[fishboy199413]

Sounds like a plan! Also I would get rid of the pictus as they will eat fish like the rasboras.

 

[Dan's85]

I have heard that from several people, but I haven't had any trouble out of them. I am thinking about re homing them anyway though. I don't think a 40b is quite big enough for them.

 

[Dan's85]

Just redid the hardscape

 

[hedge_fund]

Should look really nice.

 

[Dan's85]

Thanks!

 

[Dan's85]

Update

After playing around with the hard scape some more, this is what I have for now









I found an awesome piece of mopani wood at my LFS, so I have incorporated that into the scape. The HC is starting to grow in nicely, and I picked up a Florida Sunset Crypt in Denver this last weekend. The pictus cats have been re-homed to make room for some smaller fish. Thanks for looking!

 

[kingjombeejoe]

Love how 40Bs look. I got one recently and fell in love with the dimensions. can't wait to see how this progresses. Subscribed.

 

[Dan's85]

I finally have an update. I bought a GLA premium regulator with a paintball adapter, bubble counter and some tubing along with a 24oz tank and its all being shot through a ceramic diffuser. Since I received my regulator yesterday, I went ahead and flooded everything. Here's some pics.







My florida sunset.


Riccia


Süßwassertang

 

[Dan's85]

Flora plans for now:

Süßwassertang
Crypt Wentii "green"
Florida sunset crypt
Ludwigia Inclinata Pantana
Hygrophila Pinnafida
Star grass
Fissidens
Rotala Pearl mini type 2

I kind of just playing the flora as I go. I keep seeing too many thing that I like, so I buy which ever comes up first when I have the money.

I'm still trying to find the best place for the diffuser. I'm getting a ton of micro bubbles all over the tank, but I'm not sure how well it's actually diffusing, although the drop checker is green. According to the PH/KH charts I'm getting between 13ppm-25ppm.

I also replaced the Flora-Sun bulb with another 6500k. I'm debating on buying an Odyssea quad T5HO or waiting for the new Finnex Plant+ LED to come out. Any thoughts?

 

[AguaTropical]

That's some really good growth in that short of time!! Any tips?

If you're thinking LED, I highly suggest looking into a Build My LED fixture. The reason being they offer a 90 degree beam angle, which offers a really good spread of light across the whole tank. A 40B is so wide that the wider beam angle will help plants along the edges a lot.
I currently have a Build My LED fixture on my 40B, and it was one of the best investments I've made so far. I definitely saw an increase in the speed of growth as well as color when converting from a 2 bulb 48w T5HO fixture. Just my 2¢.

Is that driftwood a local find? It's incredible.

 

[Dan's85]

That's some really good growth in that short of time!! Any tips?

If you're thinking LED, I highly suggest looking into a Build My LED fixture. The reason being they offer a 90 degree beam angle, which offers a really good spread of light across the whole tank. A 40B is so wide that the wider beam angle will help plants along the edges a lot.
I currently have a Build My LED fixture on my 40B, and it was one of the best investments I've made so far. I definitely saw an increase in the speed of growth as well as color when converting from a 2 bulb 48w T5HO fixture. Just my 2¢.

Is that driftwood a local find? It's incredible.

The substrate it MTS with an Eco Complete cap and I misted semi regularly with water from another aquarium.

I've heard a lot of good things about the Build My LED fixtures, I'll have to check them out a little more.

The long piece that reaches across the tank is a local find. The big squid looking piece on the right side I found at my LFS for $20!!

 

[AguaTropical]

The long piece that reaches across the tank is a local find. The big squid looking piece on the right side I found at my LFS for $20!!

That's a steal!! Good find.

Im looking forward to the progression of your tank, from one Coloradan with a planted 40B to another haha

 

[Dan's85]

Right on!! Do you have any suggestions for a layout for the Build My LED as far as the colors? I have ZERO experience with custom lighting.

 

[AguaTropical]

Right on!! Do you have any suggestions for a layout for the Build My LED as far as the colors? I have ZERO experience with custom lighting.

If you're uncomfortable with custom, they sell a prearranged light geared for planted tanks.

If you do want to go custom, they have their own forums where a lot of different layouts have been posted. I copied their 5000k spectrum, which seemed very red at first (mostly because I switched from a fixture with a 6500k and a 10000k bulb), but after a couple of days I liked it better. The color of fish and plants really pop. If I ever order another, I might do a pattern of 6500k-6500k-red-blue...etc.

Their staff is also very helpful, give them a call and tell them what your looking to do, and they will help you come up with a layout that suits your wants.

 

[Dan's85]

Ok cool. I'll check out their forums. I'm not against keeping my current T5HO and adding another light, so I'll look around and see what others have done. Thanks!

 

[Xiaozhuang]

Very nice HC growth~

 

[Dan's85]

Very nice HC growth~

Thanks! It didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would.