Tank change

My goldies have gone to a new home, they were outgrowing my tank....sooooooooooo

I've decided to take it back to a tropical community tank (mainly livebearers). I'm going with live plants this time around. I've changed substrate, to sand from gravel. Let me say cleaning sand takes forever *LOL*

I've only set it up today, so it still has to cycle. So at present it is stockless, no plants added as yet either. So its the bare basics, mainly wood and a couple of rocks so far.

Updated pics will come as the tank progresses

Today ~ 8th Sept 07

 

Is that the 200L? It looks huuuuuuuuuuuuuge. Your livebearers are going to be so happy there!

 

Yep its 200 litres I'm certainly hoping they will be happy.

 

Wow, lucky you. My biggest is 150L, and it feels quite cramped (6 mollies in there + 1 BN pleco)

 

The arrangement looks very nice, I can't wait to see it with plants.

 

I love your tank set up! ;D Espcially the driftwood. Is the fish that I see on your background paper? Very nice job you did.. I love it!

 

Thanx

The wood is stuff i've found at both work and home that I liked the shape of....much soaking/drying/soaking etc later (i've had them for years now)....and here it is

Yes the platys are on the background sheet

 

the tank already looks great, can't wait to see it when it's cycled and you start adding fish.

 

A few more plants added today

 

love the additions to the tank ;D

 

Very nice, reminds me of a river bed

 

Updated pic ~ added 2 java fern, elodea, anubis & small bit of java moss







Housing: 1 albino cory, 2 peppered cories & 3 firetail gudgeons (these 3 not staying in final setup)

 

Added hairgrass & 1 albino cory and 2 bronze cories




Note: pic is stitched...that's why it has a bit darker line in the middle

 

I wouldn't really recommend stitching a tank - it might leak. seriously, it looks great!

 

*LOL*...Thank you

I'm having a ball with this tank so far.....seriously debating changing my 2ft to live plants as well

 

Very Nice !!!

 

Thanx Neil

Added: 2 chain swords and a large leaf plant i'm yet to ID
4 platys

 

;D that really is a beautiful tank!

 

Updated pics

The tank as it is today

 

I believe your large leafy plant is some type of sword plant.

 

looks really good, what type of lighting do you have, and how are your chain swords doing?

 

Awesome tank! uh, 200 l = how many US gallons?

 

looks great, what live bearers do u have in there?

Jack

 

I think that tank is close to 53 US gallons.

The tank is beautiful and those gold gourami look great! ;D

 

I believe your large leafy plant is some type of sword plant.

I'll have to enquire at the store I bought it from...I don't think it was a 'sword' but I could be wrong *L*

 

looks really good, what type of lighting do you have, and how are your chain swords doing?

Thank you

Lighting ~ Dalbarb double reflector. Tubes are: 40W Life-Glo tube and a 36W Aquastar

The chain swords are throwing out runners all over....i've removed 5 new small plants already to another tank.

 

looks great, what live bearers do u have in there?

Jack

Livebearers = Platys

 

The tank is just under 53 gallons, that's of course it maximum capacity, take away displacement with sand and decor...I think that would drop it under 50 gal.

COBetta~ Yes I love the gold gouramis too....i'm hoping to pick up a school of neon tetras (20 max) on the weekend to put in, a bit of flashy colour

 

how about some rummynose tetras...they add really nice contrast in planted tank!

 

Great looking tank! I love the wood and also how the sand looks. I know personally I would never be able to manage sand, no matter how much I like how it looks, so I'm not even going to try. Sticking with gravel over here.

 

I've decided to upgrade the tank...i've bought a 5ft to replace the 4ft in the pics.

Soooo all this vvvv ~ current pic



Will be moved and held while the changeover occurs, looking way forward to the bigger tank, but not the changeover *LOL*

While i'm awaiting the new tanks arrival, I have to get a new heater & i'm hoping to be able to pick up some new rocks for it, spotted some fossilized wood at a shop the other day...looked real neat. Also on the lookout for some unusual driftwood I like.

The substrate will vary a bit too in the new one...still sand but I want to mix gravel or something in with it..

Pics to come

The 4ft will then be for sale (i'd love to keep it, but I really have nowhere to put it *L*)

 

Beautiful tank! I wish we could pick up the 4 foot tank from you, but shipping would be a killer.

 

The 5ft should arrive Sat 16th Feb....wooohoooooo i'm so looking forward to it!

I originally ordered a 5'x18"x18". I went in to my lfs to see if it had arrived last week and mine was there, but out the back. In the front showroom was a 5'x2'x18". The guy I deal with seen me looking at it and offered me that one instead for AU$20 more...I snapped it up *LOL* More room is good I say

Now I have to buy new heaters for this tank....I was offered 2x 300W for the price of 2x 200W heaters (they had no 200watt)....That should be ok, yes? I just figure they won't need to work as hard.

 

Loved the look of the old 4 footer and looking forward to the look of the young 5 footer ;D

2x300W heaters are definitely better than 2x200W ones for the reasons you already stated.

Also, good call on the bigger tank for only a few dollars more.

 

your tank looks amazing! natural pebbly gravel would look good with sand

 

Thank you both

With the substrate ~ I've decided to go a layer of black gravel mixed with 'Richgrow' Aquatic planting mix. Over this will go a layer of just black gravel to keep the Richgrow where I want it. A section of the base will be sand only to keep future loaches/cories happy.

Well that's the plan anyway *LOL* Hopefully it will work out how I envisage it

 

Have you done already got the substrates you just mentioned? (I've got a thought or two on them ;D)

 

I already had the gravel and the sand. The Richgrow I got yesterday

 

Ahh ok, I'll save my thoughts then ;D Nothing bad btw.

 

*LOL*...you can put ya thoughts out there if ya want....upto you

Ya never know, I may have another tank that may need a makeover and prefer your thoughts