This is my little project for today as its bank holiday, one thing i regret is not taking photos from day 1 but i took a few but unfortuatly a step by step photo diary is what i should of done, still this is good enough, hope its ok.
Right first up, the tank my freind gave it to me as he moved on to bigger and better things in his words (marine in mine) so he left the tank with just a pleco in and eveything running to keep the tank cycled.
We ran with half a tank from his house to mine (approx 100 meters) which wasnt fun or funny. At this point we were at the beginning of everything.
He had a pathetic filter which i didnt think was anywhere near as good as what i wanted, also the gravel was reasonable so i decided to keep it but everything else had to go, even the lighting as it was old and faded.
I put 2 florescent tubes in the lid, one white and one blue to give the tank that extra bit of look-appeal.
Picture of the old filter, why do people even make things like this?
This point i decided to go with some limetsone rocks, of a green and greyish colour not sure about the price but it was about 40 quid for 10 descent sized rocks, eventualy the green coloured ones didnt do what i wnated them too for the tank so i went back and brought some more grey ones all the same colour.
Right now its time to fit the filter, i brought a fluval 204 definatly enough to keep my tank mint and flowing nicley, so i kitted out the cabnet to house the filter as well as a rena sire 200 pump to make sure enough oxygen is in the tank, heater and thermometer are now fitted and the tank was already cycled but we done it for a little while longer just to get the filter full of bacteria first, we left the pleco in and got 2 danios.
To give the rocks a bit of colour i added some bogwood which was quite xpensive but looks the nuts i think, this is one the first full-tank pics near the end of the cycle, the pleco is fine and the danios have moved to another home ready for my fish to beggin gradualy entering starting with a 6 shoal of neon tetras.
People say angelfish and tetras are not the be mixed as they are food in the wild etc...but it depends on the situation, my angels were brought as babys and my neons as adults, i have had no trouble as i expected. Months after the angelfish moved it, i tried some plastic plants to compliment the grey rocks after taking half out to give more swimming space.
This photo is just with the blue florecent light on, and no flash.
My next fish of choice had to be something spectacular, really stunning to look at and fun to watch, there was only 1 choice....the male betta. I had worrys about putting them with angels but iv spoken to ppl who have kept both in a peacefull community with no hassle so its was definatly worth a go, here is is unfortuatly not in all his glory in the pic.
By this time my common pleco had grown absolutley huge, about as big as my hand and he was takin up so much room so unfortunatly he had to go, but a willing fishkeeper took him in so i brought 2 tiny baby bristlenoses to clear up the algae that had built up ovetr the few weeks.
Since the tank has been running smoothly it has had no trouble with water or aggresive fish and no here is a few pictures of the tank so far, thank you for reading this and putting up with me, any changes i do in the futur and il photograph and write here. ANy questions or comments please feel free...