[MichaelMcG]

Planted 11/28/14

Last updated 3/23/15


Tank - 60 gallons. 36 x 18 x 22 - same footprint as 40B. Overflow in the corner.

Substrate - powder clay mixed with MGOCPM and capped with black blasting sand

Lighting - Zoo Med 36" dual T5HO. One 39w Ultra Sun Super Daylight 6500k bulb and one Flora Sun pink 5000k bulb.

CO2 - Aquatek regulator and 5lb tank with an ISTA Max Mix co2 reactor.

Equipment - Fluval 306 - "BeanAnimal" siphon overflow and standard overflow into a 20H sump.

Ferts - EI dosing for 40g-60g tanks

Plants - Ludwigia 'red'. Ludwigia repens. Rotala Rotundafolia. Pennywort. Dwarf Sag. Staurogyne Repens. Marsilea Minuta.

Fish - 3 Harlequin Rasboras. 2 Red Glass Barbs. 2 random tetras. 4 Ottos. 2 Julii Corys. 1 dwarf BN Pleco.

 

[MichaelMcG]

First off.. RIP to my 54g corner tank. It was too hard to keep maintained.

Welcome to the replacement! 60 gallons - 36 x 18 x 22 - same footprint as a 40B, just taller. There is also an overflow in the back corner.

I saved about half he water from the old tank and my filter has been running for over a year so I didn't worry about cycling this tank.

I will be plumbing the overflow to a sump tomorrow and also will be setting up the co2 and my new ISTA Max Mix co2 reactor.

The water is a little cloudy/dirty. This was taken just after it was filled.


Tank - 60 gallons. 36 x 18 x 22 - same footprint as 40B. Overflow in the corner.

Substrate - powder clay mixed with MGOCPM and capped with black blasting sand

Lighting - Lighting - Zoo Med 36" dual T5HO. One 39w Ultra Sun Super Daylight 6500k bulb and one Flora Sun pink 5000k bulb.

CO2 - Aquatek regulator and 5lb tank with an ISTA Max Mix co2 reactor.

Equipment - Fluval 306 - overflow not yet plumbed.

Ferts - EI dosing - a little less than the dosing for 40g-60g tanks

Plants - Ludwigia 'red'. Ludwigia repens. Rotala Rotundafolia. Pennywort. Dwarf Sag.

Fish - 6 Harlequin Rasboras. 2 Red Glass Barbs. 1 dwarf BN Pleco. More coming soon.

 

[MichaelMcG]

McG's 60G (tall 40b)

full tank shot 12/4/14







The Rotala didn't take long to start growing again. I am going to give it a few more days and do a trim/replant this weekend. I want the Rotala to eventually take over the whole back left of the tank behind the rocks.



I forgot to mention this is going to end up a dwarf sag jungle! Shouldn't take long.



I plumbed the overflow to a small 7 gallon tub I used with the 54 gallon corner tank I used to have. I am waiting for Petco to have a $1 per gallon sale and I will get a 20 gallon and squeeze it under there.



I have a regular overflow and also a "BeanAnimal" siphon overflow with a ball valve to regulate the siphon. 99.9999% of the water flows through here keeping the 'freefall' overflow water minimal. Very silent and helps cut down oxygenation.



I put the ISTA Max Mix reactor in the overflow box under water to cut down on any noise the propeller makes. Worked out pretty good and is quiet.











I also picked up more fish. 11 ottos and 4 Julii Corys. I will post some pics of them this weekend too!

 

[Blackheart]

Nice tank... The dimensions on that are pretty interesting. Never seen a tank that size before. And once that dwarf sag fills in it'll be pretty sweet.

I've contemplated maybe setting up a tank with a similar size to yours... 36x18x20. I think that would be a 50 tall.

 

[MichaelMcG]

Thanks! Ya I searched craigslist for about a year until I found something with a decent price. It's funny how people think they can sell used set ups for the price of something brand new.

36" fits perfectly between the corner of the wall and a window where I wanted to keep the tank. I always loved the 40b but thought it was too short.

 

[Blackheart]

Thanks! Ya I searched craigslist for about a year until I found something with a decent price. It's funny how people think they can sell used set ups for the price of something brand new.

I always loved the 40b but thought it was too short.

Yeah I know it's ridiculous. I've looked at a lot of tanks on there and some are like, insane amounts for used stuff. I did come across a 40g long tank with the stand, brand new for 40 bucks though. That's a heck of a deal.

I was lucky enough to get my 75 gallon with the stand from a garage sale for 100 bucks. I used to love the 40b dimensions too, but now when I look back on it, it's just way too short for my liking. I definitely like my 75's 20 inch height.

Is your sag melting a lot?

 

[MichaelMcG]

both of those are very good deals! it always seems like you come across steals like that when you're not actually wanting to buy!!

dwarf sag did melt a little but that was expected. I have had dwarf sag for a couple years now and every time you move it a few of the 'leaves?' always melt off. after about a week with co2 it should take off though -- about 1 runner a week. I have always had medium lighting, co2, and dirt/sand cap so that is my experience.

In my previous tanks I always tried to control the growth and not let it suffocate the other plants but this time it has pretty much the whole tank to take over. should be interesting!

 

[Blackheart]

Yes definitely for sure. But now that I have one big main tank, I really can't justify getting another setup lol

Yes I'd like to see what yours looks like under C02. I'd like to give C02 a dabble as well, but can't really see all the money and work that goes into it benefiting me right now.

Was your tank originally a SW setup?

 

[MichaelMcG]

No it wasn't saltwater. The people I got it from on Craigslist had bright pink/green gravel so pretty sure they had some petsmart deco and a few basic fish too lol.

 

[MichaelMcG]

I wanted to share this but didn't want to post a video so I made a little gif of my ISTA Max Mix reactor inside the overflow box. I do not get any bubbles inside the tank. Let it churn!

 

[MichaelMcG]

getting some pearling action from the dwarf sag. I've had alot of different stems pearl before but not sag.



also have a few pics of some fish

Ottos




Julii Cory

 

[MichaelMcG]

bubble counter

 

[Blackheart]

You have a lot of Ottos! Hey how is your sag doing under C02?

 

[MichaelMcG]

Well got 12 ottos and two died. I was expecting a couple die offs with them. Kinda wimps getting acclimated. Did a drip job for them but I guess that didn't work either. I will also move a couple when I set my 20g long shrimp tank.

Sag is doing great. Been almost two weeks and the initial melting stopped about a week in and now there are a lot of runners just sprouting up.

 

[Blackheart]

Yeah ottos don't acclimate very well do they?

Sag grows pretty good but is pretty sensitive. I moved some around in my tank and it started melting again lol

 

[MichaelMcG]

they sure dont.. I lost another one. Down to 9 now.

Ya the sag is pretty wimpy but once it gets going it takes off. I already have atleast double what I planted 3 weeks ago.

 

[Blackheart]

Any more pic updates?

 

[sushant]

dwarf sag is one of the easiest plant to grow and grows like a weed in high light tank with Co2.

 

[Blackheart]

Yeah I love it. I'm trying to get it to spread out and grow a carpet all over in 75.

 

[MichaelMcG]

Sorry for the lack of updates. The tank is almost 2 months old so I figured I should let you take a look at the progress.

I got rid of the 7 gallon tote for a sump and squeezed a 20H tank in the stand for the sump. I will have to post a picture of it another time but it is pretty tight under there! lol

I have cut back on the dosing alot thinking that is what was killing off my ottos. I don't think that is what did it though.. Ottos are pretty wimpy and my tap water ph is pretty high so I will chalk it up to that. Only 4 out of 12 ottos left.

I did a trim a few weeks ago on the Rotala. I think I will cut them all back and replant tightly together once more and then spread it with the next trimmings.

I had 3 little stems of Ludwigia to begin with, repens and 'red', but couldn't tell who was who. I now know I have one tall repens and two 'red' that are still pretty short but growing slowly.

1/22/15