37 Gallon Build Thread

[kieagcarm]

I plan on getting Reflectix this weekend. It's a little pricey but I'm hoping it will work as good as my homemade insulation does. (I'm not exactly enthusiastic about the idea of making a larger insulation, cutting cardboard isn't too fun.)

I'm thinking of tackling this upgrade as steps since I want to be able to transfer them in less than a day and writing this out make the process seem less stressful:
1. Find all crabs and put them in tupperware ISOs. Remove half of the substrate from the 20 gallon long and take it off the stand.
2. Tape the new Ultratherm onto the back of the 37 gallon. Use an expo marker on the front of the aquarium to mark where I want the substrate to end, which is 11".
3. Put Reflectix on back and sides, then move the 37 gallon onto the stand.
4. Put substrate in 37 gallon, which includes half of the 20 gallon long's substrate to add some beneficial bacteria.
5. Add the basics, such as my water bowls and food dish. Then comes in the decor such as my cork round, fishnet (if it arrives in time), shell shop, moss pit, fake plants and whatever else.
6. The lid will be already drilled into before this process begins, so run the aquarium tubing through the holes and into the pools. The thermometer/hygrometer will be run under the lid and taped to the ceiling, letting the probe dangle in the air. Then I can set my light on top of the glass lid.
7. For now this will work and my future projects (decor, isopods, custom water bowls, hamster wheel, etc.) will come into play when I obtain the things I need to be able to do them.

Reflectix tape on Amazon is an add on item for less than 5 bucks. Here is link

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000BQRB ... ref=plSrch

[GotButterflies]

@kieagram - reflectix tape is something you can use to keep reflectix up. . A roll of reflectix runs about $16/$17 at Lowe's


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[NLindsey921]

This is them right? I got them from Wal-Mart for 88 cents.

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[PinchersAndShells]

That's awesome! Thank you.
Glass lid is here and so is the Ultratherm! That means I can set up the 37 gallon Monday since I don't have school! I'm excited!

[EadvEnturEs]

This is them right? I got them from Wal-Mart for 88 cents.

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Yep, exact ones!

[GotButterflies]

That's awesome! Thank you.
Glass lid is here and so is the Ultratherm! That means I can set up the 37 gallon Monday since I don't have school! I'm excited!

That's great! Have fun!


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[kieagcarm]

@kieagram - reflectix tape is something you can use to keep reflectix up. . A roll of reflectix runs about $16/$17 at Lowe's


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So glad I was able to return the ultratherm I ordered then, cuz this is what I thought I needed to insulate it. My new big aiicioo uth will be here Sunday! Thanks for letting me know

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[PinchersAndShells]

Progress! I'm getting as much ready as I can to make the move in as short of amount of time as possible tomorrow.

Taped on the UTH, got the EE bricks soaking (I'm giving them little bits of water at a time)

Put lid together, made a back flap extending from the plastic piece to keep out gnats.

[daws409]

Soaking your bricks with little bits of water will take forever for them to fully to expand. I used 5 cups (measuring cups) of water per brick... This was the bare minimum of water I needed. You can always add more if it's not to your liking. Just thought I'd help.

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[daws409]

Otherwise, looking good so far!

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[aussieJJDude]

Your probably better off pouring around 1/2 a gallon of water in the tank - dechlorinated of course, with or without salt - and letting them soak in there.

[agentcrabby]

Progress! I'm getting as much ready as I can to make the move in as short of amount of time as possible tomorrow.

Taped on the UTH, got the EE bricks soaking (I'm giving them little bits of water at a time)

Put lid together, made a back flap extending from the plastic piece to keep out gnats.

Can you explain your EE procedure? I mixed mine with a gallon of water in a 5 gal bucket until good consistency then churned with sand

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[PinchersAndShells]

Can you explain your EE procedure? I mixed mine with a gallon of water in a 5 gal bucket until good consistency then churned with sand

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I put three bricks in the bottom of my 37 gallon, and added SW little by little until they could be broken up. It took half a day, but it worked.

[PinchersAndShells]

Guess what's all set up?



It looks a little bare right now, but I plan on getting more climbing things. Fishnet is coming in the mail right now, I'm going to get more plastic plants and potentially a bigger moss pit. I really want to put in a hamster wheel so they can get more exercise. There's also some other things I plan on doing like the customized pools and getting isopods.

[daws409]

Looks fabulous! For the moss pit, I would get another corner caddy like shells are in and use it.... Love how everyone is trying the hamster wheel. I may have to try it myself.

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