30B Build for West African Riparium Biotope Input Needed

[Fishies_in_Philly]

Originally Posted by Wy Renegade

Oh no, the vent idea still stands, just redesigning the manifold a bit to be able to incorporate more of a natural pool look in the tank (at least that is what I am aiming for). A burl would be a great idea on that vent, unfortunately, that would mean another long trip to my not so local LFS.

Tom barr normally has some nice burls. Check with him or woodcraft.com. they normally have decent burls.

[Wy Renegade]

Originally Posted by Fishies_in_Philly

Tom barr normally has some nice burls. Check with him or woodcraft.com. they normally have decent burls.

Thanks! I could spend a lot of time and $ on that second site, and not just on tank stuff LOL.

[Fishies_in_Philly]

I know. I have....lol and if you think their webstore is cool. You should see their retail storezs. Kid in a candy shop stuff man......lol

[Wy Renegade]

Sounds about right LOL! For Tom Barr is there another spot to check besides his forum? Unfortunately the forum is blocked from work.

[Fishies_in_Philly]

Ummmm.....the barrreport.com or something to that effect.

[hydrophyte]

I did not dig around in the thread to try to figure out the species, but this looks like Anubias hastifolia or something similar growing just fine in an open-top tank. The leaves look good too and I don't see any brown tips or edges on them.

Originally Posted by scolley

[Wy Renegade]

Cool picture! Thanks Devin.

[Fishies_in_Philly]

where are we at on this project Renegade? we need progress. i have no new builds going on, so i need to live vicariously through you guys for a while!!LOL

[Wy Renegade]

Haven't progressed too far Bill, I actually decided to go ahead and drill the tank for an overflow to be hidden behind the waterfall piece, which will allow for more water volume via a sump. I ordered a bit ago, and they just arrived this week. I'm hoping to maybe get the drilling done on Sunday and then start moving forward with the build. Unfortunatelly, you all have put so many different options in my head, that I haven't fully decided which direction I'll be going just yet.

[Fishies_in_Philly]

You're gonna do a sump? Very very cool! And now you see the problem with the forum, so many ideas, it is so hard to decide what/how to do everything..... lol

[lbacha]

Just some thoughts on the piping you have I use to do the same thing in the mid 90's with my reef tanks to eliminate dead spots (man I wish the current technology in power heads was available then) the big issue is having a big enough pump to make the flow worthwhile, all those bends really kill flow and most water pumps are high flow at the output but die out quickly when any pressure is applied. I just wanted to give you a heads up on that because I would always go bigger than you think you need.

Another though is the rocks if you want them to stay bare then the really smith river rocks are a good idea if you want plant to easily grow in them I would go with something that has some texture. You can also mix the rocks so you have a smooth river rock peaking out of a clump of Anubias or fern. The other issue with smooth rocks is they are hard to lock in place just ask anyone who uses them in their African ciclid tanks, they are a disaster waiting to happen as the fish dig

I would also stick with only African plants, if you are going with a Biotope then half the fun is collecting the plants and animals because it isn't like there is an all African section at the store so you have to do research, my Borneo tank has been a blast to add plants to and I consider it a huge win when I find a new plant from their. Saying this I would stay clear of the Java fern a it is more Asian.

Len

[Wy Renegade]

Originally Posted by Fishies_in_Philly

You're gonna do a sump? Very very cool! And now you see the problem with the forum, so many ideas, it is so hard to decide what/how to do everything..... lol

Indeed, after seeing that stream-side paludarium, I'd like to add something like that with a stump and roots to the back of this tank as well.

Originally Posted by lbacha

Just some thoughts on the piping you have I use to do the same thing in the mid 90's with my reef tanks to eliminate dead spots (man I wish the current technology in power heads was available then) the big issue is having a big enough pump to make the flow worthwhile, all those bends really kill flow and most water pumps are high flow at the output but die out quickly when any pressure is applied. I just wanted to give you a heads up on that because I would always go bigger than you think you need.

Thanks for the input Len, I was debating between a QuietOne 4000 and 6000, do you think the 4000 will be enough or should I go ahead with the 6000?

Originally Posted by lbacha

Another though is the rocks if you want them to stay bare then the really smith river rocks are a good idea if you want plant to easily grow in them I would go with something that has some texture. You can also mix the rocks so you have a smooth river rock peaking out of a clump of Anubias or fern. The other issue with smooth rocks is they are hard to lock in place just ask anyone who uses them in their African ciclid tanks, they are a disaster waiting to happen as the fish dig.

Yeah, I never try to dry stack them very high, as they tend not to stay in place. I was planning to use GS pond foam to hold them on the waterfall and backwall, and beyond that wasn't planning on going to high. I'me considering more of a wall to create a pool effect near the waterfall, and hoping to be able to plant the plants in the substrate and have them grow over the rock. All my research has indicated that smooth rocks are what exists there, so trying to stick with the biotope.

Originally Posted by lbacha

I would also stick with only African plants, if you are going with a Biotope then half the fun is collecting the plants and animals because it isn't like there is an all African section at the store so you have to do research, my Borneo tank has been a blast to add plants to and I consider it a huge win when I find a new plant from their. Saying this I would stay clear of the Java fern a it is more Asian.

Len

Dang! Thought I had researched that one, but I see you're right, guess I must have been going off what some of the internet articles were saying rather then actually looking. Thanks for the heads up.

[Algae Beater]

I'm excited to see this tank progress!

I spent many years breeding West African dwarf cichlids. Any room for a crinum species in there? they make striking additions to such tanks.

[lbacha]

I'm not sure on the pimps but if the larger pump will fit I would go with it, as for the rocks remember no rock starts smooth that is the result of wear from either glacial movement or water, really smooth hard rocks like the ones in the pics would be in really fast moving streams and rivers with well rooted plants, if you are going for a waterfall area there will be a lot of broken craggy type rock as the waterfall errodes the rock away. I hope this helps

Len

[Wy Renegade]

Originally Posted by Algae Beater

I'm excited to see this tank progress!

I spent many years breeding West African dwarf cichlids. Any room for a crinum species in there? they make striking additions to such tanks.

Thanks, its going to be a slow build, especially if I end up doing some of what I am considering. Thanks so much for the suggestion, I'll definitely have to add that plant to my list.

Originally Posted by lbacha

I'm not sure on the pimps but if the larger pump will fit I would go with it, as for the rocks remember no rock starts smooth that is the result of wear from either glacial movement or water, really smooth hard rocks like the ones in the pics would be in really fast moving streams and rivers with well rooted plants, if you are going for a waterfall area there will be a lot of broken craggy type rock as the waterfall errodes the rock away. I hope this helps

Len

Since the pump will be in a sump, fitting it shouldn't be an issue. Guess I'll order a 6000 and then if its too much, I can always drop back down to the 4000 I have.

True enough on the waterfall, but I'm not sure that I'm seeing as a hard waterfall per say as much as more of the trickling in of a small stream, if that makes sense. Guess I need to research some more images.