my freshie build thread!

[DebsSisterFlo]

Well this forum is pretty slow, so I'll spice it up with a build thread!

Here we go...

To recap: I tore down my 38g salt tank which was a freshie tank for the 13 years prior... for more details on the salt stuff, check my blog. I sold off everything and sent the star to Kelli, then I cleaned the tank out, twice (we were tearing down the waterbed too, and the hose wasn't flushed before I started filling the tank, hence cleaning it twice).

So here is a pic of it all empty (actually this is when it was empty before filling it with salt, but you know, an empty tank always looks the same), then here is a shot of it filling, and yes, if you're wondering, the hose DID manage to fly out once and spray the walls, but Kevin wasn't home to see it so it's good...
Next is a pic of it filled and decorated, but I want to add more plants. I was told that live java fern and java moss would be good live plants under NO fluorescent lights, so I may try some of that since I have a chunk of driftwood to attach it to. I figure on tying it on with fishing line. I have lots of plastic plants but not enough gravel to hold them down. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to glue? larger gravel onto the plastic bases to hold the plants down?

So, how's it set up you ask? As simply as possible is my reply! I use sponge filters in my fresh tanks. Yes you can see them but that doesn't bother me because thier complete ease of cleaning outweighs not being able to see them. A heater which I need to add yet, and an air stone. I am toying with the idea of using the spray bar from my old fluval filter and hooking it up to a power head for some increased flow. The substrate is a very fine gravel, and a very thin layer at that, it's all I had. I think it'll be perfect for cory cats to poke around in.

The tank was filled on thursday dec 7. I took a sponge filter out of the 72g, and I used the turkey baster and sucked some cruddy water out of the bottom of that big tank to spray onto the gravel in this tank... I want to jumpstart this cycle! I may do a water change between the two tanks to get some more aged water into this tank, but I'll still test and leave it probably a week before adding anything.

So now, what fishies do I want?
For sure I want a school of neons and glolights, totally back to basics. I'll be getting some cory cats & congo tetras. I'm still undecided on if I should get otos or not. I want a pair of german blue rams, but my ph is very alkaline and they prefer acidic water so I don't know if I should try it or not.
Then I saw some blue tetras that were neat, I always liked red tailed sharks, then I was thinking about coolie loaches, hmm... it's a cute peaceful tank, no nasty cichlids or big hoggers in here! They're in the other tank! ha!

[dobejazz]

Looks great Jessica I like the ledges

[Stang69]

Looks great I am in that process of switching to fresh too. The water where I live has so much yuck in it a reef seems almost impossiable.
Keep us posted on how things are going


Jeff

[Loverotties]

Yes ,please do!

[DebsSisterFlo]

Thanks and wow! People actually looked!
Well today I purchased three plants and three fish. The fish are all congo tetras, one of my faves and I'm so excited to have some again. The plants were 3 for $12 and they are a java fern, a Cardinal plant and an anubius nana.
That goofy parrot; in the 72g I couldn't get a pic of her no matter how hard I tried, now I can't get a pic without her in it! The flash in the last pic made a neat ripple effect...

[DebsSisterFlo]

SHARK! SHARK! Sha...
oh, hehe, nevermind, that's just me!

[Sprayin70]

Lookin good! Are you going to do alot of live plants? If so I have another link for ya. Great job!!!

[frankandmaura]

Looks awesome Jess...

[DebsSisterFlo]

thanks! Sprayin, I've been on that plant forum and that's where I got the ideas for the plants that I have. I'll just stick to the 3 for now. We have to screw together those penn plax ledges; they look great but they are pretty flimsy so we're going to do a little improvement work on them. I'm luvin' those congos! You need to see thier colors in person to really appreciate how much they shimmer in blues and greens. So pretty!