Monkeywobblers Rio 180

[monkeywobbler]

Hi guys, thought I'd stick up a few pictures of my tank, hope they work!

I've got a Rio 180 planted tank, I've no idea about the plants apart from the obvious couple. I don't have a background yet because I'm still deciding if I want blue or black. I'm leaning towards black to try and hide the filter.
The lights are the Juwel ones - 45W one "daylight" and one "nature"

Java Moss
Java Fern
3/4 different types of anubias (not sure about them though)
2 Moss balls
Salvinia molesta (I think) - Which Big Red (the gourami) has claimed for himself
Lots of plants I have no idea about because they were in the LFS and on sale and didn't have a name tag (so if you know, please tell me!)

1 piece of bogwood with some smaller bits in there with Java fern, Java moss and Anubias attached to them.

Stocking:
2 Red Dwarf Gourami, 1 male, 1 female
5 Albino Corys
4 Platies, 3 red and 1 blue
7 Harlequin Rasbora
3 Zebra Danios (I'm looking to re-home them and get some more rasbora I think)
2 Amano Shrimp
1 Whiptail Catfish
1 Apple Snail

The Rasbora, female Gourami and Danios are pretty hard to photograph so the still ones are the ones you guys get to see

My Apple Snail has small tufts of algae growing on him, I think the Platys regard him as a slow moving snack machine

Big Red has a tendency to hog photographs, he appeared in nearly every single photo.

I'm thinking of adding a carpeting plant to the left hand side of the tank where the plants are still quite sparse, not sure what I'd like though.
Hopefully the plants won't take too long to grow out properly.
Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Monkey

 

[lilfishie]

WOW!! what more can i say

 

[monkeywobbler]

Really, lil?! Thanks!

 

[paul_219]

Superb pic. Wonderful.

 

[monkeywobbler]

Thanks very much!

 

[invader]

That tank is gorgeous! I don't think you need a carpet plant.

 

[wendywc]

The tank shot is gorgeous. Great job.

 

[blodhi74]

Nice tank.

 

[kribensis12]

WOW. That is AMAZING. My tanks look like crap compared to yours =] That is just pure skill to make a tank look like that.

* Awes in the amazing awsomeness in your tank decortingness skillz*

 

[monkeywobbler]

Aww guys, thanks very much!
It's my first attempt at a planted tank - I have an (empty) Rekord 70 that I did have plants in but it wasn't really aquascaped.
I've been haunting the planted tank threads to try and get an idea of what kind of carpet I could get eventually. I was thinking about some Riccia because Jimboo makes it look so easy, but I don't think I have the patience to make a mat. And then I saw some Glosso and I think that would look pretty good instead.

Thanks for your replies guys!

 

[NottsFishy]

very nice tank

you gonna stock any more fish ?

 

[monkeywobbler]

very nice tank

you gonna stock any more fish ?

I wasn't really sure if the tank would take it, or what I would add if I did want more - I like the idea or more H rasbora, or a shoal of neons, but if I were to add anything at this point I think it would have to be another female gourami.

How much more do you think would comfortably fit? I do 30-40% w/c per week

 

[lilfishie]

Yes Really! i love it, i just tend to stick my plants anywhere
I think a shoal of neons or the slightly bigger cardinals would look perfect in there

 

[monkeywobbler]

Oooh neons. I do like neons, very much so. I don't know if they would fit or if a larger shoal of H rasbora would look better.

Argh decisions, decisions!

I have seen 180's with much higher stocking than mine mind you. I might be tempted to go for cichlids next

 

[lilfishie]

yeah i like neons too, but find cardinals easy to keep alive, the neons near me are always tiny and die off.
i think you could get a nice shoal of about 10 in there