125gal ??? Build

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

since the 125gal is now going to be a FW tank, I decided that a build thread for it needs to be separate from the from the reef split thread.

So this tank is going to be somewhat of a surprise. There are a couple of people that know roughly what I am going to do with it, but not even I know exactly what is going in it yet.

But, here is a picture of how it currently looks as I get it ready to go back to being a FW tank.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a227/iluvmygoldbarb/November14th2009057.jpg

[AABatteries]

Community or big fish?

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Community or big fish? :neener: :hmm3grin2orange:

[AABatteries]

http://imgs.pbnation.com/smilies/dodgy.gif

[chipper]

:19: :goldfish:

[domjd05]

You're all wrong..

Discus! :14:

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

You're all wrong..

Discus! :14:
So are you. :hmm3grin2orange:

[Lab_Rat]

:neener: :hmm3grin2orange:

Ahahahaha I have some idea :hmm3grin2orange:

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Ahahahaha I have some idea :hmm3grin2orange:

Sort of, but that is subject to change. :27:

[brianyu]

how about school of angel ?:19:

[Kaz]

So are you. :hmm3grin2orange:

LMNOsnap! .

[MCHRKiller]

Community of larger fish....I think its gonna be some CAs :14:

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

It took about 6 hours total, but I finally got 2 years worth of coralline algae scrapped off the sides of the tank. It's amazing what filling the tank with tap water that has a pH of about 6.4 and then dumping a quart of vinegar in it will do to help soften it up. It still took a lot of work though. Now, tonight I get to siphon all the pieces out of the tank, drain it and wipe it down a few times. After that it will be ready to get setup.

[fins_n_fur]

Going to be watching this...very curious as to what's going in that tank :shappy:

[Northernguy]

Thats a sweet Oscar tank!:19:
Did you talk your wife into some FW puppies!thumbs2:
Fill it with Goldbarbs!lol

[bushwhacker]

few oscars would work well in that tank or.... plant the hell out of it and make a huge tetra community tank

[douce101]

I think we all know, it'd be a waste to put anything but discus in a tank like that thumbs2:

[Crispy]

I got it. Community geo tank!! :ssmile: If not, frontosas maybe??? Go big or go home is what I always say. lol.

[domjd05]

I think we all know, it'd be a waste to put anything but discus in a tank like that thumbs2:


HHHMMMMMM....

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

I think we all know, it'd be a waste to put anything but discus in a tank like that thumbs2:

Been there, done that, don't have the time or money to go back to it.

[tetra]

plant the hell out of it and make a huge tetra community tank


I second this :P , btw thats a nice looking tank.


Jason

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

.... plant the hell out of it and make a huge tetra community tank

Been there too.

[Lab_Rat]

You could put a manatee in it, bet you haven't done that before... :hmm3grin2orange:

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Ok, so last night was another night of working on the tank. Managed to get the driftwood all attached to slate and arranged in the tank the way I want it.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a227/iluvmygoldbarb/November18thRandoms017.jpg


After that, it was time for some substrate.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a227/iluvmygoldbarb/November18thRandoms018.jpg

[rich311k]

Coming together nicely! Looks good.

[domjd05]

Gotta love the white sand, looks like some "local" driftwood, how does it work for you compared to store bought? (tannins, buffering, etc)

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

yes, the driftwood is local. That driftwood has soaked for about 6 months total in a big trashcan so most of the tannins are gone. I just filled the tank last night so I haven't checked the pH yet.

[Sarkazmo]

He's gonna fill it with 200 Danios... heh

Sark

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

He's gonna fill it with 200 Danios... heh

Sarknah, figured I throw a pair of guppies in there and see how long it takes them to fill it. :jumpeveryone:

[domjd05]

I don't know.. it's looking like a SA community or possibly some Tanganyikans....right??

[Crispy]

Looks like eartheaters to me! :shappy:

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

I don't know.. it's looking like a SA community or possibly some Tanganyikans....right??

:hammer2: lol

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Well, after a nice conversation with a friend last night, I've finally figured out the stocking for this tank. I will be keeping an exotic pleco, likely Scobiancistrus aureatus (L014) and the rest of the stocking will be a nice group of a Geophagus species. I haven't decided on exactly which species, but that will depend a lot on what the breeder has available. I have my eye on a few different species and I would be happy with any of them. Probably going to get one of the smaller species so that I end up with a group of 8. What ever I go with, it will be all one species.

So Crispy, it looks like you were right. :)

[Crispy]

So Crispy, it looks like you were right. :)

What do I win? :hmm3grin2orange:

Geos are great fish! As are some of the more exotic plecos. Great choice!

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

I'm actually going to contact a breeder in Ohio to attempt to get some F1 Geos. :)

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Ok, well, things changed a bit. We decided not go to with the Geos. If I could get them locally I probably would go for it, but since I can't I decided to stay simple. Something that has intrigued me lately is to appreciate the intricacy and beauty of the common species. So, with that in mind The current stocking for the tank is 1 Jack Dempsy, 1 Green Terror, 1 Firemouth, 1 Four-lined pimelodus - Pimelodus blochii, and 1 Chocolate Albino Pleco - Pterygoplichthys scrophus (likely). I may add one or 2 more fish but I don't really want to push it too much. So far, the 3 cichlids seem to be doing quite well together. The Firemouth is the odd one out, the Jack and the Terror seem to be buddies. Thus far, the Pim seems to be running the tank. lol He's also the biggest one in there. All are eating well on a diet of Blood Worms, Beefheart, and NLS Thera +A. Once the fish get some size on them I intend to broaden their diets to include a few other treats including, but not limited to, crickets, meal worms, and possibly the occasional Ghost Shrimp. Once a week they will also receive either frozen peas or some other veggie to help keep their systems regular.

I also beefed up the filtration quite a bit as well. Currently the tank is being filtered by 3 canisters and a HOB. The 3 canisters are a Rena XP3, Eheim 2026, and an Eheim 2215. The HOB filter is an Emperor 400. The Emperor will likely be removed at some point simply because I want to cut down on my evaporation. I also decided to try out a small UV sterilizer in this tank. It is only a 9 watt (technically not rated for this size tank) but I wanted to try it anyway. I had green water last week and in under 1 week this little gem has almost completely cleared it. It's not a high end model but I read some really nice reviews of it and decided to try it. I did initially have some concerns about it, but it has performed beautifully.

I also decided to see how some Anubias would do in a setup like this. So far they are thriving, and the fish are completely leaving them alone. It makes for a rather interesting display. The only other plant included in the setup is a single Green Crypt. Wendetii. These are all being lit by 2x96w PC lights for 12 hours per day. My goal is to allow the fish waste to provide the necessary nutrients for the plants along with water changes.

Current Tank Stats:
pH 6.2-6.4
Temp 78 daytime 76 night.

I'd post a pic of the tank, but currently the water is still a little on the cloudy side and the inhabitants a bit hard to see. As soon as it clears, I will definitely be posting pics. I really hope to get some pics of the Jack, the red on this fish is incredible. I think it has something to do with the diet, temperature and pH. :)

[MCHRKiller]

Sounds awesome! Cant wait to see pics of the tank and fish :22:

[Lab_Rat]

Yes, pics are definitely needed!

[Oscar_freak12321]

Where's that smiley...ah, here we go!:worthless:

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Not the best pic, but here is a FTS.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a227/iluvmygoldbarb/125galSA002.jpg

[Lab_Rat]

Looks nice, I like how you've arranged the hardscape! Are you planning on adding any swords or are you going to stick with anubias?

[MCHRKiller]

Awesome, now where are the cichlids :14:

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Awesome, now where are the cichlids :14:

Hiding behind the driftwood on the left, scared of the camera. :hmm3grin2orange:

Lab, I'm just sticking with the anubias for now. There is only one plant in the substrate for now, I want to see how the fish do with that one before I worry about any more. I likely won't add any though, I want to focus mainly on the fish.

[Crispy]

You will love your blochii. I have had mine for 6 yrs and always recommend them for larger cichlid tanks. Tank is coming along nicely! thumbs2:

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

He is already one of my favs in the tank. I love the Pim genus of cats, they are so active and attractive those long barbells just add to that IMO.

[Scrup]

you know what they say about catfish with long barabells.....

no wait...thats men with big feet...nm


tank looks great!

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Finally decided on the last fish for this community. :) It took a little convincing, but I finally managed to talk my wife into it. :) Got an O :)