A fool and his money...

[Dan Wiggett]

Well, here I am. I've been doing marines the last 8 years and keeping fish for the last 15 years so it's time I had a change!

I can't keep my hands out of my tanks, constantly fiddling with some equipment or moving something about. I usually have a big re-scape every three to four months, I also change many fish/corals in the process so planted tanks will help me with my OCD. I can see me stripping the tank down every three to four months, I do have plenty of ideas I want to try too!

I bought a TMC Signature 60x45x30. I had previously owned the 60x45x45 marine version and thought it was excellent. I also love the look of shallow tanks.

Tank - TMC Signature 60x45x30
Filtration - Fluval G3
Co2 - JBL Proflora u402 + Additional EasyCarbo
Fertilisation - Tropica Premium + Specialised liquids
Soil - ADA Amazonia
Hardscape - Mini landscape rock and Redmoor rootwood
Lighting - TMC Grobeam 1500 x2
Glassware - Cal Aqua 13mm inlet and outlet
Diffuser - UP inline atomiser
Heater - Hydor 300w inline heater

Without further ado, here's some pictures...















I'm not that great at photography at all, I have a Nikon D5200 so I have the tools but no idea how to use it. I also need some new lenses so any advice welcome of course.

As a final note, I will be extremely happy if my tank turned out half as good as some of the tanks on here, I will put up my plant list soon, I have a few ideas but noting concrete just as yet.

Dan

 

[Dan Wiggett]

Still got to tidy up the wiring on the hanging kit and the wires from the tiles. I've still got to sort out the controllers for the lights, they are a bit messed up at the moment (Didn't work out the box at all!)

I'm also filling up the tank tomorrow with tap water, then running it for a day or two then draining to plant, then re-filling with RO water.

 

[Iain Sutherland]

Nice set up dan, look forward to seeing to grow in.
Be careful with the two tiles, they are a lot of light and unless you've soaked the wood it will float fella.




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[arhino]

Hi Splinun your set up looks well nice so far.
I find it very difficult not to fiddle and move plants and wood about. Good luck in you ocd recovery.

 

[Martin in Holland]

That's a great start and a perfect corner for a tank

 

[Dan Wiggett]

Nice set up dan, look forward to seeing to grow in.
Be careful with the two tiles, they are a lot of light and unless you've soaked the wood it will float fella.
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They are buddy, i'm going to run them for 6 hours a day for the first couple of weeks and at 50% then slowly ramp them up. I did soak the wood for a week or two, I have a feeling you might be right and it'll float, I did put rocks on top of the wood but we will see what happens in about an hour when I fill it up 🙂

Hi Splinun your set up looks well nice so far.
I find it very difficult not to fiddle and move plants and wood about. Good luck in you ocd recovery.

Ah great... Lol. Well i'm sure this will take up far less time than marines do then i'm happy to spend the hours on pruning, moving plants etc

That's a great start and a perfect corner for a tank

Thank you, I don't think there is a better tank to fit in the corner, the corner has 89cm gap... Unfortunately the TMC 90x45x30 wouldn't fit so this will have to do.

 

[Ian Holdich]

Nice hardscape, the tank fits perfectly into that alcove.


Looking forward to this one!

 

[Deano3]

Looks great love the hard scape, and as said works vey well there looking forward to updates matr


Thanks Dean

 

[Dan Wiggett]

Thanks for the comments guys.
This is the stocking list so far...​

Alternanthera Rosafolia Mini


Heteranthera Zosterifolia


Echinodorus Tenellus

Staurogyne Repens

Juncus Repens

Pogostemon Erectus


Pogostemon Helferi


Helanthium Bolivianum


Eleocharis Acicularis


Micranthemum 'Monte Carlo'

 

[Dan Wiggett]

Think I may add Eleocharis Mini instead of the Micranthemum 'Monte Carlo', would suit the tank layout better...

 

[Deano3]

I agree mate that's what I am using in next scape also think would go better personally, tank will look great with all them plants in looking forward to seeing planted


Thanks Dean

 

[James D]

Looking really good even without the plants, I'd say your money's been wisely invested!

 

[Dan Wiggett]

I agree mate that's what I am using in next scape also think would go better personally, tank will look great with all them plants in looking forward to seeing planted


Thanks Dean

Will look a bit more natural and when next to the Juncus Repens and E.Tenellus should look really nice. Will be using a bit of E.Acularis to 'soften' where the hardscape meets the Mini Hairgrass. I will definitely use Micranthemum 'Monte Carlo' in a scape in the near future though for sure.

Looking really good even without the plants, I'd say your money's been wisely invested!

Thanks buddy, i've now finished the filling of the tank, it looks crap and brown so far. Also I am one light down still so no photos till it's fixed 😉

 

[Dan Wiggett]

I got my lights fixed in the end, I ended up spending a few extra pennies and got an 8 way multicontroller for the lights.

I have planted around 2/3rds of the tank. I am still waiting for the Eleocharis Mini, E.Tenellus, P.Erectus and Weeping moss to arrive. They should be here next Friday. I will put up some proper pictures in the next few days, tank is still a little cloudy at the moment though after the big fill. Planning to do two weekly water changes for the first two months. I am also adding 3 'pumps' of Tropica Premium + Specialised liquids, 3BPS of Co2 and 4ml of EasyCarbo to get me started.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/112119511@N02/12843287295/
Please bare in mind the really crap photos 😉

 

[MARKCOUSINS]

Well thought outYour planting suits the hardscape very well.So far so good it is a good scape in the making.

 

[Dan Wiggett]

Just a quick picture of the cabinet and the equipment. Bit scruffy but will tidy up wires etc when my inline atomizer finally arrives.

 

[aliclarke86]

Looks pretty tidy to me... Mine is a tip/dumping ground 😀

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[MARKCOUSINS]

I agree with Ali that is a tidy cabinet mate.The other day I found 2 barbie dolls in my cabinet!No they were not mine they were my 5 year old daughters!Cheers Mark

 

[Dan Wiggett]

Looks pretty tidy to me... Mine is a tip/dumping ground 😀

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I agree with Ali that is a tidy cabinet mate.The other day I found 2 barbie dolls in my cabinet!No they were not mine they were my 5 year old daughters!Cheers Mark

Oh dear, you guys cabinets must me a complete mess 😛 Only joking of course!

 

[aliclarke86]

OK so this ones not too bad....this one though.....

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