Over 80 posts and no tank photo what a shame. No introductions before I just appeared from nowhere so to make it right I am going to post something today.
Brief history. I had tank from age 5 to 17, first 60L then 180L, managed to breed Neons at 15 by collecting soft water from mountains near where I lived. Terms like fertilization or good bacteria etc were unknown that time to me. Then I got puberty strike and hobby was out of interest.
Almost 3 years ago I successfully penetrated UK borders carrying my job from home country to the UK (no job stealing ) to improve English and for taste of different culture.
Last year I accidentally run in to few aqua shops and got my memories back so I bought 10g tank and started over again. 10g was used more as testing tank than anything else, trying to grow loads of plants and galaxy Danios rediscovering forgotten hobby.
Then suddenly 10g became too small and 2 weeks ago I bough my 1st Optiwhite for 44 pounds and here my journal begins.
Tank: 80L Optiwhite from rak-aqua for 44,- Very clean finish.
Filtration: JBL e900
Heating: Hydor Eth200
Lights: TMC GroBeam 500 Twin + Power controller (very cool, can't stop looking)
Substrate: Seachem black Sand 2bags + some scoops from 3rd
Decor: 12kg Dragon stones (some more than half used only) and Redmoor
Co2: 600g Disposable bottles DIY
Flora:
1 pot, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides (maritima)
1 pot, Hydrocotyle verticillata
2 pots, Lilaeopsis mauritiana
3 pots, Utricularia graminifolia
1 pot, Staurogyne repens
Blyxa Japonica, few bunches from fellow member
Rotala Indica, Juncus Repens and Java Fern from 1st tank just few cuttings
Fauna:
None yet. Undecided but planning few ottos, pair of styphodon gobbies and shrimps. As main fish maybe I move Danios but I would like some tetras maybe rummy nose but they are quite big or dwarf pencilfish, can't decide yet. I would maybe aim for larger quantity of tiny fish.
Photos:
Here we go empty tank ready to get filled.
Some detail on GroBeams. Expensive but worth. Planned on DIY but I would not save much and I was after controller and dimming features.
1st layer just Seachem sand and Osmocotte. This was pain to wash and then dry out for easy handling but worth it. Sand looks awesome, I was looking for cheaper normal sand but could not find anything normal. The one from AE is just too fine. Slates are used in background to lift up and save sand.
I had many ideas, always wanted root in between stones it took me ages to find right wood and stones was sort of jackpot what you get. Originally I planned mini landscape rocks but they change water a lot.
1st water fill on Sunday 6th Feb
3rd day cleaned up nicely but some tannins present from wood. Right wood needs to be weighted down for some time with stone on top.
Left to tank is my office table. As I work from home all I have to do is turn head right and enjoy, calm dawn and relax.
Brief history. I had tank from age 5 to 17, first 60L then 180L, managed to breed Neons at 15 by collecting soft water from mountains near where I lived. Terms like fertilization or good bacteria etc were unknown that time to me. Then I got puberty strike and hobby was out of interest.
Almost 3 years ago I successfully penetrated UK borders carrying my job from home country to the UK (no job stealing ) to improve English and for taste of different culture.
Last year I accidentally run in to few aqua shops and got my memories back so I bought 10g tank and started over again. 10g was used more as testing tank than anything else, trying to grow loads of plants and galaxy Danios rediscovering forgotten hobby.
Then suddenly 10g became too small and 2 weeks ago I bough my 1st Optiwhite for 44 pounds and here my journal begins.
Tank: 80L Optiwhite from rak-aqua for 44,- Very clean finish.
Filtration: JBL e900
Heating: Hydor Eth200
Lights: TMC GroBeam 500 Twin + Power controller (very cool, can't stop looking)
Substrate: Seachem black Sand 2bags + some scoops from 3rd
Decor: 12kg Dragon stones (some more than half used only) and Redmoor
Co2: 600g Disposable bottles DIY
Flora:
1 pot, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides (maritima)
1 pot, Hydrocotyle verticillata
2 pots, Lilaeopsis mauritiana
3 pots, Utricularia graminifolia
1 pot, Staurogyne repens
Blyxa Japonica, few bunches from fellow member
Rotala Indica, Juncus Repens and Java Fern from 1st tank just few cuttings
Fauna:
None yet. Undecided but planning few ottos, pair of styphodon gobbies and shrimps. As main fish maybe I move Danios but I would like some tetras maybe rummy nose but they are quite big or dwarf pencilfish, can't decide yet. I would maybe aim for larger quantity of tiny fish.
Photos:
Here we go empty tank ready to get filled.
Some detail on GroBeams. Expensive but worth. Planned on DIY but I would not save much and I was after controller and dimming features.
1st layer just Seachem sand and Osmocotte. This was pain to wash and then dry out for easy handling but worth it. Sand looks awesome, I was looking for cheaper normal sand but could not find anything normal. The one from AE is just too fine. Slates are used in background to lift up and save sand.
I had many ideas, always wanted root in between stones it took me ages to find right wood and stones was sort of jackpot what you get. Originally I planned mini landscape rocks but they change water a lot.
1st water fill on Sunday 6th Feb
3rd day cleaned up nicely but some tannins present from wood. Right wood needs to be weighted down for some time with stone on top.
Left to tank is my office table. As I work from home all I have to do is turn head right and enjoy, calm dawn and relax.