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ESC!Webs Site of the Week Week of July 9, 2000 Dr. Webster's Guide to the MacQuarium Main Web Site: http://come.to/macquarium Do you have any old, non-working, Macs (especially SEs, Classics and original 128s) in your closet? Remember how much you loved that computer? You probably paid over $2500 for it when it was in its prime. And now, after all these years of neglect, you can finally put that door stop to some good use again! Turn it into an aquarium! Dr. Webster's guide contains step by step directions for turning myriad old Macintosh computers into aquariums you can be proud to display around your office. When you tire of building aquariums, then you can follow Dr. Webster's instructions for turning those old Macs into a plant stand or lamp as well! Who and What Dr. Webster is a real person who works as the head Macintosh technician at a "local computer shop". The MacQuarium project is an accumulation of the knowledge gained from his many attempts at creating the perfect Mac aquarium. The ORIGINAL MacQuarium was created by Andy Ihnatko way back in 1992. These plans are merely an adaptation of the original. In fact, if you read the original plans (link below) then you'll see a lot of the same steps to creating this fishy paradise. The Construction Dr. Webster takes you through all of the steps for constructing your MacQuarium beginning with obtaining the shell all the way through plopping in some fish. I should note at this point that working on the innards of any computer monitor or stand alone computer is VERY DANGEROUS and that you should only proceed if you are comfortable with working on electronics. Incorrectly removing the monitor from an old Macintosh is hazardous and can, at best, shoot you across the room if you touch the wrong thing. SO BE CAREFUL! One of the things I like about Dr. Webster's construction is that he provides for a little more room for the fish and has careful instructions detailing how to avoid things like a visible water line. The Extras Besides the actual instructions for building, setting up and outfitting the tank, Dr. Webster provides some helpful fish care instructions. Obviously he doesn't want sushi on his hands, so he very carefully explains the introduction, care and feeding of any fish you might introduce to your new MacQuarium. You'll also find links to a photo gallery of completed projects, a tech museum of gone-but-not-forgotten Macs in his collection and the aforementioned spinoffs section where you will find the instructions for building the Mac Planter, the Mac Lamp and the Mac Table! He also has in the works a Mac Rock Garden and the Really Big Mac Planter. Of course, a set of instructions for building the MacQuarium would not be complete without plans and Dr. Webster provides tank diagrams in the Downloads section. If you are seriously considering this project, you will NEED to download these for when you go get your glass cut. My Plans I am planning on building my very own MacQuarium and I promise to post pictures here when it's complete. Right now I'm tracking down an appropriate shell even though I have a complete Mac SE at home ready for the picking. Why another one? Well, the Mac I have at home still works and, as Dr. Webster says "it's kind of unethical to destroy a still-functional Mac", so I'm looking for one I can convert with a clean conscience. With some luck, I may find a couple because I'd really like to build the Mac Planter for my desk at work! In reference to my comments above regarding the strong electrical currents going through those things -- I wasn't kidding! Don't do it if you're not comfortable. I have provided a link below for a company who will sell you the whole kit and kaboodle for a very reasonable price so look there first!
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