Transforming my 300 gallon

[Spyder]

In the beginning I started up my 300 gallon tank with the plans of a "high tech" planted tank with a South American theme.

Here is a pic from a few years ago while setting up
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/Spydermsd/PB140170.jpg


After about a year I acheived this. I had the honor of the "First" "Tank of the month" shown by Tropical Resources in TFH. It was this pick
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/Spydermsd/300.jpg


And a pic from the side looking long ways
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/Spydermsd/P1300731.jpg


Well now, it is time for a change. At first I was planning on selling the tank. The time and energy was way to much for me. But then I decided I really like Tanganyikan cichlids and I have a 75 gallon running great. So my decision is to transform my 300 gallon into a Tanganyikan community.

As of today this is my progress: Back to the beginning!!!
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/Spydermsd/P3131654.jpg

I bought two 125 gallon tanks and moved 80% of the fish into them and an existing 180 gallon (I like big tanks). By Tuesday this tank will be empty and I will remove the gravel and replace with sand.

I'm planning on Eco-Complete sand for Africans, I have it in my 75 and love it.

I will post progress and pics along the way and don't forget, comments and questions are welcome.

Thanks for looking, Michael

[siymdapolio]

Micheal that is beautiful! I am planning a heavily planted tank or biotope but still saving up all the money for lights and such.
I am very imprest it looks so good and natural well done :thumb:!!!!!

What is the ground cover you used i really like it!?

[Spyder]

By ground cover do you mean plants? If yes then it was Glossostima. If you ment the gravel, it was Eco-Complete for planted tanks by Caribsea

[siymdapolio]

Great yea sorry for not bein a litte more specific. I have just normal natural gravel right now, and when i get all the lights and such and plants. Since tank is allready set up how am i going to all that type of substrate to the bottom. would you have any suggestions to were as the ratio of mixing just natural small pebble substrate for instance with the eco complete?

[Spyder]

I wouldn't mix, just use straight Eco-complete at 1 1/2 lbs. per gallon.

[squirt_12]

I would not of had the heart to tear that down. It was such a beautiful tank. I can't wait to see what the tank turns out to look like. Should be really nice.

[siymdapolio]

I wouldn't mix, just use straight Eco-complete at 1 1/2 lbs. per gallon.
Thats a lot of work for me then, i might have to build up the pebbles on side maybe make a slant or something I donno.

The tank still have fish how would i change all that with water in it

[Lady Hobbs]

Hobbs is now sobbing after seeing all those beautiful plants not there.

[Spyder]

Ah...don't fell bad, they all went into the two 125's.

Alex. it's not that hard to change out gravel, try doing it in a 300 gallon tank! Just remove and replace 1/4 to 1/3 each week. Place some type of divider so you don't mix gravels. Just a note, the Eco-complete comes in biological water. You don't want to add the water unless you are starting a new tank so you will need to scoop it out in a cup or something and add slowly to your tank. The gravel is clean and does not need rinceing. Don't worry about your fish, they will be fine with it.

[jbeining75]

That tank was awesome. It will still look great. 300 gallons is amazing...

[MandyL]

Wow! Amazing tank and I'm sure it will turn out amazing again! I'd like to see pics of the other tanks as well now that you have transferred the plants to "smaller" tanks.

[Incredulous_Ed]

I love tanganyikans! I cant wait to see the tank when its one.

[Rue]

That was an amazing tank :1luvu: ...I don't think I could of 'offed' it either..

If it was too much work, wouldn't the new tank be as well?

[Adrian]

I am soooooooooooooo Jealous!!!!!! I was proud of my 55 when I had it up and running, now I am down to a 37 gallon tank. I can only dream of having a 300 gallon tank! What I would do for the space needed for that. I would have to build a house of glass....literally...lol, but my god, could I have fun then.

Ah well, one can dream I guess.

Way to go on this awesome tank:19: :19:

[emboli]

Very beautiful tank. I better start with eco-complete you have just convinced me

[dustinpedley]

WOW :18:




nice tank!

[Kristin]

Holy cow! That is awesome! Seriously, very, very nice. Good luck with the tanganyikans!

[tropfish]

that'll be an awesome tank!

[Spyder]

Little up-date:

I removed all the fish and gave them all new homes in two 125's and I add some to my 180. All three tanks are overstocked now, it's amazing how easily my 300 gallon tank handled all those fish. A couple days before I was to remove the last of the fish I had two spawns, one from my Corys and one from my Bolivian Rams. I removed as many Corys Eggs as I can and I took the rock with the Ram eggs and put them all in a 10g tank. I now seem to have a hundred Cory fry and Ram wigglers!

I have removed 40% on the gravel, the rest will be out today. I am going to remove 80% of the water, add the Eco-complete sand. I'll get some pics up tonight showing the tank with no gravel and with the sand.

Hope to have some fish in the tank by Wednesday.

Thanks for looking, Michael

[RichBowyer]

Good luck with the new community Michael and thanks for sharing.

[Bald Eagle]

Michael I really like your ground cover - Glossostima.


I am really looking forward to seeing your tanganyikans - something I have been thinking about doing myself - though I do not have a 300 gal.

What are the dimensions of the 300 gal?

Thanks for sharing

[Spyder]

Michael I really like your ground cover - Glossostima.


I am really looking forward to seeing your tanganyikans - something I have been thinking about doing myself - though I do not have a 300 gal.

What are the dimensions of the 300 gal?

Thanks for sharing

Hello. My 300 is 96"L x 24"h x 30"w

[Incredulous_Ed]

How many guys did it take to lift that?

[Bald Eagle]

Thanks Michael,

Nice dimensions not too high which makes it easier to work with and the depth (front to back) should be very practicle for building caves while leaving open spaces for your tanganyikans, and the length - wow must look great in any room.

[Spyder]

How many guys did it take to lift that?

Yea, the tank is glass and 800 lbs. empty. It took 8 guys to bring it into my house and lift it onto the stand.

[Ellen4God]

Wow, Michael! That's an incredible tank. It was SO beautiful with all of the plants. I'm sure it'll be just as amazing once you're finished transforming it though. Good luck! Be sure to post pictures and such. :)

[Spyder]

Some new pics. I changed out the gravel to Eco-Complete cichlid sand. I have a bunch of snails and three 2" Bristlenose in the tank. I am slowly raising the PH, KH & GH. Hopefully by Sunday I'll start adding some fish. I left one spot on the left side with Plant Gravel and some Cryp plants. They do good in hard water so I'll see how it looks in time. I will be adding more small shells piles, in the pics you can't see them but they are two piles in there.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/Spydermsd/IMG_2541-1.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/Spydermsd/IMG_2540.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/Spydermsd/IMG_2542.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/Spydermsd/IMG_2546.jpg

[Incredulous_Ed]

Where do you get the shells from?

[Spyder]

I got them from my LFS. Petco and Petsmart won't have them but most "Mom & Pop" stores will.

[cocoa_pleco]

that tank is just ASKING to be a reef with 4x400w MH! its wicked

[Spyder]

Here are some new pics with some fish. Hope you all enjoy

Here is a pic of some Ornatus with juvi Caudopunks and you can even see my new Black Calvus on the right
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/Spydermsd/P3281680.jpg

Here is an Adult Caudopunk and Ornatus flaring at each other
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/Spydermsd/P3281681.jpg

This is a male Cyprichomis Blue Flash
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/Spydermsd/P3281672.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/Spydermsd/P3281675.jpg

[Halelorf]

Awesome tank and awesome photos!

[Ellen4God]

Wow! Your pictures are so clear. Great job!!!!

Your fish look great. Oh to have a 300g tank! lol Thanks for posting the pictures!! They're great. :)

[sailor]

Your second pic of your tank is awsome Beautiful Tanks, TOTM worthy:19:

[sailor]

I love calvus and comps but man do they ever grow slow. Great pics again thanks for sharing.

[Bald Eagle]

Really Nice Michael, please keep psoting images as you add more.

[Spyder]

A little up-date. I got some new fish. A pair of wild caught Paracyprichromis Nigripinnis, 14 F1 Xen. Ochrogenys Ndole Bay and 6 F1 Neolamprologus Speciosus. I couldn't get any pics of the Xen. ochrogenys because they are small, about 1 - 1.25" and show no color yet. I have them in a grow out 20g tank. The Paracyps and Speciosus and in the 300g.

Here is the male paracyp
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/Spydermsd/P4232675.jpg

one of the Speciosus, not a good pic, he has great color and finage
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/Spydermsd/P4232690-1.jpg

And this is a 75 gallon tank filled with juvi Lamprologus Caudopunctatus
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/Spydermsd/P4232677.jpg

[Spyder]

Tank shot
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/Spydermsd/P4232692.jpg