dsandson
Member
Hi folks, been reading these forums for a few months now, and decided to try to create a journal for my upstairs tank while I redo it.
This is a work in progress. I was looking to create a low maintainence setup, minimum ferts and no CO2. Now since money is tight, getting hold of plants is now via Ebay or unreliable LFS stock. Ebay has come up trumps, but I struggled with getting any Java ferns from LFS (was wanting a decent size tropica plants without paying AE prices).
Now without any Java ferns, its looking a little bare. Couldnt find anything else locally that I thought might go in with this scape.
Also decided 2 days ago to try out cheap as chips DIY CO2. Ordered diffusors and a bubble counter off ebay and got the rest of the parts for a fiver in P@H. Just need silicone now.
stats;
Tetra Aqua Art 60l
Eheim 2210 (550l/hr in theory)
1x 15w Realux T6 11000k typically on 14 hrs per day
1/2 inch JBL AquaBasis+ with 1 1/2 inches (cheap) Argos playsand on top
10ml of JamesC's DIY TPN+ twice a week (at the moment - to be modified with time)
2 pieces of cheap driftwood tied with black thread, so they stand up together.
plants;
Christmas Moss
Cryptocoryne Lucens
Cryptocoryne Wendtii Tropica
E. Tennellus
Anubias barteri petite
Fish;
2x adult Kilifish, 1 male, 1 female. Something Gardneri is the name.
1x kilifish fry
1x Angel fish - now blind - due to my ignorance and inexperience with our first tropical tank over a year ago. (and yeah, I do feel awful about it. Thank god for places like this and TFF where we can learn how to do it properly).
2x Adult Red-stripped Apple Snails, plus numerous babies.
Soon to be some Mahogany Malaysian Trumpet Snails.
The tank was overhauled yesterday. No pic of the previous 'scape', but it wasnt really given much attention in that regard, hence time for a change. The JBL AquaBasis+ was reused... not as easy as I thought!
All planted up. The crypts were harvested from the last scape. Not in the best condition, since the snails were eating parts of the leaves, as they weren't finding enough food. Got some shrimp/snail food from Snailshop and they seem to be leaving the plants alone now.
All filled up. A little cloudy but that'll pass.
This is how it looked when I got back from work this afternoon. I have to say I'm really surprised how well the sand looks.
The male Kilifish. Really gorgeous colours.
i know this needs work. I need some Java fern, and the narrow variety would probably be best. Considering also some crypt balansae. Would this stay at about 30 in height given the low light (1WPG)?
Also need cheap silicone for the bottle top DIY CO2 cannister. Does it have to be aquarium silicone, or can I us regular B&Q own brand stuff?
Anyway, hope you like this and please be kind!
Dave
This is a work in progress. I was looking to create a low maintainence setup, minimum ferts and no CO2. Now since money is tight, getting hold of plants is now via Ebay or unreliable LFS stock. Ebay has come up trumps, but I struggled with getting any Java ferns from LFS (was wanting a decent size tropica plants without paying AE prices).
Now without any Java ferns, its looking a little bare. Couldnt find anything else locally that I thought might go in with this scape.
Also decided 2 days ago to try out cheap as chips DIY CO2. Ordered diffusors and a bubble counter off ebay and got the rest of the parts for a fiver in P@H. Just need silicone now.
stats;
Tetra Aqua Art 60l
Eheim 2210 (550l/hr in theory)
1x 15w Realux T6 11000k typically on 14 hrs per day
1/2 inch JBL AquaBasis+ with 1 1/2 inches (cheap) Argos playsand on top
10ml of JamesC's DIY TPN+ twice a week (at the moment - to be modified with time)
2 pieces of cheap driftwood tied with black thread, so they stand up together.
plants;
Christmas Moss
Cryptocoryne Lucens
Cryptocoryne Wendtii Tropica
E. Tennellus
Anubias barteri petite
Fish;
2x adult Kilifish, 1 male, 1 female. Something Gardneri is the name.
1x kilifish fry
1x Angel fish - now blind - due to my ignorance and inexperience with our first tropical tank over a year ago. (and yeah, I do feel awful about it. Thank god for places like this and TFF where we can learn how to do it properly).
2x Adult Red-stripped Apple Snails, plus numerous babies.
Soon to be some Mahogany Malaysian Trumpet Snails.
The tank was overhauled yesterday. No pic of the previous 'scape', but it wasnt really given much attention in that regard, hence time for a change. The JBL AquaBasis+ was reused... not as easy as I thought!
All planted up. The crypts were harvested from the last scape. Not in the best condition, since the snails were eating parts of the leaves, as they weren't finding enough food. Got some shrimp/snail food from Snailshop and they seem to be leaving the plants alone now.
All filled up. A little cloudy but that'll pass.
This is how it looked when I got back from work this afternoon. I have to say I'm really surprised how well the sand looks.
The male Kilifish. Really gorgeous colours.
i know this needs work. I need some Java fern, and the narrow variety would probably be best. Considering also some crypt balansae. Would this stay at about 30 in height given the low light (1WPG)?
Also need cheap silicone for the bottle top DIY CO2 cannister. Does it have to be aquarium silicone, or can I us regular B&Q own brand stuff?
Anyway, hope you like this and please be kind!
Dave