South or Central American build project

[Tbox]

I'm plugging along here with this tank. Water Parameters are looking good. I think I'm going to remove the last little bit of shrimp used for cycling and do a 50% water change tomorrow and finish the rock scape. I foraged the rocks locally and I believe they're igneous basalt. The vinegar test was fine, but I do need some hydrochloric acid for rock hounding in the future.
After the pwc, I figured it would be prudent to put a few inexpensive tetras in there for a week or so before my next visit to the wetspot.

So the tap water here is on the hard side, around 7.6. I'm looking to soften the water with dw, almond leaf, and boiled peat/sphagnum moss. I'd like to put a satchel of moss in the AC 70 if that's a good idea? Many questions here. for pwc's, I'm going to fill an ice chest with tap water, heater, powerhead, and another satchel of natural water softeners the night before.

Here's a couple pics of moss products from the home depot, Any good?

 

[Tbox]

I do like the severum FG, but I think the team vote here is for apistos. The wetspot stock changes quite a bit, so I don't really know what I'm going to get until I'm at the store in 10 days or so.
The scape is work in progress here. It may resemble a meteorite hit when done. We'll see
The mopani isn't going to stay in.



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[Gillie]

If you're going to do apistos, you'll definitely want to add some lower light plants like cryptocoryne wendtii to the tank.

 

[Tbox]

Plants are coming Gillie. I want a flame or Christmas moss meshed onto a lot of rock surfaces too. The rocks will be rearranged into either a meteorite crater, or a poor man's machu picchu.
I'm stopping in here tomorrow for some supplies after the pwc.
http://www.aquariumzen.net/#intro

 

[HUKIT]

Plants are coming Gillie. I want a flame or Christmas moss meshed onto a lot of rock surfaces too. The rocks will be rearranged into either a meteorite crater, or a poor man's machu picchu.
I'm stopping in here tomorrow for some supplies after the pwc.
Aquarium Zen

Wow that place looks pretty cool! We certainly don't have anything like that around here.

 

[Brookster123]

Looks like a sweet build coming along here. I'm in

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[Tbox]

Great to have you guys along for help and ideas!
I wonder if I can convince anyone to move across the country to the PNW.
Awesome stores, the variety of beer and wine here will have your head spinning, the Pacific ocean, the cascade mtns. Countless rivers and lakes, the San Juan islands.

I might see if there's a loft above Aquarium Zen and move there.

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[Tbox]

Oh yeah, did I mention a high grade city water here too!

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[Gillie]

Oh yeah, did I mention a high grade city water here too!

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Fairly soft water would be a big selling point for me lol unfortunately I don't believe that the auto industry does much over there.

 

[Tbox]

I've been flirting with the idea of rain gathering. I'll test some in oh, 20mins and report back.
Did I also mention the rain comes off the Olympic mtns backside most days.
The Coors brewing company is jealous.

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[Tbox]

I stopped in at Aquarium Zen today. The owner is a great guy who opened shop almost a year ago. I told him to jump on this forum haha. His look was one of needing a nap, and a simmered eye opener of possibilities. Again I took a few bad pics of his inspiring builds. This time I asked first "No, go right ahead."
Today's first trial fish and plants went in today!
3x Hyphessobrycon amandae (ember tetra)
4x floating lettuce
1 really nice potted Echinodorus 'Kleiner Prinz sword.

This first pic is without CO2 I'm going to put it on my tank just to see where it could grow.

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[Tbox]

I hope these 3 stressed little tetras are alive in the morning!
I'm going on a fishing trip to Tillamook, OR. tomorrow until Sundayish.

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[Gillie]

Uh oh, do I see anomalochromis, steatocranus, pelvicachromis and a few other Africans in a discus tank?

 

[Tbox]

I hope not Gillie. I'll be going back in next week to get him in this forum if they are.

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[Tbox]

The 3 Ember tetras looked much better 24hrs later. They were cruising everywhere this morning and eating. Can't wait to get back home to work on the tank

Side note, caught a 20lb Chinook this evening.

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[Tbox]

I've made a few additions the last few days.
Hemigrammus rhodostomus "Peruvian Rummynose"
Wild Caught x6
Hyphessobrycon amande "Ember Tetra"
Tank raised x14 + the original 3.
2x indian almond leaves are floating around the tank.
All the fish are looking great after 2 days! Great movement in the tank. I'd like to add an additional 6 Rummynose in 2-3 weeks with a shoal of cories.
The 4x apistos(1m to 3f) and pleco will be added last.





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[TheresaM]

I've made a few additions the last few days.
Hemigrammus rhodostomus "Peruvian Rummynose"
Wild Caught x6
Hyphessobrycon amande "Ember Tetra"
Tank raised x14 + the original 3.
2x indian almond leaves are floating around the tank.
All the fish are looking great after 2 days! Great movement in the tank. I'd like to add an additional 6 Rummynose in 2-3 weeks with a shoal of cories.
The 4x apistos(1m to 3f) and pleco will be added last.

Looks good, nice to see the fish out & about. What type of cories are you thinking about getting?

 

[Tbox]

I like the robineae, melini, and loxozonus. I'll keep an eye on the WS weekly stock report.


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[Gillie]

I like the robineae, melini, and loxozonus. I'll keep an eye on the WS weekly stock report.


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I just got the concolor from them they turn out to have some nice color, I have 2 males and they are already getting the tall dorsal fin.

 

[Tbox]

They do look and shoal awesome!

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