Emersed start - 80 x 40 x 40 high tech

[AndyVox]

Hey,

I used to frequent here alot a few years ago before getting pulled into marine for a few years. Due to huge building work at home I closed down my marine tank and have been thankless for the last 6 or so months, then I got the itch to go planted again... So here we are!

A few of my previous tanks:








Anyway, out with the old in with the new!
I still have building work going on - new kitchen to be fitted at the end of January, I saw an aqua one 110l 80 x 40 x 40 online for a great price so thought I'd get it and do a dry start until I can get the tank in place and full properly, so it's probably going to be 2-3 months of dry start before I can flood it.



Tank in place for now.
Equipment list so far:
Tank - Aqua One 110l 80x40x40 optiwhite
Light - 3 x 20w LED Floodlights on DIY bracket
Filtration - Fluval 406
Heater - Hydor 300 inline
CO2 - FE with TMC regulator / solenoid - likely to use some sort of reactor (not keen on the 7up look!)
Substrate - Soil capped with sand





Light test - all working well. Attached to a chrome rail, adjustable height and angle, all wiring hidden inside the chrome rails.











Plants list:
Hemianthus callitrichoides Cuba HC
Hemianthus micranthemoides
Fissidens Fontanus
Pogostemon helferi
Staurogyne repens
Micranthemum 'Monte Carlo
Plagiomnium affinis
Glosso
Eleocharis parvula

Any input on the scape would be most welcome!
I guess it's just a waiting game now...

 

[Nelson]

Welcome back from the dark side,or is it to the dark side .
I really like the layout .

 

[Greenfinger2]

Hi Andy, Nice come back scape

 

[Guest]

Very nice...and an IKEA Besta stand, it's perfct for Aqua One tanks - 40cm deep.
Have you reinforced it?

 

[AndyVox]

Welcome back from the dark side,or is it to the dark side .
I really like the layout .

I think it's too the dark side, either way I've got a lot of love for a good planted tank and a lot of love for a good reef!

Hi Andy, Nice come back scape

Thank you 🙂 really hope it looks good once it's all grown in!

Very nice...and an IKEA Besta stand, it's perfct for Aqua One tanks - 40cm deep.
Have you reinforced it?

My original plan was to build an ADA style stand but when I saw the Besta was a good fit I ended up doing a total 180.
I haven't reinforced it, being the 180cm long it is a 120cm with a 60cm next to it so the sides of the two are under than tank, however I was considering reinforcing the 120cm side as the tank spreads about a third of the way along it. I wasn't sure whether it was needed or not... I've got some time to think about it, with no water in I'm not overly concerned but I guess once an extra 80kg of water weight goes in it might prove to be an issue... It also has a toughened glass top which again adds to my concern. Thoughts?

 

[Aqua360]

I think it's too the dark side, either way I've got a lot of love for a good planted tank and a lot of love for a good reef!



Thank you 🙂 really hope it looks good once it's all grown in!



My original plan was to build an ADA style stand but when I saw the Besta was a good fit I ended up doing a total 180.
I haven't reinforced it, being the 180cm long it is a 120cm with a 60cm next to it so the sides of the two are under than tank, however I was considering reinforcing the 120cm side as the tank spreads about a third of the way along it. I wasn't sure whether it was needed or not... I've got some time to think about it, with no water in I'm not overly concerned but I guess once an extra 80kg of water weight goes in it might prove to be an issue... It also has a toughened glass top which again adds to my concern. Thoughts?

Probably best safe than sorry, but I have no engineering background so couldn't comment on the actual mechanisms