10 years gone - Aquascaper 900

[Looneeyy]

Making some progress, the other problem with being older is more responsibilities! Less time for hobbies but hopefully more patience....

Got the tank and the light system.

Had to be brave and drill holes in the cabinet to install the EA light hanging kit. Not too bad one that psychological hurdle crossed.

Took a while to decide on how to rig the Kessil lights. The 160s annoyingly have the power cord coming out of the dead center, this makes hanging them straight a bit tricky, got a satisfactory result from a combination of split rings and zip ties.

Put some of the wood in to help plan the planting. A whole lot of wood to cover! I’ve got a small tank running with some shrimp, hopefully propagate some moss too

Any suggestions on plants for the wood, I’m leaning towards pin leaf/trident Java fern but wondering if there are newer options these days?

Thanks for looking. T


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Where did you order the lights and kit from if you don’t mind mate?

 

[TBRO]

Lights are Kessel A160s, light hanging kit is the Evolution Aquatics kit (think I got it from Charter House?) T


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[TBRO]

The lights I ordered via Aquarium Gardens


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[TBRO]

Having to change my plans. The wood is still leaching loads of tannin. Despite all the usual advice (soaks, boiling, purigen etc). I’ve not given up on it, just think it needs to live in my water butt for 6 months or so.....

I’ve managed to get hold of some other wood, pine stumps but very old. They need to soak but have potential. What do you think?

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[AllieG]

That piece of wood looks fantastic

 

[TBRO]

Thanks, it was one stump with all the branches coming off radially, chopped it up to get it in the car. Should be good once soaked.


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[TBRO]

I’ve been running the tank to get filters cycled and all my CO2 gear figured out.

I’ve inevitably I’ve bought some plants before being ready to scape! Not least the awesome trident fern from Ryan.

I was getting quite a bit of brown and blue/green algae around the bottom but within 2 days of adding more circulation it was gone!

Getting there slowly:

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[FJK_12]

Cant wait to see this finished. Already looks lovely. Those pieces of wood that are soaking will look immense when they are done btw, love that first hardscape photo especially

 

[TBRO]

Thanks, will be nice to get rid of all the plastic inlets etc. Got some glass pipes on order.

Scape wise I’m thinking of a convex/island with branchy wood. Probably go with sand around the island but always tempted to try a carpet!

I want some emergent stems, think they will be Ok as the lights are not very hot. In the past with T5s I’ve found that emergent growth just ends up crisped.


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[TBRO]

Went for a wonder up a stream. Found some pretty inspirational mossy rock scapes. Really like the idea of replicating this with aquatic moss and bolbitis....

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[TBRO]

Spent some time replacing all the Ehime plastic tubing with glass tubes from Aquarium Gardens.

Just need to get around to scaping it!

Hopefully will be able to hide the Hydor in the final layout.

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[Marc Davis]

Spent some time replacing all the Ehime plastic tubing with glass tubes from Aquarium Gardens.

Just need to get around to scaping it!

Hopefully will be able to hide the Hydor in the final layout.

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Really like the scape. Will look immense once all grown in.

 

[TBRO]

Thanks Marc. I’ve not in fact properly scaped it yet. Just getting everything up and running but still can’t help “arranging” things! Most of the plants are still in pots.

Made myself a Scaping Box, trying out some hard scapes:

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[Marc Davis]

Well, looks good all just chucked it

 

[CooKieS]

Lovely Wood, you should try to let some Space in the middle, would made a nice swimm zone for the fishes and a good focal point for the viewer

 

[TBRO]

Bit of a disaster with my CO2, old regulator failed and I lost a whole cylinder. Now I can’t find CO2 locally due to the shortage!

Therefore running low tech, liquid carbon for now. Hopefully supplies will pick up soon. On the bright side, the cherry shrimp are breeding like rabbits! Good thing too as I’ve got a bit of BBA due to all the CO2 shenanigans.... Looking out for Amano shrimp but don’t seem to be frequently stocked at LFS.

Still enjoying having a tank!


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[TBRO]

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[TBRO]

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[TBRO]

Big scape day today!

At it most of the day, good amount of time spent cleaning Lilly pipes and catching shrimp !

Changed my mind lots of times about what do but in the end just went for it. Island style, lots of moss and epiphytes.

Pre-scape tank (just been using it to grow plants)

Basic lava rock ring

Wood and substrate

Adding emergent grown plants, moss on rocks, Anubias

Bolbitis rocks

Pre flood

Post flooding + Inspired by tanks

I’m sure I’ll tinker with the layout, a lot of it can easily be repositioned. Probably add more moss on the rocks (the rocks are shiny due to air bubbles).

Thanks for looking. T


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[CooKieS]

nice project and start!