168 Usg 3Ft Cube - 'the Hidden Cove'

[ChilliPepper]

Thanks, it comes with extra long wires all round, not sure what to do with them all!

Don't feel too well today, so not touching the tank tonight. Getting some wine and a takeaway and watching some TV instead

 

[ChilliPepper]

Tank is filled!

Bought another bag of gravel today, but it's not needed afterall so yay a refund is due. Also bought two Arcadia reflectors and a long gravel cleaner

Fitted the lights in the hood no problem. Well, my OH did it so it was no problem for me Chucked gravel and stuff in then started filling her up.

Filled and waiting for her inhabitants.

Night time.

Tank is covered in millions of little bubbles as per usual when you fill a new tank. Will look even better when settled tomorrow. Really pleased with the lights - nice, subdued and not too bright, so think the fish will enjoy it. Looks like a hidden cove, a bit spooky, but really cool at the same time. My GT in particular is going to look awesome in this tank as the blue light picks up her blue and green metallics. The tank looks far better in real life than I can capture on photos, but take my word for it.
Aquascape is not necessarily final as I think we need another bit of wood and we've got some more silk plants to go in as well.
The black gravel looks great, really pleased with it. It looks like granite, really sparkly and lots of different hues.
Tomorrow is d-day! Getting mature media, putting in filter, switching it and heaters on. When water is up to temp, popping back to get the fish!

We've also decided to leave the Ram and Keyhole in my 190L at the moment while we decide what to do, as we'd never get them out of this tank again and they couldn't stay with Oscar much longer anyway, as they'd be lunch!

So definite inhabitants are: GT, Oscar, Green Sev, Para Plec and Polypterus Delhezi

Still not 100% sure on what else to add to the tank. Will definitely get another Birchir at some point. Really considering getting some Silver Dollars afterall as they'd look fab in the tank. We went to a lfs the other week and they had a couple of decent sized ones there. May go back there next weekend and if they still have them may get them. I'd like another cichlid, but it may be too risky, at least I know the Dollars will work and will look great. I can just see them now actually, with the blue light reflecting off their silver scales...
I think I'll need 6 Dollars as they are skittish if in too small a number. May not be able to get them all at same time as it's rare to see any decent sized ones but would like a shoal. Would need to get them big enough to not fit in Boris's mouth.

 

[james_fish]

This is looking brilliant

James.

 

[snowflake311]

looking good I love the wood.

 

[the biffster]

the tank looks amazing
cant wait to see it with
the fish in like the look
of the graval what type is
it

 

[hamfist]

Looking good. I agree with you that it would probably benefit from one more nice piece of wood (and maybe some more plants ?)

Looking forward to the tank & fish pics !

BTW, I also bought some of those silk vivarium plants yesterday. They look very, very nice, but the sucker on the largest one is struggling to hold it in place. It keeps falling off. Are you having any such probs with yours ?

 

[ChilliPepper]

Thanks everyone, it's getting there, but does need the fish to bring it to life

Looking good. I agree with you that it would probably benefit from one more nice piece of wood (and maybe some more plants ?)

Looking forward to the tank & fish pics !

BTW, I also bought some of those silk vivarium plants yesterday. They look very, very nice, but the sucker on the largest one is struggling to hold it in place. It keeps falling off. Are you having any such probs with yours ?

Yes, will get some more wood and some more plants, it definitely needs something else

ATM the plants are holding. We haven't turned the filter on yet though. Popping to get the mature media in a bit, then switching everything on so will let you know if they tolerate the FX5's flow They have floated up to the top because of all the bubbles and look really cool so wouldn't hurt if they stayed like that. Think the Birchir would like it.

Change of plan. The Plec is staying in the 190L until I get a big enough tank for Ram, Keyhole, Plec and inhabitants of my Betta's tank to go in. We think he is too small, and a possible risk with the Birchir as he grows.

 

[ChilliPepper]

The fish are in!

Had a bit of trouble getting the tank up to temp, but got there in the end, and now being rewarded with a view of the fish as we half watch TV

All seem very happy. Got to get to know the Sev and Birchir's ways as we haven't observed them much, due to them being at OH's folks. They have all had some food, apart from Birchir who is a bit dim, and been picking around.

Photos and video tomorrow

 

[ChilliPepper]

Oh and the fish look tiny in there! They are loving all the extra space

 

[james_fish]

I want photo's NAOWWWWW!

James.

 

[Wills]

Photos of fish now!!!!! tank looks great get on it!

 

[ChilliPepper]

Hehe - it's really hard taking photos with a point and shoot. They are all turning out blurry

I am so happy they are in there, and they are really happy with all the space. They couldn't quite believe it when they were put in.

It's really funny as the fish keep getting swept away when they get caught up in the filter outlet

 

[england]

Glad to see all's going well with tank,but itss missing a little summin

 

[SBL]

nelly, your right, it is missing something. It should be in my room is what its missing.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Well the fish have been in the new tank over 24 hours now, and all seem absolutely fine, so seems our hard work paid off The Birchir comes out randomly and swims around a bit going mental, then rests again. He's probably confused as he was only in the other tank a week, now another new tank. It's a shame as we'd planned for the new tank to be ready sooner, but when you go for a custom build things aren't as easy. I'm sure he'll be alright. He needs to realise though that food does not hang around long in this tank

The fish had some peas tonight. Boris wolloped into them, absolutely loved them. GT wasn't completely convinced, but had a nibble. Little Sev appreciated it when Boris spat a load out, his mouth is so tiny at the moment he wasn't able to manage a whole one without help. He got a quarter a bit later, and had to keep swimming off with it as the GT was following trying to nick it.
They got second helpings tonight of the pellets, as the Birchir came out of the plants for a swim about after I'd fed them, so dropped some more pellets in. Though he went and hid up again, so missed out again

Love my little Sev though, he's such a busy fish always picking about. Can definitely see why other people love Sevs, they are great. I'd really like a Rotkeil and a Red Spot as well

I took a video last night but it's quite long, so will need a little editing before I can post it. Tried again taking photos but they just come out cr$£. I think a video is the best way of showing you the tank