90 gal FW journal - wish me luck!

[fishmommie]

First time journaling so I'll give it my best shot.
After much dithering and gathering advice from this fantastic forum over the past few months, I finally took the plunge and bought a used 90 gal FW tank for my office. (Originally I thought I only had room for a 45 but I found a nice corner, moved some things around and made it happen.

The set up I bought was formerly a SW tank. So I had to patch the holes for the sump (with glass and silicone sealant) and I'm off and running.

The stand was also in bad shape - but really heavy, solid and sturdy. I got a really good buy - tank and stand for $250.00 - so I splurged on a canopy - very plain but it looks good.

I'm using a 1200 cascade canister and at the advice of the LFS (one man operation has been raising fish for years) decided to also supplement with a UGF with 2 Marineland maxi-jet 400 water pumps. I'm hoping this combo will give me plenty of bio and chemical filtration plus plenty of water flow.

Here's a link with photos. If you slide the cursor over each photo, a tag line will come up explaining what you're seeing.
http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/th...NAME=snapfish/

I plan to stock with rainbows, roseline sharks, congo tetras, will try my luck at pairing of some angels, and cleaner fish yet to be decided.
I'm starting off with artificial plants but hope to eventually change to live once I have had time to do more reading so I know what I'm doing.

I've got a beautiful piece of driftwood and have been gathering medium sized rocks that have caught my eye

Because I got the tank so cheap, I'm going to splurge with led lights (haven't purchased yet - not have I purchased my glass top)

This weekend, at long last, I HOPE to attach my background - pending results of a poll on another thread :o), add my substrate and start filling so I can begin a fishless cycle.

As always, any advice is appreciated - and all the luck you can send my way.
Now ... let the journey begin <g>

[cuckoochews]

Sounds like your well on your way! I love your stock list so far... Always wanted a school of congos! My only suggestion is to get a light that will be appropriate for live plants, if you go that route in the future. On that note, if you haven't bought the fake plants yet, don't. Live plants are not difficult and your fish will appreciate it! And from what I read in your posts, I bet you'll enjoy it more, too. Good luck!

[fishmommie]

Thanks cuckoochew

My poll answers are overwhelmingly NO to the patterned background and yes to black or blue with black winning out. Since I have a lot of cords I need to hide I think I'll start out with the black backdrop and as I add plants, I can always take it off. (would be much more difficult to try to ADD the black background after the tank is in place, I'm thinking, than to remove it). Plus, my background wall that the tank sits up against is sort of a khaki color and I'm afraid it might be too light??

As to live plants - I absolutely do plan to go that route eventually (have compiled a list to study) but for now, because of my work, I need something low maintenance - so will still probably start out with artificial. I may add a few live plants, though, just to see how I do with them. According to my other research (again thanks to this forum), the led lights I'm planning on buying will work well with live plants so hopefully they will be added in the not too distant future.

appreciate your input.

BTW - were you able to go to snapfish and see the photos I posted? Am worried that the link might be blocked.

[cuckoochews]

Yes, the pics look great- can't believe that's the same stand! Espsecially like the driftwood. Great base on it, your handy work? Awesome job!

[ScottishFish]

Always good to see a new journal can you do me one favour? Change your avatar to something other than that horrible default goldfish hate that picture

[fishmommie]

Always good to see a new journal can you do me one favour? Change your avatar to something other than that horrible default goldfish hate that picture

Sorry. like this one better? <g>

[tiffykubi]

Sounds like an awesome tank. I have a 100gallon with a school of Roseline sharks and I think they're awesome fish. They are excellent swimmers and enjoy current so I've added 2 aqueon circulation pumps in addition to a canister filter. Tons of flow. I have otto's for clean up and they're doing a great job. Congo tetras are pretty sweet but also you might consider diamond tetras. My local aquarium store just got a shipment of them and they are the best looking tetras I have ever seen.
FYI, I did try shrimp and think the roselines eat them. Good luck with your new tank!

[fishmommie]

Sounds like an awesome tank. I have a 100gallon with a school of Roseline sharks and I think they're awesome fish. They are excellent swimmers and enjoy current so I've added 2 aqueon circulation pumps in addition to a canister filter. Tons of flow. I have otto's for clean up and they're doing a great job. Congo tetras are pretty sweet but also you might consider diamond tetras. My local aquarium store just got a shipment of them and they are the best looking tetras I have ever seen.

FYI, I did try shrimp and think the roselines eat them. Good luck with your new tank!

Thanks. I just checked out the diamond tetras and wow, they are gorgeous. My LFS has some stunning congos that I fell in love with so we'll see how it plays out. I have a school of Colombian tetras in my 30 gal and love them. They get prettier every day
Good to know on the shrimp. I'll avoid that little 'lunch munch' issue :o)
And I hear a lot of good things bout ottos. I need to read up on them more.
thanks again

[fishmommie]

Yes, the pics look great- can't believe that's the same stand! Espsecially like the driftwood. Great base on it, your handy work? Awesome job!

thanks!. as to is the driftwood my handiwork - no. It came from Colorado. I bought it at my LFS - one man show and he gave me a good deal.

I had a beautiful piece that I had my heart set on using - one my hubby and I found at a lake up north. It was perfect - except when he cut into it to size it down a little we discovered it was cedar. From everything I've read, cedar could be deadly.

[Fishies' Mom]

My poll answers are overwhelmingly NO to the patterned background and yes to black or blue with black winning out. Since I have a lot of cords I need to hide I think I'll start out with the black backdrop and as I add plants, I can always take it off. (would be much more difficult to try to ADD the black background after the tank is in place, I'm thinking, than to remove it). Plus, my background wall that the tank sits up against is sort of a khaki color and I'm afraid it might be too light??

I highly recommend the black background, as well .

It does come with its challenges - namely you can see every speck of dust/hair on it/the glass. I posted the following with some tips to help get a dust/hair-free application: http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...68#post1016268

Off to look at your pics =o)!