Have put some sand in the tank, but needs a couple more buckets on the left side. Will finish that tomorrow and plant the dwarf chain sword.

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are you using black sand? if you are, then that would create a very nice difference in color. what type of fish do you plan on keeping there?

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http://www.aquariumforum.com/f2/save...fish-2930.html

where do u buy the sand???

btw what kind of substrates are there that arent that expensive???

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Planted 20 gallon
2 emerald corydoras
2 gold barbs
2 cherry barbs
4 swordtails
2 platies
1 balloon mollies

What I am using is called Black Beauty blasting sand. I got it for $11.00 for an 80lb bag. I bought 3 bags of it but don't think it will need more than 2, which is ok as I have 5 other tanks to set up after this one.

I plan on planting this tank with vals and dwarf chain swords for right now, then later adding co2 and high light then will plant others. It will be stocked with angels, bolivian rams and some cardinals. Later when the c. rabutti get bigger they will go into the tank. That will be a school of 20 cories there.

There is no background on this either. I plan on letting the vals do that for me. It will be filtered by a Rena XP4 and a 300 gal sandbed filter till I get another rena to add on it.

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Thanks for the advice, I only put 2 inches of sand down. This blasting sand doesn't compact like playsand and its easily stirred. I have some sort of sand in 10 tanks so I know which one does best with the least problems that is why I chose this type.

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SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
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11 dollars for that much...pretty cheap isnt it

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Celebrating 500 posts



Planted 20 gallon
2 emerald corydoras
2 gold barbs
2 cherry barbs
4 swordtails
2 platies
1 balloon mollies

if you need any help let me know wifey and i are just a hop skip and away

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Cool, will do. Still waiting on the vals. May end up swimming in the tank to plant those. . Will be glad when its done so I can move fish over. Got more fish coming in during the next 2 months so need to have them ready.

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220 Tank build
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$11.00 for an 80 pound bag!?!?!?!?? Where did you buy it for soooo cheap?

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Went right to the place where they package it. Mohawk Materials here in Tulsa. They also have one in Oklahoma City.

Black Beauty blasting sand is nothing but coal slag actually. Just do a search for blasting sand in your area. They have many different colors. You can even check welding supplies, and if they don't have the black or the color you need find out where they get it from.

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SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
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Its filled with water and a few plants now

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SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
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that will look so cool once they grow into eachother.

MORE PICS PLEASE!!!!!!!!

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Calling aquariums and fish boring is like calling a hott model ugly.

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Probably won't be anymore pics till Sunday or Monday. Right now working on getting this new canister going. Hooked it up and its leaking a lot. I think the seal isn't sealing it right. Anyone know anything about the filstar xp4?

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SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
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wish i could get one like that

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Celebrating 500 posts



Planted 20 gallon
2 emerald corydoras
2 gold barbs
2 cherry barbs
4 swordtails
2 platies
1 balloon mollies

what kind of plant is this?

I guess it it too late to suggest a bag or 2 of the Seakem flourite black sand, as some mineral (iron) rich clay based sand?

Tank is looking great so far. What kind of filters do you plan to run?

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--->Pictures of my 75g Amazon tank<----

The vals came in today, so going to get them planted. The plant that is in there is dwarf chain swords so should fill in nicely.

Dmaaaaax the black beauty sand has iron traces in it. So that should help some, also using some plant tabs under the sand since most of the plants are heavy root feeders. The filters I am using is rena filstar xp4 x 2 got one now and will get the other one next payday. The first one has to be replaced since it leaks like no bodies business.

Will post pics after the val is planted.

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SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
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Looking good so far! I wanted to have black sand originally but my fish are dark in color.. it would not have worked out well!

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Sounds like a good plan with the root tabs.

I figured as much about the plants, since you only planted them in the foreground. ;)

Sorry to hear about your Rena, but I think in the long run, you will enjoy the XP4 as much as I do my XP3....which is pretty much every time I clean it. I see just how much it filters and how well the flow is controlled (little to no bypass) compared to some of my other filters.

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--->Pictures of my 75g Amazon tank<----

The new filter should be here today, I also put a small powerhead with a sponge to keep the water moving. The vals are in but they are small. Most didn't have roots yet. Oh well hope they do good.

Since the sand bed is only 2 inches I have resorted to putting the swords in clay pots. The dwarf chain swords should grow enough around them that the pots won't be visable once they start growing.

Here are a few new pics.

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SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html