75 Gallon With Pics And Video Set Up

[feelingeyes]

About 2 months ago I inherited these fish so I set them up as best I could without much prior knowledge.

Id appreciate any thoughts, ideas, or knowledge.

This is a 75 gallon Clarity Plus with a sump below powered by a Rio 1700 pump...wondering if I should move up to a Rio 2100?

2 All Glass Aquarium Rapid Start 25W lights

75 lbs of 3M ColorQuartz in Black Grade T

10 12x12 Slate Tiles broken up

Lava rock

2 ViaAqua 18" flexible air wands

In the sump is...

1 MarineLand Visatherm Deluxe 300W
2 Chemi-Pure Pads between 2 blue&white filter pads
Rio 1700 pump
bio bale
Prefilter in the overflow


Yesterday I added the slate and lava rock...do you think it looks okay? Heres a pic of what it was before....then I learned about most of them liking caves so thats what I did.

Before:

I donated some of the fish that I inherited like the huge Tinfoil Barb to a large commercial aquarium.

After:

Here is video of it...


http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF_0x0YNM-M


Im guessing theres a lot to learn and I would really appreciate any advice. Live plants?

 

[severalshadesofblue]

This is one of the best first tanks I have ever seen. The dark blue background and shadows lend it a mysterious, deep-ocean look, and the stacked slate and caves provide the fish with hiding places, which often makes them feel more secure.

Are you just starting to keep fish? If you are, the most important thing to keep in mind is to do water changes. I change water as often as possible, which is sometimes three times a week, and I feel that the more water changes you do, the healthier your fish will be (like exercise and healthy diet for people). The rosy tetras in one of my tanks are literally the color of blood and I have never seen tetras in any store or home aquarium that are as playful as they are. It amazes me how many people have problems with disease, which is easily prevented by doing water changes. With the exception of buying a fish that is already sick, I believe that if you change 20% of the water twice a week, you will probably never have an outbreak of disease. The reason for this is that although disease-causing organisms are always present in the water, a healthy fish will be unaffected by them. It is only when a fish's immune system is weakened by dirty water that fish become infected and disease becomes a problem. My advice is to change 20% of the water twice a week, or 1/3 once a week, but the more water you are able to change, the less problems you will have with disease and unhealthy, drab fish and the more pleasant your fishkeeping experience will be.

Another important thing to understand is the cycling process, which is explained ad nauseam in many articles on this site and on others. These articles are all helpful in understanding cycling so choose any one of them and read it.

You could add plants, but you would need more light, which would destroy the mysterious aesthetic you have going on. Also, the plecostomus (algae-eater) might eat the plants, burrow in the gravel (which would disturb the roots), or any number of other things, so you should find out exactly what kind of pleco it is and whether it eats plants or not before getting any. The blood parrot may nibble on plants also (or not--I've never kept one), so research their tendencies before you plant your tank. My opinion is that if you want plants you should get plants, although I personally love the look of the tank now.

Anyway, good luck with the fish and have fun.

 

[feelingeyes]

This is one of the best first tanks I have ever seen. The dark blue background and shadows lend it a mysterious, deep-ocean look, and the stacked slate and caves provide the fish with hiding places, which often makes them feel more secure.

Are you just starting to keep fish? If you are, the most important thing to keep in mind is to do water changes. I change water as often as possible, which is sometimes three times a week, and I feel that the more water changes you do, the healthier your fish will be (like exercise and healthy diet for people). The rosy tetras in one of my tanks are literally the color of blood and I have never seen tetras in any store or home aquarium that are as playful as they are. It amazes me how many people have problems with disease, which is easily prevented by doing water changes. With the exception of buying a fish that is already sick, I believe that if you change 20% of the water twice a week, you will probably never have an outbreak of disease. The reason for this is that although disease-causing organisms are always present in the water, a healthy fish will be unaffected by them. It is only when a fish's immune system is weakened by dirty water that fish become infected and disease becomes a problem. My advice is to change 20% of the water twice a week, or 1/3 once a week, but the more water you are able to change, the less problems you will have with disease and unhealthy, drab fish and the more pleasant your fishkeeping experience will be.

Another important thing to understand is the cycling process, which is explained ad nauseam in many articles on this site and on others. These articles are all helpful in understanding cycling so choose any one of them and read it.

You could add plants, but you would need more light, which would destroy the mysterious aesthetic you have going on. Also, the plecostomus (algae-eater) might eat the plants, burrow in the gravel (which would disturb the roots), or any number of other things, so you should find out exactly what kind of pleco it is and whether it eats plants or not before getting any. The blood parrot may nibble on plants also (or not--I've never kept one), so research their tendencies before you plant your tank. My opinion is that if you want plants you should get plants, although I personally love the look of the tank now.

Anyway, good luck with the fish and have fun.

Can I first just get this out of the way I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!! Thank you soooo much...I am ALL SMILES right now! Your words went straight to my heart.

Ive had 30 gallon and smaller tanks before but nothing to the extent or knowledge Ive retained as I do now. I live and breath love for these fish all day long. But yes, it is my first time with large setups. I just want to do the very best for them and in return...they show me so much beauty and give such a sense of calm in the home.

I actually have two 75 gallon tanks...Ill show you in videos below.

Yes...water changes are pretty much a religion! I do 1-3 a week. I have the Master Test kit and everything is PERFECT! Do you even know how ecstatic that is Im sure you do LOL!

The other day I did get some plants for both tanks....tomorrow morning first thing Im getting some new bulbs. Im really going to try my best to do well for them too. Ive never had real plants and I have to say...WOAH! Its a really nice difference.

Here are my two tanks...I hope you like. Also...ID LOVE TO SEE YOURS! Your words are just dripping with fondness for fish so I would really love to see its manifestation via your setup.

Here are the two setups I have...now planted.

Acrylic Tank

Glass Tank

I look forward to hearing from you again!
-Kasia

 

[Neal]

You have awesome artistic flare, I really do love both of your tanks, and I especially like the mysterious blue background, your fish look really healthy and your goldfish tank looks extremely calm. Your substrate is beautiful and gives the tank a whole new look, this is one of the best, if not the best begginers tank i've seen. It certainly looks alot better than mine, I just cannot design anything without it looking like it fell into the tank! I really do love your tanks and I hope to see you around the forum alot, also if possible could you please put up a stocking list of both your beautiful tanks? And regarding plants, I got a few just to start me off from a few members on this forum, and now i'm planning to go full scale planted, your black cichlids look really nice, i'm not sure what they are though. Any information on your tank would be nice!
Hope to see you around the forum as you seem like a nice person who cares for their fish!
PS - You forgot to remove Colin sneezing.

Neal

 

[feelingeyes]

You have awesome artistic flare, I really do love both of your tanks, and I especially like the mysterious blue background, your fish look really healthy and your goldfish tank looks extremely calm. Your substrate is beautiful and gives the tank a whole new look, this is one of the best, if not the best begginers tank i've seen. It certainly looks alot better than mine, I just cannot design anything without it looking like it fell into the tank! I really do love your tanks and I hope to see you around the forum alot, also if possible could you please put up a stocking list of both your beautiful tanks? And regarding plants, I got a few just to start me off from a few members on this forum, and now i'm planning to go full scale planted, your black cichlids look really nice, i'm not sure what they are though. Any information on your tank would be nice!
Hope to see you around the forum as you seem like a nice person who cares for their fish!
PS - You forgot to remove Colin sneezing.

Neal

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!! Much appreciated and very kind. Such a warm welcome!

The cichlids are Jack Dempseys...here are a few pics I took for you. I changed the lighting to support my plant life.... Haha yes...I was sooo pumped to get the video on here that I put it up immediately after setting up the tank. That Cullen! I could have strangled him (I think you could hear it in my voice haha)...it was my 3rd or 4th time of trying to make the video without an interuption. Ah choo!

The Old lighting

The New Lighting

 

[ice(kat)]

Oooo my freeking gosh that looks so nice i wana cry . my tank suxxxxxxxx it has nothing only 2 rocks and 2 tubes( 20 cm long) nothing at all no gravel or anyting and i have 3 oscars 6 severums 2 silver dollars and 2 albino catfish. job very nice. i cant get anything cause my mum will kill me said wait till i finish yr 12 at end of the year + i got umat this wednesday rofl. cant touch my tank or she said she will give all fish away. NICEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE TANK with nice fish

 

[Gankutsuou]

hmmm - In all those pictures I'm only seeing 2x bala shark and 1x roseline shark... I think the minimum amount on both those specieis is supposed to be 3x each...

but BEAUTIFUL tank. That's what i'd eventually want to do when i finally get my own house and so on. (only 17 so meh.) That's very excellent ! Good work!

 

[feelingeyes]

hmmm - In all those pictures I'm only seeing 2x bala shark and 1x roseline shark... I think the minimum amount on both those specieis is supposed to be 3x each...

but BEAUTIFUL tank. That's what i'd eventually want to do when i finally get my own house and so on. (only 17 so meh.) That's very excellent ! Good work!

Interesting...in all the pics thats all you saw? Did you see the pics in reply to Neal above? There are 2 Bala Sharks in there that will be traded in soon as they arent good tank mates for the Jack Dempseys.

Thank you.

 

[BWBettas]

Beautiful tank

Bret

 

[Gankutsuou]

yeah. In pretty much all the pics, there's only 1x roseline shark. I;ve been hurting for these guys pretty bad, so i've researched them. Turns out i probably can't get them (what i'm getting is a 40 hex, and i wanted a group of three, but the lowest group should be 5....) So meh, you may wanna consider getting him some buddys. But expensive buddies at 30 bucks each... i hear it's gone down to 25 and 20 some places...

 

[demonmagus]

that is soooooo beautiful, I think the whole tank looks mysterious... in a good way

 

[Loko17]

Love your tank!!

 

[feelingeyes]

that is soooooo beautiful, I think the whole tank looks mysterious... in a good way

thank you thank you!

 

[chris_junior41]

tank looks really nice! gives me inspiration too! makes me want to go to the shop right now!
I too think it would be nice if you could list all the fish you have there too as Im sure these guys and gayls will be able to advise.

How long have you had the tank up and running now?

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Personally I liked it better before, maybe some tall plants in the back would look nice!