Tetra's 60 gallon tetra tank thread [Archive]

tetra

11-16-2009, 06:48 PM

Well I decided to start a thread to help me keep track of progess. I do not have any plans set in stone.

Its a 60 gallon tank that i had to re-seal. I have to make a new stand, The one that came with dont look strong enough for me. I picked up a brand new fluval 405 along with a spray bar kit for 50 bucks at my favorite lfs.

Plan is for a shoal of neon tetras and live plants. Dont know what else to put in it.

Also feed back is important to me both negative and positive.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/newtank005.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/newtank004.jpg

tetra

11-16-2009, 07:07 PM

Next step is to make a cave or tunnel. Also i think i want some of these little fellas ..... http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fish/diamondtetra.php

tetra

11-17-2009, 09:22 PM

today i did my first coat using quikrete water stop( http://www.quikrete.com/ProductLines/HydraulicWaterStopCementPro.asp)

I used this stuff before on large indoor fountians and it works well.

My first coat was realy runny as i kept on brushing it until it was semi dry. I am not sure how many coats i will be doing but the next one will be thicker to fill some gaps and add some more shape.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/firstcoat.jpg

tetra

11-18-2009, 09:15 PM

My stocking plan so far... think that would be ok?

10 dimond tetra's
10 neon tetra's
5 black neons
4 bronze corys
2 bristle nose
6 cherry shrimp

I am not sure if if i will transfer over my white clouded minows.

Hailey

11-18-2009, 09:26 PM

Awesome background! I wish I could make things like that.
Stoking seems fine, except you may want a few more black neons in there, I dont know. Oh and for sure at least 6 bronze corys! The minimum should be 6. Plus they so cute, you'll wnat more. The bristlenoses I dont know either, Im not a pleco person. Also make sure the shrimps dont get sucked up! Mine did in my 33 gal.

Looks great! When are you filling the tank up?

tetra

11-18-2009, 10:18 PM

Thanks, Its not overly hard to make, just time consuming. I will probly end up with more black neons anyway. But i do want to keep some room just in case i seen something else i want. As for the corys i didnt want to go to many with the bottom dewellers just in case the bristle nose or corys breed :P witch may be in my plans.

Im hoping that i can start filling this weekend if all goes well. i want to let everything be fullly cured and then some. My stand is not in the greatest shape so i think tommorow start there.

Garrett

11-19-2009, 03:05 AM

I'd definitely bump the cory shoal up to 6-if they breed, the two aren't going to make a big difference anyway, and they'll probably be happier in a bigger group. Bioload wise I'd think you were comfortably under any sort of cap, so it's not like you won't have room.

tetra

11-19-2009, 07:59 PM

I will probly add more corys after it is set up, I dunno about 6 though. Maybe 4 or 5 at the most. What i am worried about is the amount of bottom dewellers i will have. I want to get a partner for my bristle nose , And i got some shrimp on order. So with the 6 corys i think the bottom will be a bit over crowed, What do you think.

When i did the second coat for the back ground, i mixed up the concrete then added a small drop of color. Also did the same for the last coat witch i did today. I like the way the textures and different shades came out.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/lastcoat004.jpg

Hailey

11-19-2009, 08:32 PM

Oh, ya, the colour loos great! Cant wait to see it in the tank.

And I have 4 peppered corys in my 33 gal, and still hardly notice them. Im sure 6 would be nothing in the 60 gallon.

domjd05

11-19-2009, 09:27 PM

Hey that's a great looking background! Don't see too many of those on the forum, you should post a thread in the DIY forum about making it...

matthew.shelly

11-19-2009, 11:47 PM

i love the way the color turned out! very realistic looking. cant wait to see it all set up in tank. itll look great with the live plants.

morgangallow

11-20-2009, 12:19 AM

im really interested to see how it comes out. im following this for sure

tetra

11-20-2009, 02:05 AM

Thanks guys, Apreciate the comments. For now i will using all the live plants from my 33 gallon. I am kinda on budget and i find it easier if buy it all in little bits in stead of all at once.
As for the thread in the dyi section, I think i will hold off till i get water just to be sure all goes well

Thanks Jason

tetra

11-21-2009, 02:29 AM

Well i filled up the tank for the first time since i resealed it. All is good. Now i drained it so i can secure the back ground to it will silicone tommrow. Now i got to figure out what kinds of substrate im going to use. I had sand be fore but it edvently killed my filter. I am not sure what its called but its finer then gravel and more course then sand. If i can find some of that with costing a arm or leg i will get that. If not, its off to some gravel pits to try and see if i can find something to use. I am thinking a light colored substrate seeing how the background is realy dark.If any one has any comments for substrate let me know.

morgangallow

11-22-2009, 06:21 AM

personally i would get a substrate that doesnt contrast too much with the background.

You've got a really natural looking back, and a more similarly coloured substrate would blend better, tying it all in and looking like gravel and background came from the same place.

contrast with the fish thumbs2: that way THEY will stand out.. but again personal preference. that's what its all about.

tetra

11-22-2009, 03:13 PM

I was thinking of white for the substrate. All the bog wood i have is dark and i think the white will brighten it up. Now that being said i think will look for some rocks 2-3 inchs in size that are similar color to spread out in the tank to make the back ground blend. I wonder what colors pool filter sand comes in?

Hailey

11-22-2009, 08:00 PM

Ya, a white, or I think a grey would look nice.

rich311k

11-22-2009, 08:40 PM

The background came out very well. I think pool filter sand would look good as the substrate.

tetra

11-22-2009, 08:47 PM

I went every where to day looking for it... couldnt find it . I tried kents, walmart, home depot, home hardware and few other places. I am gona try some land scapping places and pool places on monday.

tetra

11-24-2009, 06:38 PM

Picked up something its more course then sand and alot finer then gravel. I will diffently need more but it is a start.

tetra

11-24-2009, 10:49 PM

Back ground in for good
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/sandshots002.jpg

Picked up 6 bags of sand regular 12.99 i got 6 bags for 50 bucks. On my way out to pick up a few more then i will start filling with water.
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/sandshots002.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/sandshots004.jpg

tetra

11-26-2009, 09:04 PM

Garrett

11-26-2009, 11:58 PM

If it's because you didn't rinse the sand well enough, it's going to just take a couple of days to clear up. Not much you can do about it beyond what you've done already, unfortunately. *shrug*

tetra

11-27-2009, 02:50 AM

yup its the sand, The water was perfectly clear until i put the sand in it. Hope it clears soon.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/light005.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/water018.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/water010.jpg

terrapin24h

11-27-2009, 08:55 PM

I pre-washed the sand, and when i filled up the tank it went murkey, I am after doing 3 water changes and it still real murkey. Any thing i can put in my fluval 405 to help get it clear a little better? RIght know i just have the foam filters in it asm y bio max is being seeded.

Open to ideas ?

zip tie or tie a big wad of filter floss around the intake of the filter and run it. Then, pack every basket in the thing with floss. The 405 will clear that tank in no time. I run one on my 65 and no matter how ugly the water get during a cleaning, the darn filter clears it in no time. Then i have to clean the filter, lol. Sweet looking tank so far

--chris

Northernguy

11-27-2009, 09:08 PM

Nice job!
You did a great job on your background!Its too bad you didn't rinse the sand near enough.Its a bit of work but well worth it.lol
The tank looks awesome so far.
I use a sponge and cut a slit just large enough so it will snuggly slide over the intake.It keeps the sand out and doesn't get clogged up fast.

tetra

11-28-2009, 08:38 PM

Thanks terrapin24h i will have to pick up some floss.

Northernguy do you think this sand will get sucked up in to the filter? I had play sand before and it killed a filter. I think i will put it there anyway just to be safe.

Thanks for the comments, i still gotta alot of work to do including a new stand and canapy. Seeing how my tank was 44 inchs long and lights were either 36 or 48 long i decided on the 36 inch light. The 2 bulbs i have are 2200 lumens 30 watts 4000 color temp 60 cri ( t 12 ) each. I have to do some reserch on lights and plants now to figure out if i need different bulbs or what kind of plants i can grow. I will head out tonight and pick up some filter floss and do another water change anyway.

As for the filter I think i will run 2 contianers of of bio max , one of zeo carb ( carbon and ammonian remover) and a polishing pad. but for now i will fill it up with floss until the water clears up. Not %100 sure about this set up. I would like to leave one contianer empty just in case i need to add more carbon after medicating.

tetra

11-29-2009, 05:36 PM

When i got up this morning the water was perfect. Those polishing pads and floss are awesome. I will have to keep some on stock.
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/Done001.jpg

i wanted to make sure all the dust form the sand was out so i shut of the fluval rinsed it all out realy well. Stired up the sand and made the water little bit murkey. When i checked back about hours later and it was crystal clear.
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/Done002.jpg

Now i have to paint the room its in. Then i can put my seeded media in it witch is 2 campartments of bio max from the fluval jammed into 2 filters on my 33 gallon.

I was thinking about setting up my 5 gallon for a med tank so i bought a 10 gallon. Plan is to give the 33 to my nephew for christmas. I may have a few questions when it comes time to move it

tetra

12-10-2009, 02:02 AM

Well i Got everything plumbed and now i have to give it a coat of paint. So far this tank came a long way from when i bought it. The stand is framed up out of 2x4 and 2x6 with 5 inch pine all round and the top is all 5 inch pine. So far the stand cost me $10 for some hinges and screws. Everything was left of scraps from work. The paint i had laying around.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/dec01007.jpg

If any one wants to know why i am so slow with setting this tank up.... its because of this little fella.... meet the newest addition to my family, Jake.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/puppy.jpg

KingFisher

12-10-2009, 02:05 AM

Nice tank and cute dog! thumbs2:

rich311k

12-10-2009, 02:10 AM

Tank is loooking good. Nice looking dog!

tetra

12-10-2009, 02:42 AM

thanks, I am pretty excited now to get it finaly up and running. I ran it for a week and drained it again so i could make the stand. I hate how its taking me so long. But i am realy happy with the results. Btw i know the stand dont look the best but i dont do much wood work at all.

terrapin24h

12-10-2009, 07:54 PM

grats on the tank and the puppy! Get ready for teeth to start falling out(i remember stepping on my share of puppy teeth)! Rawhide and cornstarch chews are your friend!

Puppy rules:
--play? then out to potty
--eat? then out to potty
--wake up? then out to potty
--been more than 15 min since potty? out to potty

thumbs2:

--chris

tetra

12-11-2009, 02:33 AM

I know what you mean about teeth, I used to have a pure breed short haired pointer, We has was close to 8 months i dont think there was much left to my moms couch. I got lots of bones and raw hide in stock. The pups name is jack and he is 13 weeks. I got him from a group that rescues animals.

Jason

Kazenouta

12-13-2009, 06:44 PM

Tetra,
Your tank seems like quite an undertaking but, from what I can see so far it's going to be well worth it. It looks great!

tetra

12-18-2009, 01:55 AM

lowlight

12-18-2009, 06:18 AM

Nice job. I can't think of anything I would do different other than more plants and you have that covered, tank looks great.thumbs2:

terrapin24h

12-18-2009, 02:03 PM

For those of you that have waited and watched me take forever to set this up.... enjoy

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/erfect002.jpg

The water is a little murkey from me stiring it up. My diamond Tetra's will are susposed to arrive tommrow. Two plants i need to get are dwarf onion plant and some dwarf water lettuce. I also got to up my the numbers in corys/neons/ and black neons.

I was also thinking of getting a gourami of some sort of a center piece fish.

If any one has any recomendations i would love to here them the tank is 44x18x18

So far i have 3 bronze corys 6 neons tetras 2 black neons and one bristle nose plus 10 diamonds on the way
Looks sweet. As an aside, more black neons would be good--i've found school pretty tighly. They don't swim together, but they will form up and "hover" in one spot of the tank. Then move to another and form up again. Generally about 30 mins or so after feeding. My beunos aires tetras swim together

--chris

Lab_Rat

12-18-2009, 03:33 PM

I would also increase the black neons to 6 and same for the cories. Gourami centerpiece would work out well. Tank looks great!

tetra

12-18-2009, 10:31 PM

I am so rotted... My diamonds didnt come in today and chances are i wont get them till after christmas. So to cheer me up i also picked up another cory

So i have...
6 neons - getting 5 more
4 corys - was planning on more but i bought the last one
2 black neons - getting 5 more
1 bristlenose- might pick up a female

i have to wait on my 10 diamonds. I dont think i will stock any more until i get those.

tetra

12-21-2009, 01:53 AM

Here's how it sits as of now...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/x-mas002.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/x-mas008.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/x-mas007.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/x-mas004.jpg

tetra

12-21-2009, 01:54 AM

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/crazy_newf_2007/Aqurium/x-mas003.jpg

wynnEZ

12-21-2009, 02:10 AM

Your tank is looking great, keep it up!

tetra

12-21-2009, 03:24 AM

Thanks i need to pick up some more live plants and hoping my diamonds get here soon :(

lowlight

12-21-2009, 05:07 AM

Awesome tank.:salute:

tetra

12-21-2009, 09:59 PM

Thanks, it wasnt to hard and i owe alot of thanks to many people on this forum for help.

tetra

01-13-2010, 02:18 AM

well i havent been on much because i had some computer trouble.

I added some more drift wood and more plants, and guess what............MY DIMOND TETRAS ARE STILL NOT HERE.... This lfs store blows, i keep getting the run around. I ordered them the first week of december, and was promised them before x-mas. I will have to get some new pictures. My banana plants are taking off well and i havent added my co2 yet.

Jason

EmmanuelJB

01-13-2010, 02:21 AM

Great Tank! I really Like the Back Ground!

Cliff

01-14-2010, 01:55 AM

any chance you give me a quick set of instruction on our you built the back peace. That looks outstanding. I would love ot be able to build something like that.

tetra

01-14-2010, 02:56 AM

Thanks

Hey cliff...

I cut a piece of 2 inch styro-foam so it about half inch short of the tank size, So with the concrete on it would be able to fit with no issues.

I then carved out it out with a utility knife and siliconed a few peices on it once i had the shape i wanted i heated it up with a heat gun to harden it. then i had 3-4 coats of concrete. On my last coat i added some concrete dye to it and to give it some texture. I let it fully cure between coats I soaked it for a week with water changes so if anything leeched out it would be gone before i put the fish in it.

If you have any questions just ask or pm me.