About my 300

[Spyder]

Hi all, I just wanted to post some info and pics about my 300 gallon planted community.

The tank is 8' long, 30" wide and 24" high
Set up to view from both sides
Filtered by 2 Ehiem Pro 3's and one Eheim Pro 2 2128
Pressurized CO2 going through a Reactor 1000 coming out of the Eheim Pro 2
CO2 is kept at 30 ppm
Lighting (cost more than the tank) is a Coralife Pro with four 96w CF (two are 6700k, two are 50/50 Colormax/6700k) plus 3 150w 10,000k MH, plus four .5w night lights
CF run for 11 hours daily, MH run for 5 hours daily
I have a 25w UV
pH is 6.4, temp 79, nitrates stay at 10 ppm, I try to raise them but the plants just suck them up
I do a 1/3 WC weekly unless I want some spawning action, them I do 1/3 daily for a few days.
Ferts; I fert daily with each dosing consist of .5 TBS Plantex (at night), 1 TBS Potassuim Nitrate, .5 TSP of Potassuim Sulfate, .5 TSP of Mono Potassium Phosphate.

Occupants:
14 Bolivian Rams (had 160)
10 Blue Rams
4 Apisto Borelli
2 Apisto Cetea
uncountable amount of Apisto Cockatoos (many Juvi's and young adults)
6 Polkadot Botias
8 Pearl Gouramis
1 Snakeskin Gourami
24 Cardinals (want to add more)
12 Lemon Tertras (want to add more)
20 Corys
30 Amano Shrimp
16 Ottos
5 Bristlenose
2 Cherry Barbs
5 SAE's
8 Skirt Tetras
4 Praecox Rainbows (want to add more)

I think that's it???

I'm thinking about adding Rummynose to the mix, probably 30+

This pic I added to the TOTM contest so some of you have already seen it
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I like this pic better, it is a side view of the tank and gives that underwater amazon feel. Maybe a pic for mext moths TOTM contest
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This pic shows when I was setting up the tank two years ago. It shows how you can view from both sides
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That's all for now

[Lady Hobbs]

Who was it that sang that sang "Rub It In, Rub It In?" As I was looking at your tank, I found myself humming that song. :)

[Spyder]

Isn't that a jingle for a cleaning product? It's fitting, this tank is alot of work. I know you didn't mean it that way but it fit's.

[Lady Hobbs]

No, it was a song. Bates Jeff was the singer.

Your tank is just breathtaking! You have done such a wonderful job with it. I love how clean it looks and not overhelmed with a hundred kinds of plants but just the right amount to not make it cluttered.

[genitor]

Tank looks great!!!!
Hobbs is right most planted tanks i've seen looks like jungles but yours look just right, just enough plants and just enough swimming space.
You had 160 bolivian rams, what happened that you lost so many?

[Rue]

That's a gorgeous tank...

[Spyder]

You had 160 bolivian rams, what happened that you lost so many?

I sold them to LFS's and at auctions. 160 came from one male that spawned with 3 different females.

[squirt_12]

What are the type of plants that you have in your tank because i am thinking of putting plants in my tank and I have some right now but i want mine to have alot and i was just wondering what kinds you have because i like what your tank looks like!!!!?????
Thanks!!!

[Spyder]

Some fish pics

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[Spyder]

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[Spyder]

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[troy]

Cool tank.

[zackish]

That tank is sick, I hope to have a saltwater that big some day.

I see that you live in Bristol, CT. I live over in Manchester should meet up some day and compare tanks hahaha

Also, how do you maintain your PH at that level?

[Spyder]

Hi Zackish, Manchester, not too far. My pH is maintained by my CO2 injection. CO2 will bring down your pH and depending on how much CO2 you put in plus what your KH is will determine your pH. My KH is only 2 so I have to add Texas Holy Rock to buffer the water and raise the KH to 4. I have another tank I inject CO2 into with no buffers and the pH stays around 5.8 - 6.0 but it's good because I breed Blue Rams in that tank.

Do you belong to any of the Local Fish Clubs?

[zackish]

Do you belong to any of the Local Fish Clubs?[/QUOTE]

No I don't and I am unaware of any around here.

Also, what LFS do you like to go to in CT?

[Nick_Pavlovski]

....breathtaking...
and great photography....
you should try to sell some of those photos.

[crackatinny]

WOW that is some tank, and I agree the photo's are excellent, what type of camera do you use?

[Spyder]

Zackish, there is a great club that meets in Agawam called Pioneer Valley. I don't belong because they are far for me but you are within 20 minutes. Some great fish minds in this club.
Here is a link to there site:
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I used to go to many LFS's but know I mainly go to The Puppy Center is West Hartford to occassionaly buy fish but I sell lit's of fish and plants to them. Nick & Chuck are brothers who run the fish dept and are great, great people. I go to Waterbury Aquarium for supplies. I know the owner very well and he gives my prices simular to BigAls without the shipping and without tax. Can't beat that.

Nick, thank you for the compliments. I have no idea who would ever want to by my photos but your compliment goes a long way.

Crackatinny, I use an Olympus E-300. You guys have to realise that I deleted 5000 pics to get the ones I posted here :)

[Rue]

Excellent pics! :19:

[Lady Hobbs]

Spyder....what is your substrate? I'm thinking it's Eco Complete?

[Tilmo2180]

That tank really is awsome! One of the best pics(the very first one you posted) I have seen on here IMO. I wish I could make mine look that way, mine looks like your before pic still...someday it will be pretty like yours though.

[Spyder]

You are right, Eco-Complete is in all my tanks.

[zackish]

Zackish, there is a great club that meets in Agawam called Pioneer Valley. I don't belong because they are far for me but you are within 20 minutes. Some great fish minds in this club.
Here is a link to there site:
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

I used to go to many LFS's but know I mainly go to The Puppy Center is West Hartford to occassionaly buy fish but I sell lit's of fish and plants to them. Nick & Chuck are brothers who run the fish dept and are great, great people. I go to Waterbury Aquarium for supplies. I know the owner very well and he gives my prices simular to BigAls without the shipping and without tax. Can't beat that.

Nick, thank you for the compliments. I have no idea who would ever want to by my photos but your compliment goes a long way.

Crackatinny, I use an Olympus E-300. You guys have to realise that I deleted 5000 pics to get the ones I posted here :)

I have gotten a few things at puppy center to. I am assuming you have had good luck with them?
Another place I would reccommend is Magic Pet right on the silas deane in wethersfield. I haven't had one fatality or unhealthy fish from that place. They also are very very cheap too, supplies and fish.

Also, the pioneer valley club in Agawam is about 45 minutes away from me....I don't know if I really feel like traveling that far haha. Have you ever been to one of their meetings?

[Spyder]

No but I've been to their auctions, very big and very organized. At one time I belonged to ALAS based here in Bristol but they had too much drama so I stopped attending. I'm thinking of trying out the NECH (New England Cichlid Association). They are off for the summer and resume in September.

[squirt_12]

So well, i was wondering what kind of plants you have in your tank???
Thanks
:D