Grandparents are finally seeing the light and letting me redo their tank.

Sounds like your grandma could use a robust/easy to maintain tank.


Coupla thoughts of how to go with it:

-RUGF tank with natural gravel
Leave the ugf plates in place and change out the clown puke for a natural gravel. Add 2 Penguin 660R powerheads to drive the filter in reverse flow. The all purpose gravel they sell next to the concrete @ HD/Lowes/etc is a nice river gravel, and is cheap. Looks muddy in the bag, but great once well-rinsed. 1 $4 bag may be enough...no more than 2. There is probably enough mulm under the existing plates that you wont have much of a cycle, if any.With a little care you could change it out gradually and not have to empty the tank.


-Deep Sand Bed Tank
3-4" of pool filter sand...add 30-40% play sand if you prefer a more natural texture. Will need to add an HOB filter. Lots of MTS to stir it. I'd be glad to give you a few cupfuls from my DSB 75 to get you kickstarted.

With the UGF plates already in place, I'd probably go with the RUGF. I have a 90g RUGF tank with 4 660Rs ,no HOB, and a 40Breeder RUGF with 2 660r's and an aquaclear 30 HOB. both are well stocked and do fine.


An all-RUGF tank is quiet and low maint...just need to clean the filter sponges every few WC's and vac the gravel when it needs it.
 
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Yours looks great compared to my grandma's tank

Let's just say that her guppies could survive a nuclear holocaust and be fine

she has guppy stock from when she was 30 like 60 years ago
 
go make her tank amazing and get over once a week for maintenance. she will be happy with what you do because the effect is you spend more time with her
 
I agree, make it a beautiful tank, even if it requires more work from you every week, you could make it a ritual and spend some time with your grandmother while you're at it.
 
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Well here's the rescape. Still needs to settle and some tweaking.
35a68236.jpg
 
Bally, I am guessing that stone on the top of the driftwood on the top left is in place to keep the wood down for now, just make sure it's not touching the side of the tank..... I would hate to see something happen and it may be working against the tank's integrity....

good job though :)
 
Ballyhoo said:
Well here's the rescape. Still needs to settle and some tweaking.
Click to expand...

Much prettier. I see the rock at the top holding down the driftwood. Easier than waiting for it to get water logged on its own.
 
Dangerdoll said:
Bally, I am guessing that stone on the top of the driftwood on the top left is in place to keep the wood down for now, just make sure it's not touching the side of the tank..... I would hate to see something happen and it may be working against the tank's integrity....

good job though :)
Click to expand...

It's wedged in a gap where I screwed the two pieces of wood together. It's not on the glass :)
 
Looks very nice! Although I'd stick with all pink bulbs or all daylight bulbs. I like the pink myself, but the two colors together...ehh.

Is that Cyanobacteria on that lift tube? It may be what is smothering the Crypt. The fish look really active and happy :)
 
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