g33tar's 12g Mr.Aqua -First planted tank - March 5th update
 

Firstly, Im a newb to this. As in two months new. I want to thank you guys for all the help ive received so far with probably silly questions.

Also, thanks JennaH for taking pictures of your tank! Thats what swayed me into buy this one.

Anyhow, I just set it up last night and let everything settle. Its the Mr. Aqua 12gallon 36 x 8 x 9. It really does look like a very quality tank, although ive never seen an ADA in person. All the sides are flush. Has a nice bevel on all of the edges. I feel like I didnt waste my money on it.

Right now it just has a bunch of Echinodorus tenellus (i forgot the new name of it). I even trimmed some down short for a 'foreground plant' which is kindof cheating. And there are some blyxa's in there that were on their way out in my last tank. Hopefully they recover.

The substrate is 'Black Diamond' sand blasting media that I picked up 50lbs for 7$. I was worried they'd eat floating black bits thinking its food, but no dead fish yet. All of the plants have been growing in regular gravel the past 2 months...Im hoping this substrate with the Flourish roottabs i stuffed in it will give me better results since all of the plants are pretty yellow.

Here it is. Pardon the lacking camera skillz.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...r/P1010060.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...r/P1010065.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...r/P1010068.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...r/P1010064.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...r/P1010058.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...r/P1010070.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...r/P1010071.jpg

I found the rocks on the side of a local river yesterday and gave them the boiling water treatment. Right now there are 19 neons, 3 oto's, 3 zebra danois and 2 ghost shrimp. I think thats probably bordering on the high side, but they all seem pretty comfortably in there due to the width.

Right now ive only got sunlight from the window, and two 15w CFL's pointed at it from my blinds that I can kindof raise and lower. Today's mission is to design something adjustable to hang 3 of those lights from above the tank.

Nice tank!

That's a pretty neat tank, different. You can always overstock just make sure your fitration can handle it. Double to triple your tanks basic filtration requirement should handle overstocking. Just don't go too crazy.

I'm liking what you've got going on here. What is that sandblasting material made of?

I think it coal slag? Its the same product as Black Beauty sandblasting material, just a different name.

http://209.183.189.70/uploads/all/re...1b84da7f9b.pdf

Wow, that is cool. What fish are you planning on putting in it?

That is a gorgeous tank! Way to go! I can't wait to see how it grows.

I dont think im going to push it past what it already has in there! Just neons, zebra danois and otos.

MAYBE cherry shrimp? They cant produce too much waste?

Very cool tank, OP. If you don't mind me asking, how much was it? I want one now, haha.

Amazing tank! Love the odd size...very unique. Only thing I would mention is to keep an eye on your water parameters as you're saying that you just set up the tank last night and already have fish in it. You might need to do some water changes if you end up seeing ammonia and nitrite readings pop up.

Well, 2/3 of the the tank water came out of my 20g which was cycled when I dismantled it yesterday. Figured adding 1/3 new water would be like doing a water change?

The tank was 66 bucks shipped from marine depot. Id definately buy it again seeing the tank quality.
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_viewit...content=AZ1123

Unfortunately taking water from a cycled tank and putting in a new tank doesn't make the new tank "cycled". Cycled implies that the tank (filter media, gravel, stones, wood, etc) contains enough beneficial bacteria to break down waste from the fish.

So if you were to move some filter media from your cycled tank, that would help the new tank cycle faster.

As others mentioned, keep an eye on your water parameters as you will probably need some water changes in the near future.

That is such a cool tank! I can't wait to see it fill in.

Yea, ive got the same filter from the old tank as well on this one. The only 'new' stuff in the tank is the substrate and rocks.

Just moved my old tank equipment onto this one really. But ill still be doing frequent water changes.

I like the long dimensions of your tank! I would like to get one like that and do a river habitat!

That looks nice!

Shipping was only $6. The tank looks like it's screaming for a caniister w/lily pipes.