Planted 180 gallon

[drukus]

Hello OVAS,

Here is the tank I have been working on.

The pictures are not very good, and I don't have a lot of details right now, but I wanted to get this post started.

180 gallon
Planted (started with DSM, ~2+ months)
Still stocking, peaceful community

More information to come,
drukus

[drukus]

more pics

[drukus]

Last one for today...

[Gilbotron]

Looks fantastic! Thanks for sharing.

I really like the jungle on the left with the beach on the right....  Makes for a really nice natural looking landscape and the stones fit in really well. 

Keep us posted on progress and stocking please!

[drukus]

Will do! Thanks for the feedback.

My previous tank was densely planted and although I enjoyed it, most of my family did not. They found it too dark and it was difficult to enjoy the fish.

For this tank I am trying for a compromise and going from 29g to 180g gives me a lot more options.

I am hoping to carpet the right while leaving the center a sandy beach. The substrate is sand capped soil but the area in the center is sand only. I am hoping to leverage that to limit growth in that area.

All the rocks are local (within ~200 km).

Plants are Pearl weed, monte carlo, Star grass, some Anubias and Buce.

Right now stocking is:
7 Ornate Tetra (Hyphessobrycon bentosi)
3 BN Pleco
2 Neon Tetras (refugees from a different tank
2 female Betta
2 Hoplo cats
1 blue Opaline Gourami
6 bronze Corys

and 6 Endlers in the refugium.

I am looking to add a few more Neons so they feel more comfortable, get some Rainbows and either add to the Tetra shoal or introduce a shoal of something else (e.g. Harlequin rasbora).

[matttimms49]

Really enjoying the look of this tank and that's quite the upgrade in size, loads of space to play with. I would definitely go for a large school of neons. They will look awesome schooling.

What's your ideas for plants for the carpet?

[drukus]

I am thinking of dwarf Sag or S Repens.

You are right, a school of Neon might look nice too.

[matttimms49]

Nice dwarf sag is a great plant. Depending on how patient you are willing to be I could possibly trade you a few plantlets. I'm also trying to get a carpet going though

[drukus]

I can be very patient! 

[drukus]

... I stand corrected. I got a few this weekend to see how well they do.

I guess I am not as patient as I though...

[matttimms49]

Ah sorry, I should have sent you a pm. Where did you pick some up from in the end?

[drukus]

Kalemh had some.