75 Gallon forest tank

After a hasty first set up of my 75 gallon tank, I am ready to start over and do it right this time. Or, closer to right. I'm still new at this.

Here's how the setup began this afternoon. Plastic egg crate on the bottom, the extra pieces stacked up for some extra height. Lava rock in mesh bags placed in the back for hills. Biggest pieces of wood going in.



Added substrate and smaller pieces of wood. After using eco-complete and gravel in the first iteration and hating it, I decided to go with black diamond blasting sand. It has been a dream in my 26 gallon bow front. Decided not to go with a dirted tank for many reasons, so I will be using root tabs in the substrate.


Placed some medium size rocks and small pieces of wood.

 

That's so cool! I love the way it looks/feels!! Are you gonna add plants to it? It's kinda cool as is but you mentioned root tabs

 

Added some smaller rocks...



Then some even smaller rocks...



And that's where I leave it for tonight. Plants should be arriving later this week, and I need to get another length of tubing for my python water changing thing as now this tank is almost as far from a water source as one can get in my house.

 

That's so cool! I love the way it looks/feels!! Are you gonna add plants to it? It's kinda cool as is but you mentioned root tabs

Yes, plants! Coming later this week! I got into the aquarium hobby because of the plants, so I'm very excited.

 

Yes, plants! Coming later this week! I got into the aquarium hobby because of the plants, so I'm very excited.

Ooo what plants are you going to be getting?

 

Wow! so cool! Can wait to see what it looks like in the end! What are you going to stock it with? Discus would be really neat in there.

 

Very unique, I like it a lot! It’s going to look great with some greenery in there

 

Ooo what plants are you going to be getting?

I ordered a smattering of things from Buceplant, thinking that some will make it under my care and others won't and when I know what works well for me I will get more of those. Mostly got the usual suspects; monte Carlo, dwarf hair grass, a couple hydrocotyle species, hygrophila pinnatifida, anubI etc. Wanting things that look like tiny versions of regular forest things.

Wow! so cool! Can wait to see what it looks like in the end! What are you going to stock it with? Discus would be really neat in there.

No discus! I am not a careful enough aquarium owner and the water here is very hard. I have some neon tetras and black neon tetras that I will move to this tank, and thinking I want some pretty guppies, too. Ultimately want a community tank of fish less than 3inches.

 

No discus!

Too bad

Ultimately want a community tank of fish less than 3inches.

No centerpiece? Keyholes would be nice. They wouldn't eat anybody and are a larger centerpiece.

 

I ordered a smattering of things from Buceplant, thinking that some will make it under my care and others won't and when I know what works well for me I will get more of those. Mostly got the usual suspects; monte Carlo, dwarf hair grass, a couple hydrocotyle species, hygrophila pinnatifida, anubI etc. Wanting things that look like tiny versions of regular forest things.

No discus! I am not a careful enough aquarium owner and the water here is very hard. I have some neon tetras and black neon tetras that I will move to this tank, and thinking I want some pretty guppies, too. Ultimately want a community tank of fish less than 3inches.

Omg those plants are going to look so awesome in this tank and I LOVE the theme - I am so hype to see how this turns out!!

 

Fantastic! I absolutely love it and can't wait to see what it looks like with plants and eventually stocked! Love the idea of this being stocked with nano fish. The neons should really pop. Any Hydrocotyle Japan by chance? Also any plans to attach moss to some of the wood?

 

I love this scape, I really wanted something like this for my Tiger Barbs but never got around to it.

 

I ordered a smattering of things from Buceplant, thinking that some will make it under my care and others won't and when I know what works well for me I will get more of those. Mostly got the usual suspects; monte Carlo, dwarf hair grass, a couple hydrocotyle species, hygrophila pinnatifida, anubI etc. Wanting things that look like tiny versions of regular forest things.

No discus! I am not a careful enough aquarium owner and the water here is very hard. I have some neon tetras and black neon tetras that I will move to this tank, and thinking I want some pretty guppies, too. Ultimately want a community tank of fish less than 3inches.

I would do a trio of pearl gouramis, I got some about 2 weeks back and love them in my community tank!

 

This is off to an awesome start! Can't wait to see the finished product!

 

This looks like it's going to turn out amazing! Watching.

How many neon tetras and black neon tetras will be going in there? A couple decent sized groups of those would be stunning.

 

I suggest a school of pygmy corydoras as well for the bottom. They stay very small and would look fantastic.


Though, with all that vertical driftwood, its a shame you aren't going bigger than 3".... a farlowella twig cat would adore this habitat!!

 

Looks amazing! Can't wait to see it with the plants in.
You could do some albino corys in there? Might not be the look you're going for but they would look cool.

 

great concept and look, love the wood, I have driftwood in my main tank a 60 gallonI love how the water changes with the tannins keep an eye on your ph lvl. question is, Is it bought wood or found in forest and did you soak the wood for a month to get the air out? Will the wood float when tank is filled or do you have it secured to bottom

 

great concept and look, love the wood, I have driftwood in my main tank a 60 gallonI love how the water changes with the tannins keep an eye on your ph lvl. question is, Is it bought wood or found in forest and did you soak the wood for a month to get the air out? Will the wood float when tank is filled or do you have it secured to bottom

The wood is from an old curly willow tree cut down last year. I spent several weeks boiling and soaking and cleaning off bark. Had some of it in the tank prior to the re-scape; it was sinking at that time. It has since dried out over the last couple of weeks but is glued down to the egg crate to prevent floating while it gets waterlogged again.

 

nice I like that, ill be watching this thread please keep us updated with pics id love to see the final work

 

Are you planning for any bottom fish? A large shoal of 8-12 cories would be awesome in there! They'd love the sand! They can be like little rabbits for your forest!

I second the suggestion for some gouramis or some sort of center piece fish.

 

Are you planning for any bottom fish? A large shoal of 8-12 cories would be awesome in there! They'd love the sand! They can be like little rabbits for your forest!

^agree - My mother refers to my cories as my “puppy dog fish”

 

Are you planning for any bottom fish? A large shoal of 8-12 cories would be awesome in there! They'd love the sand! They can be like little rabbits for your forest!

I second the suggestion for some gouramis or some sort of center piece fish.

I am coming around to the idea of some cories. They kind of give/gave me the creeps for some reason but via LFS shopping aka exposure therapy I'm thinking about keeping some

I like the otos more and would love to have some, but it will be awhile before I would declare the tank ready for them, sensitive as they are.

 

I am coming around to the idea of some cories. They kind of give/gave me the creeps for some reason but via LFS shopping aka exposure therapy I'm thinking about keeping some

I like the otos more and would love to have some, but it will be awhile before I would declare the tank ready for them, sensitive as they are.

Have you looked at Panda Corys? I like all the Corys but madly adore these ones. I have long finned pandas and they are absolutely my little water puppies.

 

Plants have been added. I can't believe this is $100 worth! Mostly tissue cultures, so at least they're clean for that $! They've been placed somewhat haphazardly as they are all new to me, and I will have to watch what happens. Getting the co2 set up this weekend I hope.

Had 1 hardscape "casualty," the second largest branch on the right side broke free from its superglue and is now floating on top of the tank, with some minI bolbitis haphazardly tied to it. I'll...deal with all that this weekend.

 

Awesome hardscape! Can't wait to see how it turns out with plants grown in.

 

Plants have been added. I can't believe this is $100 worth! Mostly tissue cultures, so at least they're clean for that $! They've been placed somewhat haphazardly as they are all new to me, and I will have to watch what happens. Getting the co2 set up this weekend I hope.

No problems with haphazard placement. The more haphazard the better. Perfection doesn't exist in nature it'll look more natural and authentic.

 

Again, I'm loving it, some alder cones after the bottom grows in a bit would be good.

 

Again, I'm loving it, some alder cones after the bottom grows in a bit would be good.

Thank you for reminding me that alder cones are a thing. Definitely need for this tank.

 

I see Vals as plants in there. Just me.......Good job!

 

Oh wow! I love this scape, I love forest scapes so much and super want to do one when I have the space+time.

 

Some up-close shots from today. Need to clean the glass!

 

Some up-close shots from today. Need to clean the glass!

It’s beautiful!!!

 

I really like this scape. When do you plan on adding the neons and other fish?

 

The Black Neons are gonna be nice, I enjoy mine. I would go with the large size Neon Tetras.

 

I really like this scape. When do you plan on adding the neons and other fish?

Probably next week. I want to get the co2 set up first just to make sure I have everything as stable as possible. Unfortunately work is slapping me in the face right now so I haven't been able to get things done like I'd like.

 

Probably next week. I want to get the co2 set up first just to make sure I have everything as stable as possible. Unfortunately work is slapping me in the face right now so I haven't been able to get things done like I'd like.

I had renovations that put my current build and everything else in the house on the back burner so I feel your pain.

 

Looking good!

 

Got the Co2 set up and added a few fish. 10 guppies (9 as of this morning ). Plus I asked for 3 zebra danios but got 2 tiny zebras and 1 slightly larger leopard danio. Hopefully adding a few more of both early next week.

 

Got the Co2 set up and added a few fish. 10 guppies (9 as of this morning ). Plus I asked for 3 zebra danios but got 2 tiny zebras and 1 slightly larger leopard danio. Hopefully adding a few more of both early next week.

Looks great!