New 40 Gallon Breeder Project

So, MTS hit hard this holiday season. X-mas bonus + multiple gift cards + Petco's $1/gallon sale... I never stood a chance.

Let this thread serve as the personal journal for my latest obsession. Will be updating regularly.

Think the plan is to rehome the current South American residents of my 36 gallon bow tetra tank to this new one, add a couple of Bolivian rams and turn the old bow into an Asian build. I'm definitely open to suggestions here.

Anyway, found some nice Manzanita wood pieces at the LFS today. Walked out with the three pieces you see below for just $30. So far, so good.




Hopefully, you can already get the gist of the basic layout. I will add some other smaller Manzanita pieces from the 36 bow to what you see, creating even more intricate structure for the fish to navigate and hide in. The hardscape will consist of a raised Dark Flourite and stone bank sloping downward from left to right, leading to a flat sand floor separated by river rocks. A carpet of Staurogyne repens will grow between the river rocks and transition into the sand. Other plants TBD, but will primarily inhabit the right side bank. As I said, totally open to suggestions regarding flora and fauna.

As soon as my stand arrives, I'll need to breakdown and move the 36 to a new location, then put the 40 in its place. That's when the real fun begins.

Stay tuned.

 

40 gallon breeders are GREAT to decorate. I LOVE the wood! It;s PERFECT for the tank! You paint a great picture of the tank. Maybe some low growing Crypts around the leftside base of the wood..or over to just on the right outside edge of the wood. That wood is beautiful!

 

40 gallon breeders are GREAT to decorate. I LOVE the wood! It;s PERFECT for the tank! You paint a great picture of the tank. Maybe some low growing Crypts around the leftside base of the wood..or over to just on the right outside edge of the wood. That wood is beautiful!

Good suggestions, thanks!

Yes, I felt very fortunate to find those wood pieces. Even more so to get them that cheaply. Usually, the amount of Manzanita necessary to fill a good chunk of a 40B will run at least twice what I paid.

Stand should be here middle of next week. Will have some hardscape pics by next weekend. Can't wait to get started.

 

Make sure you attach some pics. Would love to see how you use that wood. I have all sorts of ideas running through my head.

 

Stand finally arrived, so here's where we're at...

Assembled the stand, frosted the back glass, installed a backlight and fashioned a harness for the overhead light. I'm going to go with a side mount for the AC70 with a powerhead on the opposite side. Think it should work just fine, but we'll see. Found some more driftwood pieces lying around the house (this is why us aquarists never, ever throw anything away). Safe to say the fishies will have no shortage of complex structure to hang out in.




Scaping gets underway tomorrow.

 

That driftwood is fabulous! I've been searching the net for pictures of driftwood shapes that go well in a 40b and I have to say that your choice is inspiring

 

That driftwood is fabulous! I've been searching the net for pictures of driftwood shapes that go well in a 40b and I have to say that your choice is inspiring

Thanks a lot. Yeah, I got pretty lucky there. The three pieces I found at my LFS were trade-ins and were significantly marked down. Don't think I would have shelled out the money they were asking for the new pieces - which were only distinguishable from the used by the price tag.

 

Hardscape done.




Time to add some greenery and fill 'er up.

 

Hit a little snag, unfortunately. Once I added water, all the driftwood... you guessed it, it floated straight up to the top. I tried boiling a few pieces, but the biggest ones won't fit in my stockpot. So I put a bunch of rocks in a couple of filter bags and tied them to the big pieces, then wedged the smaller pieces underneath. It will likely be a few days before I have pics of the finished product.

The fish are absolutely loving their new home, though.

 

Argh. I know the frustration. I have one piece that still wants to float after nearly a year submerged. For the first 6 months after boiling and soaking I had it tied to a rock. Then I untied it and it bobbed to the surface. So I put the rock on top of it and that's what's holding it down. With most of my new pieces I choose ones with a flat side and I use a stainless steel screw to attach it to a drilled piece of slate. Nothing floats after that

 

Argh. I know the frustration. I have one piece that still wants to float after nearly a year submerged. For the first 6 months after boiling and soaking I had it tied to a rock. Then I untied it and it bobbed to the surface. So I put the rock on top of it and that's what's holding it down. With most of my new pieces I choose ones with a flat side and I use a stainless steel screw to attach it to a drilled piece of slate. Nothing floats after that

A year, huh? Not liking the sound of that. How big and thick is that particular piece of driftwood?

 

It's about a foot long and maybe 5 inches across, but it's got a lot of holes and wibbly bits. I was assured by the shop owner that it would sink within a week of soaking. Yeah right...

On the other hand, I've purchased other pieces there that required no soaking whatsoever. I just put them in and they stay on the bottom. Just depends on the type of wood I guess! You can really feel the difference though. The pieces that sink tend to be very heavy and solid.

 

It's about a foot long and maybe 5 inches across, but it's got a lot of holes and wibbly bits. I was assured by the shop owner that it would sink within a week of soaking. Yeah right...

On the other hand, I've purchased other pieces there that required no soaking whatsoever. I just put them in and they stay on the bottom. Just depends on the type of wood I guess! You can really feel the difference though. The pieces that sink tend to be very heavy and solid.

None of the pieces I have are more than a couple inches across, so hopefully that will make them waterlog faster. Plus, the pieces I have used before sank in a couple of days previously and the new pieces are the same type of wood. We'll see what happens I guess. Fingers crossed I don't have to weigh them down because I don't think that will work with the hardscape I want.

 

Hopefully it works out! Your design is really nice! I'm excited to see it planted

 

Hopefully it works out! Your design is really nice! I'm excited to see it planted

Thanks, I hope so too. Day three and the two biggest pieces still want to float. Guess I need to look harder into options for weighing them down.

 

Well, not much happening lately, but figured I'd go ahead and post a pic of the tank filled and planted. The driftwood arrangement isn't quite to my liking, but I'm kind of limited with that until I can cut loose the rubber bands and remove the filter media bag full of river stones keeping the big pieces from floating. Then I can build the hardscape back up to where it was before everything came undone and move everything to precisely where I want it.




Would like to add some more plants as well. It is currently stocked with both Kleiner Bar and Red Rubin swords, vallisneria and staurogyne repens. Open to suggestions for some other South American midground and background plants for a medium light tank.

 

Gorgeous!

 

I have to say..the tank looks amazing!! It looks very natural. You have done a great job!!!

 

It's looking great, I love the layout.

 

Looks awesome!!


-Fins, sent from my iPhone using the fishlore aquarium app

 

Thanks, everyone. Can't wait to lose that big ugly eyesore tied to the driftwood. I'm afraid to touch it, though. Guess I'll give it a couple more weeks.

 

nice tank, how did you get the frosted glass look? how well does it hide the stuff in the back?

 

Looks great!

 

My husband convinced me to get a 40 gallon breeder during that sale too.
Your's is coming along splendidly. I still have to build a stand for mine, so mine will take a long time lol.

 

nice tank, how did you get the frosted glass look? how well does it hide the stuff in the back?

I used frosted window film, which can be found at any HD, Lowes, etc.



You can apply it directly to the back glass of your tank, or you can do what I did and cut a clear acrylic sheet to fit your tank, then apply the window film to that. That way if you mess up the application of the film (which I have done, leaving unsightly air pockets) you can just start over with a new acrylic sheet. It also allows you to remove the background if you wanted to change it up. Just make sure the frosted side is touching the back glass, and you're good to go.

If you backlight it like I do, you will see wires and such if they are close enough to the light. Without a backlight, the frosted glass hides everything behind it very nicely.

I haven't done it with this current tank yet, but I like to place natural objects in the back and make kind of a shadowbox background, like so...

 

My husband convinced me to get a 40 gallon breeder during that sale too.
Your's is coming along splendidly. I still have to build a stand for mine, so mine will take a long time lol.

If you feel like taking the easy way out, this stand works perfectly. It's very well made, attractive and is reasonably priced...



They usually have a promo code that allows you to knock another $10 or so off, plus if you have reward dollars that will knock it down even more. I paid around $80 for mine after it was all said and done.

 

You are VERY talented cooperbh . I would love to have you design one of my tanks for me!

I have been meaning to try the shadowbox feature ever since you had your tank up for tank of the month. I really want to give that a try! How do you mount a backlight?

And I LOVE the left side of your new tank. The way you have the S. repens bordering the bigger rocks which border the small rocks...I just love it. I get a lot of compliments on the designs of some of my tanks...but yours makes mine look SOOOOOOOO amateur and boring!!

I definitely need to start with some frosted glass.....then I will go from there! I hope it doesn't bother you that I am stealing your ideas!! LOL I really want to try and replicate the left side of your new tank as well!!! I love it! Thanks for sharing!

 

You are VERY talented @ . I would love to have you design one of my tanks for me!

I have been meaning to try the shadowbox feature ever since you had your tank up for tank of the month. I really want to give that a try! How do you mount a backlight?

And I LOVE the left side of your new tank. The way you have the S. repens bordering the bigger rocks which border the small rocks...I just love it. I get a lot of compliments on the designs of some of my tanks...but yours makes mine look SOOOOOOOO amateur and boring!!

I definitely need to start with some frosted glass.....then I will go from there! I hope it doesn't bother you that I am stealing your ideas!! LOL I really want to try and replicate the left side of your new tank as well!!! I love it! Thanks for sharing!

Steal away! Using negative space is something professional aquascapers do all the time, so I can't really take credit for it anyhow. Same with backlighting a frosted glass background. although I had to figure out on my own how to do it. Many of my design ideas come from looking at what others have done. I'm just extremely flattered that mine has inspired someone just as I have been inspired by the work of others. Thank you!

As for mounting the backlight, I use... [drumroll]... good old fashioned duck tape, of course! The backlight itself is a Marineland Hidden LED...



I'm looking into replacing the ML light with a Current Satellite+ LED strip light so I can tweak the background color, but I'm not sure if it will work with the ramp timer I use. I know the fixture version is incompatible. Hopefully, I can find something that works, because I really want that color control.

 

Using negative space is something professional aquascapers do all the time,

.

What exactly does it mean to use negative space when aquascaping? I know what negative space is on a tattoo design LOL!!

I am glad you are flattered by my being inspired by your work. Because I am very inspired by it and wanted you to know that!! Even if you did pick up the ideas elsewhere, you executed those ideas beautifully!! I am not sure I will be able to execute it as well!

 

Off to a great start, filter bags and all.

How is the AC70 working out for you side mounted? I just picked up a 40b as well and have been trying to figure out if I want to do something similar or bite the bullet and get a canister.

 

What exactly does it mean to use negative space when aquascaping? I know what negative space is on a tattoo design LOL!!

Just referring to the way certain aquascapes will have the focal point heavy on one side with plenty of unfilled space on the other. Or may have lots of empty space in the top region, instead of being filled. I don't know, I may have not phrased it exactly right, lol.

 

Just referring to the way certain aquascapes will have the focal point heavy on one side with plenty of unfilled space on the other. Or may have lots of empty space in the top region, instead of being filled. I don't know, I may have not phrased it exactly right, lol.

That makes perfect sense I do have a little negative space in a couple of my tanks I guess....

I just love love love the left side of your new tank! I can't say it enough. Even if the right side was full too...and you didn't have negative space, I am in love with the left side! And I am not just referring to the gorgeous piece of wood, I am referring to the way you have the rocks and plants organized in that spot. It looks so natural and like a real landscape. Love it Cooper!!!

 

Off to a great start, filter bags and all.

How is the AC70 working out for you side mounted? I just picked up a 40b as well and have been trying to figure out if I want to do something similar or bite the bullet and get a canister.

Absolutely loving it. Produces great flow on its own, but when paired with the small powerhead in the opposite corner, it all but completely eliminates dead spots. If you are an open air kinda guy like I am, I highly recommend it. Just throw in a media bag full of Matrix along with a bag of Purigen and you'll have crystal clear water, dancing plants and fish playing in the current.

I did have to fashion a harness system to support my light fixture since there was no room on the filter side to support the right arm, but it was as simple as cutting a couple of scrap acrylic pieces to size and wedging them in the top lip. Works perfectly.

Only downside is on a 40 breeder, you get a LOT of evaporation. I'm topping off just about every day, as opposed to a couple of times a week for the 36 bow.

That makes perfect sense I do have a little negative space in a couple of my tanks I guess....

I just love love love the left side of your new tank! I can't say it enough. Even if the right side was full too...and you didn't have negative space, I am in love with the left side! And I am not just referring to the gorgeous piece of wood, I am referring to the way you have the rocks and plants organized in that spot. It looks so natural and like a real landscape. Love it Cooper!!!

Thanks again for the kind words! Just wait until the driftwood sinks and I can rebuild the hardscape and reposition the wood. The left side bank was a lot higher before I had to replant that area, and the wood appeared more like roots from a tree above the surface as opposed to just sitting on the stream bed.

 

If you feel like taking the easy way out, this stand works perfectly. It's very well made, attractive and is reasonably priced...



They usually have a promo code that allows you to knock another $10 or so off, plus if you have reward dollars that will knock it down even more. I paid around $80 for mine after it was all said and done.

Oh I've already bought the wood and have started, but thanks for the recommendation. Plus I like projects so I'm looking forward to it.

 

We have sinkage!



Need to add something to the right side foreground. Not so much for design purposes, but so that my fish will color up more. My Bolivian turns almost white when he's swimming over all that sand. Thinking some dried leaf litter might look nice, as well as being species appropriate.

Glamour shot.

 

Glamour shot.
View attachment 188263

I want you to come over and do one of my tanks!

 

How bout a cave or something?

 

@ bizaliz

Sure thing! Just let me wash this tank water off my hands real quick and I'll be right over.

How bout a cave or something?

Nice idea, but I want to keep it as natural as possible. I'm already pushing it with all the rocks I use.

 

Oh, and the final stocking list is as follows:

1 Bolivian ram
5 black phantom tetras
7 pristella tetras
20 glowlight tetras
6 pepper cories
4 otocinclus

Doesn't matter how many glowlights I add, they never show up in photos. Never. It's just amazing.

 

Gorgeous tank, I love the frosted background, I'll have to look into that! That driftwood is awesome too!