My freshwater reef tank finally cycled

[CWO4GUNNER]

I didn't have an extra established filter to cycle this new (craiglist) 80 tank so it took 3 vice 1 week to finally reach 0 PPM ammonia, 0 PPM nitrites, and 5 PPM nitrates doing just weekly water changes with prime dose every 24 hours. My 3 small Labs and the 2 feeder fish that cycled the tank are now odd tank mates. Too big to be returned as feeder fish I have to find them a new home soon before they get too big. One problem with using goldies as cyclers.
Anyway I have installed the natural red and blue dead corals that came with the tank along with some fake ones and some reef looking fake plants that also came with the tank. I hope to have a species Lab tank unless I can find some other Africans that are docile.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=1229&pictureid=11113


http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=1229&pictureid=11114

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=1229&pictureid=11115

[dixienut]

looks great,.. wish i had it,..lol

[CWO4GUNNER]

looks great,.. wish i had it,..lol
Thanks. I thought for sure the corals would raise PH overnight but so far PH is still 7.4. I suppose it will take some time. The sead corals were sanitized weeks ago in bleach and water then exposed to the sun for another week. But im not taking any chances and leaving the UV sterilizer on for at least a week. Im going to the LFS today to find more Labs.

[247Plants]

Wow its quite colorful!

[CWO4GUNNER]

Wow its quite colorful!

I know, the gray river bed sand almost looks out of place like I need some of that black or white Tahiti beach sand or maybe crushed coral. I drove 80 miles to Los Vegas today to eat some Vietnamese Pho soup and buy some Chinese groceries supplies. Anyway looked up a fish store in the same area call Lucky's Fish Store and picked up 3 more small Yellow Labs, 3 for $10. I was worried about the 90 minute trip back but the owner assured me that the pure O2 in the bag would keep them good for 24 hours. I wasn't to impresses with his assistant who netted my fish, the guy acted like he didn't like to work there and just jammed the net around the tank knocking over ornaments like he was swatting flies even pinning one of my fish against the glass and then using his hand to separate it from the gravel and plop it into the container. I kept my composure because I didn't want to make things worse and was in a hurry with frozen groceries in the cooler and fish to transport. But they made it back Ok and are being acclimated and this will make 6 yellow Labs total. Now I just need a few blue African cichlids of the same small size that also have reasonable temperament like the Cobalt Blue Zebra perhaps, right?

[CWO4GUNNER]

But I realize its a little gotti compared to my lake theme aquariums, but Im trying to create a somthing that looks like salt water without the salt lol. You guys that can grow the forest and tiny critters in your tanks are just blessed with the ability to do so. Eventually I will get around to a planted tank and critters but for now I'm still in the rudimentary mode using life support to make my tanks work lol.

[CWO4GUNNER]

Latest African reef tank motif arrangement adding the last dead white spiked coral. The Yellow Labs and Blue Keny love all the hiding places which keeps the bickering down and the Cory Cats safe. I plan to over filter with 2 Magnum 350 and 2 hob nitrate filters so I can over stock and keep aggression down. Pardon my expression but I just came out of post surgery and a bit high on the demerol. Good news is I have hart low BPm 40 and no suspect tisssue, so Im good to go for another 5 years of barbeques lol.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=1229&pictureid=11516

[jpappy789]

Interesting setup

[Lupin]

That's a weird outlook.lol FW and SW combined (minus that GEX that I will never condone).:grinyes:

[CWO4GUNNER]

Yeah Its a wannabe salt tank. I may have to invest is some actual dead or artificial reef rocks and more dead corals to get it looking better, amazing how they can crawl into the nooks and cranny's of the sharp coral to moth it and don't get cut. I'm hoping with a slightly over crowded tank and lots of hiding places I can do a mix a of colorful Africans. They really are the best of both world, not shy to come out to see their owner and love to play hide a seek. I my have to invest in a glove though as they do like to bite the skin on my arms.

Im too old and feeling too good right now to worry that I don't know what a GTX is. Whats is a GTX? Motor oil?