Mandy's 130g Community Tank

[~firefly~]

Looking great, Mandy. The only thing I can't get my head around...is the sparseness. I'd load it with dirt and get lots and lots and LOTS of lovely plants in there Still looks good the way it is, just an aesthetic preference.

[Carapar56]

I have to agree.. With a tank that big i'd get it some flourite substrate and load it up with plants.. I'm sure your fish would love it, and with plenty of cover and plants to swim in and out of you'd most likely see better colors and more activity in your fish.

[MandyK]

It's not just you guys! Don't worry, I have a plan. The next thing in my tank budget is a substantial piece of driftwood. I have a requet in at the LFS.

After I've got that installed I'm going to go the route of low light, wood and rock anchoring plants. Since I upgraded my tank, the light system is a little on the weak side now. I don't want to upgrade the lights, so I'm going that route.

Plants are to come! Haha! As for substrate, I don't really like flourite. I'll probably put more pool filter sand in at some point, because I just have a thin covering at this point.

It's a work in progress. :)

[~firefly~]

Your kuhli loaches will thank you for more sand, that's for sure.

[KevinVA]

Well, so far so good Mandy. I'm sure it's going to look fantastic when you've got it all sorted. I imagine flourite would be pretty darn expensive for a 130gal. Pool filter sand is probably your best bet (and will look awesome), unless you went with some kind of black sand (like blasting sand). Either way, it'll look great.

What kind of driftwood are you thinking? Stump or branch? Or multiple pieces?

[MandyK]

I'd like to go with branchy, root system looking.

[KevinVA]

Nice. That's what I've been envisioning over the weekend. That'll look awesome and be perfect for the angels to swim around and through. =]

[Strider199]

I'll confess right now, I have not read all the posts in this thread.
You better really appreciate the guy who would sell a 30.06 for a fish tank. Thats the hunter in me speaking.

That tank does look like a handful but it's going to be gorgeous when your done with it. Well done MandyK.

[MandyK]

Thanks Strider!

Yes, he's a good man. It was my Valentine's present. He DID get the gun for free though, and he has plenty others that he prefers. For instance I bought him a $400.00 30.30 that he prefers to hunt with. It goes both ways with us :) Lol, we like each other.

I won't hold it against you for not reading all the posts. The one's in the beginning aren't really relevant anymore anyway.

I'm enjoying the process. That's the best part! I mean when there's nothing left to do is when it gets boring.

[Strider199]

I agree with your statement about when there's nothing left to do it gets boring.
Thats when I decided to try going with a reef tank.

Yours will be an awesome set-up when its done. 130 gallon! I drool.