[kamikazi]

This journal is for my 75 gallon blackwater tank.

I am taking down my 29 gal blackwater paradise and my 40 gal crypt utopia and combining the inhabitants and plants into this new tank.

I plan for it to be a planted blackwater tank like my 29 gal.

It will have Miracle Gro Organic Choice Potting Mix with Pool Filter sand cap.

Filtration provided by 2 canister filters

lighting will be 4-5 bayco worklights with 6500K CFLs

Hardscape will be driftwood, rocks and oak leaves.

Plants include anubius, crypts, alternanthera, java fern, micro sword, chain sword and perhaps others.

Fish include zebra loaches, apistos, cories, tetras, cherry barbs, harlequin rasboras, otos, and angels. overtime these will change to be more focused on SA fish.

Here is a youtube video of the progress.

Pictures to come later.

 

[kamikazi]

First step was to construct the addition for my 40 gallon stand. This addition extended the length of the stand to 4' to match that of a 75 gallon tank.

I then tore down the 29 and 40 gallon tanks and move the plants and fish to a big rubbermaid tub.

The rubbermaid tub will bow out as you fill it up. To prevent this I built a 2x4 brace.

Next I attached the stand addition to the existing stand, places a new top on it and put molding around the top. I primed and painted the additions to match the existing stand.

Next step was to setup the hardscape, substrate and begin filling the new tank.

 

[kamikazi]

I was able to use the same light stand system that I used on my 40 gallon setup. I switched out the shorter rod that the lights hang on for a longer one. I was originally planning on light the tank with 4 spiral cfls in hanging bayco worklight fixtures. But as of now I'm using 3 and the 4th is a spot light for effect (more on that later)

The tank has been setup for a couple months now the video below is of the tank for a couple weeks ago. The cryptocorynes are growing back. I'm not having very good luck with the alternanthera so I am thinking about replacing it with taller crypt species.

 

[kamikazi]

Now about the spot light. I have seen a few videos on youtube of peoples tanks with the shimmer effect. So I decided to create that with my tank. There are several different ways to get the effect but two things are key. 1. Surface water movement (ripples) and 2. point source light.

To do this in my tank I used a bayco clamp work light fixture with a Utilitech Pro PAR20 450 Lumens 3000K LED bulb pointed at an angle at the surface of the tank. I would have got a 5000K bulb but they didnt have any at the store. This will be something I get in the future.

So here is the result http://youtu.be/cRHerto8kX0

 

[TetraFan]

Looks good!

 

[kamikazi]

I have updated the previous posts to include embedded youtube videos for everyones viewing pleasure and convenience.

 

[synaethetic]

That shimmer technique looks very good, places an interesting mood for this tank. Great job!

 

[kamikazi]

That shimmer technique looks very good, places an interesting mood for this tank. Great job!

Thanks, it is very relaxing to watch in the evenings.

 

[kamikazi]

Bit of an update, my black/silver/blue angel died. I still have a silver and I just got a new silver. I plan to get 3 more silvers in the near future. To make room I may sell/rehome some of the other fish.

Still battling BBA

This is my current little project I'm working on. For those of you who followed or seen my 40 gallon tank you probably know right away where I'm going with this.

 

[CluelessAquarist]

It's too bad this hasn't been updated in so long.. The tank looks great.