A planted tank thats possibly an industry first. [Archive]

Gbbudd

01-07-2009, 10:42 PM

This is my second planted tank, i had others ask to see my other tanks that i had. That there had to be others do to " no knob could create such a tank on there first try" So heres my second attemp. the tank is placed off the wall and i made a water proof shelf basicaly on three sides where all the water from the Water fall, waters all the plants and drains into the fish tank. I never have to water any of the plants above the water level of the tank. Lace rock was used to create the falls and the water is allowed to run anywhere it wants. i know for troical it's lace rock is not recomended but it has not created any issues for me. I aways wanted to place some sort of life around the falls but didn't want to have to feed crickets or meal worms to any of all the standard terestrial creatures kept in padariums. SO and this maybe a first i have two orange cheeked finches. It was just what was lacking and yes there dropings end up in the tank. but with the EHIEM PRO 3 the filter is for tanks up to 350 gallons if my memory is correct. And this tank is only 92 gallons so the birds waste is just some more bio load for the tank as well as the falls act as a anerobic algea scrubber / filter.
Fish
6 Agoo boos, 4 embra tetras, SAE, false SAE, 3 golden pelco. 8 red nose rummies, 12 amano shrimp, 4 kohli loaches, 12 galaxy rasboras

Plants/Invertebrates
dwarf sagatarius, sagatarius,riccia both types" one floats the other does not. wisteria, brown crypt, pellia, foxtail.rotala indica. fisden, the plant in the water fall are common house plants here in america. Sorry i do not know there names but one plant is a bonsai i never water any of the plants the water fall does all that for me.

Filtration
Ehiem Pro 3 and two other ehiems for co2 injection and another for the water fall but only one of the second ehiems has any filter media.

Lighting
2 Aqua Medic metal halide with ADA 8000 standard 150 watt for 300 watts
and one quartz halogen 150 watt that ilumintes the water fall.

Substrate
Cable heater / with 1/2" of laterite and between 3 to 6" of florite

Decor
Yet another tree stump found in the woods here in Ct but this time it's not a hard wood. Again im trying whats not recomended the stump is ceder. i did not boil it i do weekly water changes of 40 to 50 gallons . i do not add any water conditioners or salts. i have a seventy gallon sump in the basement below the main tank where i simply age my replacement water. I have a light switch next to the main tank where after i drain the water from the tank for a water change by means of a siphone hose that dumps out the window. I throw the switch and the water is brough up from the basement and water change is complete. takes me no more then 5 minutes. unless prunning is required.

ok i guess thats a good start for now,if theres any questions feel free to ask.

First tank can be found here
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110988

bettalover

01-07-2009, 10:46 PM

omg. that is amazing. sell it to me now!

DAVIDFBT

01-07-2009, 10:47 PM

I love the waterfall with the plants growing all over it!

sed03f

01-07-2009, 10:48 PM

sweet, all I can say

Born4spd

01-07-2009, 10:49 PM

Nice finch :D

sed03f

01-07-2009, 10:52 PM

That is a pretty finch, you should have more kuhlis, it would be like winning the lotto for them

Gbbudd

01-07-2009, 10:59 PM

I could probably have 50 kuhlis loaches in the tank and see one maybe once a day. they rarely come up out of the forground lawn. it's anywhere from 1 1/2" tall in the front to about 3- 4 inches tall in the back. I keep them to help maintain any snail spawnings. And to get any food that makes it to the bottom of the tank.

Nolapete

01-07-2009, 11:00 PM

Do you plant the plants as full as they are or have they grown in?

I guess getting an amazing planted tank takes stuffing it to the rim with plants right from the start.

petluvr

01-07-2009, 11:04 PM

Amazing:) I have though of this but wondered how do you feed the birds? Don't the seed end up in the water?

Gbbudd

01-07-2009, 11:06 PM

Do you plant the plants as full as they are or have they grown in?

I guess getting an amazing planted tank takes stuffing it to the rim with plants right from the start.

If you look at how most plant there tanks a little here of one plant a little there of another, no thats not how i planted my tank i purchased 5 dwarf sag to plant up the bottom of the tank and it didn't go far it took about 4 months for it to create a nice carpet. But i screwed up one day when i turned on the replacement water pump it blasted a piece of riccia that got blow into the dwarf sag. A nd in only two months the riccia has completely grown in to what you see above i prefered the dwarf sag but i have let this tank go where it may. Some times the best success is due to a mistake.

Gbbudd

01-07-2009, 11:08 PM

Amazing:) I have though of this but wondered how do you feed the birds? Don't the seed end up in the water?
yes the seed there waste all ends up in the water. I would rather has organics decaying in my tank then to add ferts for plant growth some plants may not survive in a non fert tank but it's looking ok for lacking .

JohnEX

01-08-2009, 2:34 PM

that is awesome! we need more pics!

rich311k

01-08-2009, 3:00 PM

That is an awesome tank!

saltydunc

01-08-2009, 3:58 PM

very nice tank indeed...love this set up!

BELLUM

01-08-2009, 3:59 PM

That tank is horrible..............But being the nice guy that i am i will take it off your hands for free. Oh and i will let you drop it off at my house too.

I am just kidding. One of the most beautifully tanks i have ever seen. Amazing Work.

Aaron89

01-08-2009, 4:13 PM

amazing to be honest. i wish you showed some pics of how u started the aquacage.

keep it going strong and yeh dont use fert etc let it do its natural stuff and all should be good and strong. Get some more pics when you can please?

do the birds fly free in the room?

i have had more success use tap water dechlorinated and running two filters (internal and external) that i did wuth RO water and a water change every week.

excuzzzeme

01-08-2009, 5:22 PM

Beautiful! I love the bird!

jm1212

01-08-2009, 5:30 PM

:bowing:

your tank is amazing...

you should sonzider adding a canry or some zebra finches to the top, and some more fish for the bottom.

Inka4040

01-08-2009, 5:35 PM

Another one of my all time favorite tanks on AC. Incredibly done!!

lilim10

01-08-2009, 6:39 PM

:omg: That's amazing!

bushwhacker

01-08-2009, 6:51 PM

absolutly gorgeous, thanks for shareing that tank

Emerica88

01-08-2009, 8:31 PM

that is awesome! we need more pics!
Agreed we need more pictures.

Ezekielz

01-09-2009, 3:16 AM

Im coming over to swim in that as of now!!

FISHSHROD

01-09-2009, 7:44 AM

nice

wetwillyjoe69

01-09-2009, 8:03 AM

awesome tank. great shots. want to build another one in my living room?

StarStruck8

01-09-2009, 10:08 AM

This is one of the most amazing tanks I have ever seen! :jaw:

dog_gone07

01-09-2009, 10:17 AM

amazing to be honest. i wish you showed some pics of how u started the aquacage.

Definately would like to see that, too! It looks like a lot of hard work went into that. Beautiful job!

derekp

01-09-2009, 10:27 AM

Very nice. I like it alot. I had to look at it quite a few times.

Gbbudd

01-09-2009, 10:50 AM

awesome tank. great shots. want to build another one in my living room?

Actually I'm starting my own set up business. "Next step aquatics" I had a reef tank before switching to planted and the colors of a reef were always toward purple, or blue with the attinics. Well i don't know about your home but Blues and purples don't go with the deco re of my living room. My now set up not only color wise blends with the room it compliments it as much as the most beautiful entertainment centers or fireplaces. Between the fish swimming peacefully to the gentle sound of the water fall, and the slight peeps from the finches. Its like living at the most beautiful place you ever found in nature, all while sitting in your lazy boy. Any stress just levels right out.
My next project is going to be a 380 gallon, but it's going to be a while yet. I'm working on a few ideas that should be interesting. Stocking up and searching for just the right supplies. I have not shown how it is all put together for a reason. Yes the largest compliment is for others to copy your work but I enjoy immensely creating a little slice of nature even if it may end up at someones Else's home or business. I have been a builder / superintendent all my life I love working outdoors and bring a little of the out doors indoors what could be better.

justahannah

01-09-2009, 11:22 AM

That is awesome. I would keep gouldian finches in something like that... I'm so jealous.

euglossa

01-09-2009, 3:26 PM

stunning!

Slappy*McFish

01-09-2009, 5:49 PM

I love it!

Coler

01-09-2009, 7:15 PM

Wonderful tank

Rbishop

01-10-2009, 5:51 AM

Terrific tank!

Que

01-10-2009, 8:18 AM

Gbbudd

01-10-2009, 8:54 AM

A fascinating tank and an incredible job.You have the means, the skills and the eye. Did you find that tree trunk or did you purchase it? How long did you plan out this tank before assembling it? How many hours did it take to put it together.

Q

The tree trunk was found in the woods a tree which had been blown over some years ago. Though it maybe be ceder it has had time to dry out a bit.

The tank has evolved over the years. It started when the tank was in a sunken living room and looking at the tank from the room above the tank looked very lost. Theres been two versions of the water proof shelf for the falls. the one that is set up now has been running for just over a year.
It took 2 days to break down the old setup make the new shelf. Clean out the tank, and replant. So in the initial setup time it was a lot of work. As far as day to day demands i do very little to the tank but maybe feed the fish once a day or once every other day. A 50% water change every week and do some trimming which i doubt i spend more then a half hour a week on. Thus far the bird droppings haven't required much attention i thought for sure I'd have to clean up the dropping from time to time but thus far other then where they sleep. the rest of the falls are pretty much dropping free to any large extent. I guess they like to target the tank, i know the fish seem to enjoy it.

Dwarf Puffers

01-10-2009, 9:03 AM

Awesome. Where are you getting the terrestrial plants?

Gbbudd

01-10-2009, 9:08 AM

All the plants above the water level came from the local nursery, heck i think two of them even came from Lowe's.

the aquatics are from the LFS with the exception of Riccia can't remember where i got that i have had it for about three years or so .

Ace25

01-10-2009, 2:30 PM

It's only the beginning of January and we have already found the tank of the year. Absolutely stunning! When I saw in the title "industry first" I was very skeptical of some gimmick, but what you designed you nailed it! Wish you all the success with your business adventures.

Gbbudd

01-10-2009, 6:48 PM

nx2ured

01-10-2009, 7:18 PM

Beautiful!

Gbbudd

01-11-2009, 11:17 PM

Thank you for the kind replies,

Came across a school of black neon teras and thought they were just what the DR orderd so i add a few and removed some of the misc fish i had in the tank.

whats left is the
galaxy rasbors
ember tetras
sae
false sae
kohli loaches
a corry cat
rummie nose
golden pelco
goo-oboos
black neons

Mindcrime121

01-12-2009, 5:39 AM

The black neons look great in there. Amazing setup overall. If I had a corner to put a large tank in, I'd try something like this in a heart beat, but not sure how the 3 sides would look against a flat wall. Also, how does the shelf atop the tank connect to avoid leaks from the waterfall, and how did you blend the scenes between subsurface and above to avoid the top of the tank being a visible division? Some more technical info on how you did this would be greatly appriciated if you don't mind sharing. Could you please post some shots from further back, showing how it looks as a whole unit, in place? I LOVE the divided shots, but I'd really like to look at the big picture (pardon the pun) to get some ideas. :) Amazing work.

Bubbles2112

01-12-2009, 7:29 AM

A stunning tank for sure!! I looks great and combines the things I like most: birds and fish!! The Black neon tetras are a great addition and work very nicely in your little world. :thm::thm:

pebble

01-12-2009, 5:20 PM

awesome setup. the grass plants, are they microswords?

evelyn80

01-12-2009, 5:50 PM

WOWWEEEE!!! thats a tank! wat i wouldnt give have something half as nice as that!

Gbbudd

01-13-2009, 3:51 AM

awesome setup. the grass plants, are they microswords?

Yes it is originaly it was planed to be a accent but the more it grew in and when i trimmed it down it became like a carpet. "what we all strive for" so i alowed it to go with no regrets. Like i stated earlier when the riccia mixed in, it was kidda a bummer but the micro is still growing slowly underneath but i have to keep the riccia thin and keep pulling it out.

chefjamesscott

01-13-2009, 5:29 AM

Thank you ace, i guess i didn't think how that looked as far as industry first. I have never seen Birds kept with a paldarium/ vivarium, or what ever i have made. We just love the birds if they were canaries or some thing else the wife would have put her foot down from day one, but these little guys don't make allot of noise and the volumeis soft peeps.

trully i love the spirit of your tank where you make mention of doubters saying you could not have done such a work on your first tank

one thing im sorta sick of is experts saying things cant be done despite the finished product showing otherwise

kudos on the killer tank when i do my indoor greenspace this summer yours is along the lines of the pond greenhouse im doing for my birds to live in except the fish in my pond will eat my birds if they get to close :devil:

truly a VERY KILLER SET UP

Gbbudd

01-13-2009, 6:11 AM

trully i love the spirit of your tank where you make mention of doubters saying you could not have done such a work on your first tank

one thing im sorta sick of is experts saying things cant be done despite the finished product showing otherwise

kudos on the killer tank when i do my indoor greenspace this summer yours is along the lines of the pond greenhouse im doing for my birds to live in except the fish in my pond will eat my birds if they get to close :devil:

truly a VERY KILLER SET UP

I'm not sick of anyones imput or comments, theres a huge variable in this hobby that we all face from one tank to another and that is H2O. Well maybe not IN THE TRUE SENCE but whats in are water or whats missing from my tap to yours. Is the florite that i bought for my substrate just highly weather rock with little clay matter or is it ideal and loaded with benificial minerals. This is not an exact science unless we all go and buy RODI set ups and we all add the same chemicals and minerals. There will always be what works for one may not be best for another.
i have tried to take nature as my toutor, as well as two simple phrase's "everything in moderation". and " nothing ventured nothing gained" as long as any changes you make to your tanks aren't emmidiatly drastic to your water paramiters temp,salinity, chemical levels. your fish should be able to adabt just fine. heck my fish are lucky to eat every day. In nature theres no noon time lunch wagon or dinner bell. they have to fight for there meals and only the strongest survive. It may sound cruel but it forces the fish to look for the food they missed at the previous feeding. thus theres no rotting food laying around. Not to mention theres always some sorta slug, bug or insect falling into the water, and yeah the bird dropings help feed the fish as well.

Que

01-13-2009, 6:43 AM

...experts saying things cant be done despite the finished product showing otherwise...

....This is not an exact science....
...There will always be what works for one may not be best for another....
..." nothing ventured nothing gained"....

When it comes to aquascaping and using hardscape, plants, substrates, lights and fertilizers... or not using ferts... I agree wholeheartedly with the above and I hope more and more people PLAY with what they assemble... take some aquascaping chances (while minding the health of the animals) and let the imagination create living worlds that can be things of beauty. I feel one of the biggest restrictions to creativity is our own mind.

Gbbudd... you have done an incredible job on this tank and I hope it inspires others to try their hand at making a living work of art also.

Q

Ace25

01-13-2009, 10:00 AM

one thing im sorta sick of is experts saying things cant be done despite the finished product showing otherwise

Not trying to start a flame war on this, but playing devils advocate, I can tank a 10G tank and stick in some of the hardest corals to grow, put a power compact light and HOB filter on the tank, take a picture, and play it off like it has been setup for years that way and say "Look, it is easy and can be done even though all the experts said it couldn't". Just saying, a picture by itself doesn't really tell the whole story.

Gbbudd

01-13-2009, 2:28 PM

Not trying to start a flame war on this, but playing devils advocate, I can tank a 10G tank and stick in some of the hardest corals to grow, put a power compact light and HOB filter on the tank, take a picture, and play it off like it has been setup for years that way and say "Look, it is easy and can be done even though all the experts said it couldn't". Just saying, a picture by itself doesn't really tell the whole story.

I fully agree with you ACE and i see it all the time. Funny you brought this up now. As i just placed a post just this morning regarding the Tank of the month contest going on right now and that clearly the leading tank is just that a fresh set up besides the riccia or moss in the netting, the substrate is aquarium stone. I seriously doubt that particular set up has been around months or will be.

But if your leaning toward this set up as one of those i assure you it's not. My proof is found here http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110988
a thread i started back in feb 07 i believe,and the tank at that point was about 6 months to a year old i forget.

Gbbudd

01-13-2009, 2:33 PM

Gbbudd... you have done an incredible job on this tank and I hope it inspires others to try their hand at making a living work of art also.

Q[/quote]

Calling the tank a living work of art in my eyes is the severest form of any compliment
Thank you.

One other note Those i call experts Tomm Barr, George Farmer, Oliver Knot , Mr Ammano i have never seen anyone of them say this is the only way to succeed. on the contrary i have seen many of them create low tech set ups. The key in my eyes which they all know is what plants and animals do best in such a set. this is where those just starting out go wrong they go to the local pet store and say that will look awesome. Not knowing it's rotala macandra or other demanding plants.
Have i purchased such plants myself YES
Have i had medium demanding plants die in my setup YES
Have i had demanding plants grow like wild fire Yes
When i say i don't fiddle with the tank allot I'm not kidding the rotala indica i have in the tank is in jeopardy of being removed due to it growing so **** fast and requiring constant trimming and replanting.

Gbbudd

01-20-2009, 5:20 PM

The Editor of Practicle Fish keeping has asked to place my tank in there magazine. Where i will show how the whole tank has come about. i do have some limited before/ set up pics. Many have asked about the upper section and i'll do my best to show you how it was done.

Bansart

01-20-2009, 8:52 PM

I am speechless looking at this planted/paludarium tank. it is incredible.

bluekrissyspike

01-20-2009, 9:28 PM

I But if your leaning toward this set up as one of those i assure you it's not. My proof is found here http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110988
a thread i started back in feb 07 i believe,and the tank at that point was about 6 months to a year old i forget.

wow...what a transformation! i remember seeing that thread before and thinking how increadibly amazing that was and it's even better now. congratulations, you have created the most interesting and beautiful set-up i have ever seen. i am sooo jealous and at the same time i am feeling very inspired to see if i can do something like that as well. who knows, maybe this time next year i will have a tank almost as nice as that happening. good job thinking outside the box!!

Gbbudd

01-23-2009, 7:39 PM

thanks blue. I have learned from my mistakes plant growth creating issues wanting to change things and not being able to due to haveing to remove the falls. Its been alot of fun and work but a labor of love for sure.

Redneck Woman

01-23-2009, 11:34 PM

Absolutely amazing tank! WOW!:thm:

Rbishop

01-24-2009, 6:39 AM

An outstanding job done with that tank!

stezatois

01-24-2009, 8:17 AM

amazing

Mgamer20o0

01-25-2009, 5:34 PM

looks great

Gbbudd

01-03-2010, 11:29 PM

Update to come. thought i'd post to bring it to the recent listing for those who want to read it.

pinkertd

01-04-2010, 1:23 PM

Subscribed!!

And I have one little silly question. I've kept finches. And I keep fish. But I've never kept finches over the fish. The fish eat finch poop? I know that some berry seeds are excreted whole in bird poop but wasn't aware that the rest of it would be good eating. I remember the finches being very "dirty", had a pair and was always cleaning up around and in the cage, but you don't have issues with them creating any mess in your tank.

Gbbudd

01-04-2010, 10:19 PM

Yes Birds make one hell of a mess. Between the seed that is uneaten and or the empty shells. To the bird droppings, it all ends up in the tank. It's been over a year now and i haven't added a single fish . There are amano shrimp, kohli loch, yellow pelco's, otto cats, galaxy rasboras, red nose rummies, black tetras, goo oboo's they never show all at once making it impossible to count but let's just say there's no lack of activity in the tank. While over a year i'm sure i have lost a few fish here or there I just can't note any one FISH that is missing. As a matter of fact i did buy a " one" small striped pelco "sorry i for get it's name" and about a month ago i noticed there are now two of them and i found two baby striped pelco's. the only explanation i can come up with is a yellow and the striped pelco must have mated long ago and now it would appear they're breeding. i do 50% water change FAITHFULY every week. And after 16 months now no I'll effects to the tank from the birds. one last note i should make is that the water fall leaches through out the entire upper planted area which the fish waste that liquefies in the tank then fertilizes the plants which in turn the plants help clean the water. Now I'm no biologist nor a chemist it's just my guesstimate.

The Zigman

01-04-2010, 10:25 PM

Wow..
this should be the tank of the year...

Great tank man...

FISHSHROD

01-04-2010, 10:35 PM

Glad to see this thread back , can't wait for new pics .

Que

01-05-2010, 6:25 AM

Wow..
this should be the tank of the year...

Great tank man...

LOL

Q

pinkertd

01-05-2010, 8:17 AM

Yes Birds make one hell of a mess.

Guess that's where the term "dirty bird" came from! They're adorable, they couldn't keep their babies alive which was heartbreaking...but never again do I want the mess. And I have to google goo oboo's.....never heard of them!!

beeZer350

01-06-2010, 9:01 AM

In for updates!

NYCguppydude

01-06-2010, 11:18 AM

Hi All
Wow! Gbbudd that is awesome!. Is there any way that you can post a vid.? I would love to see it "live". Thanks,Andy.

katana1200

01-07-2010, 9:09 AM

Looking forward to the update with bated breath. Phenominal tank friend. Very nicely done.

I must say I hope the updated pic will include a shot from a bit of a distance. I'd love to know how this setup looks from your recliner. Must be a little slice of heaven.

BoCoMo

01-07-2010, 8:37 PM

More pics please :D Full tank shots are encouraged!

Chrisinator

01-07-2010, 8:56 PM

Amazing.

Dangerdoll

01-07-2010, 9:00 PM

:thud:I am in utter awe! What a beauty!

Gbbudd

01-09-2010, 11:23 PM

sorry i don't have a cam,
all my money is in dslr

Gbbudd

01-30-2010, 11:00 PM

Thank you to one and all for choosing my tank as the TOTY. I was very surprised when I recevied the email from an admin.
Due to traveling for business for the last year. The tank has gone idle... would be the best way to put it. The Mrs.'s has been feeding and doing weekly water changes. Co2 has been discontinued to slow down the plant growth. While some plants have suffered others have flurished. Pellia is now the dominant plant. Without Co2 riccia has slowed way down, other than two 150 watt metal halide bulbs I guess the tank has gone low tech, there's no fertz added, the lights are 2' off the top of the tank, Co2 discontinued. Water changes of 30% and fish are fed maybe once every two or three days. Yes I'd prefer if they were fed more but the Mrs.'s has done a fine job for the last year, I can't really complain. I have found there's now small amano shrimp in the tank, I guess they bred. And now I have two striped pelco's where I only bought one and those two seem to have bred as there's a 1" striped pelco I've found drifting across the glass, pretty cool.
The upper section of the tank is doing equaly as well and in just the last month we noticed the birds were trying to pull down the vining pants and were making a nest. So I broke down and bought them a nest after reading that finches prefer to scavange someone else's hard work for their own nest. Well, just this morning I took a small mirror and took a look inside and sure enough there's four eggs. Now this is going to be a problem with the open tank, I doubt babies will do well to avoid drowning. Well here's the pics of how she looks today. Wish I had more time at home to concentrate on her but that's life.
Thank you for all your praise.

the wizard

01-30-2010, 11:58 PM

all i can say is WOW! That is truly amazing.

Rbishop

01-31-2010, 6:48 AM

Just awesome!

Dwarf Puffers

01-31-2010, 9:22 AM

Gbbudd

01-31-2010, 9:43 AM

Wow. You know your tank is tha best when it's freshwater and amanos (who are supposed to need brackish to fully develop) breed in it, and plecos hybridize. Also, I counted 21 black neons, so I guess everyone's breeding :D Really looking forward to seeing your finches rise to 6! I'd vote for this tank as TOTY again this year.

Thanks for the praise but i'd not add the tank again to a compitition. At least not with AC. If I was to revamp the set up i'd think about it. But it's time to move on and see what others have created. I do have plans for a third set-up but i don't see where i have the time. i already have the glass the tank will be custom 26" high 6' long and 30" deep. my dream tank. what i invission for that set up is simmilar to this now setup with the falls and the planted tank. but it's going to be a challange due to the depth of the new tank the falls will have to be set up and likely i'll never have access to it again. Time will tell. The black neons have not bread i added at least 25 about a year to a year and a half ago. I haven't bought any fish since they we added. This morning i noticed that one female ammano has a clutch now. i'll have to look the next i'm home.

FISHSHROD

01-31-2010, 1:18 PM

:hypnotized: :bowing::omg:

jpappy789

01-31-2010, 2:57 PM

WOW!

Michwol42795

01-31-2010, 3:02 PM

That tank is ridiculous!!!!

roscoe70

01-31-2010, 3:23 PM

:drool: Words won't do.

rogers138

01-31-2010, 9:16 PM

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!

Gbbudd

01-31-2010, 9:51 PM

close up

MadAboutCichlid

02-01-2010, 12:19 PM

Simply amazing!

In the before pictures I can kinda picture some bonsai trees in the setup.

Gbbudd

02-01-2010, 4:17 PM

Simply amazing!

In the before pictures I can kinda picture some bonsai trees in the setup.
The bonsai is alive and doing too well, its right above the bird in the pictures it's the darker green plant. Good memory

Slappy*McFish

02-01-2010, 7:10 PM

I could sit in front of that tank for hours. It truly is a slice of nature. You and your wife have done an outstanding job.

Gbbudd

02-06-2010, 4:20 AM

The bird experiment has done far better then i could have ever dreamed of. The Mrs after reading my latest post said no one was going to buy all the breeding comments , that the timing with winning tank of the year looked like allot of exaggeration. Which i had to agree if i had just read the whole post and never seeing anything about anyone breeding before and to have claimed three separate breedings at one time looked far fetched. So i thought i better post some evidence,

Stargazer53

02-06-2010, 4:45 AM

Gbbudd

02-06-2010, 5:10 AM

Oh my gosh -- this tank is so surreal -- A M A Z I N G!!!

One question though, what happened to the Orange Cheeked Waxbills? I love the Shafttail Finches but the waxbills were adorably cute. :)

You are the Monet of fish tanks. True art. Bravo! ;)

They both died the same day it was very odd back in september . One had managed to get out and was found at the base of the tank. The other was found at the netting with its foot caught in a vinning pant directly above its mate. They were cute but they were so small it was tough to see them at times. Both breeds do well but the open water is not ideal for birds, though they love the waterfall, watchig them bathe is pretty cool. The pintails eat alot and i'd say probably 3 times the waste.

sushiray

02-06-2010, 5:48 AM

late to this thread, I took the time to read each page. a truly wonder of nature! "man creates nature indoors"
this is bold daring adventurous! I applaud your growing living achievement!
a vid would have been a living testament but the pics are still cool!
I would love to see some neons, swords, albino corys in this habitat.
well keep up the great show, a wonder that you travel so much & do little maintenance to let nature take its course.
a success well earned!

Gbbudd

02-06-2010, 5:59 AM

PICS to show the babbies

Gbbudd

02-07-2010, 9:28 AM

The tank has taken a turn for the worse, it's just been a heck of a month with new additions to the tank without making a visit to a pet store or myself adding to the mix. as i'm sitting here in my recliner i heard a squeek being attentive to possible hatching of the eggs and what do i see sitting in the seed bowl for the birds but this little critter. Anyone know if they will / would eat the baby birds or the adults for that matter. i don't know how i'm going to get him out of there.

kimh

02-07-2010, 9:55 AM

absolutely beautiful!

mindnova

02-07-2010, 10:53 AM

Yes I'd say given the chance he would eat the babies. If you can see him that well then (I'm gonna catch %&*#) a pellet pistol would be an idea. Especially before there are more little ones to feed.

Your setup would shame any I've seen in professional aquariums and zoos.

Remember they soil food with their urine and feces, plus what ever disease they could carry. Some times you just gotta do what you have to.

Slappy*McFish

02-07-2010, 2:07 PM

mouse trap?

GuppyMan

02-07-2010, 2:27 PM

:jaw::jaw::jaw::jaw::jaw::jaw::jaw::jaw::jaw: OMG!:jaw::jaw::jaw::jaw::jaw::jaw::jaw::jaw::jaw:: jaw: UUUU.....WAAA...... HOW? AMAZING!!!!

yikesjason

02-08-2010, 4:56 PM

Did you ever do the article for Practical Fishkeeping magazine explaining how you built the background? I am working on something similar and could use some more insight on how to go about it.

Gbbudd

02-08-2010, 5:57 PM

Did you ever do the article for Practical Fishkeeping magazine explaining how you built the background? I am working on something similar and could use some more insight on how to go about it.

No i didn't work became very demading and i wanted to clean things up a bit. which turned into it didn't happen. Where i should shoot myself because i believe i would have had my tank with some very attributed creators in the hobby. they told me which month they wanted to place it in and when i saw it i had some very creative names for myself.

martialtheory

04-13-2010, 2:53 PM

Updates plz!

Lady G

04-14-2010, 12:47 AM

Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous!!!

martialtheory

04-16-2010, 12:18 AM

man i really wanted to know what happened to the mouse

Ratlova30

04-16-2010, 4:29 AM

your finches must be extremely happy.

Gbbudd

11-22-2010, 10:09 AM

The finches are too **** happy Dad has a smile on his face constantly. Mom is on her 7th clutch she generaly lays 5 eggs" How i have no idea! 4 always hatch and usualy they all make it but i do have to place screen over the top of the tank so the babies don't drown. pic to come ove the holiday

NoiR11

11-22-2010, 10:44 AM

Holy...! I am speechless.

user_name

11-22-2010, 11:16 AM

WOW!

koldsoup

11-22-2010, 4:29 PM

I think I gotta make me a tank like this :D

FISHSHROD

11-22-2010, 7:55 PM

Congrats:headbang2:

Death Pony

11-24-2010, 12:36 AM

This is incredibly inventive! I love it!

Haydn24

11-24-2010, 2:57 AM

Very very cool. Very jealous also :) Well done

kintama

12-02-2010, 11:50 PM

this is by far the sickest thing i have ever seen on this site! i'm so jealous...

aussie pride

12-03-2010, 12:09 AM

ok i am truly jealous and in awe at the same time. my heart rate sky-rocketed when i say the pictures on page one. i read every single post. i now have something to do with heaps of spare time and money in a few years.

Gbbudd

12-30-2011, 6:21 PM

hello AC. i can't believe it's been as long as it has been since i started the tank and have been coming here to AC. And to answer the first question im sure to get is yes the tank is still up and running. And yes the birds are still part of the equation. Though always having babies and as many as 7 birds above the tank almost constantly. Almost got rig of all the birds including Mom and Dad. But as luck would have it my wife being such felt that the birds nest after having so many babies needed a new one and when she put the new nest in and THREW away the original the finches have not breed since. I have said it before sometimes the best solution come by accident. So the babies for now are no more and definately grateful for that. I t was extremly cool in the begining watching them but as time and clutches went on it grew very old with all the cherps and the amout of dropings. And im sure notmany will believe this but other than 50=70% waer changes there was no other mantenance. I do vaccuum the bottom of the tank probably every three months or so as the shells from the bird seed accumulates at the bottom of the tank. and the filter i clean probably every 4 months shame on me but it works. i will get some pics this evening and see if i can remember hom to get them on here. GOOD LUCK with your tanks and never let someone say you can't do that or it will never work. Just think it through and be safe.

Gbbudd

01-01-2012, 9:41 PM

here is what the tank looks like today

bgourami320

01-01-2012, 10:22 PM

What an amazingly beautiful tank!

Lab_Rat

01-01-2012, 11:04 PM

Still looks amazing! How much time do you spend each week on maintenance?

Gbbudd

01-01-2012, 11:21 PM

Literally zero maintenance myself and my wife will do a water change every week which takes no more then 15 minutes. she does not vacuum or such and the tank is lucky if i put an hour or two every 4 months.

Que

01-02-2012, 7:27 AM

The stump still looks pretty good. Has it eroded much? All my driftwood, no matter what kind, has eroded over the years.

Q

Gbbudd

01-02-2012, 7:53 AM

i have had another stump in the first setup and it did get very soft just by brushing against it i'd have a for lack of a better term shaving would come off of it but this stump you see now i decided to go against the rules and try a cedar stump. while i agree using a green/fresh cedar stump probably is not the best idea as cedars have a lot of oils in it. This stump i used was one that had fallen over and it appeared to be at least a few years dead. This stump has held up very well no noticeable decay can be found even the part of the stump thats out of the water with a plant growing on it has't fallen apart yet. As i drilled out the top for a good 6" or more and placed rocks in it to help hold down the stump and soil to allow for plant growth.