CraigThor

Figured I should start a journal of my planted tank. To start I started this year loving African Cichlids but got tired of all the aggressiveness. So after several changes I'm now planted. I've always had a green thumb but now I can bring it inside where I can enjoy it all winter long. Here is my setup:

Tank 150 Tall 48x24x30- Kind of a pain to work in but with the long tools its not to bad.


Filtration- CPR SYS 3000 sump with additional 20 gal res attached.


Lighting 4 150 watt MH with 6500K bulbs. (Anyone using the 8000K ADA one got pictures of the 8k or the 8k Green?)




CO2 is a Rex Griggs Dest Damn Regulator with 5lb tank 45" Reactor 1" PVC back to tank with 3/4" Loc Line fittings. I'm getting an adaptor to 1/2" Loc Line and getting 2 Spray bars for more even tank coverage.


I've got 3 bags of Eco Complete, 6 bags of Flourite and 2 Bags of Flourite Red as substrate. Here are a bunch of misc Pictures.


















Fish List:

6 Powder Blue Gouramis'
43 Cardinal Tetras
6 Otos
20 Sunset Platys (Wifes favorite fish!)
10-12 Rummynose Tetras- Getting today!

Craig

 

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trenac

Your setup is really looking good. The only thing I see I really don't like is the group of rocks on the left side. I'm looking forward to seeing the progress of this tank.

CraigThor

I'm going with this stack of rocks until I can find one the right style and size 13" tall and 13-15" from end to end. I am looking for something layered just yet to find the perfect piece.

Craig

uglybuckling

Interesting sized tank to work with; the depth presents a few difficult problems--working at the bottom of the tank must be really tough. It also seems like a lot of light you've got going on there, but given the tank's depth, it's probably about right. Growing HC at a depth of 30 inches is nuts, but then again, that's 600W of metal halide above that tank.

I like your choice in fish, I bet the tank looks really lively, especially at feeding time.

Aquascaping-wise, you might try going for a less symmetric, wall-like background, and use some groups of stem plants arranged to accent your hardscaping. I like the plants you've got going on in front of the val (I guess what you'd call "midground"). It also looks like you've got a really good start on your foreground--that HC is going to fill in and look great. Is that grass-like plant in the left foreground E. tenellus or dwarf hairgrass? It's hard for me to assess scale in this tank, it just seems really big.

Also, I know you're still working on the hardscaping (you said you were looking for some layered rocks), so I'll have to be patient and wait for it to fill in a bit.

--B

CraigThor

Left side is Micro swords and the right side is Dwarf Hairgrass. I use 24" SS Forceps and 12" Tweezers for this tank. The full 600 is only on for 2 hours each day 1-3pm other than that it is 150 each side. Still playing with m scape a couple of more plants are on they way so I will have some rearranging to do.

Craig

ShortFin

At first I thought whoa, those bpass would need a larger tank. Then I saw you changed it to a planted tank. I think it would look better if you remove the brown looking rock that is sticking up on the left side. It is kind of distracting from the whole outlook.

CraigThor

Yeah, I need some major help with my aquascaping need to make a post.

Craig

Brilliant

I can't wait to see those plants grow in. You did a great job planting the HC.

CraigThor

Now if I could get the Gouramis to not pick at it.

Brilliant

Doh! same deal with discus haha
Maybe you can try a worm feeder and keep their attention up high

 

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