Its finally completed!! 80 Gallon

[nortexsterling]

Well as of right now the tank is fully stocked. 80 gallon running 400 on the back, cascade 1000 canister, UGF, UV filtration. Black Gravel substrate, texas holey rock, drift wood, anubias nana x3, java fern. Also changed up the structure layout and they seem to like it much better. Made 3 separate structures instead of one long continuous mass from one side of the tank to the other. I also set up the return for the cascade 1000 to push the water long ways across the thank. You can see in the last picture.

5 acei 2m3fm, 2 adult labs female 3 juvie yellow labs, Mbamba 1m3fm.. and 3 other very small juveniles 1 inch and less whom will be transferred to a new tank in the near future... attached are some updated pictures.

I am really looking forward to my Male Mbamba start to really show his colors. He flares up from time to time and he colors are very sharp, defined and really light in color.. Other times he is dull almost black..

Let me know whatcha think!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5469375231_26ca840764_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5469968882_ef1cf96e54_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5172/5469375691_f1671e5087_b.jpg

[glostik]

very nice color contrast - but im not a big fan of the blue lighting

[nortexsterling]

Its really not blue i took the pictures with my phone and it washed out the picture that way.. It is actually crystal clear with sharp bright white light. I dont know why my phone does that... >.<

[AndrewH]

That is one stunning display!

Very impressive. Think the triple instead of the long single was definitely the way to go. Orange plant in the center and red on the right really give good focal points. And background really ties in very well. The driftwood with large holey rock pieces really make a good contrast. Very pleasing to look at. Looks very soothing and tranquil.

You should be very proud! :clap:

[nortexsterling]

That is one stunning display!

Very impressive. Think the triple instead of the long single was definitely the way to go. Orange plant in the center and red on the right really give good focal points. And background really ties in very well. The driftwood with large holey rock pieces really make a good contrast. Very pleasing to look at. Looks very soothing and tranquil.

You should be very proud! :clap:

Its drives my finance crazy.. (Im sure she secretly loves it) I sit infront of the aquarium now instead of the TV with her.. haha

[Flapjack]

Looks great!

[T-Angel]

Stunning, I really like the color combinations !

[AndrewH]

Its drives my finance crazy.. (Im sure she secretly loves it) I sit infront of the aquarium now instead of the TV with her.. haha

My gf and I love our tanks. She has a seamless 40 gallon planted angle display about 2' from her side of the bed. And my 20 gallon planted sits at the foot of our bed under our TV. We don't watch TV much surprisingly :p:


Stunning, I really like the color combinations !
x 2 :hehe:

[nortexsterling]

Im trying with planting the anubias and Java directly in the holey parts of the hole rock.. So far it seems to be working wonderfully.. (Has anyone tried this??)

nortexsterling added 1 Minutes and 55 Seconds later...

My gf and I love our tanks. She has a seamless 40 gallon planted angle display about 2' from her side of the bed. And my 20 gallon planted sits at the foot of our bed under our TV. We don't watch TV much surprisingly :p:



x 2 :hehe:


She has already gave me the OK for another aquarium which is her way of saying she likes it.. Im thinking either 55 gallon 4ft tank.. or 100 gallon 5 foot....

[AndrewH]

If you can get by with it, you won't regret a bigger tank.

What are you looking to keep? 48" typically have better lighting options if that is a concern. They also make 75 gallon, 90 gallon, 120 gallon, 150 and 180 gallon 4' tanks in case you didn't know.

And welcome to the site, by the way.

[FisHobbyist]

stunning set up! great contrast! love what you've done with the plants and everything. great job!

[guppyfreak2]

looks great

[Erniec]

Nice looking tank

[nortexsterling]

If you can get by with it, you won't regret a bigger tank.

What are you looking to keep? 48" typically have better lighting options if that is a concern. They also make 75 gallon, 90 gallon, 120 gallon, 150 and 180 gallon 4' tanks in case you didn't know.

And welcome to the site, by the way.

I was thinking if I get another 48" tank I might as well go with a 55 gallon (roughly same look as my 80 gallon just less space).. Or go for a longer tank maybe 60inches.... I just dont know if I have the space for a pool in my living room. In addition I am also unsure as to what weight restrictions I have in my apartment. 80 gallon and a 100+ gallon on 2nd floor could get interesting real fast.. LOL

[scooter]

It looks fantastic! Nicely done all the way around :exactly:

Now, when do you want to make a deal on a male Acei? :poke:

[Mwil3]

I'm not usually a fan of the fake plants, but I really like your setup. Looking good.

[nortexsterling]

I'm not usually a fan of the fake plants, but I really like your setup. Looking good.

I have a mixture of fake and real. It seems to work nicely.. However I see myself planting several more anubias/java fern.. Its just hard to find plants with color that cichlids wont demolish..

It looks fantastic! Nicely done all the way around :exactly:

Now, when do you want to make a deal on a male Acei? :poke:

I know i know.. I am actually starting to think the 2 smaller ones I have may also be male.. Sigh.. Only one of my larger ones is male.. I need to get some good detailed pictures of each of them and post them..
2 are approx 2inches and 3 of them are between 3.5-4.5 inches.. My female is the largest...

[AndrewH]

I was thinking if I get another 48" tank I might as well go with a 55 gallon (roughly same look as my 80 gallon just less space).. Or go for a longer tank maybe 60inches.... I just dont know if I have the space for a pool in my living room. In addition I am also unsure as to what weight restrictions I have in my apartment. 80 gallon and a 100+ gallon on 2nd floor could get interesting real fast.. LOL

Depending on the apartments, 100+ shouldn't be a problem if you plan (place near exterior wall, perpendicular to the floor joists, etc.). It's been done before, but then again if you're in an older complex... :D.

55 Might be the way to go.

I have a mixture of fake and real. It seems to work nicely.. However I see myself planting several more anubias/java fern.. Its just hard to find plants with color that cichlids wont demolish..

Exactly! Definitely adds a little extra to have some real plants in with colorful fakes.

Do you have problems with debris building up on the fake ones?

[scooter]

I know i know.. I am actually starting to think the 2 smaller ones I have may also be male.. Sigh.. Only one of my larger ones is male.. I need to get some good detailed pictures of each of them and post them..
2 are approx 2inches and 3 of them are between 3.5-4.5 inches.. My female is the largest...

No rush on it, I was just harrassing you :poke:(for some reason I really like that graphic) Just let me know whenever you get around to figuring out exaclty what you have and when you might be ready to rehome one. I appreciate it :D

[nortexsterling]

Do you have problems with debris building up on the fake ones?

Not to bad.. so long as i do not over feed them (which I struggle with because I just love to watch these guys eat!) when i vacuum the tank I will clean them off.. I usually vacuum 30% of the tank at a time as to not disturb the bioload to much.

nortexsterling added 2 Minutes and 24 Seconds later...

No rush on it, I was just harrassing you :poke:(for some reason I really like that graphic) Just let me know whenever you get around to figuring out exaclty what you have and when you might be ready to rehome one. I appreciate it :D


How big does he need to be? You got a big female right?

[fishworld]

wow, awesome. I love it.

[chuckles1299]

I like trying to get live plants growing in my cichlid tank as well, I will try the anubias.

[nortexsterling]

I like trying to get live plants growing in my cichlid tank as well, I will try the anubias.


Anubias Nana do really well! anubias barteri is also very popular in cichlid set ups. very similar in appearance. I have also had good luck with Java Fern. Both DO NOT like to have their roots buried in substrate. Tie them to rocks or drift wood using a small piece of string:D

[freddy1*]

Very nice looking tank there. Love the contrast.