200 gallon Tanganyika tank

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: 200 gallon Tanganyika tank

Tim,

I would not drill the rock. I beleive this will just end up damaging them.

I think the tank looks really nice,  You could take some of the extra rock, and smash one into a bunch of smaller pieces.  The stack the smaller pieces and make them into a Honeycomb like design.

The smaller rocks will provide more hiding spots for smaller fish, and give more caves for females to hide.

In my experience it is much easier to clean the tanks with larger rocks than smaller rocks.  Also, in my opinion, larger rocks look better than smaller rocks especially in larger tanks.

It is all up to you, you might make a area of smaller rocks for females and fry but then still keep your larger rocks spread around.

Just my .02..

[PhishPhreek]

Re: 200 gallon Tanganyika tank

I wonder if a sandblast rig would clean the drilled holes and sharp edges ?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: 200 gallon Tanganyika tank

i think if you soak it and slowly go at it with a miners pick i think you can work your way through the rocks and make a more natural looking hole instead of drilling perfect holes.


any new pics?

[Tiapan]

Re: 200 gallon Tanganyika tank

well i saw several forums (home improvement sort of stuff, wouldnt hurt to ask at a lowes or home depot either you know) and there seemed nothing special about drilling limestone. there were suggestions for a hammer drill bu there was a chance it could blow a hole out the back of the rock beggier then your trying to. but just s you know it seems most of the drill bits i saw being advertized were around 1 inch or smaller, i will keep looking though. it seems water would help keep the bit cool but isnt really ncessary for such a small drilling operation, with limestone being as soft as it is, you wouldnt need a hammer drill just a decent power drill and a good bit.

[Tiapan]

Re: 200 gallon Tanganyika tank

hurray for plants, im gonna go look online so see if there is any information on drilling limestone. get back with you soon.

[armthehomeless]

Re: 200 gallon Tanganyika tank

There are quite a few crevices/cave hidden being the big rocks. I am stuggling with a way to come up with more holes. Any thoughts? That was actually why I rearranged the rocks in the first place.

I did think about leaving just a 4ft light on there... but only briefly! Afterall, I know there will be plants in this tank too (eventually). I can't seem to keep them out of any of my aquariums!

[Tiapan]

Re: 200 gallon Tanganyika tank

as a side note ARm i kinda like the lighting with just the one 4 ft in the middle. it gives the tank a sureal look. but thats just an artist way of looking at a dark tank that you wouldnt be able to see the fish in

[eklikewhoa]

Re: 200 gallon Tanganyika tank

lookin good!

i think more rocks/caves/crevices would make it perfect and allow more places for all the fish to stake claim.


mike told me the other week that he ordered some giraffe cats though im not sure they came in yet, those look really cool.

[Tiapan]

Re: 200 gallon Tanganyika tank

Holey cow man that rock looks great in there. i cant believe it came out looking sooooo good. cant wait to see if fully stocked with Tangs. and i still think you could keep java fern and anubias in there. can never have enough plants growing, if nothing else so most people can get them at the swaps for cheap.

[armthehomeless]

Re: 200 gallon Tanganyika tank

Well the tank is up... kinda. It has a play sand base, solid black background,a huge wet dry filter, a HOB filter (temporarily), and Texas Holey Rock from Burnet, TX.  There are a couple convicts that I tossed in from another tank currently to make sure everything is okay. Unfortunately I moved the rock before I took the picture - causing the tank to look a little cloudy. I threw on a 4ft fluorescent strip light from another tank for the picture -but since the tank is 7ft long- I am gonna go with 2 3ft strips. Does anybody have two matching 3ft strip lights they would like to sell?

[armthehomeless]

Re: 200 gallon Tanganyika tank

As you wish!

[MikeWhoTruong]

Re: 200 gallon Tanganyika tank

i'll be in san antonio tommorrow afternoon... swing by monday...

[armthehomeless]

Re: 200 gallon Tanganyika tank

I'll have to pay closer attention to your tank when I swing bye tomorrow afternoon. I feel a bit more relieved now about doing my first tang. tank. Its a far cry from planted tanks (which are what i am used to).

[MikeWhoTruong]

Re: 200 gallon Tanganyika tank

you must havent payed much attention to my tang. tank... haha but yea..i put every tang. fish i can find in it..and iv'e had no problems ..from the 8-9 inch fronts..to the tropheus...to my smallest 2 inch leleupe..just make it a really good setup and you should do fine..and from what you been telling me about how you wanna do the tank...im sure it'll look great !![/b]

[ItsDubC]

Re: 200 gallon Tanganyika tank

I don't think the petricola will be a considerable nuisance to the brevis, being that they are smaller catfish.  The male brevis should have no problem deterring any petricola in his vicinity during breeding.