South east Asian project, progess pics

[Carlos & Siran]

We started this tank the same day as the South American tank but it certainly didn't look as nice, all the plants were small to begin with and I think because we used play sand as the substrate and the root systems couldn't get down to the daltons at first the whole tank really sulked, but about 6 weeks later and it's starting to come around.

Tank dimensions:

83cm long x 45cm high x 42cm deep

Substrate:

Daltons aqua base with fine play sand.

Decorations:

Driftwood

Plants:

several Crypt species x 12

several Java species x 12

Twisted Val x 6

Ambulia x 10

Hygrophila x 10

Still to come: Red tiger lotus

Lighting:

! x T8 Aquaglo

1 x T8 Powerglo

1 x T8 Tropical pink tube

Filtration:

1 x Standard 2000lph trickle filter

1 x Eheim 2215 external(620lph)

Stock:

5 x Cherry barbs to come on Friday

Still to come:

7 x Cherry barbs

3 x Yoyo loaches

3 x Zodiac loaches

3 x Zebra loaches

1 x Peacock spiny eel

1 x Siamese algae eater

Current lighting frequency and fert program:

Lighting-currently 7 hrs per day, will watch algae and drop back if it becomes a problem.

Fert- 5mls flourish/week

Other- 20mls StressZyme/week

Will add DIY CO2 in the next few weeks, and hope to change to canister CO2 when we can afford it.

Will use the fert program Jenifer and 44 use as soon as the tank matures.

Comments and constructive criticism welcome.

[snookie]

looking good , i would stick to one species of loach though , but thats just my opinion,

and cherry barbs dont school as well as some other barbs , but a male in breeding condition does look stunning 8)

[Sophia]

When you say play sand, does it have a brand name? I saw some at Bunnings today from Daltons and it was labelled '01'

it had some tiny particles through to some pieces that looked like very small pumice.

[Carlos & Siran]

Nar, it was just the play sand they source locally, same colour as all the beaches up here.

[Fruju]

I agree with snookie, 1 type of loaches would look better, I love cherry barbs too! When they turn super red they are very nice. Looking good so far, but just a thought, maybe check out some pics of an asian biotope to have as a reference - it might just be me but try out a different type of wood - maybe lighter in colour and thinner and add some small flat river stones? Could improve it?