Finally Setting Up Rio 300

[Hathaway]

Well I'm finally in a position, upon moving, to set up my aquarium after 3 years of actually having the tank (torturously boxed up the entire time). However the long delay has given me plenty of opportunity to reseaerch and learn, though I'm glad these forums exist to help out still!
I've just started my fishless cycle, and I'm toying with aquascaping and getting in some live plants currently. Wanted to keep hardy, minimal fuss plants so have gone for water wisteria, amazon swords, java moss and anubias nana so far. Though I'll be looking for other options and planting before the fish are ready to arrive, early January maybe?

Replaced the internal filter with an eheim pro 3 2075 and placed a hydor 300w inline heater, all of which mercifully are working flawlessly so far.
Will be going the community tank route so looking at cardinal tetras, red line torpedo barbs, tiger/green tiger barbs, rams (electric blue/german blue), and a red tailed black shark. Would really love to keep some clown loaches but I'm aware they can grow quite large

A few pics showing a little of the journey, and how it looks right now. I'll post more pics as time progresses

 

[Alasse]

Gorgeous, well done!

 

[Munroco]

Beautiful, love the background and the blue lighting.

 

[ricbea]

To be fair, I am loving that tank, it looks fantastic. Great job

 

[Rodders]

Great looking, you going for some taller planting?
 
Tank fits in very well with the room as well.

 

[Hathaway]

Thanks for the kind words guys, will post updates in the next week or so.
I would like to add some taller plants for the backdrop yes, hoping the amazon swords will grow a bit too. Ideally something with dark leaves and easy to care for, any suggestions? Thinking of getting some java moss on the backdrop too.

 

[jag51186]

Dark leaves and easy = anubias...you could attach them to your background! I'm not sure how, but you could! lol
 
Beautiful tank!

 

[Hathaway]

I shall look into larger species of anubias, already have anubias nana and quite like the colouration but I don't think it grows all that large

I've made some major alterations to the layout to accommodate a sandfall or "underwater waterfall" to the right. Haven't got the equipment yet to do testing but using my hand to simulate the sand falling I think I've set it up so that the sand will fall down the rocks and back towards the reservoir in the far right corner of the tank. Interestingly the sand will freefall over a gap which fish could swim through if they chose to. Not sure any will be that brave to try but will be fascinating to see!
Has meant all the greenery has moved mostly to the left but I'm liking the contrast it's created so far.
If I can coax the anubias to play ball I'll attach it to the branch which goes from the centre "tree" to the rock face, and may try to attach it to the new bogwood which breaches the waterline on the far left too.

I've decided to keep the intake line behind the 3D background as it seems to be doing okay from there. Though since I'll be getting an air pump for the sandfall, which has two lines, I'll try and get some more air flow and agitation there to avoid the water stagnating.

 

[CSnyder00]

There are versions of Anubias that grow very long and large. I have some in my 75 Gallon that do very well. I would look into them. Very easy to grow. Also, I love the stocking plans. I would be very careful with the GBR's (German Blue Rams), though, because they are very picky. Large water changes, even partial water changes, killed off some of my stock.

 

[Rodders]

Think I saw these posted on the Overclockers forums?

 

[Hathaway]

Yup that was me lol, I don't post there often but I do frequent it from time to time.

Cycling is going very well, think I'm nearing completion. However as time wore on I've become less satisfied with the brightness of the background. I bought it as it was advertised as dark grey (as were the accompanying fake rocks, which are also quite light), and I don't know if it's just my eyes playing tricks but it seems to have continously lightened to the point where I'm not really happy with it, and it doesn't contrast with the white sand. I'm concerned the fishes colours will wash out, what with white sand in addition.

So I'm in the process of a major change to fix all that, while maintaining the cycle. I shall post the results once I'm done... this could take a little while . I'm excited about changing it, and really it's now or never as I wouldn't want to put the fish through any stress.