Sh899ys Next Step (in The Right Place)

[Sh899y]

So I posted this a week ago in the wrong section... here it goes again:

So. I recently purchased a late birthday present to myself. A 2nd hand Roma 200. Sands gone in and I'm cycling with an APS 1200IF. Plan is too then add an Aquamanta 200 and remove said APS.

Trying to speed the cycle up by squeezing my Aquaball filter sponges in when I clean that tank. Will also remove two rocks from there and add to it tomorrow when I do the water change in my 90L.

Still figuring the stock plan, but it's the next step in my tank journey. To me it's a behemoth and I can't wait to get it right before adding fish.

Will add plants this week, more than likely plants on wood. Have bought liquid fertiliser for them as I've normally just replaced them in the past once leaves have started to die. Realised I can perhaps keep them healthier for longer.

Main decor will be a pirate ship. Quite fancy one that's broken in two but best I've seen is quite pricey and given last weeks personal events may be a couple of weeks before I'm in a place to purchase. Unless I can bend my partners ears.

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Well I did indeed use ornaments from my 90L. I also squeezed 1 of my 3 Eheim filters in every day (alternated the filter each day). Had also ordered new filters so managed to customise (badly cut one from my Eheim in the 90L to fit the APS in my 200.

Add to that I bought some Safe Start and also Microbe beneficial bacteria and dosed the latter per bottle recommendations for the 5 days. Have decided that for now the pirate ship is on the backburner due to an external filter needing to be my next priority, but did purchase a nice corner rock (IMO).

The tank according to my API test kit was cycled as of Sunday. Three days of tests and today I went and purchased 12 juvenile I assumed (simply labelled small) Tiger Barbs. I'm in love!

 

[Sh899y]

This is how it is now. Some of these ornaments will come out and go into retirement. Ideally as I want a nice piece of bogwood in there for a plec and would quite like a fair sized piece. Relatively priced in the LFS.

 

[Bama]

Looking good! Love the pops of green from the plants. I'm not familiar with the Roma 200. I guess it's 200 L which is about 53 gallons? I'd love to have a tank that big! Keep us posted!

 

[Sh899y]

Will add 2 similar plants to the one in the middle. Hopefully hide the heater as much as possible. All in due time. I had planned on getting the scaping of it right before adding fish but we all know that's a pipe dream lol

 

[Sh899y]

Purchased the new filter today. Plumped for an Aquamanta EFX300 which is what the father in law runs so I have someone on call should anything happen. Plus it came with a 4 year warranty which is a bonus.

Running alongside the APS1200 for now, will remove said APS on Monday evening.

Also purchased a small flat piece of bogwood. Am treating that and then the daughter can have the candy striped plec she desires (although a bit of research needs to go into this on my part).

We did submit to the boys nagging and added an RTS too. Purchased some larger caves as well. Same style as the small ones in there just the biggest I've seen. Two big ones are side by side almost creating a big cave. Then two smaller ones are stacked one of the big ones...

Will get a pic later. Worn out at getting the filter running. Not my greatest hour haha

After soaking the bogwood and noticing there was nigh one no discolouring of water, I rang the LFS to see if they pre-treat it at all. Apparently they do so that it's good to go straight in but reccomend naturally it is thoroughly washed... well it's in now.

Once the APS filter is out I will bring it across a bit so I can also move the stones slightly right. Hopefully enabling the RTS to stick to his territory, he has made the rock kn the left his.

And when a plec is added the right of tha tank will have a cave like area for him and some bogwood with the barbs being their mental selves all over the shop.