My 50 gallon setup

**mpodolan** · 09-26-2007, 07:54 PM

Hey all,

I have had 20H and 10g planted tanks running for about a year now, but I was able to acquire a 50 gallon with substrate and light for a reasonable price from another member here (Thanks JDinh). I have had this tank set up for about a month now, but just finally got a digital camera, so I figured i'd share my setup with you. Comments and criticisms are very welcome!
50 gallon
Schultz Aquatic Plant Soil
Coralife 2X96W light (96W from 11-8:30, 192W from 12-6)
cascade 700 and cascade 500 canister filters
Pressurized CO2 with Rexulator and DIY reactor(run inline on canister)
Hardscape: Driftwood w/ riccia, riccia rock

Flora: HM, blyxa japonica, rotala colorata, rotala sp green, rotala rotundifolia, ludwigia palustris, ludwigia arcuata, eriocaulon type 2, riccia, limnophila aromatica, hygro sunset, hygro bold, Myriophyllum mattogrossense, rotala vietnam, rotala hippuris, Rotala sp. 'Goias', Polygonum sp. 'Kawagoneum', Ranunculus inundatus, echinodorus orientalis, peacock moss rope. I also just started to grow a mat of HC for the foreground using the method described by Tom Barr in a recent post.

Fauna: 15 harlequin rasboras, 4 bolivian rams, 2 northern blue rainbows, 4 julli corys, 2 pygmy corys, 4 unidentified otos (Anyone know what they are from the pic below?), rubberlipped pleco, 2 white cloud mountain minnows, 4 cambarellus shufeltii

Here are some photos. The tank is still filling in, and i'm planning to switch some of the plants out for others in the near future. Thanks for looking and for comments and criticisms!
Full tank

Left side

right side

UnID'd oto. Any help here?

dwarf cray

Rams:I think the first photo is 2 females, while the next 2 photos are a male. Anyone have opinions here?

Rainbow

Sorry for the quality of some of the pics. These fish won't sit still!

Mike

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**Erk** · 09-26-2007, 08:20 PM

The tank looks great! I like a lot of the plants you have in there!

In regards to the rams...the ones with the pinkish bellies are female

Keep up the nice work

**mpodolan** · 09-26-2007, 08:24 PM

thanks erk! I have been able to acquire many of the plants that I have wanted for this setup from the SNS here. Thanks for the info on the rams, as well

03sonicstang03 · 09-26-2007, 08:33 PM

Beautiful tank; lots of growth for a month. Does your crayfish give you any trouble?

**mpodolan** · 09-26-2007, 09:03 PM

Thanks, sonicstang! The crayfish aren't troublesome at all. They are still juveniles, but they only get 1.5-2", as they are dwarf crays. They are very cool to watch, and they do a nice job searching the substrate for excess food, etc.

03sonicstang03 · 09-26-2007, 09:05 PM

I might have to pick one up! Again beautiful; I hope my tank fills in as well!

Jdinh04 · 09-26-2007, 10:38 PM

The tank looks good! Glad to see it again!

**mpodolan** · 09-26-2007, 10:43 PM

Thank JD! I'm having a great time with this tank. it's nice to have so much more room to work with

**mpodolan** · 10-03-2007, 12:38 AM

Here's a quick update. I made a few changes, because I received some new plants. I added some Alternanthera reineckii 'rosaefolia', pogostemon stellatus, and an Aponogeton madagascariensis. Things are continuing to fill out, with little algae so far (keeping fingers crossed)

Full tank

Left side with new additions

Right side

Let me know what you think

**Tdon1md** · 10-05-2007, 08:27 AM

Great looking tank. Thanks for naming your substrate cuz it's what I have and I didn't write down the name b4 tossing the bag. Now I can add it to my profile.........lol!

**mpodolan** · 10-05-2007, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tdon1md

Great looking tank. Thanks for naming your substrate cuz it's what I have and I didn't write down the name b4 tossing the bag. Now I can add it to my profile.........lol!

thanks! Yea, it's not the best looking substrate, but it was free and seems to work well so far.

theelysium · 10-21-2007, 12:51 AM

WoW! I like your tank. I hope mine becomes that some day! I'm glad to see that someone who gives advise really walks their talk! Good Job!

**mpodolan** · 10-21-2007, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theelysium

WoW! I like your tank. I hope mine becomes that some day! I'm glad to see that someone who gives advise really walks their talk! Good Job!

I appreciate that! I'll update next week once I get some new pics, as I've made a few changes

mistergreen · 10-21-2007, 05:24 AM

Where are you guys getting blyxa japonica?
I can't find it anywhere.

**mpodolan** · 10-21-2007, 05:27 AM

09-26-2007, 07:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
mpodolan A work in progress (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lenox, MI Posts: 1,154	My 50 gallon setup Hey all, I have had 20H and 10g planted tanks running for about a year now, but I was able to acquire a 50 gallon with substrate and light for a reasonable price from another member here (Thanks JDinh). I have had this tank set up for about a month now, but just finally got a digital camera, so I figured i'd share my setup with you. Comments and criticisms are very welcome! 50 gallon Schultz Aquatic Plant Soil Coralife 2X96W light (96W from 11-8:30, 192W from 12-6) cascade 700 and cascade 500 canister filters Pressurized CO2 with Rexulator and DIY reactor(run inline on canister) Hardscape: Driftwood w/ riccia, riccia rock Flora: HM, blyxa japonica, rotala colorata, rotala sp green, rotala rotundifolia, ludwigia palustris, ludwigia arcuata, eriocaulon type 2, riccia, limnophila aromatica, hygro sunset, hygro bold, Myriophyllum mattogrossense, rotala vietnam, rotala hippuris, Rotala sp. 'Goias', Polygonum sp. 'Kawagoneum', Ranunculus inundatus, echinodorus orientalis, peacock moss rope. I also just started to grow a mat of HC for the foreground using the method described by Tom Barr in a recent post. Fauna: 15 harlequin rasboras, 4 bolivian rams, 2 northern blue rainbows, 4 julli corys, 2 pygmy corys, 4 unidentified otos (Anyone know what they are from the pic below?), rubberlipped pleco, 2 white cloud mountain minnows, 4 cambarellus shufeltii Here are some photos. The tank is still filling in, and i'm planning to switch some of the plants out for others in the near future. Thanks for looking and for comments and criticisms! Full tank Left side right side UnID'd oto. Any help here? dwarf cray Rams:I think the first photo is 2 females, while the next 2 photos are a male. Anyone have opinions here? Rainbow Sorry for the quality of some of the pics. These fish won't sit still! Mike Last edited by mpodolan : 10-03-2007 at 12:17 AM.

09-26-2007, 08:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
Erk Just one more plant! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (18) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Strasburg, PA Posts: 332	The tank looks great! I like a lot of the plants you have in there! In regards to the rams...the ones with the pinkish bellies are female Keep up the nice work __________________ 46gal BF, Coralife Lunar Aqualight, pressurized co2 through venturi reactor, Eco-Complete, Dry Ferts, 4 discus, XP3, kH=2, gH=4, 1x50% WC/week with RO water http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/yo...do=view&id=467 Filstar Pimp #103

09-26-2007, 10:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jdinh04 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (53) Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Okemos, MI Posts: 2,340	The tank looks good! Glad to see it again! __________________

10-03-2007, 12:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
mpodolan A work in progress (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lenox, MI Posts: 1,154	Here's a quick update. I made a few changes, because I received some new plants. I added some Alternanthera reineckii 'rosaefolia', pogostemon stellatus, and an Aponogeton madagascariensis. Things are continuing to fill out, with little algae so far (keeping fingers crossed) Full tank Left side with new additions Right side Let me know what you think __________________ Mike 10" Cube 10g Shrimp tank 20g planted 50g planted

10-05-2007, 08:27 AM	#10 (permalink)
Tdon1md Planted Tank Anti-Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2) Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Salisbury, MD Posts: 430	Great looking tank. Thanks for naming your substrate cuz it's what I have and I didn't write down the name b4 tossing the bag. Now I can add it to my profile.........lol! __________________ Todd That's my 2 cents worth, and I may owe you change. Fluval Pimpmaster General! 30G broken down to make 75G 75Gallon Obsession

09-26-2007, 08:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
mpodolan A work in progress (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lenox, MI Posts: 1,154	thanks erk! I have been able to acquire many of the plants that I have wanted for this setup from the SNS here. Thanks for the info on the rams, as well

09-26-2007, 08:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
03sonicstang03 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northville, MI Posts: 61	Beautiful tank; lots of growth for a month. Does your crayfish give you any trouble?

09-26-2007, 09:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
mpodolan A work in progress (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lenox, MI Posts: 1,154	Thanks, sonicstang! The crayfish aren't troublesome at all. They are still juveniles, but they only get 1.5-2", as they are dwarf crays. They are very cool to watch, and they do a nice job searching the substrate for excess food, etc.

09-26-2007, 09:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
03sonicstang03 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northville, MI Posts: 61	I might have to pick one up! Again beautiful; I hope my tank fills in as well!

09-26-2007, 10:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
mpodolan A work in progress (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lenox, MI Posts: 1,154	Thank JD! I'm having a great time with this tank. it's nice to have so much more room to work with

10-21-2007, 12:51 AM	#12 (permalink)
theelysium Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Gold River Posts: 6	WoW! I like your tank. I hope mine becomes that some day! I'm glad to see that someone who gives advise really walks their talk! Good Job!

10-21-2007, 05:24 AM	#14 (permalink)
mistergreen Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 2,432	Where are you guys getting blyxa japonica? I can't find it anywhere. __________________ Algae happens.

10-21-2007, 05:27 AM	#15 (permalink)
mpodolan A work in progress (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lenox, MI Posts: 1,154