my 55g rebuild/revamp

[bigbanker]

After a mysterious and devestating loss of over half my cichlid stock i am finally ready to get my show tank into great condition. So. Here is the anticipated plan.

Substrate: black diamond blasting sand cut with Florite (i think).

I want to upgrade my lights. I'm thinking a dual 48" T5 fixture. I need to find a way to cover the rest of the top as the rate of evaporation in my apartment is awful. (My 10g loses about a gallon a day. It is uncovered) Any thoughts on how to cover the rest of the tank?

I'll be using seachem root tabs and dosing excel.... until I decide about co2. The goal is to have a heavily planted tank. As it stands, i kill java fern even when I am trying. Plants do not like me.

Stocking............. this part is tough. I want some different different fish, all juvies. My next door neighboor has a 150g that he has agreed to take in the fish when they out grow my 55g. I'm open to opinions, questions, and suggestions (on everything):
(1x) black ghost knife
(1x) peacock eel
(2x) spotted african leaf fish
(7x) boesemani rainbow fish
(5x) columbian tetras

I'm currently running a 405 with no carbon, but polyfil in its place. The current fish will be moving a day or so before the new fish come to maintain the bb. I don't think i left anything out, but let me know if you have any thoughts.

 

[bigbanker]

My tank as it is now. This is right after I added the sand awhile back

 

[bigbanker]

I was also thinking that given that the leaf fish, bgk, and eel are predators that I could also get about ten guppies and let them breed freely.

 

[bigbanker]

Anyone?

 

[bigbanker]

It seems that basic training may be in my future. Should I even bother redoing this knowing that in 6-8 months I may be gone for 3+ months?

 

[Matt68005]

Sweet. You can always take it down and set it up in the future.

 

[bigbanker]

True. I've opted for plastic plants for now.... And a massive amazon sword. I'll be upgrading lights to two dual t5 strips. I also grabbed two baby electric blue crayfish. I adore them. I'm currently fostering two three spot gouramis as well.

 

[Matt68005]

jkjl

I like it. In fact you gave me an idea. Did you just mix a bag of White sand with black sand? I like the way it looks.

 

[bigbanker]

It's actually just a couple of handfuls from my old.gravel. Tossed in and the fish rearrange.

 

[boadams87]

After a mysterious and devestating loss of over half my cichlid stock i am finally ready to get my show tank into great condition. So. Here is the anticipated plan.

Substrate: black diamond blasting sand cut with Florite (i think).

I want to upgrade my lights. I'm thinking a dual 48" T5 fixture. I need to find a way to cover the rest of the top as the rate of evaporation in my apartment is awful. (My 10g loses about a gallon a day. It is uncovered) Any thoughts on how to cover the rest of the tank?

I'll be using seachem root tabs and dosing excel.... until I decide about co2. The goal is to have a heavily planted tank. As it stands, i kill java fern even when I am trying. Plants do not like me.

Stocking............. this part is tough. I want some different different fish, all juvies. My next door neighboor has a 150g that he has agreed to take in the fish when they out grow my 55g. I'm open to opinions, questions, and suggestions (on everything):
(1x) black ghost knife
(1x) peacock eel
(2x) spotted african leaf fish
(7x) boesemani rainbow fish
(5x) columbian tetras

I'm currently running a 405 with no carbon, but polyfil in its place. The current fish will be moving a day or so before the new fish come to maintain the bb. I don't think i left anything out, but let me know if you have any thoughts.

Do u have a place that sells plexiglass? Just measure what u need and they'll cut to ur specs

 

[bigbanker]

I will def look into it. will the plexiglas interfere with the lights from the t5

 

[boadams87]

I will def look into it. will the plexiglas interfere with the lights from the t5

I don't think so, its just like having a glass top

 

[bigbanker]

Updated pictures..... Spray painted a backing to see if I liked the black. I do!










My crays had a battle while I was at work. I returned home to one who is now turning brown what's up with that

 

[Alyxx]

I know some crays change color with their diet so it may just be what he is eating. I've heard spirulina helps maintain blue coloration.

 

[bigbanker]

Okay....i'll get some sinking tabs for him

 

[bigbanker]

So..... No killer cray. I guess one molted. The gorgeous blue shell I found must have been from that. I saw the big boy cray this morning a lovely blue and then the smaller one who was brown.

 

[bigbanker]

I've got a couple of snails in the tank.... Do you think the crays will kill them

 

[Alyxx]

When I had a cray it loved snails. I lost a few to him.

 

[bigbanker]

Ouch! The crays are still tiny.... I worry about the snails because they move slowly

 

[bigbanker]

Getting my ho T5 lights tonight!