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My 180g Native Stream Community Combo

Started by Guest_dafrimpster_* , Jan 10 2008 08:39 PM

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10 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_dafrimpster_*

Guests

Posted 10 January 2008 - 08:39 PM

I have just gotten underway with my semi divided stream and planted native tank. It is a 180g tank given to me by a good friend. I read about Nightwing making a half stream half planted 40g and I took inspiration from that and did it with this tank. I made an undergravel jet system from 3/4" pvc that spans about half of the tank. I have two maxijet 900 powerhead pushing the water from right to left. Each powerhead is rated for about 220 gph. I also have an old Fluval internal filter in the corner that is filled with Lava Rock for biological filtration. All three pumps are angled slightly towards the front of the tank. That coupled with the angled log in the center of the stream section make a nice circular flow clockwise.
The left side currently has a lot of wood and some pesky Java Moss that is on it's way out. I like it but it's not native and it's messy. If anybody wants a large portion of Java moss PM me it's yours for shipping. I plan to plant the left side in local aquatic plants. It's not a great time of year for that around here right now. So the left side won't change much until spring.
It is currently the home to two pairs of rainbow darters that I got from keepnatives, thanks again Mike. I want to get some more darters rainbow and otherwise for sure. I am also thinking maybe some rainbow shiners. Beyond that I need input and ideas. I also need to get a background put up there and I will probably use black garbage bags for that. I welcome any and all input. pics attached

Attached Files

small180FTS.jpg 38.47KB 1 downloads
smallNewDarters.jpg 9.75KB 1 downloads

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#2 Guest_tglassburner_*

Guests

Posted 10 January 2008 - 08:47 PM

Looks very nice.

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#3 Guest_Nightwing_*

Guests

Posted 10 January 2008 - 09:51 PM

Nice!
Can't wait to see how it fills out!
Man, I'd love a tank that size!!! Just can't afford it, and it would take up a lot of room..(although...it's just air, and a tank is a better use of the space!)

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#4 Guest_octavio_*

Guests

Posted 10 January 2008 - 10:01 PM

Looks very nice.

Good start looks nice,can't wait to see it finished. Have you considered painting the background with black paint. A sales clerk at a LFS told me that Home Depot sales the paint that is used for that. You might want to look into that. Wondering the names of your local aquatic plants that you will be using.

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#5 Guest_dafrimpster_*

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Posted 10 January 2008 - 11:20 PM

I was serious about the black garbage bags. I did that on my 65g saltwater tank and it looks good. Very inexpensive too. This big tank will be a bit more difficult but I think it will work. I would be afraid of painting. There are 5 other tanks and music equipment in the same room.

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#6 Guest_octavio_*

Guests

Posted 11 January 2008 - 12:50 AM

I was serious about the black garbage bags. I did that on my 65g saltwater tank and it looks good. Very inexpensive too. This big tank will be a bit more difficult but I think it will work. I would be afraid of painting. There are 5 other tanks and music equipment in the same room.

That's cool it was just a thought. I would like to see some pics of your tanks with the garbage bag background. I'm in the process of setting up a 210g tank and will have to do something about the background, looking for options on what to use.

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#7 Michael Wolfe

Board of Directors

North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 11 January 2008 - 11:07 AM

Another idea... use window film (like what guys use to black out their car windows) adheared to the back of the tank on the outside... I have never done it myself... but I have a 75 that I bought form a guy about 5 years ago, and he did it... described to me how, but I don't remember anything specific... he also did both sides... looks very nice and clean and has never seeemed to want to come off or anything.

That's cool it was just a thought. I would like to see some pics of your tanks with the garbage bag background. I'm in the process of setting up a 210g tank and will have to do something about the background, looking for options on what to use.

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

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#8 Guest_keepnatives_*

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Posted 12 January 2008 - 12:59 AM

I was serious about the black garbage bags. I did that on my 65g saltwater tank and it looks good. Very inexpensive too. This big tank will be a bit more difficult but I think it will work. I would be afraid of painting. There are 5 other tanks and music equipment in the same room.

That's an interesting thought. Do you hang it kinda of crumpled up so it looks like an uneven rock bank?

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#9 Guest_dafrimpster_*

Guests

Posted 12 January 2008 - 11:09 PM

I got the garbage bags "installed" on the 180. I took two large lawn and leaf bags to cover the back. They only taped at the top corners and little to no effort was put into stretching them tight. SInce they are taped to the rim of the tank they don't contact the back glass. All wrinkles and creases are left intact as they aren;t that noticable and I think it adds a little texture. My pics don't really capture the look very well. But it will only cost you a couple pennies to give it a try. I also have posted a pic below of 65g sw tank that has the garbage bag background. It is not noticalbe much due to the fact that I have never scraped the back glass but check it out anyway.
180 left side