Yard Sale 37g Bow Front Build!

[Big Tex]

im gonna assume most of you have seen my thread "Best Day Ever" because it has over 200 views lol and now that ive already scrubbed the living crap out of everything and its cycling i want to start my build, i want a natural tank, maybe some drift wood, some tall fake plants, maybe rocks and drift wood..? idk yet, ill be stocking it with firemouths i want a pair or a single male in there. what do you guys think i should do with the scape..?

 

[cgthebeast]

im gonna assume most of you have seen my thread "Best Day Ever" because it has over 200 views lol and now that ive already scrubbed the living crap out of everything and its cycling i want to start my build, i want a natural tank, maybe some drift wood, some tall fake plants, maybe rocks and drift wood..? idk yet, ill be stocking it with firemouths i want a pair or a single male in there. what do you guys think i should do with the scape..?

I think a tall piece of drift wood with some hardy plants and a sand bottom would be good. Mabye have some large river rocks to give it more to look ay

 

[Big Tex]

I think a tall piece of drift wood with some hardy plants and a sand bottom would be good. Mabye have some large river rocks to give it more to look ay

i was thinking since its a bow front, maybe some rocks and plants up the sides and a trunk or root system looking drift wood in the middle?

 

[cgthebeast]

i was thinking since its a bow front, maybe some rocks and plants up the sides and a trunk or root system looking drift wood in the middle?

Yep, great minds think alike. Lol Mabye large river stones for rock

 

[Big Tex]

Yep, great minds think alike. Lol Mabye large river stones for rock

red lava rock but boulder sized would be awesome, ill let some other members chime in

 

[Freakgecko91]

red lava rock but boulder sized would be awesome, ill let some other members chime in

If you're doing new world tank, I'd shy away from red lava rock

 

[Big Tex]

If you're doing new world tank, I'd shy away from red lava rock

Sorry, I'm new lol I just like the look I can do river rocks and driftwood?

 

[Freakgecko91]

Yeah, that will work, it was just that the red lava rock is unnatural in most south american rivers and I believe may bump up the pH

 

[misterpenguin4]

This is the kind of rock I have in my 36 bowfront with 2 kribs, 2 GBRs, 2 gold gouramis, and a featherfin catfish. The plants are java ferns and amazon sword.

 

[KPhilly]

Yeah, I need some ideas for my tank as well.

 

[Big Tex]

Yeah, I need some ideas for my tank as well.

Awesome, feel free to post any ? I don't mind

 

[Big Tex]

This is the kind of rock I have in my 36 bowfront with 2 kribs, 2 GBRs, 2 gold gouramis, and a featherfin catfish. The plants are java ferns and amazon sword.

That's a sweet tank penguin, I want maybe a false drift wood piece and rocks around it but not to many hiding places i like to see my fish not having to search for it in the tank when I have company and say oh he's in there somewhere lol

 

[Big Tex]

Yeah, that will work, it was just that the red lava rock is unnatural in most south american rivers and I believe may bump up the pH

So boulders like the ones in my 75g or river rock..?

 

[TheCommunityCichlid]

Just load it up with driftwood and call it a tank! I think some good sized driftwood pieces and good tall fake plants should make it look great.

 

[Big Tex]

Just load it up with driftwood and call it a tank! I think some good sized driftwood pieces and good tall fake plants should make it look great.

ive been meaning to ask you whats the process to using drift wood, do i have to soak? how long? and cleaning? any wood i should steer away from..? and im gonna get the 18" plants today or tomorrow from petsmart, and ive been meaning to ask you too, how do i better anchor those plants in sand substrate..?

 

[TheCommunityCichlid]

ive been meaning to ask you whats the process to using drift wood, do i have to soak? how long? and cleaning? any wood i should steer away from..? and im gonna get the 18" plants today or tomorrow from petsmart, and ive been meaning to ask you too, how do i better anchor those plants in sand substrate..?

Depending on the piece you can try to boil it. If its from a lake or river you are gonna want to boil it to kill anything of it. If its just from outside a good spraying with the hose and scrub with a brush should work. It may leak tannins and if you find this unattractive you may need to keep boiling it till the water is clear at the end. If its big I've heard getting a trash can and dumping the boiling water over the wood in a trash can. I got a good piece from outside and just scrubbed it put it in the tank and it made my water really dark. I added purigen to the tank and did water changes. The purigen didn't tank any out but it at least prevented it from getting worse. So after a few changes the water is clear. As far as woods to stay clear of would be anything soft or sap filled. The plants should sit fine in the sand, ime its easier to get them to stay in sand than gravel. if you are gonna add some fish that like do dig just lay some rocks near the bottom of the plant.

 

[Big Tex]

Depending on the piece you can try to boil it. If its from a lake or river you are gonna want to boil it to kill anything of it. If its just from outside a good spraying with the hose and scrub with a brush should work. It may leak tannins and if you find this unattractive you may need to keep boiling it till the water is clear at the end. If its big I've heard getting a trash can and dumping the boiling water over the wood in a trash can. I got a good piece from outside and just scrubbed it put it in the tank and it made my water really dark. I added purigen to the tank and did water changes. The purigen didn't tank any out but it at least prevented it from getting worse. So after a few changes the water is clear. As far as woods to stay clear of would be anything soft or sap filled. The plants should sit fine in the sand, ime its easier to get them to stay in sand than gravel. if you are gonna add some fish that like do dig just lay some rocks near the bottom of the plant.

do all driftwoods change water color? and im getting firemouths or green texas cichlids, should i still put rocks around the plants..?

 

[TheCommunityCichlid]

Most will change the water and I'm not sure if they will move things or not

 

[Big Tex]

Most will change the water and I'm not sure if they will move things or not

dang, i dont want that, so i guess its just down to petsmart "drift wood" i guess

 

[Freakgecko91]

As long as you're doing your water changes regularly, it shouldn't be much of an issue. Remember that many South American fish live in tea colored water that is stained that way from wood, leaves, etc.

The only time my tank has an issue with tannins (two massive pieces of driftwood in a 75) is when I slack on my water changes