9 replies to this topic

[stiny]

I have always had planted aquariums as I went through college back in the USA. As soon as I moved to Australia, I inherited a little 20 gallon from my friend. It took me two years in Australia before I finally had my dream tank. I am excited to say as of December 2008 my partner and I became the proud owner of a beautiful six foot bow front display tank from Aquarium Artists. I will be posting up the photos of the setup and the planting...cycle etc. The first fish transfered into the giant pool were:
4 Pearl Gourami (3 females,1 male)
3 lemon tetra
a small school of rummy noses
1 fire mouth (very small)
1 severum (very very small)
4 bristle noses....


The new tank was turned into a planted display tank....I have kept many types of tropical fish, always in a planted tank.
Here it is when it was first setup in 2008







After a few months of growth and with livestock








The tank in 2009
Livestock
Top Level:
two african butterfly fish
10 gold panchax
3 pearl gourami
3 -3 spot gourami
4 powder blue dwarf

middle Level:
10 glass catfish
5 koi swordtails
1 severum
1 rainbow shark
3 angelfish
25 rummy noses
10 neons
15 lemon tetras

bottom level
6 apistogramma
3 siamese algae eaters
3 clown loaches
12 panda cories
5 bristlenose
6 dwarf chain loaches







The HUGE move down south with the help of Seaview Aquariums in 2010









2011 March overhaul
Our new tenants included 4 upside down catfish that we wanted to see so we made the middle log they hide under higher. They still stay under the log but you can actually see them now.
This forum will not let me post the last pictures

[stiny]

And the tank now. It is in need of a trim but the cat likes it.
The current livestock:
Upper level:
2 male and 5 female pearl gourami
2 powder blue
3 flame honey dwarf
17 golden pencilfish
Middle:
15 rummy nose
6 cardinal
25 pristella tetras
1 rainbow shark
6 angels
10 glass catfish

Bottom:
3 bolivian butterflies (cant wait to get more)
3 striped Raphael catfish
3 clown loaches (getting big)
countless bristlenoses
6 dwarf chain loaches
4 upside down catfish
1 syno petricola

[Westie]

Love the tank mate! Planted tanks are stunning. Wish I had the commitment you have in maintaining the plants etc. Looks really nice. You must spend ages keeping it all tidy. Is the filtration an FX5?

[dazzabozza]

Luv the aquascaping

[stiny]

Why yes, the filtration is a Fluval Fx 5 now. The CO2 is do it yourself for now. The ferts are Dino spit, and dino pee from Aqua green. The lighting is nothing special right now, just Geismann plant lights. So the trimming is only once a month and a 20-50% water change every 2-3 weeks. I do hope to get a Co2 system and better lighting in the future.

[klass]

Love the progress, choice of fish, landscape..why, everything. Always wanted to go with a planted tank too, but didn't have too much luck. Thanks for sharing!!

[Westie]

Definately get a decent co2 system. I bought one back in July from Aquotix, and plants were growing like crazy as soon as I used it. Well worth the investment. Doesnt that Juwel tank have T5 bulbs? Unless you're growing ground covering like that HC stuff, the lighting you got should be sufficient

Edited by Jason82, 04 November 2011 - 09:36 PM.

[STEVEGREEN]

worth the wait

looks stunning

great work
Cheers
Steve Green

[stiny]

Are the butterflies still for sale? What other dwarfs would be ok with the Bolivians as well? Rams? Apistos? Kribs? I have another question. I have one Petricola I inherited a long time ago. It never comes out of it's cave. Do I need more for him to feel safe? Can Petricolas be happy in a non cichlid tank? Is anyone breeding these now so he can have a few friends if that is what would make him happy?

[Westie]

not sure about the petricolas
bolivian butterflys sold to another pcs member from port kennedy
i prob wouldnt mix the dwarf cichlids though