75g Aquarium Journey SE Texas

[johnnymax]

It has taken forever just to get to the point where the old 75g take I was given is in the house. Needed a stand, no top and a chinchilla who was in it chewed the inner lip off, so I need to be creative with the cover build. Still scrubbing calcium build up off with vinegar. Need to cut a piece of foam to go underneath it. Anyway, it is in the house
I am going go with Native Texas Fishes.

 

[tlindsey]

It has taken forever just to get to the point where the old 75g take I was given is in the house. Needed a stand, no top and a chinchilla who was in it chewed the inner lip off, so I need to be creative with the cover build. Still scrubbing calcium build up off with vinegar. Need to cut a piece of foam to go underneath it. Anyway, it is in the house
I am going go with Native Texas Fishes.

View attachment 1376656

View attachment 1376657

Looks new again.

 

[johnnymax]

Substrate, rocks & water added. I will build my filter tomorrow or the next day and see if I can clear up the water. I am not too impressed with the rocks. I need to dig out the huge crawfish pot and boil the drift wood I collected. Maybe that will add something more.
The substrate is a mix of crushed oyster shell and coral.

 

[tlindsey]

Substrate, rocks & water added. I will build my filter tomorrow or the next day and see if I can clear up the water. I am not too impressed with the rocks. I need to dig out the huge crawfish pot and boil the drift wood I collected. Maybe that will add something more.
The substrate is a mix of crushed oyster shell and coral.
View attachment 1377020

Don't know if you are aware of this the crushed coral and oyster shells will make the ph more alkaline. How will you cycle the aquarium?

 

[johnnymax]

Don't know if you are aware of this the crushed coral and oyster shells will make the ph more alkaline. How will you cycle the aquarium?

True, this tank will ultimately be a cichlid tank and they need a high pH. I really wanted to start with Mozambique Tilapia, I still may, but they get so big so fast!
As far as cycling I am adding Seachem Stability (instant microbes.) Also, I will build my sponge filter today, but it will have a 1 liter housing inside. The water will flow through bio filter media (Scrubbies) then through charcoal and finally through gravel from a VERY established aquarium. Then I will just throw in a some fish food and let the nitrosomonas & nitrobacter bacteria make their self at home and get fat and happy. I know some people now add ammonia to the water for a fishless cycle, I am considering it, but this is the way I have always done it.

 

[Matteus]

When the tilapia get big will they go into the big pond?

 

[johnnymax]

Yes, into the big pond or a skillet
But, if by chance I notice one with extra color or a trait I find apealing I may breed it, and so on.

 

[Matteus]

Yes, into the big pond or a skillet
But, if by chance I notice one with extra color or a trait I find apealing I may breed it, and so on.

Nice. If you breed them you can do all of the above. Win win.

 

[johnnymax]

I made an air driven filter for my tank for $4 plus activated charcoal. I bough the parts from Dollar Tree.
It should be easy to clean, just launder the sock and rinse the inside with DECLORINATED water and reassemble. But at 50 cents a sock, I will just buy a few dollars worth and use new socks. I plan to wash it once a week and see if that is enough.

Components:
1 liter plastic storage container (2 for $1)
Water squirt toy for riser tube ($1)
4 scrubbies ($1)
1 pair black compression tube socks ($1)

Inside the filter I put a layer of gravel from an established tank to help inoculate the tank. Then a layer of activated charcoal and above that the scrubbies. Once assembled I cut a hole in the toe of a sock and pulled it over the top. I then doubled it up to double it.

 

[Matteus]

That’s handy. Are there holes in the bottom of the container as well or just along the top?

Also I’m not picturing how you put the sock over it? Top to bottom or bottom to top?