melisa427
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Hi there. Thanks for maintaining such a helpful site. I stumbled across this site when looking for "new tank set up" information and it is great! I am looking forward to combing through the information and therefore can pass some on along the way.
I live in New York City and need some "quiet time" away from the hustle and bustle and what a better way than to care for a tank that gives me nothing but .... hehe "q u i e t t i m e". I have a 125 gallon (taller than longer) tank that was until somewhat recently, a successful reef tank that I had maintained for a good part of 10+ years. It started out as an all fish tank back in the 40 gallon days, graduated to a 75 gallon and then about 4 years ago, i upgraded to 125. I loved it, I learned it, and then sort of 'burnt out' after having my 3rd child. Now I am coming back to the hobby after breaking down the tank about 18 mos ago. I have decided to start up a freshwater tank with a challenge. I am studying and learning about Discus.
I have been cycling the tank for about 5 wks. I have added 150 pounds of the "CaribSea" live gravel, decided NOT to use live plants because the tank is quite deep and I am unable to reach all the way down to the bottom. I know.... there are tongs and what-not, but I want to feel the tank. I have it planted with beautiful artificial plants (some plastic, but mostly silk) and a huge piece of driftwood. It looks like the Amazon. I am trying to maintain the "true to area" feel and doing it up Amazonian. I have tested the water and all the parameters are in order. I know the cycle is almost there, but not quite ready. I have added 6 'Head and Tail lite Tetra's' and am waiting to see what happens. If all goes well, I will add a school of Cardinal Tetras, a smaler school of Rummy Nosed Tetra's and some other random compatible tank mates. Eventually, sometime in April, I want to add 10 juvenile Discus pretty much at once.
I am looking forward to see how it works and read up on it as much as possible from you guys. If you have any suggestions at all, HELP!!
Thanks, melisa
I live in New York City and need some "quiet time" away from the hustle and bustle and what a better way than to care for a tank that gives me nothing but .... hehe "q u i e t t i m e". I have a 125 gallon (taller than longer) tank that was until somewhat recently, a successful reef tank that I had maintained for a good part of 10+ years. It started out as an all fish tank back in the 40 gallon days, graduated to a 75 gallon and then about 4 years ago, i upgraded to 125. I loved it, I learned it, and then sort of 'burnt out' after having my 3rd child. Now I am coming back to the hobby after breaking down the tank about 18 mos ago. I have decided to start up a freshwater tank with a challenge. I am studying and learning about Discus.
I have been cycling the tank for about 5 wks. I have added 150 pounds of the "CaribSea" live gravel, decided NOT to use live plants because the tank is quite deep and I am unable to reach all the way down to the bottom. I know.... there are tongs and what-not, but I want to feel the tank. I have it planted with beautiful artificial plants (some plastic, but mostly silk) and a huge piece of driftwood. It looks like the Amazon. I am trying to maintain the "true to area" feel and doing it up Amazonian. I have tested the water and all the parameters are in order. I know the cycle is almost there, but not quite ready. I have added 6 'Head and Tail lite Tetra's' and am waiting to see what happens. If all goes well, I will add a school of Cardinal Tetras, a smaler school of Rummy Nosed Tetra's and some other random compatible tank mates. Eventually, sometime in April, I want to add 10 juvenile Discus pretty much at once.
I am looking forward to see how it works and read up on it as much as possible from you guys. If you have any suggestions at all, HELP!!
Thanks, melisa
