Tank Restoration

[Jaws My Shark]

Yes, it was a miracle. I was at my church doing community service for National Honor Society when on the stage in the room we were working was a tank with a price tag. My girlfriend was with me, and I immediately showed her. We estimated it was 29 gallons, and I asked my pastor if I could buy it. She said it was up to certain committee, and she would have to check first.

I was away on vacation for five days, and when I got home, there was no message on the answering machine. I assumed the worst but hoped for the best. Sure enough, yesterday I got a phone call.

I had to make some phone calls confirming everything, but I got it! I picked it up yesterday afternoon. It was in rough shape. It had silicone all over the place, and was dirty as all heck. The strange thing about it is it has a mirror for a background, and it cannot be removed. The back of the mirror is dated 1970.

So yesterday night I went to work. I finished this morning. What do you think? Big transformation!

I still don't know what I want to do with it yet. Before, I was thinking of getting a bigger tank with my Red-Tail Black Shark, and getting three Clown Loaches and a Black Ghost Knife. I know I can't do that with this tank. So it might be a bigger tank for my Red-Tail, or who knows what else. Could be anything!

I still don't know what to do with the mirror. Should I leave it? Could I put some kind of background on the inside?

Total price on the project: $5

Before

Midway with my cat[fish]

After!

 

[justkeepswimmin]

Good Job..Looks Great! $5 for a 29 gallon...what a bargain! I would fill up outside just to make sure it has no leaks. Otherwise good luck with it


Forgot to mention..the cat is adorable!!!

 

[Jaws My Shark]

No Leaks

Yeah. To make sure it wasn't too good to be true, I already filled it up. No leaks!

I really got a nice deal, even though it took a long time to fix up.

And the cat's name is Lija. But we call her Turkey. Haha.

 

[Salty Fishes]

Thats a great restoration. Nice work! *thumbsups

The mirror might be kind of cool in a planted tank, and make it look bigger.

Haha, you call your cat Turkey??

 

[Jaws My Shark]

Mirror

I was thinking it's possible the mirror might look cool as it is. But I'm not positive. I've never seen a tank like that before.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the background? Leave it? Do something to change it? I'm just not sure what my options are.

 

[TaffyFish]

That's a nice job of cleaning it up, perhaps all that silicon is a sign that it has been rebuilt more recently than 1970? Hope so as I wouldn't trust silicon that old.

 

[Jaws My Shark]

Silicone

It had silicone all over the place. It did appear to be rebuilt at some point. But I tested it, so I think everything sould be fine. Everything seems solid.

I can't wait to set it up! But I still don't know about the mirror! Doesn't anyone have an opinion on it? I've never seen a tank with one before.

 

[Kyle]

Put a betta in it. He'd like the mirror!!!

 

[Jaws My Shark]

No Betta

I'm obviously not going to but a Betta in a 29 gallon aquarium, especially when one wouldn't do well in the set-up. I'm going to use it to house my Red-Tail and a few others. I haven't decided what else to add once it's set up and cycled, though.

Any serious suggestions on the mirror? I know it's strange, but... I just don't know what to do! Leave it? Paint it blue? (Epoxy paint is safe.) If I'm going to take action, I'd like to do it soon. Summer vacation's almost over...

 

[Jaws My Shark]

Plan To Paint

My conclusion is that I will paint the back blue. I think it will be more appropriate for a planted aquarium than a mirror. I need to go out one of these days to buy some spray epoxy paint.

It will be the new home of my Red-Tail Black Shark. I don't know what his tank mates should be, though. Any suggestions? Or I would be perfectly happy keeping him as the only inhabitant and growing him to be giant shark.

So any suggestions for tankmates for when my Red-Tail is full grown?

 

[Jaws My Shark]

No More Mirror

I figured out what to do with the mirror. Remove it!

It took about an hour and a half. (At least.) Using a wire brush attatched to an electric screwdriver, I was able to take off the mirror brom the back or the glass. It was a very difficult process.

I like it more now that it's clear, but it has new blemishes. There were some burn scuff marks or something, and a new scratch. The absence of the mirror also makes the old defects stick out. Oh well.

 

[Lotus]

At least that solves the background problem

I think the mirror would have freaked the fish out, and painting would have been a pain.

There are lots of options for fish, but it would probably be better with something that's not too shy. I am thinking maybe tiger barbs, but only because I think a school of them looks great. Those sharks tend to get more aggressive when they get older, and you probably don't want to have to deal with "mysterious" deaths or missing fins if you choose something too placid.

 

[WGC-Katana]

Just a thought, too late perhaps, but you could have perhaps tried the slate rock backgroud in the DIY section.

Have to agree with lotus. Tiger barbs would work well with the RTBS.

 

[Jaws My Shark]

Other Inhabitants

Oh. And just so everyone knows, I reinforced all the silicone with new silicone. Just to be safe.

I've been thinking a lot about other fish to put in with the Red-Tail Black Shark. And thanks for the suggstions. I can use them. Are there any catfish that would work well in this size tank with a Red-Tail? I've got a bunch to think about with tank-mates.

I have a while to think about it, since I'm going to order parts online, then need to cycle it.

Thanks for the suggestions.