RiverBottom/Dive Tank

[Meganne]

put it in for it's 3rd soak yesterday. Took and old net and pre-sifted it and got three net fulls of rock and mulch!

the mud still stunk a little after the 2nd soak, will see if it has gotten bter after the 3rd! it still go skummy when I broke it up and added water

[Meganne]

soak and sun baked 4 times
finally sifted and two 20 lb bags of top soil reduced to a 2 gallon bucket!
next I'll mix in the clay

[Meganne]

today I drill access holes in the back of the piece I am using for a tank stand. bought a surge protector. and rinsed clean my capping sand.
oh! and I have plants ordered and on the way!!!
*Eleocharis acicularis ...dwarf hai grass
* Hemianthus callitrichoides....dwarf babytears
*Rotala macrandra
*Eleocharis montevidensis..giant hairgrass

and I have two already, not sure but believe I have
*Aponogeton capuroni...MAYBE??
and a sword of some sort, the new leaves are red in colorand mature to green, a medium sized plant.

[Meganne]

set up the tank todayso it would be ready for planting when the plants arrive
this is my base of MTS


I went ahead and filled being the drift wood is soaked and not floating, I didn't want to chance it dring out any this next day or two waiting for planting.
I know it will make planting mor chalanging, I did have my two plants to plant...lol, they look lonely


here is the whole set up

[Meganne]

a few more shots simply because I am excied to be this far along.




got a couple clown corys a few days ago. they had some about 3 inches in size but I decided even though it was only a couple bucks in price I wanted to watch them grow. they like the sand bottom

[Meganne]

planted today, will post pix tomorrow

[Li@m]

Ummm, Those aren't Corys. Those are "Clown Loaches" and the get Big!

Tank looks good

[whitepapagold]

Originally Posted by Li@m

Ummm, Those aren't Corys. Those are "Clown Loaches" and the get Big!

Tank looks good

Yup... WAYYYYYYYY to big for that tank... They will dig like freaks too!

They will be fine for now but you shouldn't keep them in there...

[Meganne]

thanks for the head up on the LOACHES..you are right! didnt realize just how big they got! they will be gone when they start trouble!!...thank you!
So what would you suggest replaceing them with, I liked the bold look to thier markings. I am going to a great LFS wednessday to get some small schooling fish. have a suggestion on numbers as well? the tank is 45 gallons. we are favoring the HeadLightTailLight tetras. Also looking a perhaps a few Rainbow fish, there is one they have wich stays a bit smaller, but I am thinking that will be to much for the tank.

here is the tank today, bad picture and light tint of green to the water....ugh! hoping the new additional plants will help correct that....yes?

[Meganne]

some better pictures

[Meganne]

the clown loaches have both passed, I will be checking water in the morning.
all the Angles look great.
Is there a pH level that is wrong for the loaches?
I have added an air stone tonight

[KFryman]

Check all your parameters, there may have been an ammonia spike from there not ebing a cycle. Maybe new tank syndrome?

Tank looks great though,The HC and dwarf hair grass may not do too well with the light. I doubt there would be medium light at the substrate.

[Meganne]

K are you saying I need higher lighting for those two plants??

[Li@m]

I would split up the hair grass into smaller clumps and definitely get more plants. If the tank hasn't been cycled then dont add any more fish into the tank untill it's been cycled.

[Meganne]

Hi Liam, yes, no more fish till tanks cycles...only fish shopping I am doing is window shopping !

I have the patients to let the hair grass spread on its own, I was afraid to separate it to much, call me chicken!

I am really hoping for a nice swath of HC, but now I am worried about not having enough lighting?????