75g freshwater planted with DIY stand *pic heavy*

The stand has a pull out side with 3m strips attaching the power strips to the inside of the door for easy access. The air pump and battery back up are stored on the ground inside.










We siliconed 2 black abs street joints for caves and separated the Eco complete and sand with Tupperware




We've ordered red root floaters (Phyllanthus fluitans) and plan to corral them with suction cups and airline tubing to the right side corner. Also waiting to purchase minI pellia to carpet the left and a red flame sword for behind the wood, but might wait until the driftwood doesn't need weighted down with rocks.










Current stock:
1 bn pleco, 1 rainbow shark, 2 bolivian rams, 6 otos, 3 nerites, 1 mystery snail, 4 platys and one baby, 6 cherry barbs, and 9 odessa barbs.
We will be purchasing 9 (3m 6f) or 12 (3m 9f) black ruby barbs.
Long term stocking will only include the mixed barbs, rbs, bn, and otos, but transferred the entire 20 gallon stock.

Equipment:
Ac110 x2 (second one one the way), hydro iiI sponge with battery back up, 2 150w heaters, and a Finnex FugeRay Planted + arriving today.

Ignore the filter media lying in the tank :/ we transferred the ac70 from the 20 gallon and then noticed a crack. Replacing it with a second ac110 as they fit the rI'm much better and have a smoother gph adjuster.

 

I love it! It's a solid looking stand and a very sharp looking tank

Can I see a picture of the structure inside? I'm considering building one myself.

I'm also curious about what exactly the Tupper ware and other acrylic piece are intended to do.

 

The Tupperware will HOPEFULLY keep the red tiger lotus contained and prevent the gravel and sand from mixing. It might have been a fruitless effort, but fingers crossed!

 

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The Tupperware will HOPEFULLY keep the red tiger lotus contained and prevent the gravel and sand from mixing. It might have been a fruitless effort, but fingers crossed!

Is there a reason for having the mix to begin with?

And thank you, that helps me out a good bit. I plan on housing equipment inside and didn't quite know how to go about the guts.

 

I reused the plant substrate from the 20 gallon and didn't want to go full gravel. The sand bank is for the benefit of the rams. We've also tossed around the idea of getting cories a few years from now.

 

It would require more substrate overall, but couldn't you just cover the plant gravel with enough sand?

 

Over time, the sand would settle under the gravel.

 

Gotcha. I would've thought that 2" sand over 1" gravel would hide the gravel altogether.

Beautiful tank regardless though

 

Thanks!