Peacock tank version 2.0!

[Steve]

Well I'm not one to sit around and let life get me down for too long. Losing my entire peacock tank during the storm sucked beyond words, but from loss comes new life. I'll be getting 5 really nice looking peacocks from Chris this weekend, plus have a couple other members that have some peacocks I plan to call during/after the weekend so I am getting the tank ready for them and decided to make some changes to it. So I give you...Peacock tank version 2.0  

Decided to change the sand out from white to all black and got a good deal on the black sand from Sue at my fav fish store Royal Tropical. Also picked up some live plants from there as well as from a couple other local fish stores and between the three stores I think I managed to come up with a nice variety of low maintenance live plants. Also rescaped the rocks and wood and redid the LED spotlights in addition to the T5's so it has a variety of light brightness options now. Still miss my original guys I lost since they were my first fish since back into the hobby a year ago, but I think once I get the new guys into their new home all will be well again.

[Loon36cf]

Steve that look awesome not that the first set up didn't I'm just a huge fan of black substrate

[Steve]

Thanks Chris. Funny thing is I actually didn't like black sand at all a year ago, but over the past year seeing it in  others tanks it really started to grow on me. Now that I have it in this one I like it so much I am thinking about swapping out the white sand in my beta tank and using some of the black sand I have left over in there. I think not only would the blue beta colors pop nicely but also my albino Cory cats would show up real nice against the black as well I bet.

[Loon36cf]

I would have to say you are correct that would look really nice with those fish it would make all the colors pop out big time

[RichE]

Awesome Steve,Like they say if you get kicked off a horse, the best thing to do is get right back on.

Looking forward to stopping over one day soon to check out your awesome work:)

[linuxrulesusa]

I think black will look great with the peacocks.  Some of the mbuna (electric yellows come to mind) seem to wash a bit color-wise over a really dark substrate)...and some of the CA/SA cichlids even more so...but as long as you steer clear of those you should be fine.  Although we could always use a few more CA/SA cichlid keepers. 

Glad to see it's coming together.

[Steve]

Well I picked up the first 5 new fish today from Pete (frontboy7). First let me say Pete is a super nice guy and very easy to deal with. Over the past year I've meet around 10 people from this website and it seems like everyone of them are just super friendly and extremely helpful. It's really my pleasure to be a part of such a great group of people. Secondly....to say I am THRILLED with the fish I got from Pete would be a vast understatement, these fish are simply gorgeous. Having such beauties to sit and watch in the tank now really helps to ease the disaster I had to come home too last weekend. And I am absolutely LOVING the black sand. In fact I like it so much I am now thinking about maybe using black in the 7ft 265 office build tank now rather than white.

Here's some pics of the first 5 fish. They will be getting some new roommates Saturday when Chris stops by with some fish I am buying from him.

[Frontboy7]

Absolutely gorgeous pictures Steve! I hope you receive long enjoyment from the fish. 

[RichE]

Again Steve you do awesome work with your tanks, and I agree Pete is a super Nice Guy

[Steve]

Chris and his lovely girlfriend stopped over today with a delivery of fish for me. And yet again I'm blown away by how nice these peacocks are that he brought, I was SOOO happy to finally have another nice Electric blue Ahli after loosing the one I had a couple months ago. I think I may only get 1 or maybe 2 more fish for this tank in a few weeks and that will be it. With the help of you guys here I now have my all male peacock tank back up and (even though I liked my other fish of course) I think these are in fact even nicer than what I lost. 1 week from disaster to beautiful in this tank, to all those that helped with advice, fish and such (Rich, Marty, Blair, Pete, Chris) you guys have my deepest thank you and if any of you guys ever need anything, spare equipment, or even just some muscle moving a tank or something, don't ever hesitate to ask me. Thanks guys!

Now for the good stuff 

Since he's an Ahli I dubbed him "Muhamad" (as in Ali...lol...sorry )

[jcunningham0295]

Very nice fish.  Glad to see you are getting this tank filled with great fish again..

[Sean]

Awesome! What kind of lighting are you using? The fish look great under them

[Steve]

Thanks guys. I have a few different lighting on this tank (LED spots and T5's) but in these pics they are taken with the dual T5 HO 6700k bulbs (Acentic I think it's called) and white.

[African cichlid Keeper]

nice cichlids and also really nice ruby red peacock. 

[Steve]

Thanks Jenna. I wish you were closer because if so that one you offered me would be swimming in this tank as well. I liked the looks of him.