And it BEGINS my friends!

[Convict2161]

Many of you know my journey to get my 75 gallon tank for my Africans who are now in a 55 BF. well... Many of you also know I have gotten said tank!

The stand should be here Friday.


I have everything I need to transfer as I'm using most of the equipment from the 55. 2 filters, 1 penguin 350 and 1 AC 110. I did get a new heater which you can see in the pic with the tank. I have extra gravel left over and going to use the gravel from the 55.

Also gonna use the rocks,driftwood and a few not all o the fake plants.

I'm going for more of a rock scape look rather then what I have now.

My idea is to cut back on decor and allow for mor swimming room as I do have 25 African cichlids and 1 upside down catfish. I am going to get 1 more catfish a cuckoo if I can find one.

Also I will be painting the back of the tank a aqua blue color from Krylon.

The only thing that I'm annoyed about is with the holiday and weekend my Cichlid stone caves I ordered wont be here until Monday, I wanted the tank set in its place and everything up and running by the weekend.

Any input, suggestions are welcome. Stay tune as my journey to my 75 begins!!

This is my tank now.


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[Scouser]

Remember seeing the thread before this and waited patiently.

Can't wait for the pics and updates!

 

[skiweeangel]

incredible 55, i can't wait to see what you do with the 75!

 

[TheCrazyFishLady]

Very, very pretty! Good luck.

I'll be following.

 

[Convict2161]

Thanks stay tuned for updates. I'll be painting the tank hopefully tomorrow. Nothing will be in place until Friday when the stand arrives.

 

[Gboy66]

Sounds great convict!! Could i suggest painting the back black..? It makes the tank look sooo great, and the chiclid colors are twice as bright! Ill be following and helping where i can!!

 

[TheCrazyFishLady]

A painted black background would be nice. I really wish I had thought of that before setting up my 55g.

 

[Gboy66]

A painted black background would be nice. I really wish I had thought of that before setting up my 55g.

I love mine! If you want to see a pic just to see what its like, say so and ill take one!!

 

[TheCrazyFishLady]

Well, if Convict doesn't mind. It is his tank thread.

 

[Gboy66]

Well, if Convict doesn't mind. It is his tank thread.

Oh course, if convict wants to see i meant

 

[TheCrazyFishLady]

Woops, sorry. Thought you were talking to me

 

[Convict2161]

I would like to see a picture. And I didn't think of black but it makes a lot of sense and my intakes from the HOB filters would kinda fall into the black as well. I wonder if I can return the blue paint for black. But this idea is interesting to me.

Pictures please?!

Thanks.

 

[Convict2161]

Also hopefully gonna paint it today. Any type of finish that you recommend? Or the basic Krylon which I use? Its the indoor/outdoor kind.

 

[jcolon]

I would like to see a picture. And I didn't think of black but it makes a lot of sense and my intakes from the HOB filters would kinda fall into the black as well.

It's amazing what a black background does ... really makes the colors pop. It would pop even more if you also do a dark substrate.

Love to see the finished tank!

 

[Convict2161]

It's amazing what a black background does ... really makes the colors pop. It would pop even more if you also do a dark substrate.

Love to see the finished tank!

Hmmm dark substrate, ok... I'm liking it. I like gravel though... Natural look didn't wanna get into sand. Any suggestions? Keep in mind I'm using rocks mostly with some low laying plants and a few of my log caves with some driftwood. That's the plan so far BUT... It could change.

 

[Nu-Nu the eel]

It's amazing what a black background does ... really makes the colors pop. It would pop even more if you also do a dark substrate.

Love to see the finished tank!

Yes a black backround is great because it helps make colors and plants stand out, and if there is the regular green algea in your tank if there is any on the back wall you cant even see it. Its great

 

[Gboy66]

Ok this is good. I have a black backround, and a black substrate, eco complete. Also, i have a type of rock work sortof like a chiclid tank, so this would be an alright comparasin! The picture is a little bit older, because the lights on my tank arent on right now, and it looks better now. Either way, you get the point!

 

[swimwithme]

Here is what I used (along with some of the red)..I wanted a darker substrate but I didn't really want fine sand or gravel. This is kind of in between. It's fairly big grains of sand....if that's what you'd call it.

Good luck!

Petco Black Aquarium Sand at PETCO

 

[Convict2161]

Went with black painted background.



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[Nu-Nu the eel]

That looks awesome! I like how you did it at the fire station how long did it take you to complete? You did a great job