New/First native setup

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Candiru
MFK Member
Mar 13, 2009
321
5
48
40
Lynchburg, VA
So I have been on the fence about what to do with my 300 gallon setup and I think I'm set on a native type setup. Just a few questions.

I don't currently have any substrate and plan on using pool filter sand, is this a good way to go? I'd like it to look as natural as possible, hopefully! haha

Currently have a few larger river rocks for it and some driftwood, working on getting the driftwood water logged right now so I have had to tie down two pieces to rocks to help that process.

Lighting, my current hood is outfitted with 12 T5's but not sure I want to use these as the hood was built oddly in that when I lift up the front portion to get into the tank 6 of the lights will move with it. The main issue I am having with this is keeping the cords looking neat yet long enough to move the actual hood. I will upload some pictures of what I mean later.
Thought about just getting a few fixtures from home depot, at the moment not looking at keeping live plants but I may want too so it will look more realistic.
With this type of setup is it better to keep it more on the dimmer side for the sake of the fish since that's what they are use too?

What's a good temperature to keep the tank at? It's in my basement which isn't heated/cooled so hoping that might help in the long run. If not I have a few spare 300 watt heaters I can throw in to keep it where it needs to be at.

Is it better to collect or purchase native fish? I need to check around and see what I can collect, haven't done the research on that yet.

Haven't fully figured out which fish to keep yet since the tank is still in the somewhat cycling stage with goldfish.

Can't wait to get this tank going!! Also in the Lynchburg, VA area if anyone wanted to know.
 
Oh what a good suggestions that someone gave you on another forum lol. As far as lights go I only lit half of my tank for awhile and the fish liked it they normally stayed on the dark side but that was away from the filter flow and whatnot. But I added a second light so the whole tank is lit and the fish don't act any different. Sunfish like plants and structure but I don't really have a bunch of plants just a few that the fish uprooted and kind of float around now. Finally for the fish part I've collected all the fish that I keep, I've been tempted to buy fish before but I've never done it... Yet. But do you know what kind of fish you have around your home?
 
It was a very good suggestion! I had thought about it before but after looking more at the fish it seems like a better idea.
Plus it's a different type of tank that most people don't consider keeping.

I know of a pond that has blue gill but they stock it so not sure how native they are, haha!
Other than that I don't know personally what's around here, but looking at the gov website we have quite a few.
Mainly sunfish variations, crappie and blue gill is probably what I would be interested in.
 
My main tank now has 1 bluegill 3 little pumpkinseed and 2 big greensunfish x pumpkinseed hybrids. The pumpkinseeds around here don't get big so they're all pretty small and they don't get beat up just chased. I have some yellow perch and a greensunfish that I plan on adding to the tank later on. But I've been trying to get like 2 black crappies for the tank with no luck. I think bluegill and crappie would be a nice looking combination. With other sunfish to add more color
 
Pictures of the hood, one side is open for the plumbing to come across the tank which will be on the left hand side.
You can see how it opens and closes, both sides hinge just like that which is what is causing me grief at the moment!
Also a quick shot of the tank, doesn't look good but just an idea of what I am working with.
Last pic is my favorite piece of wood, very unique looking but the hardest I've ever tried to get to sink.

hood01.jpg

hood02.jpg

tank01.jpg

wood01.jpg
 
I'll most likely be doing that, just gotta get it to sink, haha
I've got an even larger piece of wood trying to waterlog out in a pond but I let it sit out too long in the yard so now a bunch of ants have made a home in it, need to rid them buggers!
Also not even sure I will be able to fit it in this tank with just 18"x24" openings.
 
Ants are a top 5 worst bug of all time. I had a nice big piece of wood that I carried home then found out if floated and didn't fit in the tank! So I cut it in half and tried to soak it in a spare 55 but I gave up on that since I found a better piece of wood lol
 
I need to try rotating this piece to see how it's coming along, to move it easily it takes two people.
The pond it's in is a 4'x6'x2', I'll probably take a chainsaw to it and cut some pieces off.
Depending on weather this weekend I need to take it out and take a pressure washer to it to see what comes flying off when I spray it, haha!
 
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