Hello from Northern Colorado!

[Rasko]

So I've had a couple tanks growing up here and there, never anything serious until about 4 months ago I got the itch again.
Born and raised in San Diego, California. Moved to Northern Colorado when I was 18 and have been here since

So I talked the lady into letting me geta 46 Gallon bowfront for my birthday this year, where I currently keep African cichlids:
5 Labidochromis caeruleus (Electric Yellow)
1 Pseudotropheus Socolofi (Powder Blue)
1 Sciaenochromis fryeri (Electric Blue)
1 Metriaclima lombardoi (Female Kenyi)

Looking to get some more when I find that smoking craigslist deal on a 72 or 90 gallon bowfront




Then I found a FREE 55g on craigslist a few weeks ago that was in horrible shape, and had 3 extremely over-sized fish in it (Imagine a 16 inch Iridescent Shark, a 7-8 inch tinfoil barb, and a 13 inch pleco all crammed in it). Rescued the fish to the LFS and got the tank cleaned up after a good 6 hours total scrubbing time.

This tank is my current project planted tank. Learning as I go and trying new things along the way

So far:





I have some dwarf hairgrass
3 or 4 different swords
Hornwort
Cabomba
a couple other plants I don't know what they are

Substrate is Pool filter sand with a layer of flourite/smooth pebble gravel mix sandwiched between.

Just got a somewhat suitable light fixture about a week ago

AquaticLife T5 HO Dual Bulb with 1x Roseate and 1x 6000K bulbs
I'm looking at getting a second fixture soon (They are expandable)
And switching to 2x 6700K, 1 Roseate, and 1 10000K bulbs

Also looking to upgrade to canister filters and an inline heater soon hopefully if budget allows since the heater I have now sucks, and running 2 crappy HOB's

Current stock:
1x Rainbow shark
2x Peppered Cory
1x Bulldog Pleco
9x Scissortail Rasbora
2x Black Kuhli Loach
?x Ghost Shrimp

Looking to get some German Blue Ram, and Festivum Cichlids for it in the near future, along with another Panaque (Pinstripe) Pleco since the one I had (My favorite fish) recently decided to stop eating and kicked the bucket :\

R.I.P.



I'm also currently working on a Co2 system for my aquarium, hoping to get some lush growth going

Some of my other hobbies:







I did graphic design (Signs, vehicle graphics) as a job for 6 years. Here was one of the cars I replicated the graphics on for some local wealthy fellow that builds exact replicas of race-winning cars.

Feel free to ask if you have any questions, or think you can help me with my planted tank adventures! I'm open to any and all advice

[Aquaticfan]

Where at in northern Colorado you at? and welcome!!! I live up in the Wellington/Ft Collins area myself.

[Rasko]

Thanks for the welcome

I live in Loveland!

[if_fishes_were_wishes]

Welcome those are some nice-looking tanks - you're off to a great start in the planted tank world. I have a 55 too, it was also a Craigslist find, but it sure wasn't free! Congrats on that!

[GMYukonon24s]

Welcome to the forum

[Aquasafe]

Welcome to the forum!

[Green_Flash]

Hi, welcome to TPT, nice tanks you have!