For those of us aspiring to make a tank in a similar fashion, can you share with us details on what needed to be fixed, and possibly if you were to do it different what would you do to hopefully prevent this (if possible). Thank you for sharing your progress thus far.
Cichla + Potamotrygon Tank : I need your help in conception
- Thread starter ElTofi
- Start date
October, 12th...
leaks problems on the bottom, possibly due to a damage in the bottom of the concrete itself... no idea until I can remove fish & water completely and dry the whole thing :
leaks problems on the bottom, possibly due to a damage in the bottom of the concrete itself... no idea until I can remove fish & water completely and dry the whole thing :
November, 9th :
removing the "big ones" (3 Cichla, 2 Arowanas, 1 Scleropage, 5 Stingrays, 5 Astronotus, 3 Acanthicus) from the pond to move them as fast as possible 45 minutes away from home, in a demo pond in a shop for at least 2 months
How to remove "safely" a stingray :
November 10th :
removing the last "small" ones :
9 Leporinus styermarki, 4 Ancistrus sp xxx, 2 Corydoras sterbai (14 years old !!!), 5 Hypancistrus L201, 1 Panaqolus changae (19 years old !!!)
and then... working hard to dry the last few liters (3 cm water column is still +240 liters)
removing the "big ones" (3 Cichla, 2 Arowanas, 1 Scleropage, 5 Stingrays, 5 Astronotus, 3 Acanthicus) from the pond to move them as fast as possible 45 minutes away from home, in a demo pond in a shop for at least 2 months
How to remove "safely" a stingray :
November 10th :
removing the last "small" ones :
9 Leporinus styermarki, 4 Ancistrus sp xxx, 2 Corydoras sterbai (14 years old !!!), 5 Hypancistrus L201, 1 Panaqolus changae (19 years old !!!)
and then... working hard to dry the last few liters (3 cm water column is still +240 liters)
Last edited:
After around 8 hours job with two persons :
- removing fish and water,
- drying with hot fan and bottom heater system
- carrying out every single stone or bogwood,
- carrying out around 200 kg sand,
- carrying out the 2x300 liters inner canister filters (Jeez, how HEAVY are those big blue wet foams)
I finally understood why :
after 10 years, I couldn't help but have water from the "green wall" getting behind the waterproofing layers, going under the tank, and getting in contact with the heating system under the waterproofing.
Heat + water + concrete -> bacterias and "bubbles" between concrete and waterproofing. Those bubbles went quite big, got out of the sand layer (but under the roots, I hadn't seen them), got covered with algae, and got "chewed" by Panaques and Acanthicus... until... scratch...
You can see on the video where and how...
- removing fish and water,
- drying with hot fan and bottom heater system
- carrying out every single stone or bogwood,
- carrying out around 200 kg sand,
- carrying out the 2x300 liters inner canister filters (Jeez, how HEAVY are those big blue wet foams)
I finally understood why :
after 10 years, I couldn't help but have water from the "green wall" getting behind the waterproofing layers, going under the tank, and getting in contact with the heating system under the waterproofing.
Heat + water + concrete -> bacterias and "bubbles" between concrete and waterproofing. Those bubbles went quite big, got out of the sand layer (but under the roots, I hadn't seen them), got covered with algae, and got "chewed" by Panaques and Acanthicus... until... scratch...
You can see on the video where and how...
solved... again... till next time
fish are getting back, slowly, per batch... still Acanthicus and Panaque to come back...
I lost the Scleropages and the Male Arowana during their stay in AquaBlue... too many people, too much stress, water a bit too cold...
During her way back home, the female Arowana got hurt on eyes and lower lip, cause of the polystyrene box.
It's healing, slowly... But I have to watch that very close :
fish are getting back, slowly, per batch... still Acanthicus and Panaque to come back...
I lost the Scleropages and the Male Arowana during their stay in AquaBlue... too many people, too much stress, water a bit too cold...
During her way back home, the female Arowana got hurt on eyes and lower lip, cause of the polystyrene box.
It's healing, slowly... But I have to watch that very close :
