Rainmaker69 Posted April 16, 2005 Report Share Posted April 16, 2005 I have read where some of you have wooden tanks. What is your general opinion of them as compared to an all glass tank? Lifespan, durability, appearance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanked Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 I got a 180 wood a month or so ago and love it. It has made a huge difference in my South American cichlids who are not out and about all the time .Before while in an all glass they hid most of the time. I don't know why this is with wood tanks but have had several people tell me that fish who always hid will be out and certainly that is the case with mine. I had mine made out of good 2 sides birch and stained it myself. It looks great. It is much easier to heat and a single 300 watt heater keeps it at what ever temp. I want. I know people who have had wood tanks up and running for 15 years with no trouble. rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish_man Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 any pics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
African_Fever Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 After having had a number of huge wooden tanks myself while in Malawi, and met a number of people who have made their own, I know that I'm going to make a bunch as soon as I get settled permanently. Stuart really felt that wild caught fish do much better in wooden tanks b/c the majority of the light comes in from the top, whereas glass tanks allow light in from all sides. That could be the explanation for 'shy' fish coming out more in wooden tanks. As Tanked said, you can use lower wattage heaters (when compared to glass tanks) because of the superior insulating properties of wood compared with glass. I know of a number of people who still have their wooden tanks up and running they built over 15 years ago (I think just about everyone in the Saskatoon Aquarium Society has wooden tanks now). As long as you're careful and take your time, I don't think that durability is an issue at all. You'll have to keep us posted on what you decide! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyasa Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 Ad Konings in many of his books on African cichlids has stated that "The most important part of the decor is the background" and he recommends that 2-3 sides of the aquarium should be covered. It prevents light from entering from the sides of the aquariium and makes the fish feel secure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish_man Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 any one have pics of them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Froggie Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 This is an older picture of the inside of my 240 When I first set it up And doing a water change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish_man Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 so instead of glass u use wood?? or just for the trim? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vantgE Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 Use wood for four faces top open(as normal) and the front glass or acrylic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rainmaker69 Posted April 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 Thanks, guys. I guess I will build one and save the difference for filters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ÐÉÅÑ Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 Depends on how big the tank is, it might not be so cost affective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacu Lady Posted April 18, 2005 Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 We had our 412 gallon wooden tank running for about 15 years and it had been cut apart & refiberglassed back together twice after having been moved. The 3240 gallon has been running for 2 years now....no problems whatsoever.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
African_Fever Posted April 18, 2005 Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 From what I've heard, you don't want to use acrylic for the front, it's gotta be glass. Silicone won't stick to acrylic, so you have to devise a gasket system for a seal and some sort of brace to hold it in place (pretty sure there's something on GARF and C-F about this). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanker Posted April 18, 2005 Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 Where would I find a "how to" to make a wooden tank? I tried googling it.. but came up rather shy. This may be the exact thing I am looking for in my new place... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rainmaker69 Posted April 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 Check out the DIY section on http://garf.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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