Growerguy's 75g Journal.

[Growerguy]

Ok so some of you have helped me with my Neon Tetras and cycling my 15g.
I came across some luck with a 75g and figured I would start a journal and show my progress. It looks fun and will keep my mind busy while I try and quit smoking.
Here is the story about the 75g-
I have grown up in the greenhouse buisness. My family owns one of the largest bedding plants greenhouses in the central US. Currently Im a grower at one and take care of about 7 football feilds of plants daily.
About 2 months ago I decided to start a planted aquarium allthough got busy and didnt research much. Needless to say I went to the store and got some of my favorite fish (the Neon Tetras) without even thinking about cycling. (I grew up with my dad having tanks and I was a volenteer zoo keeper for awhile. Think I would have remembered) I felt horrible and yes.. Im a dumb idiot sometimes yes. Thank you everyone who helped me and saved my fish! After awhile (should say after lots of research) I might turn that 15g into a nano-reef.
Luckly I found an ex fish breeder who has a 75g that is and has been running for the last few years and is willing to sell me the complete set up (minus the plants and wood but with the substrate still) for ultra cheep.
Anyways this will be my 75g journal and start into the world of aquatic plants. I will be picking up the tank Thursday, Feb 21st. Will take pictures as soon as it gets here. The anticipation and excitement (and lack of nicotine) is killing me!

[Growerguy]

Ok so only one more day left till it gets here!
I sat down and went over some plants I might want. Only criteria Im going for really is more broad leaf plants (at least at the moment) and grasses. If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them!
The list so far:
Foreground
Anubias 'nana'
Fire moss
Java Moss
Crystalwort
Dwarf hair grass
HC

Midground
Crypts (I have a Crypt 'lucens')
Melon sword
African water fern (maybe..)
Bacopa (have lots allready)

Background
Swords (I have a kleiner bar sword i think... with 5 babies growing off it)
Sunset Hygrophila

This is just an ideas list. Ideas are welcome.

[frozenbarb]

Cool 7 football fields... Do you have airplanes that help you fertiilize?
What substrate is gonna be in the tank?

[Growerguy]

I need to see what I can get. The plan substrate wise is a layer of flourite, layer of peat, and then layer of eco complete maybe.
Im still looking at options.

As for the greenhouses haha we have booms that run on rails to fertilize and water. Ill see if I can get a picture.

[Growerguy]

Ok sweet the tank is here and it only took 4 hours to tear it down, transport it, and then set it back up!
75g.. Home made wet/dry filter out of a 20g tank in the bottom. 2 T-12 lights. Im tired after setting this thing up. hah. Ill post some pictures tomorrow to show my progress.
Tank has been running for a couple years and has cycled. 4 hours ago it was home to six 4 inch long cat fish and two 4 in long plecos. Now its home to three neon tetras hahahaha. Oh and a lot of snails and has a small feather algea problem. Guess one has to start somewhere.

[KurtG]

Good luck on the 75, I am enjoying mine. My uncle owns Bellevue Farm out your way (used to be Strawberries/Pumpkins, but now he does wedding/corporate parties).

You might want to reconsider the wet/dry for CO2 outgassing reasons.

[Growerguy]

Thanks KurtG. I think Ive heard of Bellevue Farm. Thats pretty cool.
I was reading about CO2 problems with wet/dry filters. Right now I only have a small sword, even smaller crypt, and some bacopa and ludwigia plants. Ill probably look into a canister as the tank gets more planted. Right now Im only doseing with flourish excel.
Stats-
ph- 7.2
nI- 0
amm- 0
nA- 10
doseing flourish excel and kent pro-plant.
2x T12 40 watt bulbs
eco-complete substrate (need to get more)

2" Pleco
9 Neon tetras
3" Angelicus Botia

Sword plant (dont think its an amazon)
Bacopa
Ludwigia
Crypt lutens

Its kinda sad looking at the moment haha.

[fishman9809]

Whos baby is that a picture of, he looks kinda *drunk*

The tank is not so bad though, itll inprove after a while...

[Growerguy]

LOL thats my son. He is a very happy baby... he might be sneaking the booze when Im not looking.
Thank you though. I guess it does look pretty good considering I got everything for under $400. :P

[fishman9809]

lmao,thats hella funny, your baby might become Stewie, watch out.....

How did you make such a large tank operate with plants and everything for only $400?!?!

[Growerguy]

ROFL, as long as he doesnt try and kill me its cool.

I got extreamly lucky. A local ex-fishbreeder sold me the tank, stand, wet/dry, lights, and substrate for $300.
Basically this tank has been running for the last 2 years with plecos and cat fish. He took the fish and most of the water out of the tank, left the water in the 20g wet/dry filter, and we moved it 4 blocks to my place. Filled it back up and let it run for 36 hours.

[fishman9809]

yeah LOL

You are so lucky, I currently have a Eclipse 12 NON-PLANTED tank that recently had gill disease.

I joined here to learn about nanos, because I am going to make a nano biotope of Borneo with microrasbora.......and Im only a teen, so I don't get much funds, my budget is $40 currently

[Growerguy]

I hear ya. I have a pretty low budget allso. Pick up classifieds and check out craigs list. Good luck though there are plenty of cheeper tanks out there sitting in peoples basements just waiting to be used.

[@marko@]

just a suggestion for your plant list, you may want to lower the list of forground plants to just 2 plants. it looks a lot more impressive when its 2 large groups instead of a bunch of small bushels of different plants.

[Growerguy]

Ok thanks marko. Im thinking 'nanas' and HC for the foreground. Thinking of going with more broad leaf plants instead of grasses.