50G CA/Malawi Tank with Woodrock BG

[WarPath2007]

05/25/2008 - Latest update
1) Replaced seaquest 2000 power head with rio hyperflow 10f
2) Activated rainbar

Update:
1) Red dwarfs (tangerine) breeding

2) Texas, showing same activity


==================

I am still fairly new at fishkeeping.

 

[WarPath2007]

May 12, 2008 (Initial post)

It has been long overdue... i'm posting what i have, even when its not finished. I am open to suggestions, criticism and even violent reactions

This is my 4th tank, but the 2nd active tank: betta small tank, 2.5G, 10G and now 50G.

Tank composition:
1) 1 square meter of woodrock
2) rain bar (from the famous sm pet store)
3) seaquest 988 ohf (2200 power head with max output of 1500lph), using dual output: first output for the ohf, the 2nd for the undergravel piping
4) whitesand
5) pvc pipes for the undergravel jet system
6) polyprophylene floor mat

The woodrock slabs

I wasn't able to find an eggcrate so i used a polyprophylene floor mat. The floor mat was bought to support the rocks.

The start of a tedious process. I used the silicon sealant to glue the woodrock slabs to the backside of the tank. Curing time >24hrs.

 

[WarPath2007]

Posted - May 12, 2008

Curing time, right side view

Curing time, left side view

Front views

Here's the initial setup, i had to transfer some of my accessories from my 10G tank to transfer the good bacteria.

Please bear with me... i have no lights, the undergravel jets still needs additional sand and the accesories are not suitable for the theme i was aiming for.

 

[WarPath2007]

After a few days.. i took out the old accessories, added a few slabs... removed the castle, the hanging plastic plants, the black drift wood and the white calcified clamshell.

1) I still need to buy the appropriate lighting for a low-medium setup.

2) The pump from sequest 988 ohf with a pump output of 1500lph = 320+gph is not sufficient to handle the required output for a UGJ with half of the pump's output redirected to the filter. I'm trying to decide whether i should gamble for the SOBO 4500lph being sold here 4500/2 = 2250lph.

3) It still needs more sand.

4) Plants are 2nd on my list (lighting is priority).

 

[WarPath2007]

Using rocks as the background was inspired by fmueller's 240G Frontosa setup:
http://www.fmueller.com/

The UGJ system was an idea posted to Cichlid-Forum, by Marc Elieson.
Article on UGJ from Cichlid-Forum - http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/ug_jets.php

 

[WarPath2007]

The Fishes

The Alpha male, Angelika (from Marimar)

A juvy tangerine with a female Nimbochromis venustus (i hope i got this correctly)

Texas cichlid with another juvenile fish (ice blue, i think)

A corner spot for the juvenile ice blue

 

[WarPath2007]

May 20 Update
=========================================

With 1x21W T5 lighting (electrical/cold light)

 

[WarPath2007]

With T5 lighting continued...

The fishes (With lighting)

 

[WarPath2007]

May 20 Update, continued
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Initial plant setup ( will be replaced and rearranged on a later date )

 

[Fish on Fire]

Wow, that's a nice setup that you got there. Those centrals will eventually get too big though.