[jobber]

THE NEW PLAYGROUND - South American Biotope

SETUP:
Tank: 33 gallon long (48x12x12)
Substrate: Estes Ultra Reef Black Sand
Filtration: Rena Filstar xP4
Filter Media: Seachem Matrix, Filtration pads
Lighting: Marineland Double Bright LED
Heater: Hydor ETH In-Line Heater 200w
pH Monitor: American Marine Pinpoint
Powerhead: Hydro Koralia 525

PARAMETERS:
pH = 6.5
Temp.: 26°C

FAUNA:
Corydora Panda
Corydora Pygmaeus
Lemon Tetra
L134 Peckoltia Compta "Leopard Frog"
L200 Hemiancistrus subviridis
Crenicara punctulata
Bristlenose Ancistrus
Otocinclus

Former residents:
L129 Hypancistrus Colombian Zebra
L201 Hypancistrus Inspector
L333 Hypancistrus sp. "Yellow King Tiger"
Apistogramma agassizii
Gold Balloon Ram
Black neon tetra
Cardinal tetra
Rummynose tetra
Skunk Corydoras
Corydoras Habrosus


FLORA:
Echinodorus Amazonicus
Hydrocotyle leucocephala "Brazilian Pennywort"
Vallisnera americana
Needleleaf Java Fern
Marimo Moss
Sagittaria subulata

FURNISHINGS:
Manzanita driftwood
Natural River Rocks

Additional CO2 Source:
Metricide

Dosing:
NPK Macro-nutrient mix
CSM+B Miconutrient mix
Jobe's Spikes
DIY Root Capsules

Seachem Prime
Seachem Equilibrium
Epsom Salt

Kent's Botonica Humic and Tanic Acid
Amy's Ketapang Almond Leaves
Almond Catappa Bark

Preview picture:

 

[Diztrbd1]

Been waiting for this lol nice start Ming, looking forward to seeing it develop

 

[2wheelsx2]

Waiting patiently for the pics...tap tap tap...

 

[fraggalrock]

Sweet set up!!!!

 

[Kanesska]

Nice!!! Can't wait to see it setup

 

[bowman00]

Yeah Im excited to see the photos. Im rescaping my 33 tank as we speak.

 

[Diztrbd1]

Waiting patiently for the pics...tap tap tap...

lol kinda like Ming was doing when you announced your big school & we had to wait all day to see the video

 

[jobber]

That's why I used Paint to draft the layout of the preview picture. Like watching movie trailers....can't you just feel the excitement building.

 

[Diztrbd1]

lol Ming I can say I'm pretty excited about seeing it, especially since I have to get rid of my 90 gal. project for now. Yours & Gary's tank projects are a couple good fixes to get me thru the winter till I can afford to do another 90 lol

 

[jobber]

Any new tank setup is expensive. Especially just before the holidays and going abroad next week. Luckily I don't buy presents...except for myself.

 

[BubBleBee]

Wow ming...you have put a lot of thought and effort behind your set up....so far it sounds amazing....can't wait to see it come along....

 

[jobber]

Thanks everybody for your compliments. If it wasn't for this forum and helpful and sincere members, I would just be having floating fishies and dying plants.
That's why I am paying it forward to other members.
Hard part right now is resisting to stock the tank with the schools of fish I have in mind.
Afraid to leave the tank without my attention for three weeks.

 

[jobber]

Wow. Not even two days into the new tank and we have panda eggs found where I left a modest size of java moss in one side of the tank. I've left my old light fixture on for the past 2 days to force plant photosynthesis to better adapt to the new tank and new sand substrate. I've also added some root tabs for the swords, apo. nanta, and crypts. The 10 or so pygmies are shoaling very nicely. Resisting the urge momentarily to stockpile the tank with more schools. Still a work-in-progress.

Pictures will be up...after I finish my assignment

 

[2wheelsx2]

Nice. Guess they're liking their new home.

 

[jobber]

From the tank's old home...

Here we go with the pics.

We'll start of with showcasing the tank at it's previous primary residence

Housing an Eheim and Rena canister filters, with a bottle of metricide:

 

[Jonnymoss]

looking forward to seeing this progress!

 

[jobber]

....to the tank's new home.

I should have taken some pictures of the tank getting moved and fitting it into my good ol'Honda.

The tank in it's new home in Vancouver:

Let's open up the hood to see what's being housed inside:

if you're wondering what's in the bucket. it's the plants and fish from the old 10 gallon tank. Kind of sad to see the lotus' and galaxy rasboras gone, but I know they've gone to a good home:

 

[tang daddy]

Hey Ming looks like a nice tank to start off with, although you aren't planning on putting stem plants in are you? Bucket looks like there is some!

 

[jobber]

No stemmed plants for me except swords, anubias petites, sags, nantas, stargrass, crypts, and the "other special one" that I hope to get my hands on. The plants you see in the big bucket have all gone to a good home.

 

[BubBleBee]

Luv the pics....Now I want a long.....hmmmmm can never be content with what I have...it's gotta be bigger....love the stand...where did u get that???? How much....if u don't mind my asking.