75 Gallon forest tank

It’s gorgeous! Reminds me of Joeys forest type tank.
I’d love to know how you keep the substrate from flattening out! I cannot keep mine sloped.

 

It’s gorgeous! Reminds me of Joeys forest type tank.
I’d love to know how you keep the substrate from flattening out! I cannot keep mine sloped.

Well, the tank hasn't been up long enough for me to say that it won't flatten out, but I used mesh bags filled with lava rock to make the hills.

 

You know what would make that tank look better? If it was in my living room, and don't worry I can help arrange to make that happen.

 

Fighting the good fight against diatoms right now. So annoying! I've been sucking some out with an airline tube siphon and have 5 otocinclus working hard on the rocks and driftwood. Over the course of 10 days all of the guppies bit the dust. Water parameters have been measured every other day and are always within range (0,0,20) so I'm blaming the petsmart they came from. Returned some of the guppies (more in the freezer to return; ew.) and got some more zebra danios, the last leopard danio they had, and the otocinclus. So far so good, all inhabitants seem happy and healthy. If the otos continue to do well, I'm excited to add more; I know they definitely want to be in a larger school.

 

Looking sooooo good. Can I move in? Lol

 

Fighting the good fight against diatoms right now. So annoying! I've been sucking some out with an airline tube siphon and have 5 otocinclus working hard on the rocks and driftwood. Over the course of 10 days all of the guppies bit the dust. Water parameters have been measured every other day and are always within range (0,0,20) so I'm blaming the petsmart they came from. Returned some of the guppies (more in the freezer to return; ew.) and got some more zebra danios, the last leopard danio they had, and the otocinclus. So far so good, all inhabitants seem happy and healthy. If the otos continue to do well, I'm excited to add more; I know they definitely want to be in a larger school. View attachment 672742

If I were a fish!

 

So the offer still stands. Once in a lifetime opportunity

 

very cool tank! Where did you get the wood if you don't mind me asking? Would love to go for that look with the logs for my test tank build!

 

very cool tank! Where did you get the wood if you don't mind me asking? Would love to go for that look with the logs for my test tank build!

It is from a curly willow tree that I cut down a year ago. Worked hard boiling it/stripping off bark; a lot of work but I've got more time than money and I like the look. Curly willow (when green) will root in water so I have a few green pieces towards the back that are rooted and growing leaves out of the top of the tank

 

I absolutely love this!

 

Looks amazing!

 

Also zebra and leopard danios are morph of the same fish, so unless you just like the look of the leopard, one school of them will work.
Looks fanastic.

 

Filling in! Still battling diatoms a bit, but I added a circulation pump after my last major cleaning and it seems like the diatoms aren't coming back as fast. Or maybe it's just time for them to be winding down.

Algae is beginning to grow on some of the wood. At this point I don't mind it as I think it adds a 'natural' look. But I need to get my lights and co2 on a timer because we are terrible at running it on a schedule and forget the light on all the time.

I have removed most of the Riccia from the tank and thrown it into my betta's tank. I couldn't get it to adhere well to the wood, so I guess my trees will be bare until I can find some of the mosses I want in stock.

 

I really like this look, very natural.

 

What is the purpose of the egg crates ? Help hold the wood or some other purpose ?

 

Everything is filling in so nice!

 

What is the purpose of the egg crates ? Help hold the wood or some other purpose ?

A few purposes. 1) to protect the bottom of the tank against large rocks, 2) to help to keep the substrate from sliding down and flattening too much, and 3) to provide something to glue the wood to.

 

Looks great, but I'm not gonna lie, without the plants in there it had this neat eerie forest in late fall kind of appearance...and I can't get the idea out of my head of having exactly that with some leaf litter and alder cones...no plants.

 

I love.............IDK how you clean it but love.....

 

Oh wow, this tank is gorgeous. This is the type of tank I want to set up at some point, and it's just so beautiful.

 

I have one question - you said the willow in the back will root. Does this mean it will also 'grow' and can it cause an issue if the 'trunk' begins to get thicker ?

 

I still think you have created the perfect habitat for a trio of pearl gouramis!
I also have an odd question, your name is wild celosia and you have pics of celosia, have you ever grown it from seed?

 

I have one question - you said the willow in the back will root. Does this mean it will also 'grow' and can it cause an issue if the 'trunk' begins to get thicker ?

No, I wouldn't expect them to grow that well in so much water. Once they start to get a little too comfortable in the tank, I'll take them out and plant them in the yard and replace with new ones to start the process over.

I still think you have created the perfect habitat for a trio of pearl gouramis!
I also have an odd question, your name is wild celosia and you have pics of celosia, have you ever grown it from seed?

Yes, my day job is as a cut flower grower. I start thousands of celosias from seed every season. It's very easy to grow from seed!

 

No, I wouldn't expect them to grow that well in so much water. Once they start to get a little too comfortable in the tank, I'll take them out and plant them in the yard and replace with new ones to start the process over.

Yes, my day job is as a cut flower grower. I start thousands of celosias from seed every season. It's very easy to grow from seed!

Well, I accidentally mixed some up with my pepper seeds, so i was wondering if they had red stems, but now I can tell them apart. I have seen some peppers come up with red stems, so it was very hard to tell which was which.

 

Looks awesome. Great idea on the eggcrate, haven't tried it before but seems like it would help!

 

I cannot wait to see more on this tank! I have been lurking in the background since you started and I love it! Keep it up!

 

I just found and read this whole thread, and WOW I love this tank so much. I have a 75 waiting to be set up and this is great inspiration. Please post updates!!