Backtotropical's Main Tank

[Maximus]

Thats a great tank. I like the jungle look to it

On a side note, is the heater cable any longer? You could hide it down above the substrate.
If not, mount it virtically in the right corner. It's a bit distracting is all

But anyway, still looks awesome


Cheers,

Maximus

 

[GobyMaster]

Awesome tank!!

Does it still just have the tetras and gouramis in it, or are you thinking of adding some other fish??

I'd recommend getting a pair of Twig Catfish or a group of hatchetfish!

GobyMaster

 

[backtotropical]

It looks great backtotropical. I love the new look.

I am going to aquascape my tank later then will post a Picture on My Thread.

Josh

Thanks Josh. I'll look out for your new aquascape later.

 

[backtotropical]

really coming on topwork!!!

Cheers Darrene.

Looks good, did you get rid of those awful non aquatic plants?

Cheers I've kept a couple of stems of the stuff to see for myself how it gets on. The rest is in the bin.

Thats a great tank. I like the jungle look to it On a side note, is the heater cable any longer? You could hide it down above the substrate.If not, mount it virtically in the right corner. It's a bit distracting is all But anyway, still looks awesome Cheers,Maximus

Cheers Maximus, i might try hiding the heater. Thanks

Awesome tank!! Does it still just have the tetras and gouramis in it, or are you thinking of adding some other fish??I'd recommend getting a pair of Twig Catfish or a group of hatchetfish!GobyMaster

Thanks Gobymaster Still just neons and gouramis. I am leaning towards trying some infant angelfish, but still not sure. Do hatchetfish not have a habit of jumping? My tank is not covered.

 

[GobyMaster]

Do hatchetfish not have a habit of jumping? My tank is not covered.

Uh, unfortunetaly, yeah, they do. About the angels, though, they'll be fine until they are about 4" long, then they'd start to eat your neons. Still, a pair of Twig Catfish would be cool:

Good luck with your tank!

GobyMaster

 

[branjie]

I went to an aquarium store the other day, and asked if I could change my freshwater topical tank to sand. The guy said no. He said it would raise the pH too much. Have you had a problem with your pH? I'm a bit confused because I'm sure some others on here use sand for freshwater tanks.

 

[backtotropical]

I went to an aquarium store the other day, and asked if I could change my freshwater topical tank to sand. The guy said no. He said it would raise the pH too much. Have you had a problem with your pH? I'm a bit confused because I'm sure some others on here use sand for freshwater tanks.

Hi Branjie,

Some types of sand will raise your PH, eg. coral sand or aragonite sand. What you want is inert sand (this means it wont change your PH). By the sound of it, the guy in your LFS doesn't have a very good knowledge of the subject.

You can buy 'aquarium sand' from your LFS, which wont change your PH, that is what i have in my tank. However, it is expensive and you can buy the same stuff from Argos for a lot cheaper. See Here

This will not affect your PH. If you are in doubt, do the vinegar test on it. Just get a little bit and drop a few drops of vinegar onto it. It the vinegar fizzes, the sand is not inert. If there is no fizzing, the sand will be fine for your aquarium.

Hope this helps. You may want to relay this to your LFS so they dont give anyone else wrong information.

If its any conselation, my LFS is rubbish too. They sold me non-aquatic plants for my tank.

 

[backtotropical]

Quick update. I took out the Tunze Stream, it was blowing the sand everywhere even when turned right down. I now have a Hydor Koralia for surface agitation. I also added 4 Sailfin Mollies (3 female and 1 male) and 8 Peppered Corys (1 didn't make the transition).

The tank as it was last night



Molly (this is the male)



and the Peppered Corys



I also tested the water tonight.

NH3 - Nil
NO2 - Nil
NO3 - 5 mg/l
PH - 8.0

Bogwood didn't work then!

 

[branjie]

Your tank looks so good! I'm going to have to look into getting myself some sand. It looks the best, and maybe then I could get some of those fish that need sand to burrow in. How do you stop your plants from drifting up to the surface?

 

[GobyMaster]

Nice tank!!!

Love those cories!!!!

GobyMaster

 

[Amina]

Tank is a litte...boring ...Sorry im a photographer and artist...my liking standards are high >.<

Some suggestion to spice up the tank?

Get rid of the blue background, get one of those with the natural scenery
Get some fake plants...or real if you can find large enough ones. Get Tall ones and place the in the BACK try to cover that heater. Place plants together to give it a more natural look.

Here is my Tank.

Not trying to offend you. That tank would just look AMAZING if u spiced it up

 

[darrene]

Tank is a litte...boring ...Sorry im a photographer and artist...my liking standards are high >.<

Some suggestion to spice up the tank?

Get rid of the blue background, get one of those with the natural scenery
Get some fake plants...or real if you can find large enough ones. Get Tall ones and place the in the BACK try to cover that heater. Place plants together to give it a more natural look.


Not trying to offend you. That tank would just look AMAZING if u spiced it up

i think bactotropical tank is great. besides i am quite sure bactotropical hasn't finished there. a work in progress.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Tank is a litte...boring ...Sorry im a photographer and artist...my liking standards are high >.<

Some suggestion to spice up the tank?

Get rid of the blue background, get one of those with the natural scenery
Get some fake plants...or real if you can find large enough ones. Get Tall ones and place the in the BACK try to cover that heater. Place plants together to give it a more natural look.

Here is my Tank.

Not trying to offend you. That tank would just look AMAZING if u spiced it up

Those natural scenery backgrounds are god awful. Plastic plants can damage fishes scales and fins, and IMO all he needs are some more aquatic plants.


Backtotropical,

Just to let you know mollies do better in brackish. I'm told they can live a full life in fresh, but they thrive in brackish. What are you going to stock with then?

I think the bog wood may help a little over time. Why don't you try a Co2 system? It should help to bring the Ph down, and will benefit you with less algae, and better plants. You could also try filtering the water through peat moss, it can naturally bring the Ph down. If all else fails consider getting an RO/De-ionizing filter, and start mixing some of that water in with normal de chlorinated water.

 

[backtotropical]

BABY MOLLIES!!!!
(2 still-born and 2 alive and swimming so far)

 

[backtotropical]

Your tank looks so good! I'm going to have to look into getting myself some sand. It looks the best, and maybe then I could get some of those fish that need sand to burrow in. How do you stop your plants from drifting up to the surface?

Thanks again Branjie. My cabomba gets eaten by the gouramis and mollies and i quite often find loose stems of it floating about but i just re-plant them.

Nice tank!!! Love those cories!!!!GobyMaster

Cheers GobyMaster, your comments much appreciated as always.