Loose Llanos Biotope

[sevenyearnight]

Hello. I am setting up a tank as a Christmas present for my husband (and me), and would like to do a not too strict Llanos biotope for Ram Cichlids, but would like to keep it fairly affordable.

50 Gallon with iron stand-50.00
Silicone-5.00
Black Diamond Sand x2-18.00
Leftover pieces of Manzanita-N/A
Various left over rocks-N/A
2 Phillips 6500K T8-7.00
Light strip 11.00
Contact Paper for light strip 6.00
All plants but the Oakleaf N/A
Mexican Oakleaf 3.00
Aquaclear 110 57.00
Sunsun HW303B 79.00
Bubblewand 3.00
Total 182.00

We have resealed it and it's passed the leak test, so next I'll work on the hard scaping.

Lighting:
I'm thinking either the sexy diamond plate shoplights from HD, or just the white ones from Walmart.
2 6500 K Phillips T8

Flora: (?)
Amazon Sword
Brazillian Pennywort
Dwarf Sagitaria
Scarlet Temple
Mexican Oak Leaf
Frog's Bit
Dwarf Water Lettuce

I realize some of these may not be from the Llanos, but it is a loose version.

Fauna:
2 Rams
School of Rummy Nose Tetras
School of Cardinal Tetras
Marbled Hatchets
Checkerboard Cichlid
?

I'm thinking of keeping the temp between 82-84°F
I already have soft water so I don't have to adjust that.

I would like suggestions on a filter, I read they don't like a strong current, so I was wondering what a good filter would be for them, considering I'd like to keep the budget low end.


Thank you for your time and suggestions in advance, pics soon to come.

[AirstoND]

I cut a 8-16oz plastic cup in half and used it as a baffle for HOB (taped across outflow) for betta and lilies (if you're using canister someone else could chime in).

Just some recommendations:
1) Nitro-zorb or nitrate absorbing plants.
2) These fish also prefer a darker tank setup, some floating dwarf water lettuce, frogbit, or water lily?
3) Might want to add airstone timed for night operation (for plants)

[sevenyearnight]

Thanks
I have an air pump on my other tank at night, so I was planning on that, but forgot to mention it.
I just asked for some frog bit from someone local!
I'm not sure I understand your baffle cup set up though, does the cup just go in front of the water fall attached to the plastic?



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[sevenyearnight]

Ok, I'm on Tapatalk, I just zoomed in on the picture, I see the baffle, thanks!

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[matty26]

On evil bay, you can search cfs 500 and that filter works great, $60 shipped. I had t8 shop lights before and my lights were louder than my filter! Highly recomended!

[sevenyearnight]

Originally Posted by matty26

On evil bay, you can search cfs 500 and that filter works great, $60 shipped. I had t8 shop lights before and my lights were louder than my filter! Highly recomended!

Lol, why is that one meathead selling his for 225.00? Description even says, "Compare to filters costing 100's more"


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[bpb]

Originally Posted by sevenyearnight

Lol, why is that one meathead selling his for 225.00? Description even says, "Compare to filters costing 100's more"


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This isn't the first time I have seen something like this happen. It is quite often that the sellers are a lot dumber than the buyers.

[sevenyearnight]

Hardscape and then planted.
A few pieces started floating again, so I'll reposition them when they sink unassisted.

[demonr6]

Looks nice so far.

[sevenyearnight]

Thank you.

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[sevenyearnight]

Wood stopped floating

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[Sharp]

Very nice. Really like the shape of the wood on the left.

[SlammedDC2]

Tank looks awesome, very nicely done.

[sevenyearnight]

Thank you very much

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[sevenyearnight]

The floaters have grown in nicely, fortunately I have a tank to move them too that houses fish that love to eat the roots.