Planted Juwel Rio 180

[coldcazzie]

New journal for a new tank.

Here's the tank, and here's the previous journal, these will now be continued in this thread.

Stats:
Juwel Rio 180
APS EF2000+ filter with spray bar
Tesco value cat litter > JBL Aquabasis+ > Argos playsand
2x 30w T8s
Bogwood/mopani

Plants:
2x Anubias barteri
3x Anubias barteri var. nana
3x Anubias barteri var. nana golden
1x Anubias barteri var. nana petite
5x Hygrophila difformis
5x Hygrophila polysperma
2x Hygrophila angustifolia
6 each of 2 other plants which I've failed to identify thus far

Fish:
20x silvertip tetras
10x black neon tetras
14x harlequin rasboras (actually, I suspect 3-4 of them may be espei)
2x Apistogramma cacatuoides
3x amano shrimp
1x ghost shrimp
mts

Cleaning

Spray painting

Filling up

With lights on

Trying to spot the fish

Fish installed

Random crypt that has sprouted since the change over lol

 

[Rickzayne]

I thought the 180 rio's came with T5 lights as standard?

but nice tank xD

 

[coldcazzie]

It's not brand new, just new to me

 

[minnnt]

The older ones were T8's i believe. I like T8's for planted tanks, mine grow better than with T5's.

Looking good Caz, hope it hurries up and fills out though, so bare compared to your usual standard.

Future plans?

 

[coldcazzie]

I know, all the crypts have left rather a large hole, and the HC wasn't doing anything and the Micranthemum micranthemoids disintegrated. I'm going to buy some more of the latter for the middle on the right, and try one of the clover sp for a carpet at the front on the right. On the left in front of the wood I think I'm going to add some Crypt. parva and some kind of elongate-leafed crypt in the middle in between the wood. Whether I leave a bare patch of sand I will leave up to fate: if the BGA starts to appear I'll add something, maybe P. helferi or S. repens, but if not then I will leave a bare patch for corys/kuhlis to rootle around in

 

[minnnt]

If you can find some Crypt walkerii or willisii get some!

I am thinking of adding some of the moss balls to my setup, maybe they would work for you too?

 

[coldcazzie]

If you can find some Crypt walkerii or willisii get some!

they have some on planted tanks, so that would definitely be an option. You like those ones?!

I am thinking of adding some of the moss balls to my setup, maybe they would work for you too?

I really hate moss balls!

 

[stu40]

Hmm. A planted Rio 180 with lots of Anubias & Hygro's.

Silvertips
Rummy Black Neons
T.Hengli Harlequin Rasboras
Dwarf Cichlids

Where have i seen a tank like that?

Good luck with new project.

 

[coldcazzie]

Where have i seen a tank like that?

Nowhere! It's completely original! One of a kind! Never been one like it before, EVER!!!

 

[minnnt]

Yeah loving the Crypt option, probably one of my favourite plants there is.

Maybe not with the moss balls then.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Dunno about you lot but my willisii grows really low even though in the LFS its grows tall

Looking good

 

[ZoddyZod]

Looks great already. Might as well close the thread!

Wish i had painted the back of mine now.

 

[stu40]

Nowhere! It's completely original! One of a kind! Never been one like it before, EVER!!!

Good. Now i feel happier stealing borrowing ideas from you.

Co2?

 

[ian]

looking good Cazzie, why not try some dwarf hairgrass on the bottom, see if you can carpet it.

 

[coldcazzie]

Wish i had painted the back of mine now.

I'm really chuffed with how it turned out. You will, of course, be pleased to know that, should my house burn to the ground, the back of my tank will be protected up to a temperature of 300 degrees celsius! (man-wife bought spray paint for motorbike engines!)

Good. Now i feel happier stealing borrowing ideas from you.

Co2?

Haha no worries! There will be pressurized, but not til I've got 1, an inline diffusor, 2, sorted out a new co2 cylinder and 3, bought a new check valve cuz the glass one shattered in my hand and sliced my finger open

looking good Cazzie, why not try some dwarf hairgrass on the bottom, see if you can carpet it.

Ooh that could be good... *strokey chin moment*