[C2C]

OK here it goes
this is my 30 gallon planted tank build

Tank: 30 gallon tall 24"x12"x24" with a corner overflow in the back right of the tank measures 5x5

Lighting: 1x65watt 10K PC, 65watt 67K PC

Filtration: Rena Filstar XP3

Pressurized CO2 System: 10lb CO2 tank, GLA Choice Regulator, Rinox 3000 CO2 diffuser

Heater: ViaAqua 300watt Titanium heater

Substrate: Flourite Original

Flora: Glossostigma elatinoides, Hemianthus callitrichoides, Rotala sp. green, Proserpinaca palustris, Hydrocotyle leucocephala, Sagittaria pusilla, Echinodorus tenellus micro, Rotala rotundifolia, Hygrophila corymbosa angustifolia, anubias nana petite gold, dwarf lily, Hygrophila polysperma Rosanervig, Lindernia anagallis, Cryptocoryne undulata, a little sword that looks like Riccia fluitans and others

Fauna:

-1-Roseline Shark
-13-Longfin Albino Bushynose Plecostomus (i think)
-3-Panda Corydoras Catfish
-1-Hillstream Loach (not sure if its also called a Borneo Sucker)
-3-Yellow Honey Gourami
-2-Dwarf Neon Blue Gourami
-2-Dwarf Red Gourami

I dont think i forgot anyone

The tank, light fixture, and stand were sitting in my garage collecting dust and i finally convinced my mom to let me set it back up in the house
I sanded and re stained the stand, painted the back of the tank black because it has a corner overflow
the overflow houses all of my equipment: heater, co2 diffuser, and bubble wand
the only thing that isnt in the over flow is the temp probe for the heater and the thermometer

I started setting up the tank last Saturday 01/09/10 but didnt finish setting it up til 5 in the morning the next day
got the CO2 regulator on monday the 11th so i didnt get CO2 till then and im still trying to dial this thing in
it worked fine till the diffuser came off the tubing
so all the fish and plants went in this week
didnt really cycle the tank
i used cultured bio media and some bacteria that i had left from my pond
and thats about it
I want to thank everyone who helped me piece together this tank
my LFS Strictly Fish in Lakewood CA
fordtrannyman for the CO2 tank
Orlando at GLA for the regulator
CL, Cwhite, bryony, and Smoq for plants cause whats a planted tank without plants

here come the pictures the part youve been waiting for

tank being painted we used a whole 8oz can and about 1/2 can of spray paint

stand after drying for a couple of days

tank and stand

glosso and HC clay applicators cause i was not going to stick my hand all the way down to plant these things stem by stem

them in the substrate
the terracotta pots blended in well with the substrate

overflow setup

right side

left side

Fish

Plants

 

[C2C]

oops forgot the pictures

 

[problemman]

still waiting! lol

 

[C2C]

I will have more pictures tomorrow
Its time for bed its 1:45

 

[C2C]

still waiting! Lol

lol

 

[problemman]

-13-Longfin Albino Bushynose Plecostomus what u need all those for? 3 would be fine for a tank that size. remember they get bout 5 inches

 

[problemman]

ps great idea to get the foreground planted easier!!!! keeping that in mind!

 

[C2C]

-13-Longfin Albino Bushynose Plecostomus what u need all those for? 3 would be fine for a tank that size. remember they get bout 5 inches

im trying to grow them out so i can pair them up

it might not even be 13 maybe 10 cause i have 6 regular finned albinos up in my room

ps great idea to get the foreground planted easier!!!! keeping that in mind!

yea those "saucers" blend in great with the original flourite and arent too deep where itll take a lot of substrate to cover it

all i did was fill the dish halfway
put the plants in
covered them with more substrate using tweezers to cover the stems with larger pieces and filled the dish all the way up

 

[C2C]

i wonder what my water quality looks like
i should test it tomorrow

 

[C2C]

tested my water
no ammonia
10ppm nitrite
no nitrate

 

[C2C]

halfway through the cycle in a week

 

[snoz0r]

Good idea on the overflow with the co2 injected there, should hopefully hide all or most of the bubbles if they don't dissolve before that point. Looks good so far. FTS?

 

[C2C]

Good idea on the overflow with the co2 injected there, should hopefully hide all or most of the bubbles if they don't dissolve before that point. Looks good so far. FTS?

thanks
this tank used to be my reef tank then i got over saltwater and went to fresh again
the bubbles dont make it to the top and the ones that do get trapped in the foam

 

[C2C]

updated specs/fish list