Finding It Very Hard Not To Buy Fish Again...

[Wills]

ROFL it does seem a bit to perfect hahaha DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT!!! I would just message them and see if you can make them an offer Get it on Saturday fish on Sunday seed the filter with your existing media and your sorted haha

Wills

 

[Curiosity101]

Oh and there also just happens to be a tank for sale on SVAS for £10 which is 20" x 10" x 12" which just happens to be the dimensions of the elite 35 .
I've sent them a PM just to check it's in good condition. If it is I'll just go round there n get it tomorrow.

Whatever happens I'll be setting up a tank/filter to seed tomorrow. If it's the aqua 40 I'm going to just fill it over the top of the filter (with the filter at the bottom) and then seed n stick my two apple snails in. The small volume should build up a reasonable amount of ammonia and the snails are easy to remove once they've done their job (not planning on leaving them in there once I've got an ammonia reading). I'll have it cycled enough by Saturday/sunday and ready for the fish.

I was only joking when I mentioned fate...but... it's one hell of a coincidence lol!

Oh btw, black sand or play sand? Don't want them to be washed out over play sand...but black sand might not look good either.

Edit: Oh n I'm thinking dark blue background/spray paint for the back?

 

[Wills]

I would always say just a black background - though at the moment I quite want a 3D one. Substrate wise I would say black it will make the mrs yellow pop out and the mr's blue and red come out more as well.

Wills

 

[Curiosity101]

I'm slowly being drawn to the dark blue backgrounds though. Only reason I don't have blue on the shrimp tank is cause of the tigers... they're hard enough to see as it is on black sand lol.

I think I'll try both black and blue backgrounds and will deffo go with the black sand. Glad I still have some wood decor kicking around now.

 

[Curiosity101]

Hmm, opinions... metal mesh cut to 50cm x 25cm. Lay lots of java moss below it, put mesh on top and leave to grow...
This would be as an alternative to gravel but equally could be placed on top of gravel...
I've been wanting a mesh carpet for ages but shrimp are little...monsters... when it comes to trying to put something below them as they don't do what fish do and swim up out of your way.

 

[Wills]

You could probs do a wall but I wouldnt do a floor because the apistos will just dig it up or rip it out lol never underestimate the distructive nature of cichlids haha

Wills

 

[kizno1]

Agrees with wills. If they do breed there likely to try and clear the ground under the cave they spawn in. A wall would still look good

 

[Curiosity101]

You could probs do a wall but I wouldnt do a floor because the apistos will just dig it up or rip it out lol never underestimate the distructive nature of cichlids haha

Wills

Hence asking! lol. Scrap that idea then. I may attempt to do a small open front/middle type of thing with a moss carpet. But wont hold out too much hope of it lasting.

 

[Curiosity101]

Update - I am now the owner of a light glo 50x25 tank...I think it's an old fluval range. Cost £30 plus stand which is 'ok'. The front is quite scratched but I checked the back panel and that's fine so I'll just turn it around.

I've also go the filter a good portion into cycling, started that wed night and now have 1ppm nitrites showing. Should be ready by sunday me thinks.

 

[PDSimon]

Good stuff

 

[Curiosity101]

Whos clever idea was it to spray paint the background lol! It's a right chore... 7 coats 1 every 10 minutes