richardcunliffe
Member
Starting a journal in which to share both my scape(s hopefully!) and random thoughts along the way which don't fit well in other forums. (Ooh look at this, how gross are these lily pipes, this made me laugh, doesn't this angle on an aquarium look kind of cool etc)
The title here is aspirational. I'm quite proud of where it's got to so far, though I certainly wouldn't rate it with the best. I would say 'lush' is the ultimate goal for any planted tank in my opinion. If I can achieve 'lush' I'll be a happy boy.
Background: This is my third tank, and the only one I now have running. My first was a Fluval Edge, started at the end of 2020, and the second a low tech epiphyte and house plant Dennerle 30 cube. Both were fairly successful (enjoyed) and I particularly liked just how low maintenance the cube was.
It was a very gradual process getting hold of the equipment (at least a year). It feels financially less painful that way, but also means that I searched for bargain second hand equipment. I did pretty well per item, but in retrospect, I think the cheapest way to get a bargain is to buy an entire setup second hand. Needless to say, by the time it got to fill-up day I was very excited.
Full disclosure, I started this tank last year in October, but I'll catch the journal up in installments
Equipment:
Plants: Mostly from the previous tanks which gradually went from scapes to plant holding boxes as they were broken down and the hardscape removed in case it was wanted here:
The title here is aspirational. I'm quite proud of where it's got to so far, though I certainly wouldn't rate it with the best. I would say 'lush' is the ultimate goal for any planted tank in my opinion. If I can achieve 'lush' I'll be a happy boy.
Background: This is my third tank, and the only one I now have running. My first was a Fluval Edge, started at the end of 2020, and the second a low tech epiphyte and house plant Dennerle 30 cube. Both were fairly successful (enjoyed) and I particularly liked just how low maintenance the cube was.
It was a very gradual process getting hold of the equipment (at least a year). It feels financially less painful that way, but also means that I searched for bargain second hand equipment. I did pretty well per item, but in retrospect, I think the cheapest way to get a bargain is to buy an entire setup second hand. Needless to say, by the time it got to fill-up day I was very excited.
Full disclosure, I started this tank last year in October, but I'll catch the journal up in installments
Equipment:
- APS(?) 60X40X40 Optiwhite tank (paid £40 Facebook)
- Chihiros WRGB2 60 (paid 90AUD on Ausy Facebook)
- Oase 350 Thermo (paid £80 with two sets of Lily Pipes Facebook)
- No CO2 at the start but I have an Eheim regulator on a fire extinguisher with in-tank diffusers of dubious effectiveness (because yes, this was Facebook too, except the extinguisher which was kindly given to me)
- Tropica substrate, with lightly used Tropica aquasoil (another secondhand buy) as well as some fresh aquasoil, and JBL volcano material in mesh bags from a previous set up.
- A couple of large (for the tank) pieces of bogwood (second hand of course) and a bit of red moor root(?) (yes, you guessed it, second hand)
- Black lava rocks and some sand of unknown origin.
- "Driftwood root" bundle from ebay for details
Plants: Mostly from the previous tanks which gradually went from scapes to plant holding boxes as they were broken down and the hardscape removed in case it was wanted here:
- Crypt Parva
- Crypt Wavy Green?
- Crypt Albida Brown?
- Siamensis 53B
- Heteranthera
- Pogostemon Erectus (keen to bring this back from only two or three stems)
- Bacopa Compact (possibly some Carolina)
- Various anubias, nana gold, something smallish, something biggish
- Java fern (narrow?)
- In vitro Marsilea Minutia (worked ok in previous experience)
- In vitro H'ra (new to me, looking forward to red)
- In vitro Hydrocotyle Tripartita (new to me, inspired by lots of cool scapes I've seen)
- Peace Lily
- Spider Plant
- Tillandsia
