor might have but damn it looks cool. You'd almost think I knew what I was doing, well except for Garhan, He just knows that I am clueless, Hahahaha.

Upon my making a list of the active members list I have discovered that there have been 84 members who have not made an actual post. It is very hard for anyone to get to know the members on this board if they are virtually non-existant. Granted some of them were spammers and have long since left, but we are missing out on the added touch of a healthy active members board. If you join atleast say hi and allow us to extend our welcome out to you, there are some good people here on this board but you won't find them until you speak. As for the spammers, I think that they would more than likely be the ones who just post once, you'd be a pretty sad salesman if you never posted at all. We even have alot of spammers that stick around and advertise all over this board so the chance that 0 posts would be a spammer is slim. so come on, it can't possibly be any fun to sit back and read posts, this is a message board, we are here to interact. Don't feel shy, the only stupid question is the one not asked. Not counting members who have made 0 posts, we actually have 242 members.

I have posted a vote page in the water cooler. What I have decided is to let members vote for who they want, take the most popular 5 and then allow by poll a member of that top 5 to be the spotlight member of the month. As for incentives, being able to show off your knowledge is it. As you vote for someone you have a chance to say you would like to ask them questions via PM or msn and you can write a small blurb on them in the headline. Once the interview is complete other members may ask questions. This is too good of an idea to pass up, but I think open voting allows even those new to the board a chance to be recognised. Sunday will be cut off for nominations which gives even the weekend only PC users a chance and Monday I will place the poll with the top 5 nominees, there, done. Great idea Nyasa. We appreciate it. Those who wish not to be nominated or interviewed can Pm me and I have printed a list so they can be removed from it.

I had found another interview or MOM of the month schpiel which was kinda interesting but I found it to be a little shy on actual gumption. I would expect only the best from AA. interview I say lets get started and pin a nomination. I think the other site had a right idea though of having Mods and admins vote but it may be more fair to have a poll for such a thing. That way everyone is involved and maybe the mods could start off the interview seeing that they have been around quite awhile, and give a forefront into why they feel this person was chosen and what they bring to the board. After that, the interview and after that maybe just general questions from members. I really think that the newbies on AA could benefit from seeing up close and personal the types of characters we have here, uh just a sec, nope maybe thats a bad thing. lol. Nyasa, unless your MOM frequents AA I see no problem lol.

As much as in between sucks, it's always nice to smell the final product getting close to completion.

It's nearing completion, trim, doors and stain to go. This one was really not too bad, truth is, I am almost liking stand building as much as fish keeping. Maybe I will make a different stand for every tank in my fishroom???? That would be kinda cool, can't wait till I get a chance to build my 10 gallon Grainery aquarium display.....