Oct 4th Picture update - Now that I have my 75g

[guck]

it's only a matter of building the stand.  So excited.  I will go shoping the wood this week end.

[daworldisblack]

it's only a matter of building the stand.  So excited.  I will go shoping the wood this week end.

oooooh can't wait! What are the plans for plants and livestock?

[guck]

oooooh can't wait! What are the plans for plants and livestock?

That's the tough question.  I want to try the "one inch soil principle" covered with gravel.  I guess that will takes lots of plants.  I will have to buy more and scavenge my other smaller tanks.
As far as fishes go, I guess it will have to go with the plant mode.  I would like gouramis as main feature..
In my 25g I have 5 pretty tetras and 5 black neons that swim together as a school of 10.  I find that impressing.

My coffee is empty now,  Have to head to Home Depot.

[charlie]

That's the tough question.  I want to try the "one inch soil principle" covered with gravel.  I guess that will takes lots of plants.  I will have to buy more and scavenge my other smaller tanks.
As far as fishes go, I guess it will have to go with the plant mode.  I would like gouramis as main feature..
In my 25g I have 5 pretty tetras and 5 black neons that swim together as a school of 10.  I find that impressing.

My coffee is empty now,  Have to head to Home Depot.

Nice!
They are a couple on this forum who have successfully  done the soil tank - wrm130 & Angelcraze- they can be a great resource, also Jason @ one of our sponsors ( Critter Jungle) is full of experience & knowledge in this regard.
Regards

[guck]

Nice!
They are a couple on this forum who have successfully  done the soil tank - wrm130 & Angelcraze- they can be a great resource, also Jason @ one of our sponsors ( Critter Jungle) is full of experience & knowledge in this regard.
Regards

Thanks Charlie.  That should help me narrow down my searches on the forum.

[guck]

After getting some 2X4 and a rideLee Valley because I ran out of pocket screws, here is the barebone structure.  50 X 22 by 19 (LHW)

[fischkopp]

That's looking pretty solid! Keep it coming!

[guck]

It's rather a slow process now... hiding the 2X4s by glueing some leftover of resawn white ash I wanted to recycle.  It will require sanding/hand planing.

[guck]

Little update on the setup which is a couple of weeks old now.

[Ruber]

that really looks nice, Love your stand and also your plants / landscape

I do have a question for you, what type of plants are the small ones upfront?

I need to redo my new 50G and looking for nice small plants

[guck]

Thanks Ruber.  I saw you built a few stands too lately ...
Stand still missing the doors ans side panels, but I could not wait lol.

small plants are glossostigma elatinoides.

[Ruber]

Thanks,   Ya on my side its getting there,   I need to move my 46G to its new place on the stand and figure out what Ill be doing with the 50G

Thanks for the name of those plants,  Now I just have to find a place to buy them from in the Ottawa Area

[fischkopp]

This is coming along nicely!

Better get those doors on soon or you end up like me and are still missing one out three after a few years.

[Ruber]

On mine I was too cheap to buy door latches @ 12x 3.99$,  So I used magnets 6 X 98 cents lol   Does the job I suppose.

[guck]

This is coming along nicely!

Better get those doors on soon or you end up like me and are still missing one out three after a few years.

Thanks.  You haven't seen my doorless kitchen cabinet... 

[guck]

The scene was not as pretty this morning.  My blackangels are on death row.
Out of six, only one is doing fine.  Besides, corys, otos, shrimps and snails are fine.  No traces of ammonia, very small traces of nitrites.

[guck]

Thanks for the name of those plants,  Now I just have to find a place to buy them from in the Ottawa Area

Got mine at La Niche last week end.

[Ruber]

Was the tank already established?   And did those nice fish die after putting in the new plants?

[guck]

Was the tank already established?   And did those nice fish die after putting in the new plants?

Well, the tank was fully planted for several days to let them roots somewhat.  Substrate is play sand over topsoil.  Then I put the fish. I put the shrimps the same day I put the plants.

[Mike L]

 It might also be ph shock. What was the ph of the water the fish came from compared to the ph of your water.

[Shawn84]

What was your acclaimation process like?

[exv152]

It might also be ph shock. What was the ph of the water the fish came from compared to the ph of your water.

It could be many things, but any trace of nitrites, as mentioned earlier, would point to the fact that the tank is not fully cycled. I would start there.

[guck]

Acclimatation process:
Angels (6), Corys(3) came in the same bag.  Ottos (4) in their own bag that I separated in two pairs as they were for 2 different tanks.
I put the bag floating in the fishtank and added few half cups of water over a period of about 45 min.  Then at the hour, emptied the bag in the tank.(

PH:
I failed to measure the ph from the bag.  The water in the tank was rather alkaline but it dropped to neutral in the last couple of days.  

Nitrite vs angelfish:
Nitrites although very low I guess are extremelly bad on angelfishes.  All other inhabitants seem to careless.


Driftwood:
Two of the driftwoods were covered for a while with white fungus.  But I read that this is harmless and that some fishes even eat it.  At few occasions I saw angelfishes picking at that.  It seemed like they prefered that to the flake food.  It is my understanding that wood tend to produce a more acidic water.  

Update:  For the record, ottos (4) in their own bag.

[lucius]

It's not recommended to pour the water from the fish store into your tank because it can introduce all sorts of bad stuff.

[ftan]

Acclimatation process:
All fishes came in the same bag (angels, ottos. corys).
I put the bag floating in the fishtank and added few half cups of water over a period of about 45 min.  Then at the hour, emptied the bag in the tank.

PH:
I failed to measure the ph from the bag.  The water in the tank was rather alkaline but it dropped to neutral in the last couple of days. 

Nitrite vs angelfish:
Nitrites although very low I guess are extremelly bad on angelfishes.  All other inhabitants seem to careless.


Driftwood:
Two of the driftwoods were covered for a while with white fungus.  But I read that this is harmless and that some fishes even eat it.  At few occasions I saw angelfishes picking at that.  It seemed like they prefered that to the flake food.  It is my understanding that wood tend to produce a more acidic water. 

What store did you buy fish from?

[guck]

What store did you buy fish from?

I will reply through your PM ftan.  It's not the place to discuss supplier here and I don't think my supplier is at fault.

[guck]

It's not recommended to pour the water from the fish store into your tank because it can introduce all sorts of bad stuff.

Probably, but considering the tank was fishless, I don't think there was much risk there.  Most of my fishes come from the same place in my other tank and never had problems.  But you are right.

[lucius]

Probably, but considering the tank was fishless, I don't think there was much risk there.  Most of my fishes come from the same place in my other tank and never had problems.  But you are right.

I've never done a fishless cycle myself.  I've always waited the four to six weeks for my tank to cycle before adding a group of fish.  For my 90 and then 75 gallon tanks, I took bio-media from an existing filter and my two BN plecos were the only inhabitants in the two tanks for a very long time.

[guck]

Picture update as of Jul 29. Views from left to right.

[angelcraze]

Nice tank Guck!!  Sorry about your stock   I like how you planted your tank so heavily from the start.  I like the jungle look, lots of places for your tank inhabitants to hide.  I personally like the manzanita driftwood, I will be using this in my showtank myself, when I finally get it going.  Good job.   

[guck]

Nice tank Guck!!  Sorry about your stock  I like how you planted your tank so heavily from the start.  I like the jungle look, lots of places for your tank inhabitants to hide.  I personally like the manzanita driftwood, I will be using this in my showtank myself, when I finally get it going.  Good job.    

Thanks angelcraze.  I am flattered.  I tried to plant heavily so I can see what plant would do good.   Then I suppose I can adjust.  I put a Fluval 48 inches LED strip and decided to put a blueish blackground instead of leaving it open to the window the tank is against to. The plants one on the left-hand side are really starting to kick in.  On the right, it is more slow growth.
I put 4 new angels on Thursday.  They seem happy.

Wish I had an Amazon Sword.  I have never seen one, but read a bit about it.

[wrm130]

Congrats on the wonderful looking tank!

With enough space an Amazon sword will take up half your tank! Be neat to see how big you could get it to grow!

[guck]

Thanks wrm130.
Half the tank!! WOW    Indeed that would be interesting.  I could certainly make place on the right hand side of the tank.

[wrm130]

Get a lace plant! Way cooler

[angelcraze]

Agreed, you give an amazon sword the right conditions, and it could take over your tank.  Although your angelfish, they like this.  Madagascar lace plants are interesting, or you could try a different variety of sword, like red melon or red flame, which tend to grow more dwarfed  in higher lighting.  Your angels will appreciate any tall vertical leaved plants, even a forest of vallisneria.

[TLe041]

Absolutely go for a lace plant if you can (I got mine from La Niche a few years ago). They're stunning plants. But keep in mind that they can get HUGE.

[Ruber]

I recently bought some pondweed,  Love the look and texture of the plant.




Here is a update and what it looks like in a 50G tank,   soil capped with gravel.

[guck]

Indeed, lace and sword varieties are all very interesting.  Red swords are very nice.  I will keep my eyes open.  I will put up updated pictures later.  I had to trim on the left section.  One of the plant, that I have no clue what it is and I can't seem to identify is just growing and growing.

[wrm130]

Guppy weed/naja grass I believe

[guck]

Guppy weed/naja grass I believe

Yes bingo Najas guadalupensis.  Seem to be pretty invasive.  Don't know if I will keep that.

[guck]

Picture update.  The Naja Grass on the left...  spreading. 

[guck]

Congrats on the wonderful looking tank!

With enough space an Amazon sword will take up half your tank! Be neat to see how big you could get it to grow!

Stopped by CJ today and there were two Amazon swords there.  I could not resist but get one.  I stripped most of the guppy weed and planted the sword.  It's rather small for now.  About 2-3 inches. 
I also grabbed some valisnerias.  And while I was at it, I got some trumpet snails to look after the underground lol.

[wrm130]

That's awesome!

You should post a pic of the sword to track it's growth!

Also, keep a close eye and stay on top of your vals. They spread like the plague, and generally not where you want them to lol

[guck]

Yes, Jason warned me about the spreading.  If it's like my sagittaria subulatas, that should be interesting.  I will take a picture later tonight when there is no window reflexion.  I had enough vals to try some in the 25g that has somewhat low light.  I am not happy with that tank.

[guck]

Here is the shy Amazon sword hding in it's new home. 

I removed most of the guppy grass. 

[charlie]

In my opinion, that amazon is in a bad location, as mentioned they are tank busters and will occupy 1/2 to 2/3 of your tank, coupled with the fact that they develop huge root systems that will surprise you both in it`s ability to shoot across the tank under the substrate & it`s root size, this can potentially inhibit your other plants in time.
If you really want to keep it, place it at the back of the tank.
I use to keep one in a 33 gallon & another Echinodorus Barthii in a 75 gallon, in my early days, so speaking from personal experience.
BTW they don't spread like dwarf Sag. as in producing plantlets via runners.
Just my 2 cents.

[guck]

In my opinion, that amazon is in a bad location, as mentioned they are tank busters and will occupy 1/2 to 2/3 of your tank, coupled with the fact that they develop huge root systems that will surprise you both in it`s ability to shoot across the tank under the substrate & it`s root size, this can potentially inhibit your other plants in time.
If you really want to keep it, place it at the back of the tank.

Do you mean that it shoul be pretty much against the rear glass.  It's about a mid point at the moment.  I can move it back further.

BTW they don't spread like dwarf Sag. as in producing plantlets via runners..

I have a feeling you are refering to the sword, but in my statement, I was refering to the vals.

[charlie]

Do you mean that it shoul be pretty much against the rear glass.  It's about a mid point at the moment.  I can move it back further.
I have a feeling you are refering to the sword, but in my statement, I was refering to the vals.

My bad 
Not against the glass but behind you dwarf sag & other plants.
Regards

[guck]

I think it's time to post update on this tank. 

[Mike L]

 Very nice tank.
Mike

[lucius]

Wow, looks great!

[charlie]

Wow, looks great!

X2, loving it.

[guck]

Thank you all.  Must admit I kind of like it too.     That's why I emptied my 25g and started it all over.  It was an ugly one.