New look for 40g SA tank, hmmmm, suggestions/ideas?

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David R

David R

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MFK Member
Apr 26, 2005
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I've always liked the idea of a big south american themed tank, but I've never really had space for a dedicated tank (always want to put loaches and bichirs etc in there!) so I'm starting small with my 40g and will eventually upgrade. I've just given it a bit of a make over with some teatree driftwood I cut and soaked myself, I think its heading in the right direction but not quite there yet. So, to break it down;
3'x18"x18" tank
AquaOne CF500 + Ehiem 2224 Professional
Double 3' T8 light (usually only run one).

1 pair Gymnogeophagus balzanii
25 golden xray tetras
3 sterbai corys
baby royal plec
one other small plec (possibly a chocolate zebra, can't remember, will try get pics)

Here's the pics, before:
DSC01720.jpg


After:
DSC01722.jpg

DSC01726.jpg

DSC01727.jpg


I'm thinking about adding a few more rounded river rocks and maybe replacing the crypts with some small swords just to stick to the SA theme. I also have a heap more wood like this still soaking in the pond outside, softening it so the bark can be stripped off. I'm also planning on adding more sterbais, and looking at suggestions for other fish that I could add. I'm thinking of altum angels, pencil fish/anostomus, hatchets, or other small cichlids. If all goes according to plan this year, we'll be buying our own home, which will mean I'll upgrade my loach tank and then have a 4'20x20 80g spare to transfer this set up into.

So, let me have it! Love it, hate it, suggestions, constructructive criticism, etc.
 
that looks really nice IMO...are you into trying the "black water" thing? for neon tetras etc... I heard that they breed in black water...and it is a south american setting too...
 
I think you have too much driftwood. take out half of it and put the rest more to the right. then you have enough space to let an amazon grow really big. plant the amazon to the left. put stones near it to cover the lower parts if and put lots of stones in the open part of the tank. This way the balzaniis could have their territory under the driftwood and the other fish can seek shed in the amazonsword.

..and add more corys. I like the little bigger species of corylike cats: dianema urostriatum, hoplo cats, scleromystax barbatus looks awesome when fullgrown but be sure to get a pair.
 
I think the tank would look nicer with some black water, or tannins in the water... It would be more natural and I would add an amazon sword and maybe some floating plants.
 
I would distribute the substrate so that it is more piled on the back than in the front, so that plants are better viewed; plus larger plants with deeper roots systems could utilize the deeper substrate. also, be careful when transferring crypts because they like to be uninterrupted in the development of their roots. i see what you were trying to do with the branches; however, i would have to say it is a bit much. i might add some thicker pieces of wood. If you have the lighting for it, i like this type of aquascaping: http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/aquascaping/52861-once-again-my-re-rescaped-55g-3.html

if i were you, i would get loads of smaller cories (hastatus); a lot of asian rummy nose/aka sawbwa resplendens ( http://www.jjphoto.dk/fish_archive/aquarium/sawbwa_resplendens.htm ), hatchet/pencil fish for the top, large pieces of rock work to fill in certain voids - pagoda rock is pretty cool http://www.dohse-aquaristik.com/item_imgs_sml/40595.jpg -- i like the texture, and its ability to have certain mosses attach themselves to it. this is if you want a community. i would also go with some siamese algae eaters to deal with potential algal problems, you could also get a crew of otocinclus.

keep us updated.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, I might have a play around with the wood to see if I can get it looking a bit more natural. My GF's parents have got a big block of that wood on their property, so next time we're up there I might spend a bit more time trying to find some thicker shapes with the look I'm after. I'm not running carbon in the filter, but I might add some peat to colour the water slightly.

Oh, and the $50 voucher is still unspent, stupid big chainstores with their limited range of fish. Another shop has some 'rocket pencilfish', so I might add some of them.
 
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