pjracer's 46 Bowfront Planted Tank Build

Hello all,

A couple of weeks ago I was given a 46 gallon bowfront aquarium complete freshwater setup. My uncle just didnt have time to take care of it anymore.

I already have a reef tank and my wife has a 36 bowfront guppy tank so I decided on a planted tank.

I cleaned it all out and only kept the tank, stand and glass tops.

Yesterday I recieved my light's. I bought a 36 inch odyssea 2 T5 65k setup. Accordign to my LFS its not enough light for the planted tank I want. Today I place a order for a 4 x 6500 T5 setup.

I oredered a C220 Canister filter by Marineland and 60 pounds of CaribSea Eco-Complete planted substrate. I have the driftwook soaking in R/O water.

I chose to dose CO2 for now. Im using Flourish Excel. I ordered a dosing pump to supply my daily dose.

Its all cleaned out and in position.

 

wow looks great so far, i wish you luck! i myself do not have much experience whatsoever with freshwater so ill probably find this build quite interesting.

 

Painting The Background

Today I bought the stuff to paint the back of the tank.

Supplies:

Drop cloth or news paper.
Spray paint flat black
3M wide painters tape
99% isopropal Alcohol.

I cleaned the back of the tank with the alcohol. Then taped the back off and sealed the tank with the tape and a painters drop cloth.

Painted about 4 layers and let dry. Remove painters tape and we have a background.

 

Great start.

If those are HO T5 than you have sufficient light for the tank. Check out these charts.



Charts are from The Planted Tank forum, work done by a gentleman going by the alias of Hoppy.

 

Thanks 2in10. You have been a great help in helping me chose my tank equipment.

 

My pleasure

 

Equipment Arives

Today I recieved my C220 Canister filter by Marineland and 60 pounds of CaribSea Eco-Complete planted substrate and Flourish Excel CO2.

Everthing is in and cycling.