Need some advice.=)

[satanpie]

Hey everyone, I need some advice on setting up my 75G tank. ive tested the floors made sure it is level and everything and i am now ready to fill it. I rinsed put 2 15lb bags of flourite in there and one 20lb of spectra stone, then mixed them thuroughly and have about an inch of depth. Was it a bad idea to mix them together? now I have 60lbs of eco complete that has just arrived, should i just put that on top and leave it, or mix it in? Also, I have nice peices of driftwood i got from my LFS, but they float. The larger peice has slate drilled into it but it doesnt hold it, the smaller one i want to keep in its place ebcause it wold make an awesome hiding spot. Woul you suggest i glue them to the bottom of the tank? what glue would be safe? i was also thinking about drilling a large suction cup into the wood and seeing if that will hold. what do you think? here's the tank as of now.

 

[tnoutlaw36]

nice tank.

 

[DLV082]

I wouldn't try to glue you driftwood to the bottom of the tank. Instead place them in a tub of water outside and wait for them to sink to the bottom. Drift wood that size should not take that long or if you are impatient you can boil them to get them to sink faster, you could do this while cycling your tank and setting up the other stuff in the tank.

 

[Notophthalmus]

I wouldn't glue the driftwood down, if for no other reason than that it would be a big pain when you want to clean or redecorate your tank. Suction cups might or might not work; I wouldn't bother with them. My suggestion would be to get another piece of slate and glue it to the one already attached (I think silicone would work, but I haven't tried it), so the extra weight will sink your driftwood. You could also use drill some holes in the underside of the driftwood and drive big stainless steel bolts, with several nuts, into them, to provide extra weight. Then you can cover the bolts and nuts with black or brown silicone so they wont scratch your glass or be too obtrusive if they're partly exposed.


After driftwood has been wet for a while it will become less bouyant as water fills the air spaces. If the slate and bolts sound like too much of a hassle you can try putting your driftwood pieces in a bucket or tub of water and soaking them for a while. This doesn't always work, though.

 

[Rbishop]

Boil the driftwood until it stays down....I think you have enough substrate in there already.

 

[satanpie]

i have tried to sink them, i had them sitting in a abthtub for about a week and still they float, you tink if i bouil them theyll sink? im not sure if i have a pot big enough to fit them, and you guys thinkt hats enough substrate? ive hard from alot of pele you want at least 3 inches to get good plant growth, so do you think maybe i should remove some of the flourite and gravel and put the eco complete in?

 

[grannylvsfish]

I still have one that floats, will not stay down so there is a pot on top of it with gravel in it. I hope it sinks some day :lol: its been soaking for well over a month.

 

[grannylvsfish]

have 2 inches of gravel in my 29 and 1 inch in my 55. I was glad I never added mor to my 55. its so much easier to clean. I also only added a skiff of gravel to my 10 gallon, thats so easy to clean it ain't funny. I think you have a full enough subtrate.

 

[satanpie]

but i wanted to use the eco complete>=/ i guess ill take some of the other stuff out and use it for another tank. if i remopved all the substrate do you think the 60lbs of eco complete would be enough? also, if i was to put in a bag or 2 of eco complete would it be better to mix it or leave it?

 

[Greggz]

Suction cups will work.

I had a large piece of drift wood that I soaked for weeks, and it still wanted to float. I put two suction cups on the bottom and it held it just fine.