DIY vs. 120 Gal Aquarium

[softcastle]

Hey all,

Frank is doing well, still adjusting to the new move. I'm pretty sure he was a lot younger than I originally thought when we picked him up from Petco, but he's gone through a full shed and has noticeably grown and his colors have brightened. With growth, however, comes new considerations--namely, what I'm going to do for his permanent big-boy (or girl) setup.

I have complete access to a beautiful old 4x2x2 (120 gal) tank with a custom cabinet once used for a saltwater aquarium. It's free, still in perfect condition, but an absolute BEAST to move as it's way heavy (especially the cabinet). However, I also have full access to a workshop with wood and plenty of saws/power tools, and I'm pretty handy and capable of following some of the really nice plans laid out on this site. What do you all suggest doing? Would it be easier to just use the aquarium, or should I go for the gold and build the tank? Either way, I would use slate tile as substrate. What do you all suggest? Also, how big should be be when I move him in? I don't want to stunt his growth by keeping him in the small tank, or overwhelm him by moving him too soon.

 

[CooperDragon]

That's kind of a nice problem to have! The aquarium has really good dimensions but the weight is a downside as you mentioned. It will also be quite a pain not to have front opening doors with a tank that big. Access might become an issue. It's hard to turn down free but I'd build something custom if you have the ability and equipment. That way you can rig the lighting perfectly and have front opening doors and good ventilation etc. I'd build something similar to the crossfire enclosure but taller. Maybe 4x2x4 or something along those lines. You can move him in once it's done. He will appreciate the space to roam around and climb. It may take a little while to adjust but I find it's better to give them more space early on.

 

[Gormagon]

That awsome little critter needs a home that is both easy for you to get into and big enough for him to run around and explore. I'd say go with a 4x2x2 sliding door enclosure, this makes it easier to heat and clean.