Dave's TMC Signature Island

[Dave Pierce]

Looks great Dave, the microsorum looks like its been there forever!

I actually grew that in a propagator before hand, an emersed set-up up with the lights on for 16 hours a day and lots of nutrients.. Started as a tiny plant and over two months grew into what looks like a mother plant.

 

[George Farmer]

Looking good, Dave.

Glad you're enjoying the PS Express app.

 

[Dave Pierce]

Glad you're enjoying the PS Express app.

Yeah picked that up when you mentioned it in your Hillside journal. so Thanks. About as good as I'm going to get with an iPhone

 

[Brian Murphy]

Yeah picked that up when you mentioned it in your Hillside journal. so Thanks. About as good as I'm going to get with an iPhone

As soon as I get my iphone back from the repair shop I think I will be purchasing the app, sounds the biz

 

[Dave Pierce]

Few updates:

• Some slight crypt melting, so chopped away the affected leaves. Mainly happening with the Becketii and Wendtii species. Not going to worry about this and new leaves already emerging.
• No signs of algae yet (2 weeks in). 6 hours of light and the fact that its a low light set-up means for the first time I'm algae free so far.
• I'm on to water changes every 2 days now, I change around 25-30% at a time.
• Oily film on surface is clearing up slowly, still there but sometimes drop some kitchen roll over up to scrape it up. Hopefully it will completely clear soon.
• Drop checker is a solid green & dosing everyday EI salts, macro and micro on alternate days (as I've been doing water changes every other day). Also dosing TNC Carbon everyday.

Has anyone got any tips on how to clean the white deposit left on the glass near the rim of the tank at the waters edge? I have pretty hard water so I'm always left with a white rim round the top of the glass. I brush it often but doesn't keep it away completely.

 

[vauxhallmark]

Razor blade it off, or use vinegar on a kitchen towel. Both when the water is low during a water change.

 

[Dave Pierce]

Razor blade it off, or use vinegar on a kitchen towel. Both when the water is low during a water change.

Thanks vauxhallmark, will give the vinegar a go on my next water change

 

[Dave Pierce]

@vauxhallmark
Just tried the vinegar, worked a treat! Dipped a toothbrush in some balsamic vinegar and the white stuff rubbed straight off.

 

[Dave Pierce]

Half way through tonight's tank maintenance, cleaning glass, trimmed a few leaves and hoovered between plants...


TMC Sig14 by dpierce5, on Flickr

The better half is out babysitting tonight...must do something to keep me amused!

Excuse the ugly heater...waiting for the external to arrive in the post.

 

[Dave Pierce]

Quick video 3 weeks in. Still looks very new, needs lots more time to grow in.

View in HD for best quality. Taken with iPhone 5.

 

[Ian Holdich]

Looking good Dave! Really well done mate!

 

[Dave Pierce]

Looking good Dave! Really well done mate!

Cheers Ian

P.s. the reason why the drop checker is blue in the video is because I just changed the liquid before shooting the vid

 

[Samjpikey]

Really nice looking scape you have here , the more I see these 'island' type scapes , the more I want to just tear down mine and re start .
Is that optiwhite glass for the tank ?

Cheers


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[Dave Pierce]

Really nice looking scape you have here , the more I see these 'island' type scapes , the more I want to just tear down mine and re start .
Is that optiwhite glass for the tank ?

Cheers


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Thanks a lot! Yep optiwhite glass, I love it. The TMC signature aquariums are superb value and made to a very high standard.

 

[Samjpikey]

I would like to go optiwhite , I work for a glazing firm and can get it at cost , if I'm brave enough I think I'm going to build one :/ maybe .
Looks awesome though not seeing the green/black edge of the glass !

I will definitely be watching this to see how it all grows in .
Cheers


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[TOO]

It looks very nice. Perhaps a few more branches coming out of the island would look good and create added dynamic.

Thomas

 

[Dave Pierce]

I would like to go optiwhite , I work for a glazing firm and can get it at cost , if I'm brave enough I think I'm going to build one :/ maybe . Looks awesome though not seeing the green/black edge of the glass !

Optiwhite is definitely the way to go I also love the depth of the TMC aquariums.

It looks very nice. Perhaps a few more branches coming out of the island would look good and create added dynamic.

I thought this also, might look into it, but don't want to destroy what's already there.

Hoping the crypts will grow some more at the back and side.

Thanks for your comments

 

[TOO]

I see what you mean. Only thing is that if the crypt is allowed to grow higher and wider it risks erasing the angle on the island slope. I think the main island has some great angles as it is now, so plants need to be controlled to keep this. I hope it makes sense .

Thomas

 

[Dave Pierce]

Yeah I see where you coming from TOO. I think some regular pruning will help keep its shape, will keep an eye on this.

Cheers for your input

 

[Dave Pierce]

I introduced some Ember Tetras today. Just 10 of them + 4 Lemon Tetras from a smaller tank that's no longer running. I have seen them in a few aquascapes on UKAPS, they're nice looking fish.

This video was taken about 2 hours after they were introduced...best to watch in HD for better viewing as it's only an Iphone video. Let me know what you think