Michigan Cichlid Association

Pics and Video => Tanks and Room setups => Topic started by: xzackly999 on December 21, 2014, 08:47:12 PM

Title: 60 gallon aquascaped and almost ready for fish
Post by: xzackly999 on December 21, 2014, 08:47:12 PM

Hey guys,

My 60 gallon setup with a tetra whisper ex70 hob and rena filstar canister filter is coming along. I think it's already ready for stock but i won't have time to get fish until after Christmas so I'll be dosing 1ppm ammonia per day until i can make it out.

I'll probably be adding a few more plants eventually as well.

Zack

Title: Re: 60 gallon aquascaped and almost ready for fish
Post by: GrizzlysDad on December 21, 2014, 09:12:58 PM

the piece of driftwood in the back left corner looks like a partial horses head  :o

Title: Re: 60 gallon aquascaped and almost ready for fish
Post by: Ron on December 21, 2014, 10:26:04 PM

Is there a reason the water level is low?

Have you thought about a background at all?

What fish are you planning to get?

Title: Re: 60 gallon aquascaped and almost ready for fish
Post by: xzackly999 on December 21, 2014, 10:41:20 PM

Haha. It kind of does.  I'm not really set on the way I have the driftwood now, but I like the idea of having it set up to create tunnel-like scenarios.

The water level is so low because it has been about 2 weeks now cycling and just evaporated.  I figured I'm going to be doing a 90%+ WC before I add fish anyway, so I was just leaving it a little low.
I have been thinking about a background, but haven't decided yet.  Probably just end up with a blue or black one eventually.
My stock list isn't really set in stone, but I plan on getting 10-12 cardinal tetras and 6-8 emperor tetras with either GBRs or apistos.  I was thinking otos too, but not 100% on those yet, or some type of higher temperature tolerant cories.

Title: Re: 60 gallon aquascaped and almost ready for fish
Post by: xzackly999 on January 01, 2015, 12:11:37 PM

Sorry the pictures aren't that great. Turns out my camera phone doesn't focus that well with moving fish.

My current stock is:
1x apistogramma cacatuoides (orange flash)
1x german blue ram
1x electric blue ram
9x harlequin rasbora
13x cardinal tetra
2x panda cory
2x salt & pepper cory

Will be adding 6-8 otocinclus very soon. Was having trouble finding them anywhere.

Title: Re: 60 gallon aquascaped and almost ready for fish
Post by: Ron on January 01, 2015, 12:43:37 PM

Cool selection of other fish to go with the cichlids. The cardinals in there really *POP* with color!  8)

Title: Re: 60 gallon aquascaped and almost ready for fish
Post by: Steve on January 01, 2015, 01:53:55 PM

Looks good. I've always like a nice big school of Cardnials.

Title: Re: 60 gallon aquascaped and almost ready for fish
Post by: xzackly999 on January 02, 2015, 01:54:14 PM

Thanks guys. I'm really happy with the way it is coming along.

Title: Re: 60 gallon aquascaped and almost ready for fish
Post by: xzackly999 on January 06, 2015, 08:09:42 PM

Unfortunately my german blue ram turned out to be an aggressive male and was relentlessly bullying the electric blue ram and i was forced to return it. Pretty upset as i was happy with the dynamic of my tank before that started to happen.  :-\

Title: Re: 60 gallon aquascaped and almost ready for fish
Post by: Regalblue on March 05, 2015, 09:37:12 PM

Any updates?

Title: Re: 60 gallon aquascaped and almost ready for fish
Post by: xzackly999 on March 05, 2015, 10:49:55 PM

Yep!
I rescaped the tank recently and added more plants.
I now have 3 java ferns, a moss ball, and two bunches of 3 vals from the original setup.
My stock is similar to my original. The only real changes are a couple guppies, 2 checkerboard cichlids, 2 Venezuelan red cories, and an apistogramma agassizi wild type male.
I lost my cacatuoides orange flash to some type of viral or parasitic infection. And my aphyosemion tirbaki killifish died of some unknown cause.
I have a 20 gallon cycling now. Will be splitting some stock and adding some new fish soon.
I will grab a few pics.

Title: Re: 60 gallon aquascaped and almost ready for fish
Post by: xzackly999 on March 06, 2015, 06:37:12 PM

Some pics.

Title: Re: 60 gallon aquascaped and almost ready for fish
Post by: Ron on March 06, 2015, 06:41:32 PM

(https://i.imgflip.com/iizk9.jpg)

Title: Re: 60 gallon aquascaped and almost ready for fish
Post by: xzackly999 on March 06, 2015, 07:23:14 PM

Not sure if i have enough room to maneuver behind the tank to get one on well.
Any suggestions?

Title: Re: 60 gallon aquascaped and almost ready for fish
Post by: xzackly999 on March 06, 2015, 08:01:15 PM

I also swapped out my whisper ex70 hob for a double sponge filter. Running with two canisters. A sunsun 3 tray and filstar xp2.
I guess my cory stock did change a bit too. I got two julii, 3 sterbai, 2 Venezuelan reds, and a habrosus. Got rid of the pandas and peppereda,because they weren't interacting with any of the others.

Title: Re: 60 gallon aquascaped and almost ready for fish
Post by: Regalblue on March 14, 2015, 04:17:43 PM

Looks good, but I have to agree with Ron...  figure out how to get some kind of background on it. ;)

Title: Re: 60 gallon aquascaped and almost ready for fish
Post by: Mastiffman on March 20, 2015, 11:36:01 AM

 Zack... Here's what I would do....

 Lower the tanks water down to a few inches and then scoot the tank out from the wall on one side. You could even use a larger storage tote if you wanted to save half the water. The fish are so small that they will be fine for a few hours in a few gallons of water above the substrate. Move all of the filtration to the sides. Paint the back with Krylon Fusion royal blue, "Roll On" (in a can) and use a 4"x 3/4" mini roller to do it with a few light coats and fan to dry it faster! Heat up your house a few extra degree being the urgency as well. This will help is dry faster as well.

 I would also make an Inline heating Chamber out of PVC and a water tight cord grip from heyco.com

 Here is my Build log on it. They are Great! Just make sure you mount it vertically.

 http://trophs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21417

 Lastly I would get a Clear HOB overflow box and use a larger canister filter on it. Maybe a used FX5 or Marinland 360-530... Although it's looking good now... This would clean up the tank and give it an amazing look!