Great looking background. It just about has to be the convicts doing the rearranging. Id take them out before planting
This post may be slightly rambly. I appreciate anyone who takes the time to read it!
I have been planning a 75 Gallon Low-Tech tank for about a month, lurking on this and other forums, trying to learn as much as I can. I had the tank filled and running as I was making sure my newly finished DIY background was not affecting the water / didn't leak. Last week, the planning got slightly off track'd as I needed to rehome some fish, and the only place I could put them was in my 75G.
View from my office chair (Goldfish are gone, light temporarily on an angle)....
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Here are some details:
Lighting
Current Satellite Freshwater+ 48"
If needed I have Two 24" T8 sitting unsused I could add for more light
Substrate
Safe-T-Sorb (mine is more gray than red?), still looks good!
17-20 inches from light, depending on where the fish dig holes in it. Also, a couple of ledges built into the background
Filtration
Emperor 400
Marineland Magnum 330
9W UV Filter (got it free, so why not!)
*Note: I also have the equipment for an overhead sump (you can see the powerhead in the photo, its not currently on) and planned on removing the Emperor 400. I had the Emperor just sitting around and put it on as I wasn't expecting fish just yet and haven't assembled the overhead sump
Livestock ( Definitely subject to change, as I said, needed to rehome asap! )
2 Convict Cichlids
2 Ram Cichlids (unknown strain)
5 Bleeding Heart Tetras
2 Green Glo Tetras (being given to a friend)
7 Black Mollies (probably going)
2 Golden Mystery Snails
Intended Plants
Water Wisteria - http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/myPlants.php?do=view&p=170&n=Water_Wisteria_Hygrophila_difformis
Java Fern - http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/myPlants.php?do=view&p=4&n=Java_Fern_Microsorum_pteropus
Anubias barteri - http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=768+1630+810&pcatid=810
Amazon Sword - http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/myPlants.php?do=view&p=15&n=Amazon_Sword_Echinodorus_amazonicus
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I put in some fake plants for the fish for the time being. The first night after having fish in there, the entire substrate had been rearranged. And not just a little bit either. There were places where I had it 5 inches deep against the backdrop, and they have completely excavated the area down to the glass. They've built a 7 inch high mountain in the center of the tank. None of this occurs during the day, so I don't know which fish is doing it! If I had planted it, it would be a total mess. :redface: My best guess would be the convicts chasing each other at night, but I don't see how that could change things that dramatically.
Some questions!
1.) Thoughts on the substrate and the fish rearranging it?
2.) Enough light for the selected plants?
3.) I was planning on root tabs, as I want to keep this lower maintenance.
4.) I'm wishy washy on moss on the background. Opinions?
5.) Overhead sump ... also thought about planting that as there is currently a big open space above the tank. Thoughts?
Thank you all for reading and any help you are willing to provide. This is a great site with lots of information!
Thanks! Seeing someone else's DIY background actually took me from "having a tank" to "into the hobby". This was my first background, and it came out fairly good. I am excited to do another at some point as I learned a lot and would take more time on the next one, integrating the filtration into it and going for a more randomized approach.Great looking background.
Top right under Display Mode, switch to threaded, from there you can edit the title.Sure would love some advice!
I wish I could edit the title of the thread since the tank IS now planted.
Well thank you very much! How sillyTop right under Display Mode, switch to threaded, from there you can edit the title.![]()