A year and a half later, I have hauled the 29 gallon upstairs. I put the expanding foam on to glue the bark on the back. Then I put black silicone over all the spots where the foam showed through and covered that with coconut bedding. Then I let everything dry really well. I then dug out the old reptile hood and equipped it with 2 20 watt regular fluorescent lights and 2 25 watt screw in fluorescents that they sell everywhere now. Then I found 3 holey rocks in my flower bed and stacked them up. Next, I poured in 2 20lb bags of eco-complete for substrate. I finished this right about the time the mailman rang with the plants. So, I set up my magnum HOT filter and fashioned a tube with crudely cut holes to stream the water down the back, set up the hagen co2 thingy, filled with yeast etc, filled with water, turned everything on and got to planting. Next stop Walmart for 4 cherry barbs and 2 platys. I only see 2 cherry barbs and 1 platy today, so I may have casualties. I am hoping they are just hiding, but with Walmart fish it is always a gamble.
The plan is to allow the plants to get established, then add some plants in the back that will grow out the top of the water. At that point I will be ready to add the turtles. (Crush has a friend now named marshmallow). Still very small, so I am hoping they will be able to get along with the plants at least for a while. Crush has grown very slowly, so I am hopeful it will work for some time. I will keep you posted....hopefully it will not be another year and half!!
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I'll kick it off!
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