Fishfriend's 75 Gallon Community Tank

[Fishfriend1]

So, I finally have both the time and ability to take (crappy) pictures of my 75 gallon tank. I can't do any close-ups because I'm using my laptop camera eek3 to take the pictures however I do have informational stats and a FTS of the 75. Lets get this thread rollin' for everyone to enjoy

Equipment/Tank:
Tank: 75 Gallons, standard size. Glass Top sealed, no longer leaks in the upper forward right hand corner (lol), on a black painted metal stand.
Current Filtration: 1 Eheim Classic Canister 2217.
Future Filtration: Adding another Eheim 2217 to the current and maybe a small HOB Canister for the lulz. So 2 Ehoeims at the least, maybe small HOBcan to boot.
Lighting: 1 48in T5HO Light, 1 36in T5HO light, 2 6in T5HO Lights (being [ab]used to give light to a houseplant I have freerooted in the tank)
Heating: 2 large heaters, 1 smaller heater.
Other Equipment: 1 Korilla nano, 1 airpump/stone.

Decor:
Driftwood: Between 6 and 8 pieces which in turn range from 6 inches to 4 feet in length/width. Some still float partially, 1 came from the ocean most of the other came from various other random locations (from rivers to someones trash spot). All of them have been well soaked and washed and have been residents of the tank for around 6 months or more.
Substrate: A mix of different types of sand (including old saltwater sand and a tiny bit of crushed coral), various gravels, a decent number of small rocks, and at least 1 rusty old screw. Also 2 or 3 pennies that I see every so often when the sand shifts haha.
Rocks: To the left we have a few pieces of slate, to the middle we have a mineral-rich random rock from digging in my back yard, to the right we have heavy store purchased petrified wood rocks. In total between 12 and 18 medium/large rocks and many dozens of smaller rocks and long dead corals.
Other: In the tank are a number of random "easter eggs" - at least 2 dragon statues, a Squidward ornament, several fake fish, at least 10 marbles, and at least 1 glass ornament that used to go on the Christmass tree.

Stocking:
Current Fish: 20-40 Guppies (going to find a way to thin them out soon), 5-7 Neon Rainbowfish, 4-6 cory cats, 5 serpe tetra, 1 female molly, 1 female golden dream killi (Fat Mamma), 1 "Thomasi" (Rubberlip/Bulldog) Pleco. (21 non-guppy fish, double that in guppies -_-)
Future Fish: 10-20 guppies, 8-9 Harlequin Rasbora, 8-10 cory cats, 5-7 Neon Rainbowfish, 4-6 cory cats, 5 serpe tetra,, 2 "Thomasi" (Rubberlip/Bulldog) Plecos, 1 female molly, 1 female golden dream killi (Fat Mamma). (41 non-guppies, half that in guppies)
Current Inverts: 1 Golden Rabbit Snail, 4 Nerita Snails, 2-8 Assassin Snails, 100-200 pest snails of 3 species I think - The corys love them
Future Inverts: 1 Golden Rabbit Snail, 6-8 Nerita Snails, 2-8 Assassin Snails, 100-200 pest snails, a half dozen ghost shrimp
Current Plants: 2-3 Anubas, a lot of Hygro Angus, 2 Hygrophila, some Java Fern, some Java Moss, Lots of Duckweed. All in all probably about 2 pounds of plant life in the tank. Also has 2 large bamboos growing out the back, 1 bonsai tree with them, and my houseplant that's freerooted in the tank.
Future Plants: 4-6 Anubas (varying species), a lot of Hygro Angus, 2 Hygrophila, some Java Fern, some Java Moss, Lots of Duckweed. Around 4 pounds of plant life. 2 Large Bamboo, 1 Bonsai Tree, 1 Houseplant all freerooted in the tank.

And now the (crappy) picture:


It looks better in person, honest! Ok, so the scape could use some work and the plants are a tad bit sparse looking in this picture but it's all much prettier in person. Once I bring over all the plants/rocks/driftwood from the 30gal I'm merging into this tank it'll fill in the empty space a bit but not enough to prevent the rainbows from having swimming space. I personally love the tank, mostly for the interactions my fish have with one another and partially because it's enjoyable to work on and with. Once the guppies are thinned out I think the tank will look very pretty

~Fishfriend1

 

[MostlyHarmless]

For guppy control I would recommend a betta, actually a couple females ought to keep the tank balanced. I have the same substrate for my cichlid tank, crushed coral and PFS. Lighting is pretty bright, can get away with some decent plants with that. The dracena bamboo plants need to be exposed to air, so if you do use them make sure they are above the surface if the water (75g do run deep) Also I have had pothos in tanks with much success. My betta tank at work has a sponge filter and tons of pothos in it.

Only thing I would add some more filtration, I tend to over due my filtration it makes it easier in the long run. Don't need a new eheim right now, but you can pick up some HOBs pretty cheap that move a ton of water. Aquaclear, and aqueons are my current favorites.

Tank does look nice, can stare at it for hours I am sure...try hanging a dark clothe behind the tank, it makes the neons colors pop.

 

[jpappy789]

I agree about adding a solid color background...I prefer black, but blue can also look good.

Honestly, I like the look. You have some pretty neat driftwood pieces. Adding some of those Anubias and others to the hardscape will also add some more dimension.

I'd advise against adding more duckweed for a display tank since you will undoubtedly end up with more. Unless you want to put in the effort to try and control it (which can be almost impossible), it isn't worth it at all, really...much nicer looking floaters out there that don't become as much of a nuisance IMO.

 

[Agro]

I like this tank.
The population probably is too varied, the serpe and killi I see them out of place.
Why use korila and airstone?
Water value?
Cory species?

Use betta for guppy control?
Bad idea, risk killl and injured all guppy, and then require different water values

I agree about adding a solid color background...I prefer black, but blue can also look good.

you can reed in my mind?:rofl:

 

[jpappy789]

Use betta for guppy control?
Bad idea, risk killl and injured all guppy, and then require different water values


you can reed in my mind?:rofl:

LOL, maybe

I too wouldn't be adding a betta at this point, especially not just for guppy control.

 

[Agro]

the betta confuses guppy with rival males and unplug the tail bites

 

[Fishfriend1]

For guppy control I would recommend a betta, actually a couple females ought to keep the tank balanced. I have the same substrate for my cichlid tank, crushed coral and PFS. Lighting is pretty bright, can get away with some decent plants with that. The dracena bamboo plants need to be exposed to air, so if you do use them make sure they are above the surface if the water (75g do run deep) Also I have had pothos in tanks with much success. My betta tank at work has a sponge filter and tons of pothos in it.

Only thing I would add some more filtration, I tend to over due my filtration it makes it easier in the long run. Don't need a new eheim right now, but you can pick up some HOBs pretty cheap that move a ton of water. Aquaclear, and aqueons are my current favorites.

Tank does look nice, can stare at it for hours I am sure...try hanging a dark clothe behind the tank, it makes the neons colors pop.

The bambo (two stalks) is almost a half a foot taller then the tank. I've learned the hard way that the top needs to be above the water haha. I'll see if I have any HOBs lying around (I used to have like 20 HOBs from older tanks), if I don't then I'll probably stop by my petco on the way home and see if I can find one for a decent price.

I agree about adding a solid color background...I prefer black, but blue can also look good.

Honestly, I like the look. You have some pretty neat driftwood pieces. Adding some of those Anubias and others to the hardscape will also add some more dimension.

I'd advise against adding more duckweed for a display tank since you will undoubtedly end up with more. Unless you want to put in the effort to try and control it (which can be almost impossible), it isn't worth it at all, really...much nicer looking floaters out there that don't become as much of a nuisance IMO.

Trust me, the duckweed was NOT my choice of floater. It came in with at least 1 of the plants and I haven't been able to kill it all off since - I do use a net to scoop about 1/3-2/3rds of it out each week though. With the lid and lights it's not an easy task so if anyone has ideas on duckweed slaughter I'm listening haha.

I like this tank.
The population probably is too varied, the serpe and killi I see them out of place.
Why use korila and airstone?
Water value?
Cory species?

Use betta for guppy control?
Bad idea, risk killl and injured all guppy, and then require different water values


you can reed in my mind?:rofl:

The population is a tad bit- ok, very varied - but I can't set up enough tanks right now to spread the serpes out and they are rather aggressive towards other fish that are smaller then them. The killi IS out of place, it was originally paired up (I didn't have guppies then either) but the male jumped (which lead directly to the glass cover) and the female has become a large, somewhat fugly fish. I love her personality though and have no where else to put her so she's there to stay for now. My original stock was: 6 Serpe Tetra, 9 Neon Tetra, 6 Neon Rainbowfish, 2 Killi, 9 Cory Cats, and the Pleco - it was a work in progress to end up here (and I have learned more about the aggression of supposedly peaceful fish towards smaller then them by about .2 inches fish -_-). A few mistakes and me buying "male" guppies (never trust a guppy salesman) and this is what I ended up with.

The Korila is because my scape pretty much kills all water movement that the filter generates (the filter output is on the top back left corner) by the time it reaches the front. I've found that the rainbows, guppies, even the serpes sometimes swim and school against the korila's current, and it helps the filter by pushing floating debris back over to the filter intake (which is on the left front side of the tank). The Airstone was put in rather recently when the fish seemed sluggish and the guppies were gasping at the top of the tank - I put the airstone in and the fish started to behave normally again, so I have no plans to remove it.

Water Value? Do you mean perms? Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrite: 0ppm, Nitrate: 10-20ppm (this one changes every so often, but tends more to the 10 range), ph tends to sit between 7 and 8, but usually never hits either of them.

The cory species at this time are: 1-2 Bronze Cory, 4-5 peppered corys (some have long fins others don't). The peppered corries are the ones who will be increasing in population when I merge my 30 gallon into this tank.

LOL, maybe

I too wouldn't be adding a betta at this point, especially not just for guppy control.

I have no plans for a betta, I've seen what they can do to fish and I do not want to find out if the killi is stronger then a betta any time soon. And knowing betta I'd probably end up without any sepres too.


Thanks for all the feedback

 

[Agro]

in your tank i keep only fish like basic water.
Try to contain nitrates
gh? kh?
Post more photo :thumbsup:

 

[Fishfriend1]

in your tank i keep only fish like basic water.
Try to contain nitrates
gh? kh?
Post more photo :thumbsup:

I have no idea what gh or kh are :duh:

I'm still working on making my digcam work, when I do I'll try to get some better pictures and maybe even a video haha.

 

[Agro]

Genera Hardness and Karbonate Hardness