65 gallon

[Orion]

Here she is.

And the first inhabitants, Laetacara curvecips:

I've got some apisto's that will soon call this tank home as well. Everyone is young at this point, so it will be at least a little while longer before breeding comes into play and I'll really see how well (or not) they will do togeather.

This tank is going to pose some interesting challanges with the plants due to it's shape (36x18x24). But I think that if done right, it will be a stunning tank to be sitting beside my desk.

 

[Katie217]

looks great orion
one question...whats that line that goes all around the tank? an algae line? lol or like bubbles or something

 

[Orion]

hehe, no. That was where the water level was at when I added the flourite and I've not gotten around to wipping the sides and back off yet.

I'll update with equipment tommarow. To lazy now

salties look out. Witness the begining of the end hehe.

 

[Katie217]

ohh ok , well regardless it looks great

 

[FishGeek]

Looks Nice!!! *thumbsups

 

[Lotus]

Looks pretty good so far

I hate aquascaping tall tanks! I have several, and constantly curse them

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Very nice!

 

[FreshwaterJeff]

Good stuff. I can't wait to hear how the L. curviceps grow up

 

[Big Vine]

I like the darker color-scheme you've got going there. The plants really stand out that way.

And yes, let's try to have a FW tank beat out the SW ones in the photo contest. Hmm...with that in mind, could we delay the contest for a year so that my and Orion's plants can grow in? Please?

Lookin' good, Orion.
Big Vine

 

[GIS Guy]

BV, there's always next year's contest!!!


Orion, the flourite mix looks really cool.
Is the flourite mixed w/ natural gravel and at what ratio?

 

[janlo]

what about those Laetacara curvecips...
south amricans?
are they interesting?

 

[janlo]

ok nevermind i just saw the other thread about these fishes

 

[Orion]

lol, Yeah I was thinking more twords next year's contest

Actualy CISguy that's 100% flourite. No mix, I got the pure stuff hehe.

Hi janlo, nice to see you still lurking about

Ok, here is a list of equipment:
4x55w PC lights (running only 2 bulbs right now) with PC case fans installed in the side of the hood for good air flow and to help keep everything cool. One blowing in, one blowing out.

Hydor 300w inline heater (has to be one of the greatest things to happen to the hobby in a long time)

Odyssea canister filter around 300 gph (I think)

In the next month or two I will be adding pressurized Co2, and cranking up the other 2 bulbs

 

[Orion]

Oh how the fun never stops around my house. The tank hasn't settled right, so I'm going to drain most of it and put some new styrofoam under the tank.

Fun way to spend the newyear eh?

 

[Lotus]

That sucks, Orion.

 

[Mahamotorworks]

Wow. Do you know why?

MAHA

 

[janlo]

why styrofoam?
are you gonna do a planted tank? ( ihope so with such a nice volume, lights and co2!)
good luck!

i should post my planted/cichild tank , its coming nice these days

 

[Orion]

Yeah it does suck, but oh well. Not like it's in bad shape. It is un-level, but it's all un-level evenly, so that makes it a bit better (if that makes any sence lol) The tank leans front, and to the right. So I don't think that there is any imediate worry, but most deffinatly not something I want long term.

What looks like had happened maha is that on the right side, not all of the trim was set on the styrofoam, and it has compressed more than the rest of it. My fault for not being more thorough when we set it on.

I use styrofoam to allow the tank to ideally level itself out. If you have level floors and a level stand, then really you don't have to worry about this. This is the only tank I do this too because the top of the stand isn't level at all. I have .5 in. plywood on the top of the stand, then .5 in styro then the tank.

 

[Orion]

Ok so got around to getting the tank back in a good position. I cleared out my 10 gallon of fish and plants and they are now in the 65 as well. There were more crypts than I thought was possible to be in such a small tank! I moved 6 apisto agassizii in with the laetacara as well as a lone young festivum (looking for some friends for him ATM).

In the long run I don't expect these tank mates to work out. I'll probably move the dwarf acara's to the 75 once they get about to breeding size.

I also picked up 12 cardnal tetra's today. I've snapped some photo's, hopefully get the chance to go though them and upload some tonight.

 

[Orion]

Not all of these turned out that well, but thought I'd share anyway.

My Apisto's

Festivum (just love this little guy. The wife named him Bob.)