'Hello All
Christmas is coming and we plan to take my twin 6yo girls to disney in the early spring so my CEO/CFO/CDO (Entertainment / Financial / Discipline) has put a soft cap on my spending until those two are accomplished.
I found a I found a 19w x 17d x 22h (inches) tank on the side of the road in the neighborhood. It has some pretty bad scaling at the top that Ive attacked with about everything thats been suggested on the internet to no avail. I've used a magic eraser, white vinegar soaked paper towel on in for an hour and then went after it with the white eraser. nothing. Ive used a razor blade. no perceivable change. Oh well is what it is.
what I want to occur is an "Edge of the forest look"
So my plan is as follows:
Were on a budget and I'm a total beginner. No CO2, no amazing PLC controlled auto-ferts, no water changing sumps. I need to say that for myself more than anyone who wanders onto this thread. I have to pick and choose my battles
Substrate (need advice)
Eco-Complete and PFS, good enough?
Plants:
Grass Area:
pygmy swords for the grass area with maybe some s. repens on the back left to provide some contrast like low bushes
Tree Area(need help):
here's where I could use some suggestions for the canopy maybe weeping moss? Can I do some Anubis or crypts pushed into the rock base around the wood ?
Hardscape:
I heard you can use the #1 bottle of the nitrate test from the API kit as its a strong acid to test rocks if they bubble dont use the rock. We have access via some family friends who live on a large creek just downstream of a nature preserve to creek rocks, the girls and I went on a gathering expedition and out of the 20 or so interesting looking rocks we have three that were inert. Is that somewhat normal? its amazing that the entire creekbed is alkaline rocks. Im guessing I have to shift to another area to find rocks.
but the friends did have some driftwood. and a small tree on the edge where I harvested a portion of the rootball with a reciprocating saw.
Lights:
I saw this puppy on amazon when I was getting frustrated: LINK -Can this be used in a low tech tank?
Filter:
Eventially Prob build my own canister filter insanely oversized, but for the pre fish period i'm going to use a simple air pump with a sponge
Top down view
Actual Starting point
anyway thanks for reading
Christmas is coming and we plan to take my twin 6yo girls to disney in the early spring so my CEO/CFO/CDO (Entertainment / Financial / Discipline) has put a soft cap on my spending until those two are accomplished.
I found a I found a 19w x 17d x 22h (inches) tank on the side of the road in the neighborhood. It has some pretty bad scaling at the top that Ive attacked with about everything thats been suggested on the internet to no avail. I've used a magic eraser, white vinegar soaked paper towel on in for an hour and then went after it with the white eraser. nothing. Ive used a razor blade. no perceivable change. Oh well is what it is.
what I want to occur is an "Edge of the forest look"
So my plan is as follows:
Were on a budget and I'm a total beginner. No CO2, no amazing PLC controlled auto-ferts, no water changing sumps. I need to say that for myself more than anyone who wanders onto this thread. I have to pick and choose my battles
Substrate (need advice)
Eco-Complete and PFS, good enough?
Plants:
Grass Area:
pygmy swords for the grass area with maybe some s. repens on the back left to provide some contrast like low bushes
Tree Area(need help):
here's where I could use some suggestions for the canopy maybe weeping moss? Can I do some Anubis or crypts pushed into the rock base around the wood ?
Hardscape:
I heard you can use the #1 bottle of the nitrate test from the API kit as its a strong acid to test rocks if they bubble dont use the rock. We have access via some family friends who live on a large creek just downstream of a nature preserve to creek rocks, the girls and I went on a gathering expedition and out of the 20 or so interesting looking rocks we have three that were inert. Is that somewhat normal? its amazing that the entire creekbed is alkaline rocks. Im guessing I have to shift to another area to find rocks.
but the friends did have some driftwood. and a small tree on the edge where I harvested a portion of the rootball with a reciprocating saw.
Lights:
I saw this puppy on amazon when I was getting frustrated: LINK -Can this be used in a low tech tank?
RGBCW, 2700K-6500K, 2000LM
That enough power for a low tech tank? I think I prob need double or triple the lumens no?Filter:
Eventially Prob build my own canister filter insanely oversized, but for the pre fish period i'm going to use a simple air pump with a sponge
Top down view
Actual Starting point
anyway thanks for reading
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