My first 55g! - Journals

Patzke · 08-30-2009, 10:56 AM

Well, heres my journal for this puppy. I've been waiting forever to make this tank

Im very excited to have it started, despite all the NOOB mistakes that I'm making! Heres some pictures of me setting it up last night.

I ended up getting 2 bags of Eco-Complete, and the USPS envelope was some ferts.

No-no #1 (Bricks as a lift) I hope it's okay I did this this way...

No-no #2 (Blue gravel as a filler)

Peatmoss distribution

Eco-Complete + "river rock"

Filling process (after mixing bowl by mixing bowl filled by sink was taking too long :P)

Finished product, after sitting overnight. It looks so green because i have a green piece of board behind it. I'm gonna have to move that it looks awful haha. Bricks are holding down my drift wood untill it stays submerged.

My "pH Alert" is reading 7.8.... there's my first challenge

Well, thats my aquarium to this day. We'll see how it turns out!! After spending a while looking at it, i've come to the conclusion that i should have made less size out of the river bed and left more room for planting plants..... but too late!!

My 3x54w fixture is on it's way from Catalina Aquarium. Expecting it to arrive on Monday.
I've been procrastinating buying the CO2 system, hoping to find someone having a used one laying around that i can buy, buy it looks like i should just buy the stuff for it...

Havn't got a single plant for it yet. Not sure yet where i want to get them. I'm very afraid of the heat in Tucson killing them on the shipping out here..

Anyway, i'll update regularly!

*Michael* · 08-30-2009, 05:37 PM

you plan to leave it on the floor ?

Patzke · 08-30-2009, 10:30 PM

I do. I have a projector directly in front of it on the other side of the room which projects it's "screen" right on top of it. The tank is fun to look at when your sitting in the living room on the couches. :P

Patzke · 08-31-2009, 11:20 PM

There's my noob-scape! I've GOT tons of rearranging to do already. :P Nice addition to the living room though

Patzke · 09-02-2009, 11:14 PM

The cholla skeleton I had in there from a few days ago destroyed my water and turned it a pee yellow color. Took that out quick and have been waiting for it to die out since. It's been about 3 days since it was in the water. Got my Ehiem Classic filter installed tonight, so i think that will help take some of that color out, too.