9 replies to this topic

[loki65]

gday i currently have 2 salt water reef tanks aprox 380l and 1 fresh water planted 200l.

my new project is a 1800mm x 900mm x700mm tank that i plan on keeping malawi cichlids in, not sure on which ones yet. still have to get cabinet and hood built, then plump and cycle. so i have plenty of time to select what type of fish ( to many to choose from) i will keep.
lighting will be 2 x 80w t5's
filtration fluval fx5

any input or ideas would be great

cheers
Dave.

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[Jezza]

welcome to the forum!

my new project is a 1800mm x 900mm x700mm tank

wow, thats a big tank - be great to see once its up and running.

[dazzabozza]

Hi Dave

Welcome to the forum.

Would luv to see some pics of your current setups.


Daz

[loki65]

fresh water set up

tank 200l
light 4 x 39w t5 ho
filter aqua one cf1000
co2 gas via beetle 30 diffuser
ferts ada step 2 and brighty special lights dosed daily via perastaltic pump

9 cardinal tetra
10 glowlight tetra
6 rummy nose tetra
2 bleeding heart tetra
2 dwarf flame gourami
1 pakistani loach
2 peppermint bristlenose
6 kuhli loach - 4 stripes and 2 black
20 cherry red shrimp ( have a lot more now babies everywhere)


don't have a current pic of salt water tanks but will post a pic when i can get one.

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[dazzabozza]

Planted tank looks great. Would look even better with a dark background providing some contrast (green against black).

Don't the loaches go to town munching on the baby shrimp?


Daz

[loki65]

cheers mate, usually you can't see the back of the tank i gave it a rather savage pruning last week as a mate has set up a tank and wanted some plants another week or so and it will be a jungle again


as far as the shrimp go i have not seen anything go after them yet and they can move very quick if they need to

[Sazabi]

20 cherry red shrimp ( have a lot more now babies everywhere)

lol dont worry you will have even a lot more soon, they really spawn quite a lot

[loki65]

o.k it has been a while but cabinet has just been completed. am glad i got it built in 3 sections as it is very heavy when bolted together.of to buy the stain and varnish for it today and hopefully get the first coat on it this weekend.cabinet maker has another job on so it will be a few months before he can start the hood.so that gives me plenty of time to get it setup and cycled.

background has been completed,just waiting to lay the lank down so i can silicone it in.

already have filter fluval fx5, lights twin 5 foot t5's (will be plenty of room in hood if i need to add more), heater 500 watt, tunze nanostream 6055 and single controller(not sourced yet) for a bit of extra flow in tank.

still not 100% sure on fish yet, there will be a few Synodontis multipunctatus. am leaning towards malawi's but a bit more research to do as to which type.


cheers

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[dazzabozza]

Looking good! What was the process used to make the DIY background?

Daz

[loki65]

cheers mate.
got a couple of sheets of foam then went crazy on them with a stanley knife and a screwdriver.
then a bag of cream mortar with a bit of sandstone iorn oxide in it.mixed down to make it very runny and applied it with a paint brush, 4 coats.
i used the mortar as it already has a bit of lime and sand in it so you only have to add water.
then 4 coats of pond seal.
just remember to give it about 24 hours between coats to dry, both the cement and pond seal.
there are some very nice latex backgrounds on the market but VERY expensive.
and this way no one else will have one the same as yours.
give it a go it's easy.

hope this is of some help
cheers
Dave