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OK guys, let me know what you think

This is a project that has been in the brain for months and is finally getting off the ground. The inspiration has come from SKAF members and from another forum. Basically i like the idea of keeping native WA shrimp and our endangered Western Pygmy Perch in an outside tank so no heating required. Basically i was after a 4 foot tank and stand for the job and was offered one for free. When i went to pick it up it turned out to be a 3 footer with a hole drilled for a sump filter. Not what i was after but as the guy wanted it gone i decided to take it. The stand it was on was a monstrosity that could hold 6 3 foot tanks for a rack so that is sitting on my patio taking up room for now. The 3 footer was cleaned up and i was contemplating what to do with it when i got the opportunity to get a 6 foot tank on a solid wood stand for $100. A bargain you might say but it gets better. The tank glass is in great condition, dirty, and the silastic job is a bit rural but all in all it was good with the stand being industrial. When i said i will take it and how much was it again (old bargainers trick) he said just take it. Great, thanks, leave before he changes his mind. The 6 footer will need a lot of filtering so now i have a use for the 3 footer. Time to design and build a sump as well as learn how to drill & cut glass. New tank just got home. The stand was stripped of water damaged wood, sanded back and re-designed to take the sump. Painted the lot and got some black rubber matting for under the tank. Now i just have to design a sump. The hole that is already in the tank is conveniently located for a nice drain hose so that end of the tank will be the pick up chamber. Getting some glass was easy and cheap from the local salvage yard with the only irregularity being some of it is darkened. I have just got my daughter to show me how to do some basic, and i mean basic, computer drawing so this is where i am at the moment. Next step is the overflow box. I'm leaning heavily towards a Bean Animal style with the box on the outside. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

To accommodate for those that can design but not build and those that can build but not design, this comp will be open to both formats. Criteria and steps to enter: To enter this competition you will either need to submit a design for a DIY build or a DIY build itself. The scope is fairly open so as long as it can be related to the Aquatic hobby it is fine to enter. Steps to enter: Create a new topic in the appropriate section on SKF Aquatics detailing the DIY project/design Post a link to that topic here Rules: Minimum post count - 5 to enter Can't be a design or DIY that has been published prior to October 2016 Has to be your own work Has to be published here on SKF Aquatics Limitations: For logistical reasons, this will be limited to our Australian members only Sponsored by: 1st Prize: Winner will be selected by SKF staff in consultation with our sponsor Discretionary Prize(s): Whatever comes out of the SKF Aquatics goodies box - these will be Shrimp Keepers Forum branded. End Date: December 2nd, 2016

Nice work Nogi.

Ok I picked up my first batch of shrimp. Keeping it simple so just went with what my friend recommended and got some red pintos. Sorry for bad quality pictures I just use my cellphone.

Looks great ?? @NoGi In line with the other posters, easy to read and use take a pat on the back well done.

I'm liking it @GotCrabs.Keep the photo progress coming.

Lca auctions Facebook page had some recently. hows the "zebra tank mark II" going? @fishmosy out of 2 good shops in Melbourne and other people that bought them with me I have like 2 left from 25, but they are super healthy looking now I think. Got 20 more coming next week and after all your advice I'm confident these will do much better. Some People on Facebook groups keep them in tanks with aquasoil, I remember you saying ph is pretty much doesn't matter with zebs.

Hmmmm, wonder what the prize will be??!? whatever it is, good luck everyone!! Cant wait to see the entries!!

I have been an advocate for mulberry leaves for a long time. I noticed several years ago that the survival rate of babies increased when the leaves were introduced. I have mulberry leaves in all my tanks at all times now and leave them in until they are just veins -although even they get eaten once soft-or until water change day when I siphon them out and add new leaves. You need to be very careful when siphoning the leaves out as the babies love to hang out under neath them. I blanche and freeze them for a supply over winter or I sometimes dry them by placing them in a cotton bag and hanging on the clothes line until thoroughly dry -they stay nice and green and refresh overnight in a bowl of water or straight into the tank where they float for a day or 2. Mulberry trees are very easy to propagate just from a few thin branches -they are best kept in pots as they grow very large in the ground. The added bonus is sweet mulberries this time of year -I picked a big bowl full from my 4 year old tree today but usually just eat a few every time I go ut near the pot! I also keep a pot of mixed lettuce, spinach and kale growing through the year and pick these as they grow, plus I have nasturtiums growing and feed the leaves after blanching. We had an incident with one of our members a few years ago who lost a large part of his CRS colony from spinach leaves bought in a prepack bag from the super market -despite blanching the leaves his shrimp started dying soon after the leaves had been added to his tank so my advice is if you don't know where your leaves have come from or if you find a tree with leaves but you don't know if it has been sprayed don't take the chance.

These guys are still going really well. Shrimp crawl all over them now. I've even seen shrimp ride on their backs as they have territorial standoffs with each other (they never hurt each other - just kinda have a stare-down and wave their claws).

Unfortunately it appears that the native micro crabs are only found down south, but there is bound to be a similar species found in our northern waters. Two of my favourite natives that are harmless in my tanks would have to be Notopala snails and these whopping great black shelled snails.