Gapedi Tanks

23/01/2025

On 4 march 2022, I was asked by a design company to consult on building a fish tank array for a very prestigious client of theirs. I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

In December 2023 (there were loads of delays due to legal cases regarding the actual construction site having to be resolved), I was asked if I would build the tanks. A huge honour considering the fact that I am a one man band, but I think I may also the only tank builder in SA who backs up his tank builds with a 36 month warranty.

On 13 September 2024, I eventually gained access to install the Gapedi Tanks in what was considered a very difficult installation, due to much of it being above head height. I think that I had the safety guys hiding anywhere but near me.😄

I managed to complete the task in 3 hours, without so much as a tiny scratch on the glass, or a broken fingernail on me or the five fellows that so kindly helped me... The benefit of being present personally to direct, instruct, correct, guide and assist staff, whilst doing a job that ultimately reflects on whether you live up to your name or not.

I handed over the job of making the Aquatic Display look magnificent to Jacques of McMerwe, who supplied and installed all the high end equipment to run the tanks. He also did the aquascaping, some of which was in collaboration with the very well known and respected Hiten of Epic Aquatics, who is a recognised master aquascaper himself. Thanks for your input Hiten

Jacques also supplied the livestock and most importantly he is responsible for the daily maintenance of the fish tank array, which must be seen to be believed. Magnificent work Jacques!

It has been a privilege and an honour to have been an integral part of this project and I look forward to many successful collaborations in future. 🙏

20/06/2024

https://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/features/a-complete-guide-to-caring-for-axolotls/?utm_campaign=1188286_PFK%20%20Monthly%20June%202024&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dotdigital&dm_i=73DK,PGVY,ZPO4A,3DURS,1

The popularity of axolotls as pets has increased dramatically in recent years, thanks to social media and Minecraft. Does that necessarily make them easy to keep though? Here's our complete guide to keeping axolotls, as well as some things you need to consider before purchasing...

12/05/2024

Happy Mother's Day

to all who identify as Mom's

May your day be filled with the love of family (pets count too), friends and wonderful surprises.

🤗🤗🤗

03/02/2024

A custom Gapedi 2000 x 500 x 700 mm high Tank in 12 mm thick shine polished glass with 4 mm thick (very strong) toughened top sliders, lots of tubing/electrical access holes and the top bracing much lower than usual.

14/01/2024

I regularly see questions about the type of glass that is used in building aquariums.

These are the basics... I use the KISS (keep it simple stupid) principal, because I'm stupid... so here goes:-

1. The height of the tank determines the thickness of the glass (one of the first things we learn to help us avoid problems wrt tank strength).

2. Float glass is used in SA to build most tanks found at your corner store.

Annealing is the process by which regular float glass is cooled to prevent residual stress in the glass. That is why it bends a bit more and can be drilled.

3. Opti-white (low iron) glass is not as strong as float, so it needs to be slightly thicker, particularly if you are building a rimless tank. It also bends and can be drilled.

4. Toughened/tempered glass (with absolutely no deformities/bubbles/impurities) is heat treated compressing the outer surfaces and creating tension on the inner surfaces allowing it to shatter into relatively harmless pieces of glass instead of the extremely sharp (sharper than any blade I know) shards of glass that could result from regular float glass.

Toughened glass is 4-5 times stronger than regular glass. It is very strong over the surface area, but breaks quite easily from a sharp, hard knock on the edge...

Toughened glass is usually used where safety is a concern. All my sliders are made from 4 mm thick, shine polished, toughened glass. Super thin to allow maximum light through and super strong. I have never broken one (touch wood).

I have used toughened glass in many aquarium applications that I feel warrant the use of a stronger panel.

As a rule toughed glass should not be drilled. Any drilling should take place before the heating process.

5. Laminated glass...
It is not as strong as a piece of float glass the same thickness, but those who use it on the smaller tanks (1,2 m and smaller instead of 5 or 6 mm float), believe that it will usually only crack through one layer, if at all, keeping the hobbyist safe and giving them time to empty the tank contents safely.

The jury is out on that one.

Float glass is commonly only manufactured to 19 mm thick, so it is often the practice to use laminated layers of glass for those tanks that exceed the height limit recommended for 19 mm glass, and require thicker panels of say 30mm and more. These panels can be drilled.

Acrylic would be preferable for these large tanks (and from a clarity point of view), but acrylic is very much more expensive sadly.

Anyone who is ever in doubt is welcome to give me a shout for my 5 cents worth.

26/12/2023

It's nice to see a custom built Gapedi Tank in my local PnP

19/12/2023

It has been quite some time since I have posted on this FB page.

I am hoping to post pics of the many tanks, paludariums, glass display cabinets, containers and drinking water dispensing towers that we have built over the past year during the next couple of weeks.

This time of year is particularly busy for us... Whilst we can't build many new tanks due to the suppliers closing down for the Christmas holidays, we do manage to do a lot of repairs, resealing, revamping, buying & selling and in particular aquarium servicing, maintenance and cleaning for the holidays.

Below is one such tank that my customer inherited when he bought the place (a very nice BnB).

We arrived at 12h30 yesterday to find a really gunky tank (I could not identify the fish in it... turned out to be two large Angolan Tilapia plus some catfish) full of slime and black hair algae, an internal filter that was not running, an undergravel filter powerhead that was blocked and a heater that was half full of water. 😳

3,5 hours later we had transformed it into something a little more respectable. The video that I received this morning of the front and rear of tank show that it is clearing up beautifully.

Clients expect nothing less from Gapedi Tanks... We take yucky and turn it into wowza!

Every time Gapedi Tanks service your aquarium it gets better & better. 😉🤩