SPECS
* 6 Red Bellies: 7" (2), 6" (2), 5" (1), and 4.5" (1)
* 11 Aquatic Plants: Amazon Sword (1), Anacharis (4), Java Fern (2), Anubias cotton-threaded on Driftwood (1), Floating Moss Balls (3)
* 120 Gallon Tank (48"L x 24"W x 24"H)
* AquaTerra 3D Background Amazon Tree
* Insta-Cling 5% Window Tints for tank sides
* Glass Tops
* Wooden Stand
* Lighting: Current 16 Bulb (T-5) 50 / 50 (Actinic / White)
* Canister Filtration: Fluval FX5, Fluval 405
* In-Tank Bio Filtration: 2 sponge barriers containing ~200+ pot scrubbers behind the 3D background
* AquaUltraviolet UV Sterilizer 25 watts
* Powerheads: Marineland Maxi-Jet 1200, Petco Brand Powerhead 60
* Whisper AP 150 Air Pump
* Airstone
* Heaters: 300 watt Top Fin (2)
* Thermometer
* CaribSea Eco-Complete Planted Substrate (red)
* Lava Rocks (3)
* Driftwood (XL - 36")
* Stress Zyme, Stress Coat, AmQuel Plus
PLANNING
My goal is to setup an Amazon River flooded forest biotope. I plan on stocking tankmates with disregard to if they get eaten or not. 10 Neon Tetras, 6 Tiger Barbs, and 1 Siamese Algae Eater to handle any unpleasant algae growth.
Right now I'm preparing myself for the boring as all heck cycling process. So I will not be bringing my 6 sub-adult Red Bellies home until Ammonia and Nitrites are undetected in my water quality test results. Can anyone please fill me in on any potential ways to drastically cut down the cycle time?
My design strategy was to have all equipment and filtration hidden, enabling me to keep the tank setup as natural looking as possible. I had to cut my 3D background in half and solicone it back together once inside the tank to avoid removing my center bracing.
I used a holesaw to cut 5 holes into the background (two at each far-end of the top as overflows, one gravel level as the out-take on the far-right, one gravel level as the in-take on the far-left, and one mid-center cutout as an additional in-take). All holes are grated and siliconed with pet-proof vinyl window screening.
BEHIND THE BACKGROUND
My plan is to have a clockwise water flow. I have the Fluval FX5 and Fluval 405 in-takes at each in-take cutout. I have both out-takes at the same sole out-take cutout at gravel level on the far-right. Two 300w heaters are at each end behind the background to ensure even temperature distribution.
The Petco Powerhead 60 (rated for 60 gallon tanks) is placed behind the background to control the flow of my in-tank behind the background bio filtration. I figured since it is a much smaller space in volume I could use the Petco Powerhead 60 instead of the Marineland Maxi-Jet 1200.
I put used sponge barriers as a pre-filter to contain ~200+ pot scrubbers as bio-filtration housing behind the 3D background. I figured with the Fluval Fx5 and 405 in tandem with my behind the background bio-filtration, I'd have all the filtration that I'd need to maintain my aqua-stock without any hiccups.
ONLY EQUIPMENT IN VIEWING AREA
I was concerned that by not having my either of my in-take/out-takes in front of the background that I'd simply be filtering only the water behind the background over and over and over. So my solution to make sure some water flow actually makes it from the front of the tank to behind the background where all 3 filters are, was to have the Marineland Maxi-Jet 1200 powerhead as the sole piece of equiment viewable. Hopefully that will aid the water flow and circulation to push things to the meshed holes where the in-takes are.
My one foolish question, can anyone tell me what the difference is between a "powerhead" and a "water circulator". That would really help me out in this potential planning flaw.
Lastly, if anyone sees any other issues or flaws with my planning, setup, filtration, aquascape (plants), and amount of stock (fish) please feel free to advise.
I'll try to throw some pics up of what I've done so far by the end of the week. I have this awful feeling that once I try to turn these two canisters on I'm gonna flood my freaking living room! They're used and I've got no manual ------> *eEek*
* 6 Red Bellies: 7" (2), 6" (2), 5" (1), and 4.5" (1)
* 11 Aquatic Plants: Amazon Sword (1), Anacharis (4), Java Fern (2), Anubias cotton-threaded on Driftwood (1), Floating Moss Balls (3)
* 120 Gallon Tank (48"L x 24"W x 24"H)
* AquaTerra 3D Background Amazon Tree
* Insta-Cling 5% Window Tints for tank sides
* Glass Tops
* Wooden Stand
* Lighting: Current 16 Bulb (T-5) 50 / 50 (Actinic / White)
* Canister Filtration: Fluval FX5, Fluval 405
* In-Tank Bio Filtration: 2 sponge barriers containing ~200+ pot scrubbers behind the 3D background
* AquaUltraviolet UV Sterilizer 25 watts
* Powerheads: Marineland Maxi-Jet 1200, Petco Brand Powerhead 60
* Whisper AP 150 Air Pump
* Airstone
* Heaters: 300 watt Top Fin (2)
* Thermometer
* CaribSea Eco-Complete Planted Substrate (red)
* Lava Rocks (3)
* Driftwood (XL - 36")
* Stress Zyme, Stress Coat, AmQuel Plus
PLANNING
My goal is to setup an Amazon River flooded forest biotope. I plan on stocking tankmates with disregard to if they get eaten or not. 10 Neon Tetras, 6 Tiger Barbs, and 1 Siamese Algae Eater to handle any unpleasant algae growth.
Right now I'm preparing myself for the boring as all heck cycling process. So I will not be bringing my 6 sub-adult Red Bellies home until Ammonia and Nitrites are undetected in my water quality test results. Can anyone please fill me in on any potential ways to drastically cut down the cycle time?
My design strategy was to have all equipment and filtration hidden, enabling me to keep the tank setup as natural looking as possible. I had to cut my 3D background in half and solicone it back together once inside the tank to avoid removing my center bracing.
I used a holesaw to cut 5 holes into the background (two at each far-end of the top as overflows, one gravel level as the out-take on the far-right, one gravel level as the in-take on the far-left, and one mid-center cutout as an additional in-take). All holes are grated and siliconed with pet-proof vinyl window screening.
BEHIND THE BACKGROUND
My plan is to have a clockwise water flow. I have the Fluval FX5 and Fluval 405 in-takes at each in-take cutout. I have both out-takes at the same sole out-take cutout at gravel level on the far-right. Two 300w heaters are at each end behind the background to ensure even temperature distribution.
The Petco Powerhead 60 (rated for 60 gallon tanks) is placed behind the background to control the flow of my in-tank behind the background bio filtration. I figured since it is a much smaller space in volume I could use the Petco Powerhead 60 instead of the Marineland Maxi-Jet 1200.
I put used sponge barriers as a pre-filter to contain ~200+ pot scrubbers as bio-filtration housing behind the 3D background. I figured with the Fluval Fx5 and 405 in tandem with my behind the background bio-filtration, I'd have all the filtration that I'd need to maintain my aqua-stock without any hiccups.
ONLY EQUIPMENT IN VIEWING AREA
I was concerned that by not having my either of my in-take/out-takes in front of the background that I'd simply be filtering only the water behind the background over and over and over. So my solution to make sure some water flow actually makes it from the front of the tank to behind the background where all 3 filters are, was to have the Marineland Maxi-Jet 1200 powerhead as the sole piece of equiment viewable. Hopefully that will aid the water flow and circulation to push things to the meshed holes where the in-takes are.
My one foolish question, can anyone tell me what the difference is between a "powerhead" and a "water circulator". That would really help me out in this potential planning flaw.
Lastly, if anyone sees any other issues or flaws with my planning, setup, filtration, aquascape (plants), and amount of stock (fish) please feel free to advise.
I'll try to throw some pics up of what I've done so far by the end of the week. I have this awful feeling that once I try to turn these two canisters on I'm gonna flood my freaking living room! They're used and I've got no manual ------> *eEek*
