new idea: your 300+ gallon tank with sand as a substrate. With a big driftwood stump at both ends. the driftwood stump roots would spread toward the inside. Also attach some java fern on. In the the back i would put some vals but if the fish keep taking them out i would just screw that idea. For fish i would put in 6 pbass, a ray, a school of 5 silver dollars, and a silver or black arowana. I would also put a group of rocks in the middle
contest thread
- Thread starter troutking
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How does "we have the largest piece of driftwood in an aquarium in the world" sound for a slogan? I was 90% joking, but come to think about it, everybody can have big fish. But this, you can wow people.
Of course you'll have to get a tank that's big enough, but it's going to be a heck of a center piece for your store. It's easier to plan for the rest when you have a central deco in the tank.
As far as substrates go, there are a limited number of combinations of size and color. Caribsea makes a beautiful black substrate called Tahitian Moon (www.caribsea.com), which doesn't harden the water.
Imagine the large driftwood sitting on the black substrate and a few large plants here and there.....black background and relatively dim light...throw in your favorite fish and there you have it!
Of course you'll have to get a tank that's big enough, but it's going to be a heck of a center piece for your store. It's easier to plan for the rest when you have a central deco in the tank.
As far as substrates go, there are a limited number of combinations of size and color. Caribsea makes a beautiful black substrate called Tahitian Moon (www.caribsea.com), which doesn't harden the water.
Imagine the large driftwood sitting on the black substrate and a few large plants here and there.....black background and relatively dim light...throw in your favorite fish and there you have it!
If you make it visible from the outside (e.g. throw the window) and put out a neon sign that says "largest driftwood you'll ever see" and an arrow, think about how many people would walk in......
For the African tank-- make or get some background caves or rockwork (link below) and pick up a 1'+ Mbu with 3-5 Distodochus, Tanganyika cichlids and a couple ornate bichirs to clean up the bottom and give you some bottom fish (all found in Lake Tangyanika). Doing sloping rockwork over the back corners also keeps your puffer hanging out in visible areas.
Oh, and if it's in the store, put signs on your show tanks for feeding times. You can do a 10% discount and call it your afternoon feeding special, which gets people in the store during slow hours of the day watching really cool fish eat with incentive to make purchases. You'll sell more high-margin fish if people can see how they really are when established/feeding.
<http://www.aquariumlife.net/projects/diy-decoration/7.asp>
Oh, and if it's in the store, put signs on your show tanks for feeding times. You can do a 10% discount and call it your afternoon feeding special, which gets people in the store during slow hours of the day watching really cool fish eat with incentive to make purchases. You'll sell more high-margin fish if people can see how they really are when established/feeding.
<http://www.aquariumlife.net/projects/diy-decoration/7.asp>
The real value of show tanks is to show people things they don't know they want to buy yet. A tall brackish show tank of around 100g could have juvie monos, scats, archers, mudskippers, and anableps-- and you can sell them straight out of the tank like this one youtube.
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Use black sand as substrate. Mut a large mangrove stump in the middle. Surround the stump w/ a bunch of swords....as the swords get smaller...towards the edge of them throw in some grasses. I would throw a few rays on the bottom of the tank. As far as schooling fish...3 tems, 3 pinimas, 3 orino's and some azuls or kelberi's as well. Throw in an armatus to switch up the color. And some monster clown loaches to hang w/ the rays.
wow guys , you really stepped it up i think thats 4 or 5 entries in a bit of a rush tody but way to go guys great entries keep it up
2 entries per person - 1 per SA tank 1 for African tank
contest will go to june 1
also i love the idea of the 10% off at feeding time, thas a great ploy to rope peoplein, excellent, just excellent!
2 entries per person - 1 per SA tank 1 for African tank
contest will go to june 1
also i love the idea of the 10% off at feeding time, thas a great ploy to rope peoplein, excellent, just excellent!
Ok, just found out what this contest is about lol. so, here's my idea, lets see if youre up to the challenge 
get a big tank (300-400g) and replicate this amazing setup:
i would keep the plant list small with fairly easy to grow plants. Anubias sp., ferns, and mosses. lots of these! a very nice forground could be achieved with carpeting plants like blyxa japonica or e. tenellus
then, add 3-4 big peru Monos (pic courtersy of R1
)
then add 3-4 large Orinos, columbian or venezuelan will work
and youre DONE! clean, simple, yet busy enough to keep the viewed entertained. guarantee something like this will be the most mind-blowing setup in your shop!!!!!
get a big tank (300-400g) and replicate this amazing setup:
i would keep the plant list small with fairly easy to grow plants. Anubias sp., ferns, and mosses. lots of these! a very nice forground could be achieved with carpeting plants like blyxa japonica or e. tenellus
then, add 3-4 big peru Monos (pic courtersy of R1
)then add 3-4 large Orinos, columbian or venezuelan will work
and youre DONE! clean, simple, yet busy enough to keep the viewed entertained. guarantee something like this will be the most mind-blowing setup in your shop!!!!!
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