Rob's 450L oscar aquarium - from North London to the Amazon

[Robder]

Hi all...

I finally got my hands on a Juwel Rio 450L, which I'll be slowly pimping over the course of the year.

Here goes with the first pic dump:





Started adding the sand today. Went for Unipac Limpopo Black.
Thanks for the recommend @AquaBarb & @Rocky998 - really pleased with the colour at first glance (although I suspect it'll lighten over time). It didn't need a huge amount of cleaning either.





Updates to follow but it's a slow process...

 

[Rocky99814 23]

Hi all...

I finally got my hands on a Juwel Rio 450L, which I'll be slowly pimping over the course of the year.

Here goes with the first pic dump:

View attachment 155244

View attachment 155245

Started adding the sand today. Went for Unipac Limpopo Black.
Thanks for the recommend @AquaBarb & @Rocky998 - really pleased with the colour at first glance (although I suspect it'll lighten over time). It didn't need a huge amount of cleaning either.

View attachment 155243

View attachment 155242

Updates to follow but it's a slow process...

Thanks! Cant wait to see it when the scape is done!

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

Definitely following this thread

 

[Robder]

Aquadecor 3d backdrop & rocks arrived today.

No clue how to install so wish me luck with that!

 

[Robder]

Oh - well that was easy.

 

[connorlindeman31 32]

wow! that looks really good!

 

[Robder]

It's taken me an age to find the time to get this thing properly cycled, so here goes (finally)...

In goes the Gold Nugget Pleco:

And in goes the Red Tailed Black Shark:

And finally there's been a bit of aqua-scaping going on with the addition of some plants (Anubias, Cryptocoryne):

 

[Robder]

Bristlenose Pleco going in...

Adding a few java ferns and an echinodorus into the mix:

 

[Essjay33 148]

Looking good - but just one comment. Java fern should not be planted in the substrate or the rhizome will rot. The best thing is to attach it to decor, though I can be grown with the rhizome on top of the substrate if you are careful not to bury it accidentally.

 

[Fishmanic33 150]

Great tank. You might consider entering it in our February Tank of the Month contest which will feature tanks sized at 31 US gallons and larger.

Also please vote in our present TOTM contest. Click link at top of forum, view the entries, and then vote for TOTM.

 

[Robder]

Looking good - but just one comment. Java fern should not be planted in the substrate or the rhizome will rot. The best thing is to attach it to decor, though I can be grown with the rhizome on top of the substrate if you are careful not to bury it accidentally.

Great tip - thank you!

 

[sharkweek178]

Bristlenose Pleco going in...

View attachment 308873
View attachment 308876

Adding a few java ferns and an echinodorus into the mix:

View attachment 308874

Is there any wood in the tank? Bristlenose plecos need wood to rasp on.

 

[Robder]

Is there any wood in the tank? Bristlenose plecos need wood to rasp on.

No - will buy some next week in that case!

 

[sharkweek178]

Looking good - but just one comment. Java fern should not be planted in the substrate or the rhizome will rot. The best thing is to attach it to decor, though I can be grown with the rhizome on top of the substrate if you are careful not to bury it accidentally.

This also applies to the Anubias.

 

[Robder]

On the above - I'm due to shift some of the plants around as per your advice (thank you). Some of the plants just have roots directly in the substrate, others are in a self sufficient cotton wool pot thingy.

Do I need to move both? If so, how do I weight the ones without a pot?

Cheers!