bdspider Posted September 26, 2010 Report Share Posted September 26, 2010 I was feeling really bored with my 4ft, so spend the weekend redoing it with sand + cooler layout (Thanks to my bf guess I don't really have the knack for doing layouts myself) + new plants & lightbulbs (thanks again bf) Before (back in July): After: Current fish: 3 Angelfish 9 Odessa Barbs 5 Dwarf Chain Loaches 2 Hoplo Catfish 2 Bristlenoses Thinking of / wanting to get sometime: Geophagus or Eartheaters (not sure how I feel about the possible uprooting of plants) More chain loaches Syno of some sort Eel of some sort? Kuhli loaches? Feedback and stocking suggestions welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted September 26, 2010 Report Share Posted September 26, 2010 Very very very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 26, 2010 Report Share Posted September 26, 2010 Heaps better 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reptilez Posted September 26, 2010 Report Share Posted September 26, 2010 awesome!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted September 26, 2010 Report Share Posted September 26, 2010 nice! Your java fern and anubias look good and healthy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdspider Posted September 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2010 Thanks for your kind comments y'all I love the look of sand, but I'm also a gravel vacuum addict. Need to kick that habit and not stress if there's a bit of detritus sitting on the sand.... But that's why I'm keen to get eartheaters to help with cleaning. Or maybe a school of corys. What are other potential sandcleaners? nice! Your java fern and anubias look good and healthy I got a tiny bit of anubias at my first TT meet, shortly after I setup my first tank, back in '07. It's done well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 26, 2010 Report Share Posted September 26, 2010 Cories would probably be your best bet. Geos would almost certainly uproot everything. I reckon kuhli loaches would like that sand too. Eels might just uproot everything when they burrow I guess. That sand is really nice too. Is it daltons? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdspider Posted September 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2010 That sand is really nice too. Is it daltons? Ugh, we went through so much hassle and phonecalls trying to find Daltons. I don't think anywhere in Christchurch has it anymore. So, went with South Hort (A local place, near Rolleston) Propagating Sand, same thing basically. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 26, 2010 Report Share Posted September 26, 2010 It looks much much finer and nicer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdspider Posted September 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2010 More photos. Can't wait to get more fish. It looks very bare, especially 'cos the angels are the only ones who aren't hiding most of the time. They others seem to be getting used to it, seeing a bit more of the barbs. Sooky la-las. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted September 28, 2010 Report Share Posted September 28, 2010 Nice tank! Ditch the pile of rocks on the right hand side, it looks weird. Get a medium bulky rock (thats smooth, without jagged edges) and surround it with a few smaller rocks of different sizes, that look similar in colour. As for fish, I think a large shoal of tetras/rasboras/danios would look nice. Here's some ideas: - Rasbora hengeli - Danio aesculapii - Danio choprae - Rasbora agilis (they look similar to red-line rasboras, but they are darker with a neon bronze line down the side) - Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi - Hyphessobrycon heliacus And Bedotia madagascariensis, which is a rainbowfish, would also look cool. You also need a feature fish. Cichlids are good - how about Pelvicachromis taeniatus moliwe, or P. pulcher? Both are peaceful, plus they'll have plenty of hiding places in all of that java fern. Preferably I think the P. taeniatus moliwe are really nice. They are small too, so you can get two or three pairs maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted September 28, 2010 Report Share Posted September 28, 2010 Looking sweet BD. Could I suggest a trio of B. cupidos. They are a small eartheater that grows about 3 inches in size. They are neat fish and when they are settled they colour up nicely. They are not big enough to uproot all the plants but enough to keep the sand clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdspider Posted December 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2010 After collecting some awesome driftwood, Twan renovated the tank again for me. You can't really see the new wood's shape, but it kinda looks like a t-rex skull haha. It's got lots of big holes and twisty bits. Will possibly rearrange the java fern a bit more. It's gone all yucky as I had a brush with cyanobacteria. Not sure I'm out of the woods with that yet but fingers crossed. I've had pretty good growth with the Co2 (this is post-prune) but then I went and snapped my diffuser. Ughhh, feel like such an idiot. I haven't added any new fish yet. Actually, I have some kribs from Jen. I'm still hoping to get sterbai corys soon but have no money to spend on fish atm But at least my current fish aren't being as wussy as when we first changed to sand. They are actually coming out now! Might get a sword to sit in the middle of the rock pile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zayne Posted December 22, 2010 Report Share Posted December 22, 2010 Love the black angel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted December 22, 2010 Report Share Posted December 22, 2010 Do you have CO2 and bubbles running, or do the bubbles just come on at night? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted December 22, 2010 Report Share Posted December 22, 2010 Wowie!!! You have had some fantastic growth! That looks brilliant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdspider Posted December 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2010 Do you have CO2 and bubbles running, or do the bubbles just come on at night? DIY mixture, running all the time (not shown in any of the photos... no longer running til new diffuser arrives :evil: .) The airstone bubbles in the photos... There was 2 but when I added the Co2, I took one out. The one left in is at the opposite end from Co2. Its mainly there to stop the surface getting a film. It's also running all the time. Ahhh yes, Mr Isosceles. He's awesome. I need to rehome the other 2 'cos they've all started bickering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinbote Posted December 22, 2010 Report Share Posted December 22, 2010 Is that a fine gravel you've got sprinkled on the sand? Looks good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdspider Posted December 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2010 Is that a fine gravel you've got sprinkled on the sand? Looks good. Nope, it's South Hort Propagating Sand, so the finer gravely stuff comes premixed in with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted December 22, 2010 Report Share Posted December 22, 2010 Wow that is cool I really like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinbote Posted December 24, 2010 Report Share Posted December 24, 2010 Nope, it's South Hort Propagating Sand, so the finer gravely stuff comes premixed in with that. Interesting, I'll check it out. All glory to the hypnotoad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdspider Posted December 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2010 South Hort is a local business, near Rolleston so I doubt you can find this sand anywhere else. Daltons Propagating Sand is a popular substrate (which is what I was looking for originally but couldn't find in Chch) but I think it looks slightly different. All hail Hypnotoad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted December 24, 2010 Report Share Posted December 24, 2010 Mr Isosceles :happy1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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