New 125 with the White Sugar Sand

[CichlidFan]

Here are a few pictures of my new (used) 125 Oceanic.
I'm playing around a bit with my camera,
so you'll get three different looks at the tank and sand.







Which shot do you like best, I think the last is the best looking picture.

There are no inhabitants at the moment, I'm just beginning to cycle it.
Oh, I take that back, I've been picking out MTS for the past 72 hours.  :)

CF

[Spot86t]

Re: New 125 with the White Sugar Sand

I like that last one too.  Are you going to put a background on it?  From the "glow" of the pic, it seems blue would look nice.  I  read somewhere that dark backgrounds give the illusion of "depth" to the inhabitants, so I've managed to cover most of my tanks with black (either shelf liner or painted).  The rest are medium blue background.  Some have 'picture' ones.  Sure made things stand out more - except in the black molly tank of course.  The only suggestion I've got woudl be to mix those 4 rocks up more.  right now it looks like it's divided in half.  Mix them and it might seem more random.  The rocks on the right look like some of the ones I"ve got and they're fairly soft.  I drilled extra holes in mine and enlarged others.  So if you want bigger holes in them, you might give that a shot.  I used a regular drill bit to drill thru, and a combination of drill, grinding stone and diamond grinding stone to enlarge holes.

[CichlidFan]

Re: New 125 with the White Sugar Sand

Yes, I have a background for it, I just need to cut it to size and then tape it on. It's the same BG I had on the 210, a kinda bluish background where it starts with light blue at the top and gets darker as you go towards the bottom.

I see your point about the tank looking like it's divided in half, I did not intentionally mean to give it that look. I just started on the left and worked my way over, the rocks where picked up and placed in the tank with no real thought to the order. I wish all the rocks where smooth and looked alike.
The sand makes the substrate soft and pliable, and the rocks are supporting each other, that's probably the main reason if any for their order. I never really gave much thought to drilling my rocks, I like the natural look, but I will make note of the idea, it had never occured to me before actually.

It's a work in progress at this point, I'm sure I'll be trying other "looks" as time goes by.

CF

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: New 125 with the White Sugar Sand

Shot  No.3 looks best to me.

WTG man...what fish are going in there?

[CichlidFan]

Re: New 125 with the White Sugar Sand

I've got plans to put some more trohps in there one day. It will be a while though, I want to make sure it's good and ready before I do.

CF

[CichlidFan]

Re: New 125 with the White Sugar Sand

Another picture taken a day later with Black BG added:



CF

[armthehomeless]

Re: New 125 with the White Sugar Sand

Looks great with the background!

[Spot86t]

Re: New 125 with the White Sugar Sand

Wow - that really made a difference!!!  Heck - why add fish - it looks awesome the way it is!  

Just a note...  Those rocks on the right are probably rather soft - the ones I have with the same look to them are.  I spent some time tonight drilling/grinding in one like those on the left.  There were a few soft areas, not many though.  the ones on the right, I've used a regular drill bit on (a cheep one cause it'll ruin your good ones...).  It's not hard to make the holes look natural - smooth the edges and angle the holes a bit.  Also neat to try and make holes intersect inside the rock.  Might need an extra long bit for that tho..

[CichlidFan]

Re: New 125 with the White Sugar Sand

I'll keep that neat little tip in mind should I decide I want a few more access holes for the future occupants.

I'm very happy with the sand at this point, and thanks for the compliments you guys/gals..... :)

CF

[Delock]

Re: New 125 with the White Sugar Sand

Steve....remove the rocks and gets you a colony of

[spyke1969]

Re: New 125 with the White Sugar Sand

D that is a beauty, pardon my ignorance but what is it? from the face & knowing you it is a troph of sorts.

[Delock]

Re: New 125 with the White Sugar Sand

Its a Cyathopharynx furcifer

Common name furcifer

[Zulaab]

Re: New 125 with the White Sugar Sand

Spyke that is a featherfin :)  they look incredible.  Unlike the tropheus they like to come out and just stand in the water like they where painted there.. at least that is how I have seen them :)  If I had a big 210 where there is some depth in them I would love to have those fish.. but I see these to be a 'years down the road' kinda fish :)

[Delock]

Re: New 125 with the White Sugar Sand

J,

I been looking for some recently....I would love to have a colony

[Zulaab]

Re: New 125 with the White Sugar Sand

Delock,

Atlantis - trophical fish hatchery has Cyathopharynx furcifer Ruziba for $21.00 a piece.

http://www.cichlids.net

I dont know where else to get some unless someone like mike in College Station can order some from Africa or someone else..  
They are some of the most beautiful fish I have seen around

You know if you get a colony that means a second tank at your place..  because you cannot put trophs with them :)  Like the article on cichlid-forum says..  "they have to be king of the tank to feel okie about their environment.

Jesper