72 Gallon Bowfront Progression FW

[iadubber]

Well, I've been on here for a couple months reading. I have my first tank setup. Here's the progression over the past two months.

72 Gallon Bow with matching stand
Pool Filter Sand (PFS)
FluVal 405
Hydor 300w inline
Freshwater
1 T8 6700k bulb
custom DIY moonlights

Stock List:
7 Harlequin Rasboras
6 Platies
4 Cardinal Tetras (will be 7-8 this weekend. I had lost 5 of the original nine a couple weeks ago)
3 Peppered Cories (adding 2 more)
1 Ghost Shrimp
1 Dwarf Gourami
Hoping to add 5-6 boeseman's rainbows this weekend

Going for medium planting

Current Plant List: with some root tabs in the PFS
Rotala
Java Fern
Jungle Val
Amazon Sword
Anubias Nana

Currently looking to up the light output to a dual T5 108w setup

Here it is in our dining room:

IMG_0286 by iadubber, on Flickr

Cycling:

IMG_0292 by iadubber, on Flickr

Custom Moonlights: 5 LEDs with a switch in the hood

IMG_0343 by iadubber, on Flickr

Adding black background with the spray oil method


IMG_0372 by iadubber, on Flickr


IMG_0597 by iadubber, on Flickr


IMG_0594 by iadubber, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chadharwick/6406043729/


IMG_0582 by iadubber, on Flickr


IMG_0581 by iadubber, on Flickr


http://www.flickr.com/photos/chadharwick/6406002157/

 

[iadubber]

Prior to adding plants tonight:

IMG_0642 by iadubber, on Flickr

After adding plants tonight:
I know I need to tie the Java Fern to a rock or my driftwood. I just needed to get it in the water tonight. Tomorrow I will maybe play around with the scaping a bit more.


IMG_0672 by iadubber, on Flickr


IMG_0677 by iadubber, on Flickr


IMG_0678 by iadubber, on Flickr


IMG_0679 by iadubber, on Flickr

 

[TheFishBoss97]

wow! great start! very clean and nice looking!

 

[Convict2161]

Very nice set up! Nice stand also.

 

[arcticfirefighter]

Looks Great!

Awesome! Very nice tank! Looks very clean and I love the LED moon light. Is that a custom job or a feature of a store LED set? I was thinking about getting an LED set-up just have to convince the wife to let me drop another $100-150..

Ahh... Never mind, just saw your pic title of custom LED...

 

[Hholly]

Nice! I'm jealous!

 

[iadubber]

Awesome! Very nice tank! Looks very clean and I love the LED moon light. Is that a custom job or a feature of a store LED set? I was thinking about getting an LED set-up just have to convince the wife to let me drop another $100-150..

Ahh... Never mind, just saw your pic title of custom LED...

It is a DIY by me. I had 5 LEDs laying around and a power supply from an old computer router. All I bought was the switch from RadioShack.


Added a couple bunches of anacharis today and 5 boeseman rainbows.

 

[iadubber]

Lots of rescaping. Trying to be more natural. I did a large vacuum is why the water is low. Water is dirty from all the moving. Not sure I like it yet. I want to find a larger driftwood eventually.


IMG_0682 by iadubber, on Flickr


IMG_0689 by iadubber, on Flickr


IMG_0694 by iadubber, on Flickr


IMG_0703 by iadubber, on Flickr


IMG_0704 by iadubber, on Flickr

 

[Tipton34]

looks great. what kind of rock is that?

 

[ejaramillo01]

Beautiful tank, how long you have been running the tank? The sand looks super clean...

My tank has also PFS, I experienced a little diatoms when I started to add root tablets, some of he sand turned brown, but last like 2 months and then started ti disappear already....

Nice tank, the driftwood will definitely make it look more natural, you can look for a branch type... You can also attach some plants to it, many options!

 

[redsea]

Beautiful tank and fish! You have an amazing camera too!

 

[iadubber]

looks great. what kind of rock is that?

I'm actually not sure. I got it on ebay from an aquarium rock seller. He had it titled tiger stripe aquarium rock. I love it.

Beautiful tank, how long you have been running the tank? The sand looks super clean...

Two months.

My tank has also PFS, I experienced a little diatoms when I started to add root tablets, some of he sand turned brown, but last like 2 months and then started ti disappear already....

I haven't seen that yet.

Nice tank, the driftwood will definitely make it look more natural, you can look for a branch type... You can also attach some plants to it, many options!

I have a small driftwood in there now with two java ferns attached. I need one with some height to it.

replied in blue above.

Beautiful tank and fish! You have an amazing camera too!

Thanks! I really loved the PFS at the start. Now I kind of hate it. Shows every little piece of plant and poop on it even right after vacuuming it. I might switch to black sand. The white makes it nearly impossible to photograph fish that are near the bottom from the reflecting light causing a halo effect.

I shoot with a Canon 5D and a multitude of lenses.

 

[iadubber]

Well I am retiring this tank from freshwater and making it a FOWLR tank. I am getting a 55 gallon tomorrow to move all this stock to.

 

[jmpgop]

What kind of filter? It is the only thing I haven't purchased yet as I'm getting a 72 gallon bow next week - pine/oak but the same tank for sure.

I'm doing rock base though. I was thinking of doing natural plants in pots - any thoughts?