120 Gallon "Nature Style Aquascape" Project

[Jewlz]

October 26, 2010 Day 1
Our tank is delivered!

120 Gallon Tank 48 x 24 x 24
30 Gallon Wet/Dry Filter
125# of Sand
Rio 1400 Pump
Marineland 400watt Heater
Lighting T5HO (3 10,000K, 1 Actinic) with 8 LED Moonlights (on order)


http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x223/califjewls/120%20Gallon%20Tank/IMG_8341.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x223/califjewls/120%20Gallon%20Tank/IMG_8342.jpg

Filtration
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x223/califjewls/120%20Gallon%20Tank/IMG_8333.jpg

October 27, 2010 Day 2
The tank is now holding steady at 78 degrees. I added Nutrifin Cycle and 10 Diamond Tetras..

Cycle, Cycle, Cycle..

October 29, 2010 Day 4
Tested water and I'm showing ammonia levels of approx. .20..and our light fixture came in..

October 30, 2010 Day 5
I added some rock that I had left over from my African Cichlid tank. Building up the sand towards the back in certain areas. I'm sure I'll tweek it a bit..

The picture I have in my mind looks awesome, let's see if I can get close to my vision. My idea is to create a "Nature Style" aquascape with only 2-3 species of plants growing up and around the rockscape, and 1 floating species, very minimalistic.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x223/califjewls/120%20Gallon%20Tank/IMG_8403.jpg

November 1, 2010
I ordered 15 dwarf hairgrass plants (Eleocharis acicularis).

[RudeDogg1]

I could be wrong but im pretty sure that rock isnt suitable for discus because it buffers the water or something? Im sure one of the experianced chaps will chime in

[Second Hand Pat]

It looks to be limestone based rock and makes the water hard. Great for marine or african cichlids tanks. Love the tank, great dimensions.

[Jewlz]

The rock is Natural Lace Rock..anyone know the good the bad and the ugly on this type of rock?? I bought it at my local LFS. Can you suggest other types of rock that will give me the Nature Style I'm looking for that are safe for Discus also, if this lace rock is not so good?

[Jewlz]

These tanks are gorgeous and my inspiration for my Nature Style Aquascape..

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x223/califjewls/120%20Gallon%20Tank/5.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x223/califjewls/120%20Gallon%20Tank/2.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x223/califjewls/120%20Gallon%20Tank/20.jpg

Anyone know what type of rock is being used in these 3 aquariums?

[Second Hand Pat]

The rock is Natural Lace Rock..anyone know the good the bad and the ugly on this type of rock?? I bought it at my local LFS. Can you suggest other types of rock that will give me the Nature Style I'm looking for that are safe for Discus also, if this lace rock is not so good?

I did some googling on lace rock and there seem to be multiple sources. I would suggest that florida lace rock is limestone based but other sources list it as

"beautiful natural volcanic rock that has a lightly colored base to pastel colored lace that forms streaks of weathered minerals. Every piece we sell is safe for all aquarium systems and is 100% all natural and non-toxic. "

http://www.azgardens.com/p-755-aag-lace-rock.aspx

Beautiful aquariums you are using as a model.

[Jennie]

sure is beautiful and it's discus-less. those rocks are sharp and can injure a discus if they dart about, then leading to bacterial infections.

[Jewlz]

I did some googling on lace rock and there seem to be multiple sources. I would suggest that florida lace rock is limestone based but other sources list it as

"beautiful natural volcanic rock that has a lightly colored base to pastel colored lace that forms streaks of weathered minerals. Every piece we sell is safe for all aquarium systems and is 100% all natural and non-toxic. "

http://www.azgardens.com/p-755-aag-lace-rock.aspx

Beautiful aquariums you are using as a model.

Thank you Second Hand Pat, I had also googled it and found different descriptions, so it was a bit confusing.

Julie

[Jewlz]

sure is beautiful and it's discus-less. those rocks are sharp and can injure a discus if they dart about, then leading to bacterial infections.

DiscusLover, are you referring to the rock in my aquarium or the inspiration tanks?

[Herbicidal]

DiscusLover, are you referring to the rock in my aquarium or the inspiration tanks?Nice start Jewlz! Can't wait to see it develop! I believe he is referring to your rocks. They do look like they have some sharp sections to them.

[Darrell Ward]

sure is beautiful and it's discus-less. those rocks are sharp and can injure a discus if they dart about, then leading to bacterial infections.

Yep, discus are rather clumsy creatures, and can get scraped up on lace rock pretty easy.

[Jewlz]

I added a Hydor Koralia Evolution 750 to the right side of the tank. I needed more water movement in that corner.

I also added another bag of Chemi-Pure yesterday and woke up this morning and the tank was crystal clear!! Yay!

Diamond Tetras are happy, healthy, shiny, growing and eat like pigs!

The tank is still cycling away, I'm at the almost no ammonia stage, nitrites are present at .5..

Oh and I tossed in a moss ball I had in my 10 gallon that my Tanganyikan shell dwellers were burying with sand, I've had that moss ball for over 2 years, started from a wee baby moss ball! haha

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x223/califjewls/120%20Gallon%20Tank/IMG_8408.jpg

[Jewlz]

Today I planted some giant hairgrass and micro sword. I'm still waiting for my dwarf hairgrass..I'll be leaving the immediate foreground and the "path" alone.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x223/califjewls/120%20Gallon%20Tank/IMG_8411.jpg

[ZX10R]

That looks good wish I had skills like that. Anytime I try and do something with my tanks it ends up like trying to stick a square peg in a round hole. Just doesn't work :D

Great Job

[Eddie]

Nice tank! Be nice to see it with some nice adult discus in it.

Eddie

[fishorama]

It's coming along very nicely! I can't wait to see it with discus...

[Jennie]

looking good jewlz

[DiscusLoverJeff]

Nice looking start to what will be an awesome vision of yours coming to life Jewz!

Thanks for sharing the pictures of your progress.

[inmisawa]

Hey Jewlz, great set up! Are you located in SoCal?

[Tito]

Fake rocks would have been better. Most rocks do a good job at buffering up the water. Also - what kind of sand are you using? Is it pool filter sand?

[Harriett]

I could be wrong but im pretty sure that rock isnt suitable for discus because it buffers the water or something? Im sure one of the experianced chaps will chime in


Pat's advice is excellent and here is another tip:
To tell if the rock is going to leach out and harden your water: put the rock in a container with white vinegar--if it starts bubbling, skip it for the discus tank--if it doesn't bubble, it's probably inert and will be fine. WATCH OUT for sharp edges--discus will dart in nonsensible ways if they get paniced and can do plenty of preventable damage.

[Tito]

Pat's advice is excellent and here is another tip:
To tell if the rock is going to leach out and harden your water: put the rock in a container with white vinegar--if it starts bubbling, skip it for the discus tank--if it doesn't bubble, it's probably inert and will be fine. WATCH OUT for sharp edges--discus will dart in nonsensible ways if they get paniced and can do plenty of preventable damage.
+1 Excellent.

[ZX10R]

WATCH OUT for sharp edges--discus will dart in nonsensible ways if they get paniced and can do plenty of preventable damage.

This is so true. I just have a overflow box on my tank and the edges are square. Atleast once a week a fish will some how run into it and scratch there scales or get a cut. I am not happy about it maybe making a change soon.

[Jewlz]

Hey Jewlz, great set up! Are you located in SoCal?

Northern Cali inmisawa..

[Jewlz]

Fake rocks would have been better. Most rocks do a good job at buffering up the water. Also - what kind of sand are you using? Is it pool filter sand?
It's freshwater sand (can't remember the exact name, because LFS rinsed it all before delivering it, so no packaging), courser than pool filter sand I believe..

[2075turner]

Very nice tank you got going there. I love the diamentions of it...I'm sure your fish will as well. Good luck:)

[Tito]

It's freshwater sand (can't remember the exact name, because LFS rinsed it all before delivering it, so no packaging), courser than pool filter sand I believe..


Cool. It doesn't sound like it's aragonite. Should be inert.

Rocks with roundness to them would work better.

[dean9922]

Hi Jewlz

that is an awesome set up!!!!! Bet you can't wait to get some discus in there....great start.....

what kind of discus are you wanting for that tank????

[inmisawa]

Thanks Jewlz. I was going to ask where you got your aquarium, but that would be a bit of a drive!

[Jewlz]

Thanks everyone for your kind comments!


Hi Jewlz
what kind of discus are you wanting for that tank????

I'm not sure exactly what I want yet, I'll know it when I see it... I've made two decisions, #1 I'm buying from Kenny (he's only an hour from me!), and #2 I'm going with one strain, I think it looks stunning to have a group of discus all the same strain swimming around. :)

[roclement]

Great tank! I am goign with a 120gal for my next tank as well!

May I suggest Alenquer crosses from Kenny? They are domestic strains, grow huge, and have the wild look tha would fit in your natural set-up tank but without the potential troubles that can come with true wilds. Also go for adults as this is a large tank and also your first (is it?) Discus tank.

Great start and good luck with it!

Rodrigo

[scottthomas]

Great looking tank, cant wait to see it finished. BTW, you can easily just test your water to see if the rock is affecting the hardness or pH. It looks nice to me. I have heard that petrified wood does not alter pH and it looks cool. Thanks for sharing your project with us. You will be happy going with Kenny.

[Herbicidal]

#1 I'm buying from Kenny (he's only an hour from me!), and #2 I'm going with one strain, I think it looks stunning to have a group of discus all the same strain swimming around. :)I would like to get a couple from Kenny to round out my 'flock' too. I'm about two hours away from him up in Roseville. I agree with the single strain, however, I went with the variety pack. ;) Oh, have you considered getting some plants from this place: Albany aquarium (http://www.albanyaquarium.com/) in Albany (near Berkley)? I hear it rocks! I haven't been yet, but I plan to in the not too distant future.