Newbi Built Indy tank - 90x12x30 - Page 3

brp4e. · #21 08-20-2009, 02:50 PM

that way is bad... who ever told you that is a moron.

"The stress and physical harm caused by putting fish into an uncycled tank is cruel and unnecessary. you will be putting the fish under unnecessary stress which sharply increases the risk of poor health, disease, and death."

Boozled · #22 08-29-2009, 04:23 PM

I really like your tank and think it sucks that you are having trouble with the water! Hopefully you will get it figured out. Will you put something in the land area for the PDFs to climb on and to hide under? They are supposed to be pretty territorial and need to have some visual barrier from one another. Just thought I'd mention it. Good luck with it all!

daregone · #23 08-30-2009, 01:42 PM

I am trying to get my water in shape now.. I will be putting in more plants and I have some work and rocks to break up the the planted areas. Once everything grows in, I think there will be enought stuff to keep 2 darts happy.

Goanna · #24 08-30-2009, 04:06 PM

There is stuff that can instantly cycle your tank. It works extreamly well. It's called Bio-Spira. I used it on my 2 brackish tanks (I mixed the FW and SW versions) and I was able to throw fish in the next day and never had any losses!

The Freshwater version was actually re-branded by Tetra and is now called "SafeStart". It's kind of pricey compared to stuff like cycle, but it does work. Cycle is just dead bacteria that doesnt really speed things up at all. Safe Start and Bio-Spira are live bacteria colonies that cycle a tank in 24 hours.

Also, the guy who invented the Bio-Spira formula left Marineland and started his own company, you can also buy it under his brand, Dr. Tim's Aquatics, and it's called Dr. Tim's One and Only
http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/produc...ts.html#FW_One

Also, I had a question for you. What Epoxy did you use on the Foam? I have a couple cans of the Faux Stone spray paint, and it would be so much easier to spray a background with that and epoxy it then to try and do the silicone/coco fiber method!

froggsong · #25 08-31-2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdizzle10

that way is bad... who ever told you that is a moron.

"The stress and physical harm caused by putting fish into an uncycled tank is cruel and unnecessary. you will be putting the fish under unnecessary stress which sharply increases the risk of poor health, disease, and death."

tdizzle, this is innapropriate and inflamatory. In the future, please try to be a little more polite in your postings.

froggsong · #26 08-31-2009, 01:57 PM

Cycling a tank with a few small fish is an acceptable method of cycling a tank. I don't think I would call tetras hardy though. IME they are somewhat fragile and very sensitive to tank conditions. If you want to go with a fish cycle rather than a fishless cycle (using alot of the commercial bacteria supplements can actually add anaerobic bacteria to the tank, which is BAD. You want aerobic bacteria, which require oxygen to live and are unlikely to be found alive in a bottle for very long. Also, they must have something to "eat" to stay alive until you put them in your tank, so when you add them, you are most likely adding a capful of nitrates to the tank as well), throw in a small goldfish. They are hardy (as long as the one you purchase is healthy) and are pretty messy, so it should get your bacteria going pretty quickly. You could also try 3 or 4 common ("feeder" type) guppies. Both of those types of fish are inexpensive and pretty hardy.

I like your setup, it is very well done and you have some substantial artistic ability. Did you build the vine part yourself of did you buy that one?

I have never kept darts, however I have read so many times that they drown VERY easily in deep water. I would not recommend darts for this setup. Firebelly toads would love it, or maybe a lizard? Perhaps (if you can find some) a group of Japalura splendida (they are very wonderful, and would love your setup with only a couple of modifications, like climbing space). Some tropical geckos would also do nicely, with some climbing space and upward foliage, plus they would go well with the theme (much better than darts, IMO). One of the things that make the tank unsafe for darts is that you have alot of open water where they could easily get too far away from the branch and be unable to climb out. I think that your water also flows away from the land, is that correct? If so, they would have to fight the current to get back to the land. If you do decide to stay with darts, perhaps you could make a few magnetic "landings" or "islands" to place around the outside edges of the water to give them extra places to find safety if they get in the water. The magnetic landings are easy to make, or you can buy them. They simply use a magnet on the outside and one on the inside embedded in the landing to hold it together through the glass.

Please don't think we are trying to discourage you out of hand, we just want to keep you from potentially losing your herps.

Again, this is a wonderful setup, and I think that I may stick it, since it is so original. I don't think we've ever seen a themed tank that came out so well. I can't wait to see it grown in. I do have a suggestion, how about some vines that hang from the top, maybe climbing over the statues a bit? I think it would look less set up and more natural that way (though it does look great the way it is).

trayp · #27 09-03-2010, 01:59 AM

Aye daregone, I know it's been a while since anyone posted to this thread, buthow is your tank now??? i usually prefer "natural" looking setups, but yours is extremely unique and that water feature is (or was) awesome.

xixon · #28 09-05-2010, 02:25 PM

More photos of the advances in the construction .... please!! :-)
I am charmed with his idea....

Grimm · #29 09-05-2010, 02:40 PM

This is a pretty cool tank. Kinda wierd but kinda good :P

Maybe send Daregone a PM, usually people will get email notifications that they have new mail.

daregone · #30 09-07-2010, 03:55 AM

Hi everyone,

Sorry it has been sooooo long since I have posted. Unfortunately, i have moved recently. I never set the tank back up after I dismantled it following the water problems. However, now that I have moved and have started to settLe in, I plan on setting it back up. My current plan is still to thoroughly clean everything and re-coat all of the painted surfaces with epoxy.

Thanks for all of the good comments and advice. I hope to be able to post with pictures fairly soon.