40 Breeder Planted

[Nelsontreyjones]

This is my second tank. Been up now for maybe a month or so. Any advice or suggestion would be appreciated. Currently have on order 6 more Black Ruby Barbs.

Tank Specs:
36" x 18" x 16"

Filtration:
Fluval 206
Marineland Emperor 400

Heater:
150W Fluval M Heater

Lighting:
Nova Extreme 2xT5HO Model 1128 78W (11 Hours)
TrueLumen LED Lunar Ligh 453nm Blue Actinic LEDs x3 (4 Hours)

Plants:
Java Fern
Windelov Java Fern
Vallisneria spiralis
Amazon Sword
Java Moss
Dwarf Sagittaria

Fertilizer:
Flourish Excel -> Soon to be Glutaraldehyde once Excel goes
Flourish Comprehensive
Osmocote Tabs


Fish:
Longfin Zebra Danio (Danio rerio) 5
Rainbow shark (Epalzeorhynchos frenatum) 1
Black Ruby Barb (Pethia nigrofasciata) 6
Turquoise Rainbow (Melanotaenia lacustris) 4
Twig Catfish (Farlowella) 1
Julii Cory (Corydoras julii ) 6
Oto (Otocinclus vittatus) 3

 

[Fresh2o]

First of all, nice setup. Layout with vals and DW

 

[Fresh2o]

Hit the send too early!!!
Anyway, a couple of questions:
1. Any problem mounting the light fixture with the Aqueon glass top?
2. Is the java fern mounted to the rocks or is it in the substrate?
3. What is the java moss mounted on? In the substrate I found it to be a debris collector. Might be nicer tied to the DW.
Post updated pics as your tank progresses

 

[librarygirl]

Nice! The java fern (the one left rear) might look really good tied to the left piece of DW; it would give it some height. I feel like the left needs something, maybe some vals on the left side to even it out a little? Some red crypts near that stone cave would look good too.

 

[Nelsontreyjones]

Hit the send too early!!!
Anyway, a couple of questions:
1. Any problem mounting the light fixture with the Aqueon glass top?
2. Is the java fern mounted to the rocks or is it in the substrate?
3. What is the java moss mounted on? In the substrate I found it to be a debris collector. Might be nicer tied to the DW.
Post updated pics as your tank progresses

1. No problem mounting the light. The legs are adjustable.

2. Right no they are mounted to the substrate I havent decided where I want to mount it. Since i'm using sand and not gravel its hard for it stick to the sand.

3. I was thinking about doing just have bad luck with trying to tie them down. I used fish line I think but didn't work out to good in my other tank.

 

[Nelsontreyjones]

Nice! The java fern (the one left rear) might look really good tied to the left piece of DW; it would give it some height. I feel like the left needs something, maybe some vals on the left side to even it out a little? Some red crypts near that stone cave would look good too.

I plan on getting some more plants just waiting for the seller I buy from to put some more up. I was think maybe some Rotala Green in the back with some crypts and anubias in front to mid
.

 

[Fresh2o]

1. No problem mounting the light. The legs are adjustable.

2. Right no they are mounted to the substrate I havent decided where I want to mount it. Since i'm using sand and not gravel its hard for it stick to the sand.

3. I was thinking about doing just have bad luck with trying to tie them down. I used fish line I think but didn't work out to good in my other tank.

3. Another user on this site mentioned black cotton thread for tying down plants. Plants should take hold by the time the thread dissolves.

 

[Rivercats]

Yep that was me but you have to use 100% black cotton thread. Black because it's the least noticable on the DW and be sure it's 100% cotton or it won't dissolve over time.

 

[Fresh2o]

@rivercats sorry...I would have credited you but I've read so many posts recently that they all run together. All good advice.
I'm going through DW envy here looking at all of the pics and all i have are flat stones. I have observed that moss takes a while to cling to it; hoping it fills in over the areas where the line is visible.

 

[Rivercats]

@rivercats sorry...I would have credited you but I've read so many posts recently that they all run together. All good advice.
I'm going through DW envy here looking at all of the pics and all i have are flat stones. I have observed that moss takes a while to cling to it; hoping it fills in over the areas where the line is visible.

No I was just trying to add onto what you posted, I'm not the only one that posts that, I'm just the one that posted it recently

 

[AngelLover]

Looks great!

 

[Nelsontreyjones]

Update

Just added some plants and a fish:

Ludwigia Repens x L. Arcuata
Rotala sp "Green"
Heteranthera Zosterifolia (Stargrass)
Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Green Gecko'
Clown Pleco L104

Also have on order the last bit of the fish.

6 Black Ruby Barbs

5 Threadfin Rainbowfish

I am really looking into pressured Co2. I found a really good deal one craigslist here. They have a setup just like this Freshwater Planted Aquarium Plant Care: Drs. Foster & Smith Deluxe Fully-Automatic CO2 System minus the water pump. They are asking for 100. I can choose between a 5 and 10 lb tank. Most likely I would get the 5lb because this is going into a bedroom. Just want to know if it is really worth it.

His hiding place.

The twig catfish came out of hiding for the photo.

You cant really see but the Rotala sp "Green" is in the back left corner of the tank

 

[Rivercats]

I love when people can get pic's of their whiptail cats. I have 3 in the 220g and where I find them, when I can find them, isn't a place you can take a picture. BTW the tank is looking good.

 

[Nelsontreyjones]

Thanks. Yeah once I saw one at the LFS I had to get one.

 

[Rivercats]

Thanks. Yeah once I saw one at the LFS I had to get one.

I'm curious does yours ever eat any prepared foods such a algae tablets, zucchini, or other veggies? I use them in my tank since I have a BNP and Oto's along with the Whiptails but I have never seen them eat on any of them. I know they eat since they are about 8 months old but I've never seen them eat anything but bio-film, dust algae, and other natural tank foods. Sometimes one of them will even stay in the same spot for days at a time.

 

[Nelsontreyjones]

I have seen him eating Zucchini, but mostly at night because the tiger barbs would mess with him. They are now gone but I haven't put anymore in since I removed them. I just see him on the glass and driftwood.

 

[Nelsontreyjones]

Update

Looking for some suggestions if any.

Added some more plants and setting up for pressurized Co2.

The Plants I added are
Green Cabomba
Rotala Green (already had some just added more)
Ludwidgia sp. red
Pogostemmon Erectus

Fish will be here Friday
Threadfin Rainbowfish 5
True Rummynose Tetra 7

Overlook

Trying to snap my Farlowella but the Turquoise Rainbowfish always get in front of the camera lol

Farlowella

Rainbow Shark is finally coming out more

Co2 Reactor installed no leaks

 

[CharlieKlein]

Beautiful tank! I have a few questions!

What is the plant in the back right?te one that looks long grass
What is the one next to that in back that looks like a leafy bush? Thanks!

 

[Nelsontreyjones]

Beautiful tank! I have a few questions!

What is the plant in the back right?te one that looks long grass
What is the one next to that in back that looks like a leafy bush? Thanks!

Back right plant is Vallisneria spiralis 'Tiger'
Plant Details

I think the one your talking about is Echinodorus bleheri
Plant Details

 

[Aqualady40]

your tank is really beautiful