Rio Grande

[Bri]

Please excuse the name of this topic as i couldnt think of anything else lol.

So here we go, my biggest tank yet and i would say my biggest challenge to date...

So, i have been given a Juwel Rio 240 (i think) And after some juggling around its fitted in the living room. The downside being i have to sacrifice my tetra tank in the next few weeks, not looking forward to that as everything is very happy in there....

This tank will of course be planted, in much the same was as the tetra tank as this will be the plants new home. So, stock-wise it'll have rummynose, neons, pygmy corys and a black oto from the outset with the addition of some more of each plus the addition of red eye tetra at a later date.

I need to investigate the rest of the kit ive been given to see what i have and what i need. But one thing is for certain, i'm going to need some proper CO2 kit. But in the short term i'll be using an Optimat system, seriously underpowered for this size tank but unavoidable at the moment due to cost.....

Pics soon..

Bri.

[ghostsword]

It seems like a good plan. And the name is apt. :)

Regarding co2, why not make an island, the place the co2 on that section? Those fish would enjoy free area to swim.

For co2 I recommend Dupla regulator and solenoid, have not seen better kit than that !


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[Alex]

Look at Channel4's TV listings for this afternoon  sounds good, looking forward to the journal 

[Bri]

Cheers Luis, good advice and i should be able to do something like an island with the stuff i have :)

I have the bogwood thats in the tetra tank at the moment, plus a load i bought the other day, could do with some rock though.......

Yes, Dupla will be on the christmas list i think, wonder if i'll get it though lol.

Haha Alex, i see what you mean a classic.

[frosties]

The optimat is no good at all for a tank of that size... I know - I tried a couple of years ago... you have to refil the green diffuser 2 or 3 times a day plus the levels of CO2 fluctuate so badly you get BBA from hell....

Either purchase a CO2 system outright... or go with nothing until you can afford it...

[ghostsword]

The optimat is no good at all for a tank of that size... I know - I tried a couple of years ago... you have to refil the green diffuser 2 or 3 times a day plus the levels of CO2 fluctuate so badly you get BBA from hell....

Either purchase a CO2 system outright... or go with nothing until you can afford it...

No, don't go with nothing.. Just add CO2 to where the plants are, and use just 5 hours light, this will keep algae at bay. :)

Start with ferns and anubias, some crypts, and you can have a great tank.

Christmas comes and you can get a good co2 kit. Otherwise buy second hand on ebay, you can get a regulator for £30, then add a bottle for another £30, and you set to go.

[Bri]

Thanks everyone, the tetra tank that'll be moving into it is primarily anubias of various sizes and variants with some very young crypts and a wealth of Hygrophilia Difformis (which may not make it in there) I believe i may also have some amazon swords in there too, i havent looked closely for a while :)

I also need to check what lighting i have in there, i know there is 2 tubes but i dont know if they're the high light and warm light versions, i'll follow up on this tonight as i need to strip it to clean the reflectors.

Bri.

[ghostsword]

Cool. I would not worry much about the light, less light is better.. :)

Do a scape like the one that Tony has, with lots of open space for the fish to swim.. :)

[Bri]

OK cool.

Had a look at the lighting last night while i was cleaning the reflectors, it has 2x38watt T8's. 1 x Warm white and 1 x White.

Heating is 1x300w heater.

Pic anyway, i need alot of substrate lol...

[frosties]

That background has to go!!!     

[Bri]

It's gone, plain black now 

I bought about 27kg of dorset pea gravel from that place at the weekend, but have so far only using about 15kg and it looks ok as it is, i'll probably use the rest to bulk up the centre where the wood sits and then dress is over the top with aqualit and some left over bonalit ive found in the cupboard. But under the gravel there's currently about 4kg of vulcanit powder.

[Bri]

Well here it is, the rst of the pea gravel didnt get used as there was plenty of height there after i had used the vulcanit, bonalit and aqualit.

Every plnt in there has been donated by the 2ft tank that has now been shut down. Nothing else has been put in it yet apart from 3 pieces of bogwood form P@H.

Fishwise, everyone is happy. My only concern now is the total lack of flow on the right hand side, i defitantely need to add another filter in there, but for the short term i'll be putting the little zolux in purely to create some flow etc :)

Pic time, just the one until i can get some close up shots....

[ghostsword]

Very good layout, the plants look so healthy and well placed .

For flow, why not add a koralia, pushing water from the back, on the right side? I would add crypts balansae to the right side, just two or three.

Look really good.


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[Bri]

Thanks, its good to know im heading in the right direction :)

I do have some plants to add so Balansae would do nicely and i may add a koralia until i get another filter added as the one in there is a bit underpowered for the size of tank so i'll be keeping a close eye on plant & fish health until i can afford it :)

Bri.

[frosties]

Bri
If you want to loan a korilla until you get one then come and get it from me... you will need to get it before Thursday as I am off for the weekend to Spain...

tony