Jomega
Seedling
Hi there everyone....
*** SKIP to the asterix's if you want to avoid introductory ramblings etc.
After a friendly welcome onto the forum, I thought I would give a tank journal a bash, as I did have one on a reefing site for a good year, and it was good fun.
I moved to the Uk around five years ago from South Africa, and as soon as i got settled, I got my self a tank, as I have always loved the notion of your own little biome...
I started out with a Fluval Roma 200 - many mistakes were made, but eventually I got it looking respectable.
After having my Scalare Angels try to breed on me, and in the process become blood thirsty tyrants to all other inhabitants, I took the leap and went for Discus. I found some incredible Stendker Discus who didnt mind the hard water of London, and eventually the tank looked like this.
Despite really growing fond of those mutli-coloured little pigs (beef heart turned them into velociraptors) i decided i needed another challenge, and i sold them on, as well as the tank.
My eyes were fixed on a marine setup, and so I had a Custom Rimless Tank built.
After alot of mistakes, and a shed load of money (i still feel silly) , the tank was coming along
Then I went on a week holiday, and my LED fixture decided to go wonky on me. needless to say the LPS corals bid me farewell, and I returned to a number of skeletons. That clinched it for me, as I had been getting increaingly frustrated with the hassle that comes with mixed marine tanks . O TDs, and absolutely perfect water, stock that generally just cost an arm and a leg and other issues left me uninspired.
So i sold off my stock, and decided to return to fresh water, in the hopes that some sort of ease and comfort might loom on the horizon. It is really refreshing to see the attitude of most members on UKAPS, friendly, and helpful, and serious about their hobby without turning into finger wavers.
***So....apologising for my ramble.
I have decided on a Low Tech tank, as CO2 and T5's didnt really pan out for me the first time. I want simplicity, and less hassle, and Low Tech seems like it just might afford me that.
So on to the particulars
.
Tank - Custom Made Rimless 90cm x 60 cm x 45cm (H) with Sump and X-Aqua Wier.
Stand - Custom
Mechanical Filtration - Filter sock, changed weekly.
Chemical Filtration - Will attempt to be using Aquaroche (its essentially Ceramic Rock designed to act like live rock) to promote the Ntirogen cycle. A large piece will be kept in the sump and blasted with a Tunze 9003 powerhead
Temperature - TMC V"Therm and Fluval Heater as backup - controlled by a ATC 300 with temp probe
Circulation - From tank to sump and back again will be a Sicce Syncra 3 return pump, and intank water movement will be provided by a Ecotech Vortech MP10
Auto Top up - TMC Vtop up+
Lighting - Will be using my Maxspect Razor 160W 16k LED unit - Will only be using the white channel, more than likely at 50 percent.
I have decided to use Moler Clay as the main component of substrate, as it was affordable, and its ability to retain and release nutrients seems interesting to me. I will likely be putting something underneath to enrich it like JBL Aqua basis or something along those lines.
And then i am going to try and stick to simple, easy plants, that dont require CO2 and fussiness. I will update as I go, and hold thumbs that algae does not bloom.
Some pics to follow,
More pics soon.. off to the LFs tomorrow for some hardscape....and the setting up of all the hardware
Thanks to any who care to glance at this journal.
*** SKIP to the asterix's if you want to avoid introductory ramblings etc.
After a friendly welcome onto the forum, I thought I would give a tank journal a bash, as I did have one on a reefing site for a good year, and it was good fun.
I moved to the Uk around five years ago from South Africa, and as soon as i got settled, I got my self a tank, as I have always loved the notion of your own little biome...
I started out with a Fluval Roma 200 - many mistakes were made, but eventually I got it looking respectable.
After having my Scalare Angels try to breed on me, and in the process become blood thirsty tyrants to all other inhabitants, I took the leap and went for Discus. I found some incredible Stendker Discus who didnt mind the hard water of London, and eventually the tank looked like this.
Despite really growing fond of those mutli-coloured little pigs (beef heart turned them into velociraptors) i decided i needed another challenge, and i sold them on, as well as the tank.
My eyes were fixed on a marine setup, and so I had a Custom Rimless Tank built.
After alot of mistakes, and a shed load of money (i still feel silly) , the tank was coming along
Then I went on a week holiday, and my LED fixture decided to go wonky on me. needless to say the LPS corals bid me farewell, and I returned to a number of skeletons. That clinched it for me, as I had been getting increaingly frustrated with the hassle that comes with mixed marine tanks . O TDs, and absolutely perfect water, stock that generally just cost an arm and a leg and other issues left me uninspired.
So i sold off my stock, and decided to return to fresh water, in the hopes that some sort of ease and comfort might loom on the horizon. It is really refreshing to see the attitude of most members on UKAPS, friendly, and helpful, and serious about their hobby without turning into finger wavers.
***So....apologising for my ramble.
I have decided on a Low Tech tank, as CO2 and T5's didnt really pan out for me the first time. I want simplicity, and less hassle, and Low Tech seems like it just might afford me that.
So on to the particulars
.
Tank - Custom Made Rimless 90cm x 60 cm x 45cm (H) with Sump and X-Aqua Wier.
Stand - Custom
Mechanical Filtration - Filter sock, changed weekly.
Chemical Filtration - Will attempt to be using Aquaroche (its essentially Ceramic Rock designed to act like live rock) to promote the Ntirogen cycle. A large piece will be kept in the sump and blasted with a Tunze 9003 powerhead
Temperature - TMC V"Therm and Fluval Heater as backup - controlled by a ATC 300 with temp probe
Circulation - From tank to sump and back again will be a Sicce Syncra 3 return pump, and intank water movement will be provided by a Ecotech Vortech MP10
Auto Top up - TMC Vtop up+
Lighting - Will be using my Maxspect Razor 160W 16k LED unit - Will only be using the white channel, more than likely at 50 percent.
I have decided to use Moler Clay as the main component of substrate, as it was affordable, and its ability to retain and release nutrients seems interesting to me. I will likely be putting something underneath to enrich it like JBL Aqua basis or something along those lines.
And then i am going to try and stick to simple, easy plants, that dont require CO2 and fussiness. I will update as I go, and hold thumbs that algae does not bloom.
Some pics to follow,
More pics soon.. off to the LFs tomorrow for some hardscape....and the setting up of all the hardware
Thanks to any who care to glance at this journal.