75gal Planted Tank Journal *Updated W/PICS 11/16*

[Torpedobarb]

actually the ones that I have are fairly coarse too.. those were just a suggestion.. but fairly close to what I have

[Complexity]

Originally Posted by MikeS

Complexity, what sponges do you have?

I had an old sponge from a powerhead that was large enough for me to cut in half. But any sponge will do. The coarseness of the sponge is just a personal preference.

My sponge looks similar to this one in texture. I don't see a hole in it to fit over the intake. It may be there, but I don't know. It may just be closed at the bottom which is a good idea.

If you do get a sponge that has a hole all the way through it and you're trying to protect small fish or shrimp, be sure to do something to plug the bottom hole. I stuff a small piece of filter floss in the bottom. You can't see it, it still allows for water to pass through, but keeps the fish and shrimp out.

EDIT: I must correct something I stated in this post (and some other posts which I will also be editing). I suggested using a course sponge over the intake with RCS (Red Cherry Shrimp). I retract that suggestion! I ended up with some RCS babies getting through the sponge and into my filter! I have since removed my course sponge for one with a finer texture. DO NOT USE the course sponge I suggested. It is harmful to RCS.

[Complexity]

Here's one just like mine.

http://www.petmountain.com/product/f...prefilter.html

I am NOT recommending buying any of these or from these sources. I'm just looking for something with a picture that shows what I'm using.

EDIT: I must correct something I stated in this post (and some other posts which I will also be editing). I suggested using a course sponge over the intake with RCS (Red Cherry Shrimp). I retract that suggestion! I ended up with some RCS babies getting through the sponge and into my filter! I have since removed my course sponge for one with a finer texture. DO NOT USE the course sponge I suggested. It is harmful to RCS.

[Orlando]

Not to get sidetracked, but how are the fish coming along? Your tank looks cool!

[MikeS]

Thanks.

[wind101]

Your tank is absolutely beautiful !! I am just starting to get into aquascaping my 55 gal long tank. I have a bit of a GW bloom at the moment that I am fighting to get under control, but I have to tell you-looking at your tank gives me the drive to keep going !! I have a couple of nice pc's of wood- 1 I recently acquired along the river bank that has a huge hole through it that the fish love ! I was careful and boiled it for 3 hours, then I soaked it for a couple of days. Any ways I just wanted to tell you that your an inspiration.
Thanks.
My tank mates include: 3 Bloodred Parrots, 1 Plecco, 4 Neon tetras, 2 Molly's, 2 algae eaters, 2 huge gold snails,2 Long Finned Rosy Barbs, 1 Glowfish....and 1 gold fish that I decided to save from my Red Devil that is in his own 29 gal tank because he ate all his other tank mates !!!
I will be submitting some pics of my own very soon and would like any advice anyone can give me !!!

[Torpedobarb]

Originally Posted by Orlando

Not to get sidetracked, but how are the fish coming along? Your tank looks cool!

all my fish are doing great.. so far (knock on wood)

I haven't had any deaths since I euthanized all the remaining fish and started over. the fish that I kept from before and had in qt made it just fine. I kinda think that what happened... happened for a reason.. to get me to slow down and not be in such a hurry. thanks alot for asking!

[Torpedobarb]

Originally Posted by wind101

Your tank is absolutely beautiful !! I am just starting to get into aquascaping my 55 gal long tank. I have a bit of a GW bloom at the moment that I am fighting to get under control, but I have to tell you-looking at your tank gives me the drive to keep going !! I have a couple of nice pc's of wood- 1 I recently acquired along the river bank that has a huge hole through it that the fish love ! I was careful and boiled it for 3 hours, then I soaked it for a couple of days. Any ways I just wanted to tell you that your an inspiration.
Thanks.
My tank mates include: 3 Bloodred Parrots, 1 Plecco, 4 Neon tetras, 2 Molly's, 2 algae eaters, 2 huge gold snails,2 Long Finned Rosy Barbs, 1 Glowfish....and 1 gold fish that I decided to save from my Red Devil that is in his own 29 gal tank because he ate all his other tank mates !!!
I will be submitting some pics of my own very soon and would like any advice anyone can give me !!!

thanks for the kind words! I appreciate that..

as for your green water issue.. you should get a uv sterilizer.. it would take care of it in a few days. I have one running 24/7. some say that you don't need to have it on all the time.. I keep it on for piece of mind. you should start a journal and post some pics!

[Torpedobarb]

got my other pieces of driftwood today! also got a mag float to keep the inside of the tank clean! I will update pics tonight.


my red tiger lotus has a few leaves that are about 6" in diameter... huge!

[MikeS]

Is it tonight yet?

[Torpedobarb]

figures I could get you to bust my b lls

[MikeS]

[Torpedobarb]

go.. banana..go go.. banana!

[Complexity]

Originally Posted by Torpedobarb

go.. banana..go go.. banana!

That's how to work under pressure!

If only bananas did aquarium scaping!

[Torpedobarb]

Will be continuing this journal today.. I will be attempting to get this thing back up and running. at least for the plants and aquascaping.

my father in law called me this morning and said that the few remaining fish died over night.. probably due to stress.

so restocking needs to be done. a complete.. again.. damn