four stone modified fluval flex 57

[soggybongo]

After letting my reef tank go a fair few years ago now i decided to give a planted tank a bash.

if anyone has any questions or helpfull advice please post away.

The Tank is a fluval flex 57ltr

substrate base layer

soil layer

lid now chopped and new light fitted (chihiros Aquasky 301 led)

inlets modified with 20 mesh marine grade.

bog wood boiled for 3 hours then left to dry out for 2 weeks then soaked in ro water with a powerhead for a further week.

2x pots of 1-2 grow HC grown out in a tupperware dish with john inns no3 compost for three months then up rooted washed and re-planted in aquarium

christmas moss on bogwood now growing and taking hold also hc starting to grow out and carpet.

its going to be another 4 weeks before i flood and a fair few plants to go in yet so one last task for tonight was to wire,test and calibrate my heating setup

oh and i think i might have gone overboard with the ro system for the size of my tank but i have a method in my madness.

 

[soggybongo]

i'll add more pics as the tank and equipment progress.

 

[soggybongo]

My lighting so far is the fluval led that comes with the tank 100% white 7500k 12hr on 12hr off
chihiros Aquasky 301 led fitted into lid is 50% 12hr on 12hr off (i'll up this to 75% once flooded and adjust if necessary)

i'm still undecided about filtration. do i use the stock or my fluval 206 external with lilly pipes?

i'll also be injecting co2

 

[Aqua360]

Nice!

 

[soggybongo]

Few more bits purchased today

aquario neo diffuser X2

glass u bend X2

Vesicularia Ferriei 'Weeping' Moss

Myriophyllum mattogrossense (hope this is going to be ok in my dry start method)

Elos KH, GH and PH test kits.

buffers for my ro water

EI (enough to make up 500ml of each so should last me quite a while)

 

[soggybongo]

bottles for dosing

 

[soggybongo]

couple of tasks this morning cpmpleted.

ptfe regulator threads and test for leaks when attacked to fire ext

collected junction box for stc temp controller cut out and install. this will eventually be installed under cabinet.

 

[soggybongo]

3rd week update -

tank shot - hc taking hold now with roots embedded in substrate and starting to send off runners.

mosses growing like crazy

3 in 1 plug timer sorted (2x plugs for lights and one for co2)

just thinking ahead for when the tank mates arrive (iv dripper)

 

[soggybongo]

few more plant ordered yesterday so should be with me either Monday or Tuesday

4 x ANUBIAS NANA BONSAI
2x Myriophyllum mattogrossense
2 x Rotala Wallichii

 

[soggybongo]

plants as above post have arrived so i'll be busy tonight however the Rotala Wallichii has suffered a little during transit so will be cutting these back and hopefully they'll recover.
i'll post pics before and after planting.

 

[soggybongo]

plants as delivered

Rotala Wallichii x2 (feeling sadand damaged) but the
Myriophyllum mattogrossense far right looking healthy

Rotala Wallichii now trimmed back and behind the stones but will grow and fill out the back of tank hopefully

fts

 

[soggybongo]

if the hc doesnt stretch/grow into the shaded spot under the anubias i'll fill that void with substrate to give it more light.

 

[CTischler]

Despite lid I always find this tank rather interesting - will follow along.
Of ease of use I would go with the internal filter system, probably upgrade the pump for additional flow that is sufficient for EI dosing?

 

[soggybongo]

Despite lid I always find this tank rather interesting - will follow along.
Of ease of use I would go with the internal filter system, probably upgrade the pump for additional flow that is sufficient for EI dosing?

Just a learning curve for me to find my feet in the planted tank world with this little tank. I'm going to get the water in and see how the flow is as most people find the flow too much rather than not enough but an easy swap for a better pump if needed. Or an additional pump with a spraybar along the back.

 

[soggybongo]

hc carpet filling in with a few spots to go. its getting really thick in places 2-3cm high so will need a trim after flooding but will let it settle first.

 

[soggybongo]

i received a free bottle of tnc complete plant nutrient with my last batch of plants so decided to try mixing a very small ammount 1ml - 1ltr 50/50 ro/tap water this then goes into my 100ml spay/ mister. the tank gets a good mist on the tank glass and plants 2x per day first thing in the morning and last thing at night. the plants have definaltely turned a more vivid green colour and look alot healthier.

 

[soggybongo]

bit the bullet and to make my life easier but more so my wife during water changes i have bought one of these. i used a larger version in my reef and made life so much easier during water changes

reefloat awc53
http://www.reefloat.com/index.php/awc53.html
need a small trolly now to get it from garage/ ro system to tank/ living room

went with the awc53 as reefloat state it gives a 10% water change on a 510ltr tank so hopefully i will get a good 50% if not more on a 57ltr tank but i'll match the params of the tank and changer as far as temp, ph, gh, and kh goes so hopefully no water spills and no clips around the head from the wife and best of all i can sit back and watch with a beer.

 

[Nubias]

Looking forward to seeing this flooded

 

[soggybongo]

Despite lid I always find this tank rather interesting - will follow along.
Of ease of use I would go with the internal filter system, probably upgrade the pump for additional flow that is sufficient for EI dosing?

not flooded yet however most people find the pump to much for the size of tank but if needed i have a few spare pumps (eheim 1048) that will fit nice if need be and twice the flow.

 

[soggybongo]

Looking forward to seeing this flooded

me to Nubias mate