Update:

[ox5477]

Well I've changed this tank two times already and this I think may be the last time as I really like the look that I have now. It makes it look like a rocky shelf breaking off onto a flat plain. Not any foliage but I'm not really sure any would look good here. I've given my Bumble bee cats plenty of rock crevices to hide, and my Bala's have more swim room.

I know the ugly heater and suck up tube for the HOB filter are quite unsightly but I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them at the moment. And also, the background must go, I thought it would look cool when I first got it, but it looked bad ever since I put it on the tank, just too lazy to change it at the moment. But im thinking bout getting a blue background which I think would enhance the open water feel that I'm going for. Anyways....

Any criticism, advice or love would be appreciated so here are the pics:

The tank just after I put in the sand...Look at that wonderful landscaping

A few hours later after a water change:

The next day after another water change:

The next day and it's finally getting clear enough to see the aquascape:

And today, finally it's almost clear and things look good in the tank:

I'm thinking about getting a shoal of cories to help stir around the sand and maybe trumpet snails if the cories arn't enough, but I really don't want to introduce more snails into my tank. Anyways, hope you guys enjoy the tank and give me lots of feedback!!!

Thanks,
Ox

 

[Araxen]

If you don't want snails. Get some Khuli Loaches, they'll do the same job as the snails and they won't get out of control population wise.

Heck, they'll prolly eat any snails that happen to enter your tank.

Love the look of the tank btw.

 

[flattrack23]

Hey! nice tank there. I like the sand mix with the natural gravel! I like how you also have the rocks situated it looks cool. How did you get your balas so fat! Mine is not fat but not skinny. Sort of inbetween...lol haha! I would definetly change the background. Unless you like the blue, I wouldnt use blue because it makes it look sort of marine'ish and is ugly but thats just my opinion. I would say black. Also get as many live plants as possible.! Great job on the tank it looks good and will even look better!

nick

 

[ox5477]

Hey! nice tank there. I like the sand mix with the natural gravel! I like how you also have the rocks situated it looks cool. How did you get your balas so fat! Mine is not fat but not skinny. Sort of inbetween...lol haha! I would definetly change the background. Unless you like the blue, I wouldnt use blue because it makes it look sort of marine'ish and is ugly but thats just my opinion. I would say black. Also get as many live plants as possible.! Great job on the tank it looks good and will even look better!

nick

Feed them twice a day and watch them gobble up the algae wafers and veggies I put in for my 6" pleco too. They are vacuums for food. I almost feel bad for my pleco, but she isn't starving either

 

[flattrack23]

Oh that is cool. My bala doesnt really eat....I never see him anyway. Doesnt eat the flakes. I've had him for a long time too. I've only seen him eat algea tabs...

 

[ox5477]

Oh that is cool. My bala doesnt really eat....I never see him anyway. Doesnt eat the flakes. I've had him for a long time too. I've only seen him eat algea tabs...

They do like algae discs...they get so happy when they are eating them they making clicking noises. ( My gf thinks its cute )

O and your guy might not be happy because he's by himself. Bala's are shoaling and they want to be with 3+ of their kind. Mine are ok with 2 right now but evenually im gonna get a 120G (or bigger) and gonna get a few more bala's cause when they grow big, it's gonna be cool to see a school of 12" fish and I don't have to worry about them bothering other tank inhabitants or eating or destroying the scenery.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Oh that is cool. My bala doesnt really eat....I never see him anyway. Doesnt eat the flakes. I've had him for a long time too. I've only seen him eat algea tabs...

They do like algae discs...they get so happy when they are eating them they making clicking noises. ( My gf thinks its cute )

O and your guy might not be happy because he's by himself. Bala's are shoaling and they want to be with 3+ of their kind. Mine are ok with 2 right now but evenually im gonna get a 120G (or bigger) and gonna get a few more bala's cause when they grow big, it's gonna be cool to see a school of 12" fish and I don't have to worry about them bothering other tank inhabitants or eating or destroying the scenery.

glad you have a plan for the bala's, that was my only concern, other than that i really like it, scape looks good. what are your stocking plans?

 

[ox5477]

Oh that is cool. My bala doesnt really eat....I never see him anyway. Doesnt eat the flakes. I've had him for a long time too. I've only seen him eat algea tabs...

They do like algae discs...they get so happy when they are eating them they making clicking noises. ( My gf thinks its cute )

O and your guy might not be happy because he's by himself. Bala's are shoaling and they want to be with 3+ of their kind. Mine are ok with 2 right now but evenually im gonna get a 120G (or bigger) and gonna get a few more bala's cause when they grow big, it's gonna be cool to see a school of 12" fish and I don't have to worry about them bothering other tank inhabitants or eating or destroying the scenery.

glad you have a plan for the bala's, that was my only concern, other than that i really like it, scape looks good. what are your stocking plans?

The bala's (maybe 6), my common plec (bout 6" right now) and whatever else I think of as I go. I didnt really make a plan and thats prob why I made two beginner mistakes (bala's, common plec), but I will research anything I would get. I might get some cories or some khuli loaches (thnx Araxen) to help with the sand. And beyond that, not too many grand plans. I like keeping my tanks as under-stocked as possible.

 

[nath1]

great looking tank ox5477,
bala's look great. i bought mine before i knew anything about them and they are rapidly outgrowing my tank but it's a great excuse to buy a bigger tank!!! i love the sand and gravel mix by the way!!
nath1

 

[ox5477]

I went out and got some black khuli loaches of the recomendation that they would help stir up the sand in my tank. I've already noticed after having them for one night, how they have vacuumed the sand. It was the cleanest I've seen it since I first put the sand in. I think they are gonna do wonders for my tank. I took like 15 pics and they all turned out like crap...either the camera not focusing right, or the picture taker being mentally incompitant to take a good picture...either could be feasible. But, anyways, I got six of them and they are all about 2 inches long and skinny as hell, so I can't wait to fatten them up!

Here is the pic...believe it or not, this is the best pic I took....

EDIT: Spelling and Grammar

 

[black angel]

Have you anything dividing the sand from the gravel? I tried that in my tank and even with a divider the sand and gravel mixed and didnt look nice.

I like how you have put the rocks on one side. Are you going to add any mopani or bogwood as your plec will enjoy it?

I like how bare it looks as well, makes it look bigger.

 

[ox5477]

No, nothing is dividing the sand and gravel. It works fine for me and I think they blend well together. Yes, I like the rocks too, but no, I don't think I'm gonna put and wood. I like the bare look too, but I think I will retry this look one day when I get my 200+ Gallon tank and put a rock wall on one side with maybe a forrest on the other end and an open swimming are in the middle



UPDATE 10/11: Put some plants in my tank. This is the link to the topic: Update 10/11

 

[QuotheRaven]

is it safe to have the heater on the side like that? I have been wondering myself.

 

[ox5477]

is it safe to have the heater on the side like that? I have been wondering myself.

Well it was like that for about 2 weeks and the apartmenrt hasn't burnt down and the heater still works so I guess it's ok

 

[MoMa]

is it safe to have the heater on the side like that? I have been wondering myself.

Many of the heaters out there offer the fully submerged placement option according to the manufacturer. I, however, would be too nervous, so I always leave 'em vertical.