New Tank Journal

[funkyhoney]

Well this is my first journal, but my fifth tank. Although this is the first time I've ever been over 3ft! Although I do look after 6' tanks at work.

Anyway, new tank is 4' x 18" x 20", about 280L, so a 75Gal for you imperialists.

I've been planning this for quite some time, but just today picked up the tank, cabinet and hood I want to set it up now! But still lots to do!

So anyway, we'll start at the beginning.



The tank is going to go into my room, instead of in a separate room in which most of my other tanks are located. So I thought I'd do it right, get a big tank and finally get some nice big New World cichlids

So far the planned stocking is 1 Green Severum, 1 Chocolate cichlid, 3 Pictus cats, nuerous small dither fish and some albino bristlenose.

Filtration is a Fluval 405 but most likely I'll add an extra internal. Heating, Fluval Tronic 300W with heater guard. Lighting will be two 40W T8 halogens, one red/yellow spectrum for plants and an actinic because I like the mix; I'll also be getting some LED moonlights.

As far as substrate goes, I've got 20KG of 2mm black gravel, 20KG of 10mm black gravel and various river stones. I also have two LARGE pieces of sandstone and some very big driftwood pieces. I'll likely add numerous smaller Anubias planted driftwoods also.

When plants come into the equation, I'll be most likely getting Amazon Swords, some Hygrophila, Anubias, Crypts, maybe some vallis. and rush.

I aim to keep the PH around 6-6.5 and nice and soft for the chocolate and sev, as well as helping out the bristlenose and tetras I want to keep. No doubt it will end up looking blackwater due to all my driftwood



Well... as far as I can think that's all for that. So without further ado, the journal shall commence!







OK, first things first, I went to my work (LFS) and got the gravel, driftwood, filter, heater, lights and sandstone!

Here's the stuff, as well as the corner the tank will be placed in:

Here we have the driftwood in a sink full of tea:

Sandstone:

And the gravel!

Alright, everything was set and getting ready. So I decided today to go pick up my tank

Here it is just after bringing it and the cabinet/hood home:

To match my current furniture, today was the day of staining the cabinet and hood. Behold, the magic of time lapse!

It hasn't been lacquered, that's a job for tomorrow and the day after (but I really want it done now).

Last but not least, for today, I painted the back of the tank:

Well that's it for now... Stay tuned!

Ryan.

 

[1234-fishy-freind]

Thats going to turn out really good. I like the cabinet too, some nice woodwork done on taht.

 

[funkyhoney]

Thats going to turn out really good. I like the cabinet too, some nice woodwork done on taht.

Thanks, I was originally going to go for a plain pine cabinet, just flat doors and sides, but this was a lot nicer for the extra $50

 

[paul_219]

Very nice tank u got. I hope u will enjoy keeping fish.

 

[adamgreen240]

looks great so far , cant wait to see it progress!

 

[funkyhoney]

Thanks for the comments so far, I'm hyped up about setting this up.

Not too much progress, the tank painting went well:

And the first coat of lacquer is on:

That's all for now

 

[guppy_man]

Thats going to look real nice., Your spending all that money on this stuff when you could of got a better tv lol, only joking


o and btw what car is that i can see the backend of?, looks like some kind of muscle car?

 

[DarkEntity]

looks like a lawnmower to me

 

[dortiz24]

Did you build the stand?! Can you build me one! lol

 

[funkyhoney]

Thats going to look real nice., Your spending all that money on this stuff when you could of got a better tv lol, only joking


o and btw what car is that i can see the backend of?, looks like some kind of muscle car?

'65 Mustang

My dad's long term project. It's been driving since we got it, but all the stuff we've done to it have pushed it's value up about 15k. Custom sway bars, shift kit, A/C, ABS, leather dash, free flowing twin exhaust, etc.

Did you build the stand?! Can you build me one! lol

Haha! I wish I'd built it! Cost me $320



Anyway, only updates so far are the last coat of lacquer (pics soon) and I painted the wall behind where it's going to sit.

Decided I want some Emerald-eye Rasboras to

Anyway, all is well with it. I may get a new TV one day

 

[funkyhoney]

Ok ok ok, time for a quick update before I head off to bed.

Just finished adding the final coats of Lacquer to the cabinet and hood, I mixed some stain into the clear coat because I wasn't content with the current colour.

Test fit of the hood

And my only concern so far:

Fitting canister pipes in through that gap!!!

Oh well, I'm sure it'll all work out...

 

[nukeonekitty]

Looking great so far!

 

[funkyhoney]

Yeeeooowww!!

Update time. Part 1/2.



Well I've been hard at work all night adding the gravel + sand mix and setting my hardscape, albeit temporary. When I fill her up and add the filter + lights etc. I'll post again.

For now, let's let pictures do the talking; any advice on hardscape would be appreciated.

 

[funkyhoney]

Alright, well I've added the filter, lights and heater; basically ready to be filled!

Had major issues with the lights they were too wide!!! So I did some major sanding and jamming but finally got them in

Now I'm probably gonna catch some sleep and fill it up tomorrow morning, I was hoping to add plants tomorrow but that all depends on how adventurous I'm feeling. I also have already changed the hardscape

 

[Tacklebury]

Looks brilliant mate, i wish i had painted my RiO240 before filling it up and moving in next to the wall!!!

Are you having a planted tank too? Should be plenty of room for them.