New Tank

[TonyO]

Well, I haven't had a tank set-up since I've moved to Houston. I've been slowly acquiring the necessary pieces to get a couple of tanks up and going. I was hoping to get two freshwater set-ups going at the same time, but I wasn't able to time it perfectly, and I ended up using one of the stands for something else.

I'm still trying to decide where the best place to put the tanks would be. I have a couple of places in mind, and my apartment layout allows me some freedom. I just want to find a place they will look ok, and I'll be able to regularly enjoy them.

Anyway, this afternoon, I applied the background to the 40-breeder, and I think it looks good. I'd like to post some pics soon. I think it looks great on the stand, and I actually attached a piece of branching wood into the tank. I'll be able to remove it, but it'll be a bit of work. The substrate will be sand. I'd like to find some leaves, as well, and eventually add some plants.

I've been talking with a few people over the past couple of months, and I thought I knew what I wanted, but I've decided to change it slightly. The stock will be Bolivian rams, black phantom tetras, and Corydoras sterbai. I'd like to do a small group of rams (4-6), about 6-10 Cories, and about 10-12 tetras.

I will update as things become more finished.

[TonyO]

Ok, so this weekend has been a lesson in how not to efficiently get things done.

Anyway, I got the furniture moved around and got the stand where I'd like to keep the tank. I added the substrate. It's coming along slowly, but I've been pleased with the outcome thus far. I'd like to add some leaves and plants, and probably some smooth river stones. It's looking very "beige" (I've been told the wood will darken up nicely, so here's hoping). I'm hoping it'll end up looking pretty nice. Some of you are true artists with your tanks. I'm just trying not to embarass myself!

Anyway, here's a pic as it currently stands.



Sticking with the stocking of Bolivian rams, black phantom tetras, and Corydoras sterbai.

Let me know what you think. Does it need a thicker sand bed? What will make it stand out? It's almost impossible to hurt my feelings (though you don't need to go out of your way to try. . . LOL!), especially about this stuff, so if you have constructive advice, I'm all ears!

[freespool]

I like the set up so far. Looks clean. I like the wood off to one side. Do think some more sand would be good and the river rocks once you get them. don't go to wild with the river rocks. You have a nice clean look. Not sure if I would put plants in there. if you do stick to a fan grass or something clean and natural, not cheap (no wild colors). Like it so far. Make sure you put a nice light on there. I am growing partial to the LED's

[TonyO]

For plants, I was thinking something that looks like a shorter growing Vallisneria, but Java fern and Anubias tend to work pretty well. I don't want to over-run it with plants, just a few to give it some green, and just a few stones and some leaf litter to break up the monotony of the expansive sand spaces. Give the fish something to poke around, if they want. I like watching the fish pick through that stuff. I will probably put a deeper bed on it, but not too much more, unless folks really think it needs it.

As for lights, the fixture is on the top, but I took a quick pic with my phone. It's a Marineland LED. I have an Eheim 2215 for filtration, and if need be, I have several Emperor 400s and 280s laying around that I could use, if I wanted. Much of the decor and equipment on this tank will be mimicked on the other 40-br I'm setting up (and putting right next to it). I've decided that this will probably be a Tanganyikan tank, so it will have more rockwork (if I got with certain species) or a shell-bed (if I go with shellies. . . my parents brought down a bunch of the old shells from my long broken down N. brevis tank for some reason, when they visited a couple of weeks ago).

I appreciate your compliments.

[fshfrk]

Looks good to me Tony. Now hurry up and put some water in it. Like to night.

[TonyO]

Working on it now. Just took a break.

[fshfrk]

Are you going to do a fishless cycle?

[wesleydnunder]

Nice start, Tony. Decided what you're gonna stock it with, fishwise?

Mark

[TonyO]

Are you going to do a fishless cycle?

Actually, I have some "bacteria in a bottle" that I'm going to try. Relatively new product, I think, developed by someone who has done peer-reviewed research on nitrifying bacteria, and who some of you may know (I believe he was also responsible for Bio-Spira). I talked to him directly though another site, and I wanted to see for myself if it would work. . . you can get the ammonia from them, as well, but I'll just stock lightly and add appropriately and test constantly until I'm satisfied with the result. I'm not an impatient person, and I'm fine with a regular cycle. . . I just wanted to try it out because I moderate other forums and it comes up quite a bit.

Nice start, Tony. Decided what you're gonna stock it with, fishwise?

Mark

Mark, I'm going with Bolivian rams, Corydoras sterbai, and black phantom tetras. . . I want at least 6 cories (preferably 8-10), 10-12 tetras, and probably one pair of the rams, though I'll try out a pair first and see how it goes (perhaps a pair of Laetacara instead of a second pair of rams). I thought I read somewhere that M. altispinosa worked fine in smallish groups. If I need an Ancistrus, I think I can add one. . . do you think that's ambitious or do-able? I think those species would look very nice together, and very nice in this tank set-up. I'm not looking for a challenge with the 40-breeders, just something nice that I can enjoy, and I really have a fondness for all three of these species (originally, the plan was C. sterbai with German blue rams and cardinals, but I decided to switch. . . I actually think the species I ended up going with will look better in this set-up). I'm working on a 20-L reef set-up, and looks like something bigger, as well.

[TonyO]

So. . . update. My last post was right in the middle of being really busy, and I was gone, etc. Anyway, getting the tank up and running today.

Well, I broke the Eheim. Luckily, I can use the Emperors to get things going until I repair the parts that are broken or replace the filter. Unfortunately, I can hear something rattling around in the canister head, and side hose connection busted right off.

I didn't want to put all of the tanks in the side room to the apartment, but I checked out about 10 different places to put them, and I think a couple of them work best in there. The reef tank will probably be in the dining room.

[Darbex]

Need new pics

[TonyO]

Need new pics

DONE!

[TaTeR ToT]

Nice!
I have some awesome moss rock pieces if you want to add some texture.
Also I would get some almond leaves off of eBay.

[TaTeR ToT]

their cheap and their great for conditioning water, also they look great for natural underwater leaf litter.

[TonyO]

I'm looking for leaves and rocks. I was going to see what showed up at the GHAC auction, but I might be interested. Do you have any pictures of the rocks?