200g show tank build

[cu0ngsayz]

Nicely done!!!!

[NDsuperduty]

200g show tank build

Got a few things done today. Added all the hokey rock that I have so far and I'm gonna need a lot more I think. I also added my (2) 36" lights to find out they will not fit side by side in my canopy, so I will either have to take a saw to my new canopy or replace the 2 brand new lights I bought.

Edit: I'm thinking I will need to add another 40-80lbs of sand so I can add more rock bc I was already hitting the glass with these pieces and the biggest one was only 30-40lbs, or find pieces with flat bottoms.

Got my first coat of black paint on the back wall, much easier than I expected, but not sure if that is how I will keep the back wall. I really like the 3d backgrounds so may try to custom fit one around the overflow.

Here is a pic of the tank with one 36" fixture under the canopy

[Ogrodii]

Man looking fantastic so far

[SunnyHouTX]

Re: 200g show tank build

What's that white PVC for?

[cu0ngsayz]

What's that white PVC for?

Look like the overflow return??

Are those lights mountable? Have you try mounting them to the top canopy? Run it in a overlapping style?

[NDsuperduty]

200g show tank build

The PVC is the return for the wet dry and eheim. Within the next month or so I will either paint the pipes or replace them with the black flexi Y pipes that you see on SW tanks. The PVC that you can see is not glued so I can remove it when I'm ready.

The lights are not mountable and I'm not a fan of staggering,

[NDsuperduty]

200g show tank build

A few pics of my first inhabitants. Started with some of the cheaper fish but still pretty IMO.

[black_knight]

Nice F to stratus they get about a foot long really nice on a group. They ll keep your sand clean. A group would look great in that tank

[mistahoo]

I might have missed it, but what substrate are you using?

[NDsuperduty]

I was going to use some of the Eco-Complete sand(black and white mix) that I took out of my 125g before I sold it but decided I wanted a cleaner look with all one color. So I started with CaribSea Aragonite Seafloor special reef grade sand that I purchased from FishRUS. Right now I have 80lbs in the tank and it gives me 1.5" coverage but I am adding another 40# sometime this week. I like the look of what is in there fine but Im hitting the glass with my rock so I want it a little thicker.

[mistahoo]

I like it. It gives a similar look of PFS, but it looks more coarse and lighter.

[cu0ngsayz]

I was going to use some of the Eco-Complete sand(black and white mix) that I took out of my 125g before I sold it but decided I wanted a cleaner look with all one color. So I started with CaribSea Aragonite Seafloor special reef grade sand that I purchased from FishRUS. Right now I have 80lbs in the tank and it gives me 1.5" coverage but I am adding another 40# sometime this week. I like the look of what is in there fine but Im hitting the glass with my rock so I want it a little thicker.

You actually want the holey rock to sit on the glass cause African tends to dig around the rocks and sometimes the holey rocks may collapse.

[mistahoo]

It should be fine if he has a good 2-3" layer. I wouldn't really care about the rocks being on the bottom glass though. If you're that worried about scratches on the bottom, lay down eggcrate and then put the rocks on top of it.

[NDsuperduty]

agreed. Im not trying to make it so thick that it doesnt touch bottom at all, just enough so it feels kinda buried in there.

[NDsuperduty]

200g show tank build

Nice F to stratus they get about a foot long really nice on a group. They ll keep your sand clean. A group would look great in that tank

I am thinking about getting a few more of them for the tank. He was in my 40g at home but chased everyone around too much. May even get a female or two to see if they breed.