Hi, friends! First, I want to say thank you again for all those that voted for my tank to win TOTY, it really does mean the absolute world to me. There were a few questions asked about my setup, filtration, etc., so I wanted to make a thread and answer those!
Tank Setup and Basics
So this is a 6' 125 gallon. At the time of that picture I was running a Fluval FX6, and two Penn Plex cascade canisters (1500 and 1000 or something?). I had the standard media in the canisters (floss, ceramic rings, sponge filters). In the tank I also had a large sponge filter running, as well as a powerhead at the top of the opposite side of the tank from a canister spray-bar and one down at the surface to push detritus off the substrate. I have a changed a few things since then, the largest of which is my filtration. All my canisters failed within a short time span and I swapped them out for an eShopps RS-300 sump. In the sump I have filter socks, then a large K1 moving bed in a drilled bucket, then my return pump. Heaters are in the sump, and I removed all but one powerhead to see if my fish wanted a break from all that flow, which it turned out they did as my breeding pair of geos spawned again after a 6 month hiatus. I run two Kessil 350X lights as well, there is nothing better than that shimmer if you ask me
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Tank Maintenance and Water Details
Maintenance on this tank is super easy; I do a 50-75% water change every Saturday...and that's about it. Since my sump is 95% moving bed I have no need to mess with that, and because of all the plants I have growing out of the tank itself my water chemistry is in perfect homeostasis. I actually have not tested my water or the pH in sometime, but it is blackwater tank. I do not add any fertilizers or anything other than Prime. My philosophy is set it up and leave it the F alone, adding a lot of stuff to the tank can cause a domino effect in my experience.
Tank Inhabitants and Plants, etc.
At the time of that picture, I had a group of 7 threadfin Heckelii, the pair of Geophagus Tapajos, ~30 black phantom tetras and 20 or so other kinds, I think 5 bristle nose plecos(?) as well as a big group of various corydoras. Now I have a group of 4 juvenile Altum angels, and the rest is still the same stocking-wise. I have manzanita wood, as well as Malaysian driftwood and some anubias in the tank. Growing out of the tank I have golden pothos, blue pothos, philodendron, monstera, and spider plants. The plants growing out the top have exploded and the vines run about 20' along my ceiling, and I have zero intention of cutting them anytime soon. Care is feeding once a day, twice occasionally, and that is about it. I feed a large variety of foods. I'm trying to think if there is anything else, but I am drawing a blank at the moment. I am more than happy to answer any other questions, and I am also including a more recent picture with the slight rescape in the tank and my new inhabitants.
Tank Setup and Basics
So this is a 6' 125 gallon. At the time of that picture I was running a Fluval FX6, and two Penn Plex cascade canisters (1500 and 1000 or something?). I had the standard media in the canisters (floss, ceramic rings, sponge filters). In the tank I also had a large sponge filter running, as well as a powerhead at the top of the opposite side of the tank from a canister spray-bar and one down at the surface to push detritus off the substrate. I have a changed a few things since then, the largest of which is my filtration. All my canisters failed within a short time span and I swapped them out for an eShopps RS-300 sump. In the sump I have filter socks, then a large K1 moving bed in a drilled bucket, then my return pump. Heaters are in the sump, and I removed all but one powerhead to see if my fish wanted a break from all that flow, which it turned out they did as my breeding pair of geos spawned again after a 6 month hiatus. I run two Kessil 350X lights as well, there is nothing better than that shimmer if you ask me
.Tank Maintenance and Water Details
Maintenance on this tank is super easy; I do a 50-75% water change every Saturday...and that's about it. Since my sump is 95% moving bed I have no need to mess with that, and because of all the plants I have growing out of the tank itself my water chemistry is in perfect homeostasis. I actually have not tested my water or the pH in sometime, but it is blackwater tank. I do not add any fertilizers or anything other than Prime. My philosophy is set it up and leave it the F alone, adding a lot of stuff to the tank can cause a domino effect in my experience.
Tank Inhabitants and Plants, etc.
At the time of that picture, I had a group of 7 threadfin Heckelii, the pair of Geophagus Tapajos, ~30 black phantom tetras and 20 or so other kinds, I think 5 bristle nose plecos(?) as well as a big group of various corydoras. Now I have a group of 4 juvenile Altum angels, and the rest is still the same stocking-wise. I have manzanita wood, as well as Malaysian driftwood and some anubias in the tank. Growing out of the tank I have golden pothos, blue pothos, philodendron, monstera, and spider plants. The plants growing out the top have exploded and the vines run about 20' along my ceiling, and I have zero intention of cutting them anytime soon. Care is feeding once a day, twice occasionally, and that is about it. I feed a large variety of foods. I'm trying to think if there is anything else, but I am drawing a blank at the moment. I am more than happy to answer any other questions, and I am also including a more recent picture with the slight rescape in the tank and my new inhabitants.
