From fish hobby to fish addiction

How's things

Think it's about time I introduce myself.

I have always had a great interest in fish whether it be cold water, tropical or marine. I started of with a 54L aquarium for tropical fish I had neons guppies and platy's. I then moved on to a 70l jewel tank and kept glass catfish and a tiger shovel nose catfish (who seemed to outgrow the tank overnight). It was after keeping different types of tropical fish I came across cichlids and became hooked and from then I knew I wanted to keep cichlids. I had been keeping an eye out over the weeks for a larger tank when I bought a 250l now front with plenty of coral/ocean rock, coral sand heater and aerator at a bargain. I then purchased a JBL crusts profil 1501 external filter for it which was fantastic.

Once all setup I started to add Malawis and four frontosa which a kept for 2 years and then had to sell them off to close down the tank as I was movin abroad for a few months. When I returned I setup the tank again empty at this stage thinkin if what to keep again when I seen a 5 inch red head cichlid that grew to a massive 18 inches long and was more like a dog than fish eating from my hand and head butting the tank for food, was sad to see him go to a new home but he had outgrown the tank.

I have always wanted to keep moving up with tanks so I grabbed a bargain the other day a 450l clearseal tank with artificial rock background an absolute cracker for 130 euro. My goal now is to build a cabinet and lid so far I have the frame built now it's just to add the laminate finish with two presses and a center shelf but I'm not sure if it's possible to buy laminate sheets in local hardware shops ?

Regards,

Matthew

Mathew I think BQ do iron on laminate

Hi snax
You can buy chipboard laminate sheets in the hardware however the choice is quiet limited. Your best bet would be a panelling centre who would cut it and ask them to edge the doors shelves and drill the door to accept the hinges.If you have never made a cabinet before bring the pictures and the measurements of what you have the guy would tell you the best way of doing it.
Regards
Anthony

You could always just get cheap standard sheets of wood and Wrap them, Alot of choices of wrap out there

Welcome to the club Snax. Word of warning with veneered chipboard and MDF: if you don't seal it properly, especially the edges, it will absorb water readily and swell. A couple of coats of Sanding Sealer should do the trick, it's fast curing so you should get two or three coats done in the same day. Strong stuff so make sure you've lots of ventilation. Sand between each coat.

thanks for all the ideas, yeah im going to go have a shop around today to see what I want for the finish. its hard to decide because I have never made a cabinet before. wrapping sounds like a great idea dshamrock2000 seriously considering it. trying to do it with as minimal cost as possible.

doesn't seem to be letting me upload any pictures? is there a different way other than attaching them ?

some pictures of the tank and frame I built hope it works thanks for the help

Keep us up to date with your progress love cichlids myself
And always fun to watch.

Hi Mathew welcome to the forum well done on the build its well done