Ideas on finishing my 75 gal. setup

[K9cop92]

Im nearing the completion of my new tank setup. I have completed my stand, painted the back glass and found the perfect driftwood centerpiece. I was working on a diy 3d background but after setting it up, Im fairly pleased as is. I believe in the KISS rule and dont want it to be too busy taking away from the centerpiece or cichlids that will call it home. Any ideas or comments will be greatly appreciated!!!


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[K9cop92]

 

[Paulbearer]

Great job, I like the old wood style on it. I might take that ideal on my 220 build i'm fixing to start since I finished my 180 gallon build finally

 

[smitty03281964]

Pat yourself on the back you did a great job and that is a great looking piece of drift wood.

 

[k0y0te]

already looks good. Nice piece of drift wood. i dont think it need to much more. if anything maybe a couple of plants (live or fake) but other then that i would keep it the way it is in the pics.

 

[Oughtsix]

I started with gravel then switched to sand. Both me and my Cichlids are much happier with sand.

I love your piece of driftwood. Yes it looks great with only the driftwood in the tank. I have lots of flatter slate making lots of caves. My Cichlids love the caves. My chichlids range in size from a 5 inch Frontosa and 4 inch peacock to a 1.5 inch bumblebee. I have never had a problem with aggression. I don't know if it is because they are all males or if it is the abundance of hiding places.

I have several live plants. All of them are potted in Miracle Grow organic potting soil with a top layer of gravel to keep the soil in the pot. This has been working great for me.

I love the look! Great job!

 

[DMD123]

That is a very nice set up! The rustic look of the wood stand is not something you see everyday. Nice choice on the driftwood too. I like it!

 

[K9cop92]

Thanks for the compliments and replys everybody. I reclaimed the wood from an old barn near my house. The stand itself is made of 2x4's and built rock solid. I plan to use a little grey stain on the cut ends of barnwood that are eposed. As for the driftwood, I found it washed up at my parents lake house a while back. Really lucked out on that one! I used the gravel simply because I already had it. I think sand would look really good as well. I'm thinking adding a few plants will do it. Maybe a small bubble stone or two. I got my old school flourescent fixture mounted in the hood. Its ok, but there is a blind spot in the front. I plan on switching to some sort of led lighting in the near future. Im also replacing the filter tubes, seen in the new pics, with black ones so they blend in with the painted back glass.

 

[tankboi]

That is a great concept (the rustic look)! That setup would look good in a red lobster restaraunt! LOL! Anyways what kind of cichlids do you plan on inhabiting the tank? Other than plants there isn't much more you can do here except maybe a plant next to it like a palm tree to soften it up some.