[2wheelsx2]

Well, I guess a few people called it right. It wasn't long after the cube was finished that I got the itch to start something else. Here's a sneak preview:

So far, all inhabitants are from Canadian Aquatics, so can guess what they are. I do have some stray cherry shrimp from one of my other tanks in there, so let's see if they make it in there. This tank will eventually replace my 20 gallon as the pleco tank for Peckoltia compta when they get a bit bigger.

Thanks to April (from Francis actually) for the Manzy stump, Northwest Landscaping for the rocks, J&L for the white sand (leftovers from the cube), Daniel (target) for the tank, stand, and the Fluval 3+.

This tank will be evolving as I have plans for it as the inhabitants grow. There are currently only 6 fish it.

Stayed tuned.

 

[Diztrbd1]

Wow Gary, nice choice of tanks & it looks great. Look forward to seeing it's progress!

 

[2wheelsx2]

Wow Gary, nice choice of tanks & it looks great. Look forward to seeing it's progress!

Thanks John. I love the tank but it's tough to photograph. I have a number of upgrades planned for this but it'll happen over time. I just wanted to get the journal going to document the evolution.

 

[discuspaul]

Gary, it's amazing that you keep wanting to out-do yourself. I love it. But of course, it looks great & will no doubt be a super addition to your set of tanks when you get it done the way you want. More plecos of course ?
Do you feel like sharing 'the plans' yet ?

 

[tony1928]

As usual, being "finished" with one project simply means the beginning of the next project. To me, this part of the process provides me with the most fun. Good luck with this one!

 

[2wheelsx2]

Gary, it's amazing that you keep wanting to out-do yourself. I love it. But of course, it looks great & will no doubt be a super addition to your set of tanks when you get it done the way you want. More plecos of course ?
Do you feel like sharing 'the plans' yet ?

Thanks Paul. Sure, it's not really a secret. This is my Peckoltia compta breeding project. I'm going to put in the ones I got from Larry on SimplyDiscus and probably add some from Davej when the time comes. There are a few other fish in there now, like an L75 growing out and 4 of these (L368).

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rlj8IO4cUq0/TiOK5yKexzI/AAAAAAAADTA/uQ3MM5etiaM/s800/DSC_3092.JPG

This tank is going to be dimly lit, unplanted, with a sand substrated, and hardscaped with rocks and wood. I will be adding some smaller stones and more wood as time goes on. The filtration and heating I have on there is just whatever I had on hand at the moment so will also change. Probably canister with an inline heater. Will likely go with a controller of some sort too.

As usual, being "finished" with one project simply means the beginning of the next project. To me, this part of the process provides me with the most fun. Good luck with this one!

I think that's what drove me to do this one. I never really got the pleco only tank I wanted and this is going to be it. Might add some dither fish on top, but has to be small to sustain the RCS population as a cleanup crew.

 

[charles]

you need another Blue eye panaque in there.

 

[Luke78]

What a great start,all natural and real! Good layout so far, a few more leaves,stones or rocks, and more caves i assume are next? Did you raid my draft/sketch book ? this is very close to what i was gonna do with my next project! Keep us posted and thanks for sharing! ****runs off to draw up new plans***!

Well, I guess a few people called it right. It wasn't long after the cube was finished that I got the itch to start something else. Here's a sneak preview:

So far, all inhabitants are from Canadian Aquatics, so can guess what they are. I do have some stray cherry shrimp from one of my other tanks in there, so let's see if they make it in there. This tank will eventually replace my 20 gallon as the pleco tank for Peckoltia compta when they get a bit bigger.

Thanks to April (from Francis actually) for the Manzy stump, Northwest Landscaping for the rocks, J&L for the white sand (leftovers from the cube), Daniel (target) for the tank, stand, and the Fluval 3+.

This tank will be evolving as I have plans for it as the inhabitants grow. There are currently only 6 fish it.

Stayed tuned.

 

[2wheelsx2]

you need another Blue eye panaque in there.

Haha, been there done that. This tank is going to be all meat eaters except maybe a BNP or 2. Now, if you got some L264 or Leporacanthicus heterodon, then let's talk.

What a great start,all natural and real! Good layout so far, a few more leaves,stones or rocks, and more caves i assume are next? Did you raid my draft/sketch book ? this is very close to what i was gonna do with my next project! Keep us posted and thanks for sharing! ****runs off to draw up new plans***!

I don't think there's going to be more rocks. The rocks are just haphazardly placed to keep the wood sunk. I'll be adding more leaves, and placing the rocks properly once the wood stays down. I'll also add more wood and sand. There will be some hidden caves in there also.

This tank is not going to get too fancy. I'm just trying to simulate a biotope without making it cosmetically perfect. I won't have a background. It won't have much substrate, but will have lots of flow and there will be all kinds of equipment visible in it. I just want it to have the right environment to breed some P. compta and maybe one other species.

 

[tang daddy]

Cool Gary, a new pleco shrimp set up!!

Did I hear you say a controller??

 

[2wheelsx2]

Yeah, just a simple DA controller. I have one on the cube in case you missed it. I don't trust heater temp controllers anymore and run controllers on my 2 main tanks (Ranco and DA). I'll like run a DA to control the heater and lights on this tank and maybe even a moonlight module.

 

[jobber]

Nice new toy. Fooled me at first looking at it as it appeared to also be a 'scape for zebras . Look forward to seeing picks of the new inhabitants.

 

[2wheelsx2]

Nice new toy. Fooled me at first looking at it as it appeared to also be a 'scape for zebras . Look forward to seeing picks of the new inhabitants.

Haha thanks. I am trying for a Rio Xingu look so if it looks like it's for Zebras, it's by design.

 

[eternity302]

wow! nice =) more and more tanks for u~

 

[2wheelsx2]

wow! nice =) more and more tanks for u~

Yes and no. I'm supposed to take down the 20 gallon and also a 3.5 gal Eclipse that's been hanging around, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

[Luke78]

Yeah those links posted by a few of us in Tom's post for L46's are worth a look for anyone trying to simulate a Rio Xingu biotype.But it doesnt only apply to zebras and can be used for other plecos.Plenty of water movement,lots of caves and hideout spots,rock or stone work is a must.Substrate should be a nice fine sand.

Haha thanks. I am trying for a Rio Xingu look so if it looks like it's for Zebras, it's by design.

 

[2wheelsx2]

Changed a few things today. Convenience safety and peace of mind.

Added:
Ebo Jage 250w heater - this replaced the old visitherm
Coralife Turbotwist 3x driven by Maxijet 400
Hydor Koralia Evo 750
L134 growouts from 20 gallon quarantine (the 6 I got from Larrry from SimplyDiscus)

The scape is semi-permanent now. Still to go is a bag of 5 lbs of beige Estes sand, and more wood and rocks.

So currently stocking is:
6xL134
4xL368
2xL075
Bunch of random cherry shrimp as cleanup crew. Temp has been jacked up to 84 F.

Pics to come as fish settle in.

 

[Diztrbd1]

Looking forward to more pix Good choice getting rid of the visitherm, starting to find they are very unreliable myself.

 

[2wheelsx2]

Looking forward to more pix Good choice getting rid of the visitherm, starting to find they are very unreliable myself.

I don't even trust the controllers on the Ebos. I'll be getting a DA controller to run everything in this tank soon.

 

[komodoking]

Very nice looking tank u got there.