jamesmacc
Fishaholic
hey everyone, been a member for a few weeks and already learning way more than i did from just flicking through google. ig always do a journal when building cars so i thought i would keep a journal of my tank and getting it up and running and maybe you kind poeple can give me your advise and keep me on the right track 
. my love for aquariums started years ago when my best friends grandparents kept a tropical fish tank at the end of there dining room table, when we were eating our dinner we would just sit and watch them swim about, very relaxing. a good few years later and now i have my own house (well almost,its nearly finished) and its time to start my own tank. i started off years ago with the idea of a 100l tank with blue gravel and a no fishing sign etc and some tetras. as soon as a started researching i came across some lovely planted tanks and then i came across cichlids and fell in love with the colours of them and the true beauty of the natural looking tanks. i then decided on a tank built into my dining room wall which is open plan with my living room and kitchen.
first purchase was the tank, its a 50x18x26 385l tank from ac aquatics with black background and glass sliders
then i started to buy the bits and pieces that are needed, i still have some more to buy but here are some.
2x300w heaters
4x bags black moon sand substrate (only one shown)
2x digital thermometer
1x tetratec ex1200 external filter (going to buy a second soon)
1x algae cleaning rod
1x magnetic algae cleaner (scared to use this incase i scratch my tank)
1x api water test strip kit and also a liquid test kit
1X 15m hose and connections for d.i.y python and some eheim suckers to keep it in tank and sink
1x battery powered gravel cleaner
1x 120 cm twin t5 lighting unit and 6k bulbs (they came with it, maybe upgrade to 10's?)
also bought some egg crate for the bottom of tank but its not in picture
11/9/11
bought a Hydor Koralia 1 Power Head 1600lph (not sure if i will need this but got it on ebay cheap
18/9/11- bought a eheim 2217 1000lph filter to work alonside the ex1200
21/9/11- bought a hydor 300w external heater to connect to the filter outlet
still to get:
50kg ocean rock
prime dechloranator
there may be other things i have forgot?
it will be another week or two before i get the tank mounted and set up but i will post pictures up once its fitted in the wall and then i will start cycling and hopefully get some yellow labs to start with 4-6 weeks later.
fish stock: malawi cichlids but havent decided what ones yet, can any one reccomend a few bottom dwellers, i love the zebra loach but that isnt suitable
. my love for aquariums started years ago when my best friends grandparents kept a tropical fish tank at the end of there dining room table, when we were eating our dinner we would just sit and watch them swim about, very relaxing. a good few years later and now i have my own house (well almost,its nearly finished) and its time to start my own tank. i started off years ago with the idea of a 100l tank with blue gravel and a no fishing sign etc and some tetras. as soon as a started researching i came across some lovely planted tanks and then i came across cichlids and fell in love with the colours of them and the true beauty of the natural looking tanks. i then decided on a tank built into my dining room wall which is open plan with my living room and kitchen.first purchase was the tank, its a 50x18x26 385l tank from ac aquatics with black background and glass sliders
then i started to buy the bits and pieces that are needed, i still have some more to buy but here are some.
2x300w heaters
4x bags black moon sand substrate (only one shown)
2x digital thermometer
1x tetratec ex1200 external filter (going to buy a second soon)
1x algae cleaning rod
1x magnetic algae cleaner (scared to use this incase i scratch my tank)
1x api water test strip kit and also a liquid test kit
1X 15m hose and connections for d.i.y python and some eheim suckers to keep it in tank and sink
1x battery powered gravel cleaner
1x 120 cm twin t5 lighting unit and 6k bulbs (they came with it, maybe upgrade to 10's?)
also bought some egg crate for the bottom of tank but its not in picture
11/9/11
bought a Hydor Koralia 1 Power Head 1600lph (not sure if i will need this but got it on ebay cheap
18/9/11- bought a eheim 2217 1000lph filter to work alonside the ex1200
21/9/11- bought a hydor 300w external heater to connect to the filter outlet
still to get:
50kg ocean rock
prime dechloranator
there may be other things i have forgot?
it will be another week or two before i get the tank mounted and set up but i will post pictures up once its fitted in the wall and then i will start cycling and hopefully get some yellow labs to start with 4-6 weeks later.
fish stock: malawi cichlids but havent decided what ones yet, can any one reccomend a few bottom dwellers, i love the zebra loach but that isnt suitable
