Ben's Tropical Tank

[L4byr1nth]

Ok guys, finished 'scaping the tank for now.

Sorry about the poor pictures - it's getting dark here and the light in my room is an energy saving bulb (read: rubbish). I may take some better ones tomorrow when I've got more light (and hopefully some plants!).

​

Ben.

 

[Skins]

Coming together very nice Ben.

 

[L4byr1nth]

Thanks

Didn't bother using silicone on the rocks... They seem to be alright where they are.

Hopefully over the weekend I'll be going to the LFS to look for some suitable plants and stuff.

Ben.

EDIT:: Anyone got any recommendations? I need plants that'll be ok with nothing but the stock lighting (2x40W T8's - I work that out to around 1.5 WPG?).

 

[moochy13]

i think id stick another large chunk of wood in there, something with a bit of height. or if you can get some a tall 'rooty' bit, sort of like the mangrove roots, but miniature. id also be trying to think of something to cover the seam in the middle of the backgrounds. probably plants best for that though. they look great other than that bit.

that goby you've got, looks very similar to the purple goby/gudgeon that my mate had. very nice fish at that size, but his grew and took out nearly 100 quids worth of discus. it went from the size of yours to something like 6-8 inches in about 3 months. he took it back to the shop and they put it in with the cichlids - what does that tell you

 

[FishAreFriendsNotFood10]

awesome progress thread a good read your on watch fella

 

[L4byr1nth]

Thanks for the advice guys

I did look for a bigger bit of wood - but that large rooty bit was the biggest in the LFS, would you believe?!

I was mainly going to rely on plants for most of the mid-level and top cover though - have to see what the LFS has when I visit tomorrow (pending the weather, ofc!). I'll at least have to get enough to cover the seam in the background and the heater.

About three hours ago I finished setting up and readying the Fluval 305 external filter for use.

Pending plants, it's ready to be filled up

Ben.

 

[L4byr1nth]

Ok, done the hardest part today.

Went to the LFS, and picked up a few small plants, a gravel cleaner, and a much larger bit of Mopani. I also changed the layout of the tank (again) - pics to come.

Got home, washed everything, then spent the best part of half an hour filling the tank (two 12 litre buckets, and a flight of stairs each trip ).

It's still very cloudy in the tank, and I'll leave it running overnight to bring the water up to temperature and for the whole thing to clear up a bit.

Only issue so far is that the Sumatra wood floats - no-one told me this! Now I have to figure out a way to weight the thing down.

Of course, I WAS hoping to fill the tank halfway, run the heater and filter, and plant it out... But it wouldn't work, and in the end I just filled it all the way.

Ben.

 

[Wills]

Hi really nice looking tank interesting first choices of fish as well especially the goby are you going to stick to asian fish for this tank?

As for the sumatran wood it does sink eventually it just needs to get water logged enough and also make sure there are no air pockets in the wood its self - ie if it sounds hollow at any point make sure you drill it or soak it well to fill it with water - until it sinks maybe weight it down with some rocks on top of it? Or screw it to a piece of slate and then bury the slate in the substrate - looking forward to new pics

Wills

 

[L4byr1nth]

I'm pretty sure all I'm adding is a Snakeskin Gourami, a few more Neon Tetra, and perhaps a Rainbowfish?

Thanks for the kind comments

Ben.

 

[Wills]

Snakeskins and thicklipped gourami are 2 of my favorite - with rainbow fish you need to keep them in groups - the Madigasgan (spelling) rainbows are really nice and would go well with your goby, I would avoid the massive ones like reds, turqs and bosmani - but dwarf neons would look good in there

Wills

 

[L4byr1nth]

I saw these in the LFS today;

http/www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/stores_productsinfo.asp?store=6&prod=2423

They had a few adults in one of the show tanks. I think they'd go nicely with my Neon Tetra shoal, having basically the same colouration. Also, apparently they don't get too large (2"-3")?

Ben.

 

[AmazonFTW]

Make that 3-4" and it's right. Seeing as they have tiny mouths there's no problem keeping them with smaller fish.

AmazonFTW

 

[L4byr1nth]

How many d'you reckon is the minimum amount to keep? I don't want loads of them - a pair would suffice.

It's still very cloudy in my tank after filling it yesterday, but I managed to wedge that piece of Sumatra wood in the tank (in a position where it can't float off ), and arrange my plants.

Water came up to temperature overnight, so give it a few days of adding SafeStart, and then I'll be ready to start moving stock over.

I did encounter a problem last night, however.

The Fluval 305 is REALLY LOUD. Even with the cabinet door closed, I can't sleep with the thing going.

It's weird, because they're meant to be almost silent.

I'm going to give it a few days to run itself in, and if it still is too noisy, I'll give MA a ring.

Ben.

 

[Too Fast]

Strange that it's loud. I'm sat 8 feet from my 205 as I type this and can't hear a thing!

 

[L4byr1nth]

I know, weird right?

Annoying, as the tank is in my room and sleeping with it seems impossible.

I *could* turn it off at night, but it's not something I really want to do.

Ben.