So, with some poking from the wonderful Chesh, I have started a "journal" thread about my newest tank: a 36"X12"X20" 35 gallon tank. It was a hand-me-down, starting with River Crossing - an environmental charter school I attended years ago - which then passed on to a close friend, and now on to me. I knew from the start I wanted it to be a frog tank, and set up as an NPT. Only problem was, how to start?
Originally I wanted it to be a soil substrate with a sand cap, but after doing a lot of reading, that didn't seem to be the ideal direction for a relatively new fish keeper (1 year isn't a whole lot of time!) so I went and bought myself a 20lb bag of the black sand from Petco, as it was my only good, dark, sand available. I threw it, and a few rocks, in and started planting... So far, there's only about 8" of water in it, but it will do for now since the only inhabitants are my frogs. I will be getting more plants come Thursday/Friday, and will also be adding a fair number of fish to this tank. I also have some AMAZING driftwood coming in the mail. Can't wait to add it!
At the moment, I'm using a spare light from one of my decommissioned tanks. The tank itself didn't come with a hood, just a light, so I had to improvise. I got the 40 breeder hood from Petco, since it was the only one big enough, but it was too wide. So... it hangs over a bit. The light is actually still with the friend who gave me the tank, so it may never return to the tank. Once I know exactly what kind of light to get for the tank, I will be tracking the right one down and using that instead.
Work in Progress stocking list to follow. I don't know much about a lot of these species, so this tank is very much an experiment, but I'm excited!
Fishes/Animals
1 (or 2??) bristlenose Plecos
3 ADF
5 (or 6) Amano Shrimp
20 Cherry Shrimp
?? Julii cories
?? Neon/Cardinal Tetras
Plants
Watersprite
Willow Hygro w/ roots
Temple Plant
Rotala Inclinata stems
Needle Leaf Elodea stems
Alt. Reinekii stems
Amazon Sword
Crypt, various kinds
Water Lily (the kind grown from bulbs purchased at Petco)
Wysteria
Azolla
Duckweed
Salvinia
Asian Water Grass
Anubias, various kinds
(will probably be adding: more crypt, Kleiner bar Sword, and Ludwigia)
*wishing I had Chesh's photo skillz*
Originally I wanted it to be a soil substrate with a sand cap, but after doing a lot of reading, that didn't seem to be the ideal direction for a relatively new fish keeper (1 year isn't a whole lot of time!) so I went and bought myself a 20lb bag of the black sand from Petco, as it was my only good, dark, sand available. I threw it, and a few rocks, in and started planting... So far, there's only about 8" of water in it, but it will do for now since the only inhabitants are my frogs. I will be getting more plants come Thursday/Friday, and will also be adding a fair number of fish to this tank. I also have some AMAZING driftwood coming in the mail. Can't wait to add it!
At the moment, I'm using a spare light from one of my decommissioned tanks. The tank itself didn't come with a hood, just a light, so I had to improvise. I got the 40 breeder hood from Petco, since it was the only one big enough, but it was too wide. So... it hangs over a bit. The light is actually still with the friend who gave me the tank, so it may never return to the tank. Once I know exactly what kind of light to get for the tank, I will be tracking the right one down and using that instead.
Work in Progress stocking list to follow. I don't know much about a lot of these species, so this tank is very much an experiment, but I'm excited!
Fishes/Animals
1 (or 2??) bristlenose Plecos
3 ADF
5 (or 6) Amano Shrimp
20 Cherry Shrimp
?? Julii cories
?? Neon/Cardinal Tetras
Plants
Watersprite
Willow Hygro w/ roots
Temple Plant
Rotala Inclinata stems
Needle Leaf Elodea stems
Alt. Reinekii stems
Amazon Sword
Crypt, various kinds
Water Lily (the kind grown from bulbs purchased at Petco)
Wysteria
Azolla
Duckweed
Salvinia
Asian Water Grass
Anubias, various kinds
(will probably be adding: more crypt, Kleiner bar Sword, and Ludwigia)
*wishing I had Chesh's photo skillz*