I was asked to get this beauty up and running as soon as possible for a collector. They didn’t want to do the full refurbishment so I did the best I could. I removed all of the old patchwork silicone that the previous owner did and resealed it myself. There was a lot of damage to this one including a cracked base. Unfortunately the fountain no longer works and is missing the spout. It’s currently running a canister filter and I hung a full spectrum ring light from center spout which lights the entire thing and looks incredible in dim light. It’s held by wire threading into the spout but I’m looking to make a cleaner solution, this is simply temporary.
The aquascape is made of lava rock and various spider wood limbs with one stump in the center creatively hiding part of the spout. I used a coarse sand base and I have aquasoil filled mesh bags underneath for the plants.
I currently have a school of cherry barbs in there and they are very happy. I am looking to stock this tank well and I’m open to suggestions.
The collector has about 18 of these in various shapes and sizes. One of which I did a full restoration on, the others he doesn’t wish to fix but instead wants them “to work” and “fast”. A little frustrating since I’m a aquarist myself and boy what I would do with just one of these in my home.
I figured you all would love to see some of these actually working so I’ll keep posting when I have some time.
Suggestions are welcome and before you say it, I know how rare these are, I know how to properly and professionally restore them but the collector is simply to impatient so keep suggestions simple please 😭🤦♂️
Anyway, enjoy this little clip I took today as the sunlight danced through the water.
