I setup my tank this weekend. I will be a planted tank soon right now all the plants are fake. I figure it will be best to let the tank cycle and get established before throwing plants in there. But with the fake plants it give me an idea on how I would like to aquascape the tank. right now there are a bunch of grey rocks I am using as gravel but I plan at this point is to replace it with black sand and use a few of the grey ricks for color contrast. The lfs said they will get some in sometime this week so that will be cool. I guess in the mean time this gives me some time to research the plants I want. I have no idea what I want for plants yet. I am hoping to get different color plants instead of just green. If anyone has any ideas that would be nice or a link to a decent site that has pictures so I can pick out my plants. Anyhow here are some pics


Without flash

looks great. I want to warn you, i let my tank cycle, and then changed substrate and it sent it into a complete recycle...even with seeding w/ the old gravel. Just a warning that you amy want to put the substrate in ASAP otehrwise any cycling accomplished may be in vain. You may already know this and have more experience then I do but I thought i'd mention it.

__________________
"Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn".-- Benjamin Franklin

It would be best to change out substrate now if you just set it up. Although you may only experience a mini-cycle, it could still last a couple of weeks. That plus the 4-8wks with what you have will just flat out suck.

Where did that rock come from that you used as gravel? I can't tell too well from the pic, but they may not be aquarium safe. If they came from your lfs, I would assume they are okay.

Thanks guys the rock did come from my lfs. I liked it in the bag it came in But now after seeing it in the tank it is fine but I think black sand type stuff with just a few of the grey rocks would look better. She said they will get more bland sand it this week so this weekend comming up I will change it out. I am aware of the tank cycle and how long it take as I have had many saltwater tanks. Patience is key in the beginning. If I have to wait a little longer to get it how I like it thats fine. I also have new bulbs that I ordered comming in as the light fixture I have was for a salt water tank. So the bulbs are a bit to blue and will cause alge bloom I think anyway. either way I got the bulbs anyway.

Nice looking setup. If you plan to go to a planted aquarium. I would use Eco-Complete. I this stuff in all my planted aquariums.

__________________
Help those in our hobby to exceed beyond their expectations.
Aquatic Engineer

Well its time for an update lol (overdue). The tank in the above pics was of it just set up. It was nice for a short time. As I did not listen to the warnings about using my MH light fixture for my old reef tank on this tank. Well after the cycle still no algae I thought I knew it all. Then a little green started so I cleaned it out. The next thing I knew I was growing kelp in my tank. I had hair algae strands 18" long. There was no controlling it. So I took the mh light off along with all the fake plants (well most). For Christmas I got the tank a marineland double bright LED fixture and changed out the substrate to black gravel. Then my sons betta died so I took the plant I had in there and put it in my tank. I am not sure what kind of plant it is as I took it out of my old koi pond when I moved. The algae has never come back and I could not be happier with this tank. I still have not found eco complete locally guess I will have to get it online. To date my stock list is 3 tiger barbs. To cats not sure the name anymore (had 3 but no didnt make it). A pleco and had a few neon tetras but could only find one today. I tried to get pics of the pleco and the cats but they just were not having it today so maybe another time. I have 3 plants the one that came from my pond (still no idea what it is). A Brazil Sword and a Amazon sword. Here are some pics
FTS

Plant from pond any ideas?

Brazil Sword

Amazon Sword

Tiger Barb