My new Roman tank

[stripes]

I started my new 270 Liter tank. The fish I want to put in the tank are all fishies that do not like plants so for now I got some plastic ones but will see what I can do to get some real plants in the tank.

Its been running for almost 3 days now.

My theme is of the Roman times. I just could not let it go by when I saw all the roman goodies the LFS had.

[solex69]

Suggestion....dump the Roman theme and go with an el-natural setup.

A - Your general tank hygiene will be much better
B - It just looks sooooo much better

Sorry stripes, I'm not dissing your setup at all, so no offence meant whatsoever :unsure: I'm just making a suggestion as what I would do with a 270l tank

D

[Rowland]

Also not too clued up on Roman fishies??? lol

[veegal]

Stripes these ornaments they sell at the lfs are really a personal preference. What one likes another may not, at the end of the day as long as it is pleasing to you that is all that matters as you will be looking at it day in and day out. :)
I quite like the way you have laid out the tank so far but would perhaps add some wood and/or rocks as well.

[stripes]

Hi Veegal, thanks for the comments. Yes it is like you say "as long as it is pleasing to me that is all that matters''. For now I like it the way it is and I am def going to put in some more rocks or wood. My budget is at a very low state after this weekend but I am def going to put some more in there. Going to fill it some more month to month until I am satisfied with my tank.

I am currently looking to put in my big darling Albi (albino pleco 25 cm) and a tyre track eel. What kind of fish will be suitable to put in with them. Something with colour please.

[brentnorm]

Hi Stripes. Just keep the pictures coming as you keep putting fish and ornaments in. We would like to see the empire grow.:bigsmile:

[Philfarm]

Yes it is like you say "as long as it is pleasing to me that is all that matters''.

Hmm.. What about the fish?

Dales suggestion is not only aesthetical but also very practical it puts the fish in a much better position to be happy and healthy and is actually easier for you to maintain... sorry man sometimes advice needs to be taken with a pinch of salt:bigsmile:

[veegal]

Hmm.. What about the fish?

Dales suggestion is not only aesthetical but also very practical it puts the fish in a much better position to be happy and healthy and is actually easier for you to maintain... sorry man sometimes advice needs to be taken with a pinch of salt:bigsmile:

There are plants in the tank, even if they are plastic :blink1:, and with the addition of wood and rocks and perhaps some more plants, I don't think the fish will really mind whether they have a real rock or a pillar of sorts. What is pleasing to one is not always pleasing to another and as long as the fish are healthy and 'happy' with their needs being taken care of then does it really matter what one person thinks over another?:p:blink1:

[stripes]

Thanks Veegal,

[veegal]

No problem Stripes....please don't think that people are 'bashing' your tank - different strokes for different folks and all, I'm sure everyone is just giving their opinions, myself included, on how in our opinion, you could make your tank look better :)

[JayMeister]

thats a sweeeett idea stripes you should get some albino rainbow sharks and then your albino pleco can be like ceaser and the rainbow sharks the citizens

[stripes]

Thanks Jaymeister but it is now my X Roman tank. Decided to change the theme of my tank. "after some orientation of some of the other members" no offence taken guys!

I went in at about 4 different FS's on Saturday but could not find any dark brown gravel/sand. So I end up buying some "real" plants and an other background and left the gravel for another time. But I did buy some wood for my tank.

This is what it looks like at the moment, but I am not happy with it. I wanted dark brown gravel. Or what else can I use? Anything that is a dark brown colour? I need allot more plants. The fishstore lady said I must put the wood in very warm water for about a week then it will not leak into my tank too much. So it is still in the warm water. Isnt their a faster way??

[brentnorm]

Looking good

[veegal]

That's looking really good so far Stripes!!!! Nope, no other way to get the wood ready for putting in your tank I'm afraid....soak, soak, soak and more soaking. You can change the water once a day with fresh HOT water which will help it along a little.

I used river sand which I got from the local nursery here - there seems to be two different colours, a whitish one and a reddish brownish one. So if you decide to go that route then look for the darker one of the two. I personally prefer the riversand option as it is not as sharp as the pool filter sand we are currently finding at the shops and is MUCH kinder on your bottom feeders. The only downside is that it takes alot more washing to get it clean :)

[speedz]

that pleco looks cool, but is the one fish that i am always unlucky with. They find new ways to die on me

i agree with veegal, soak the wood. I normally soak it in boiling water every night til it comes clean

[solex69]

This looks much better stripes, well done.
Just a tip, the plants in the back middle & back left should be removed....they are terrarium plants and will die soon in your tank. They've also been known to change the water chemistry (to what, I'm not really sure but this plant is officially labelled by me a fish killer)

[stripes]

Thanks Solex69, will remove them from my tank tomorrow. I am looking for all kinds of plants if someone have some to share big please.

Can someone maybe give me some tips on how to plant the tank. I have 2 pieces of wood that is currently soaked in warm water that will be coming in my tank. I will take some photos of them and post it tomorrow. This is only 2 flat pieces of wood. I have looked up planted tanks on the internet and have found some interesting tanks but am unable to find any of the stuff they use in our FS in Bloemfontein. Not even dark brown gravel like some of you all use. Any ideas will help.

The plecos name is Albi. I bought it from Savage a while back. I just love it to pieces. I can sit and watch it for hours.

[birdie]

DUDE do rechearch before spending money on plants.They sell a lot of crappy plants that will never grow,start of with easy ones like vallisneria,wisteria,ambulia,hornward,elodia,anubi as and java fern.Most of these are cheap and easy to find(i got my first hornward and elodia out of Loch Logan lake).Once u have these growing then try some more tipes.Just what i would have done...The names i gave u r the easy names u can google to get info.Good luck.

[carl p]

to stop wood from discolouring ure water, put in a big pot on the stove with plenty of water and boil for as long as possible, i had a piece in bucket from January until mid may and it was stil discolouring the water badly, i changed the water in the bucket weekly, and then i decided it was boiling time, that worked but there still some colouring but not as much and as fast as usual.

[Carping]

Carl P, either you have small pieces of wood.... Or you have massive pots. I had to soak mine in the bath for 3 weeks, changing the water every moring and every evening the first 2 weeks

[carl p]

small piece....

[Fish Fantasy]

I think your tank looks awsome because I'm from Roman decent and I've always loved the roman scenes, A few more plants and you are A for away! FAB JOB!!!:congrats:Keep up the inventive ideas!!

[stripes]

Some updated photos of the X Roman tank.

The wood is in now for about 3 days and have very little leaking.

Put some rocks in but will go the 8th to get some more plants.

Chow

[veegal]

It's really taking shape now stripes....lookin' really good :D

[Fish Fantasy]

Stripes you break my heart!!! What happened to your individuality?????

[stripes]

Hallo Fish Fantasy,

No the roman tank is still up but only another tank. This is now going to be my planted tank. But still lots of work to do and plants to buy.

Will show photos of the Roman tank in future.

[Fish Fantasy]

That's brilliant that you still have your Roman tank it proves you are an individual and have individual ideas and stick to them brilliant!!. I'm so proud!!!! :) Hee! Hee! Hee!and your planted tank is also starting to look fab!!! Well done!!!

[solex69]

Oi stripes.....I got an idea how you can keep your roman theme and still make it planted. It'll look like Atlantis that came alive. PM me so we can discuss a bit :)

Chiao
D

[Zoom]

Oi stripes.....I got an idea how you can keep your roman theme and still make it planted. It'll look like Atlantis that came alive. PM me so we can discuss a bit :)

Chiao
D

Don't PM that discussion... I also wanna hear!!

[veegal]

Don't PM that discussion... I also wanna hear!!

Yip Yip - me too :flute:

[solex69]

ok, seeing that you asked :) lol

What I will think you'll need:

CO2 injection
Intense lighting on the tank
No airstone
Roman pillar ornaments (get a few)
Zeus or Poseidon statue ornament (perferrably the one with his finger pointing somewhere)
A fine sand for a substrate
Plants: Limnophilla Heterophylla or Sessiliflora, Riccia, Moss, Cryptocoryne Parva perhaps, 1 X Nymphaea Lotus, Hygrophila salicifolia


First, place down your roman pillars in a type of Roman courtyard effect (ie, closely against each other). Place Zeus slightly towards the right of the 'courtyard' in-front'ish. Add some of your other Roman ornaments (dunno what they'll be, but don't go too overboard with them) in the rest of the tank...remember, the roman courtyard is the main focus of the tank. You could even create a sloped rock effect in on corner of the tank. Once you've found the scape you're happy with, now you have to plant and this is how I'd do it:

Limnophilla will be behind the pillars semi-tightly packed together (this will create a nice bushy type effect coming). On top of each pillar (I take it there will be enough space on top of the pillar), I'll attach the riccia. The crypts will go in-front in the court (you could replace the crypts with Sagittaria Subulata, but I would go for something that doesn't grow too high). The lotus I'll put at the other end of the tank with the moss being attached to a couple of rocks.

I wouldn't add any plants or fish to the tank just as yet....let the tank then settle in. Let the riccia & moss start growing.

There you have it....a quick brain fart from me :)

Chiao
D

[stripes]

Hi Solex

Thanks this sounds great,can almost see it in my head how it will look. will keep you posted with some photos of the roman tank but will have to get pillars and some of the other stuff. Will let you know and maybe put photos in step by step.

[veegal]

Sounds like a great idea you have there Dale. Looking forward to seeing the photos should you go with it Stripes :)

[Zoom]

There you have it....a quick brain fart from me :)


D

You should fart more often Solex...