mrramsey's 72gal Bowfront with Sump Project

**mrramsey** · 03-08-2013, 03:16 PM

Ok I did a little teaser of what the wood might look like in the tank. Sorry for my photoshop hack job. I am going to go out and get some large stones this weekend.

**Hardy85** · 03-08-2013, 04:05 PM

I'll one up ya, just a rough idea, includes jungle vals, dwarf sag, mosses, red crypt, and need a few more ideas... but set up like this

**mrramsey** · 03-08-2013, 06:15 PM

Nice Hardy... I like it. I have everything moved into position and am ready to go. Just need my Wood and Rocks. I am planning to use STS and pool sand for the substrate for a mix of light and dark areas (not set in stone yet). I have some crypts in my 55g that are going gangbusters. The wisteria I have is not so great, I don't think I will use any in this tank. I haven't had any good luck with moss... I tried some xmas moss in the 55 and it just didn't take. Well one thing I am going to do for sure with this tank (since I don't have to worry about the live stock yet) is make sure I have plants ready to go when I fill it up.

The substrate I am on the fence about... I have plenty of STS and the color is not bad. It is however a mess to clean and it is kind of lightweight and disturbs easily. The benefit is that it is clay based and absorbs ferts. I have seen a good many tanks using black substrate that looks sharp.

**Hardy85** · 03-08-2013, 06:44 PM

I am just starting a new fert regime that i found is pretty cheap,

1lb of this powder last like a year + from aquariumfertilizer.com (there macro micro mix), its 1 drop of 1:8 mix solution per gallon in your tank a day (for you it'd be 1 teaspoon or 5 ml)
and then I'm getting metricide (a stronger version of flourish excel for 1 gallon - $20)

I am having trouble with my wisteria too, its annoying, top part of the plant is growing, getting growth at the bottom too, but then like 3" of empty stem in the middle...

I have phoenix moss that is just starting to do well, love the stuff already though

**mrramsey** · 03-08-2013, 07:09 PM

What do you use for your substrate Hardy?

Hehe some of my fish like to munch on the wisteria...

**Hardy85** · 03-08-2013, 07:16 PM

I use turface. Its cheap and awesome stuff. (a 50lb bag is $20)

The mvp doesn't really even need much washing, if you go with anything colored it needs to be washed a lot. (i went with heritage red and regret it)

But its a nice natural looking substrate

**mrramsey** · 03-08-2013, 08:11 PM

Hmm the turface almost looks identical (texture and grain size) to the STS I use. The color is lighter though.

**Hardy85** · 03-08-2013, 08:18 PM

cheap, and good for absorbing and holding ferts since it is a baked clay substrate

**mrramsey** · 03-08-2013, 08:25 PM

Found this on google -

My 55g days after rescaping with STS

**Hardy85** · 03-08-2013, 08:29 PM

I've heard that the grey is no longer made... plus leached a ton of color into the tank... but with your overflow that actually might tank a lot of it out... just be prepared to use an entire bag of pillow stuffing in your sump to pull the color out... i did in mind and its cleared up now