On it's way to a full cycle. So far I have Ammonia 4 (adding ammonia everyday). Nitrites 2, haven't tested nitrates yet (will test once ammonia goes to 0 overnight)
All decor in place. I just need to find her a small cave for her naps. Once it cycles I'll be done and she will be moved. Btw: I've had the substrate in her tank stored in a bucket for about 3 years. At that time I had a ton of MTS in there. I thought for sure they would die off. I'm now seeing them on the wood, rocks and glass. Those suckers are hard core! I couldn't believe that they were't all dead! They must have gone into some kind of hibernation mode and now they are coming back to life.
The driftwood is real. The plants are fake. Only problem is the driftwood has been sitting on my patio dry for a few years and won't sink. So I decided to use the floating driftwood to my advantage. I wanted to give it that "river and tree roots" look. At least until the driftwood sinks. lol Thanks for "WOW'S". Sometimes I think less is best. I love the way it looks. To me it's a very natural look. I'm starting to get a little excited. I can't wait for Annabelle to move in. She's going to have some massive swimming room. The tank is 5' long, 2' wide and 2' tall. I know she will be very happy in it.
I also need more substrate. I only had enough to barley cover the bottom. One swift swim-by and the bottom will show. I think I want to add a bag or two of river pebbles but I can't decide if I want to mix substrates. I'll have to wait and see. For now I'm just waiting on the cycle. I have plenty of time to decide.
There's a very large piece of glass in the middle on top (part of the tank). I positioned two pieces of wood under the glass. The tank also has 2 built in overflows and two flexible pipes coming out on each overflow. I used the flexible pipes to wrap around the two pieces of wood in the middle to keep them from floating away. The other two are just positioned on each side of the tank under the hood. Nothing's tied down. Not sure if Annabelle is going to rearrange things once she's in there. We'll just have to wait and see.
Just added pebbles to Annabelle's new home. One large bag went a long way.
This is Annabelle's current home. Once she's moved the substrate will be changed out with the same pebbles that are in her new tank.
Can you see her? If you look at the bottom near the middle of the tank you'll see her.
Here's a few close ups of the princess. Don't worry about that growth on her bottom lip, I don't know what it is but it's been there from day 1. She's always had it. And it doesn't seem to bother her. I also believe that she was playing in her sand. Notice that half of her body is a different color. Not sure how she managed that, I went back and had a second look and I'm 100% sure it's black sand stuck to her.
Not sure how she managed that, I went back and had a second look and I'm 100% sure it's black sand stuck to her. 
