hotweldfire
Member
Hi All,
This is my first journal, first Iwagumi and first attempt at a second tank. It's going to be a slow burner as I don't really have the cash for all the gear I need so the shrimp and plants in my main tank are going to have to subsidise this one until it's up and running and can pay for itself (will start a journal for my main tank shortly).
This is the cube:
http://www.ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=16036
I bought two of these. I had originally planned to buy one as a b'day present for a mate who used to keep a tank a few years ago but stopped after his wife did a water change with untreated tap water. Real shame as he was living in Singapore at the time (think of the rare shrimp he could have brought back). Anyway whilst I was there I thought I may as well buy another as they were so cheap and stick it in the attic until I could justify a second tank (that's what I told myself anyway). However, once I told the better half what an Iwagumi looked like and the philosophy behind it she told me to set it up in the living room (will take a pic of the space shortly).
As a result it needs to look as good as possible which will mean glass lily pipes, external filter, inline co2 and heater etc. That's all a bit longer term though. First I want to get it up and running with what came with it (need to buy a cheap heater still).
For now I need some advice on design, immersed/emersed, substrate and temporary co2. Firstly substrate and emersed.
Substrate: It's probably between ada amazonia (not amazonia II) and colombo florabase. Price is pretty equivalent but I'm tending towards the ada because I've got a bit of it lying around which will probably mean I'll only need a 3 litre bag rather than a larger one. At the same time I'd rather go for the powder form because I imagine it will be easier to plant in. But I'm struggling to justify the much higher cost. Is there any advantage to the powder other than the ease of planting?
Secondly emersed. Never tried this before but my recent tear-my-hair-out experiences (well would be if I had any) with HC makes me tempted. At the same time I have some boraras brigittae in my main tank that I want to get out soon as possible as they are struggling with the low temp, high flow and larger and more boisterous vietnamese minnows in there. How long typically do people grow something like HC for before flooding the tank? Is it worth doing with only the 11w light that came with this tank?
Additional comments and critiques very welcome.
This is my first journal, first Iwagumi and first attempt at a second tank. It's going to be a slow burner as I don't really have the cash for all the gear I need so the shrimp and plants in my main tank are going to have to subsidise this one until it's up and running and can pay for itself (will start a journal for my main tank shortly).
This is the cube:
http://www.ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=16036
I bought two of these. I had originally planned to buy one as a b'day present for a mate who used to keep a tank a few years ago but stopped after his wife did a water change with untreated tap water. Real shame as he was living in Singapore at the time (think of the rare shrimp he could have brought back). Anyway whilst I was there I thought I may as well buy another as they were so cheap and stick it in the attic until I could justify a second tank (that's what I told myself anyway). However, once I told the better half what an Iwagumi looked like and the philosophy behind it she told me to set it up in the living room (will take a pic of the space shortly).
As a result it needs to look as good as possible which will mean glass lily pipes, external filter, inline co2 and heater etc. That's all a bit longer term though. First I want to get it up and running with what came with it (need to buy a cheap heater still).
For now I need some advice on design, immersed/emersed, substrate and temporary co2. Firstly substrate and emersed.
Substrate: It's probably between ada amazonia (not amazonia II) and colombo florabase. Price is pretty equivalent but I'm tending towards the ada because I've got a bit of it lying around which will probably mean I'll only need a 3 litre bag rather than a larger one. At the same time I'd rather go for the powder form because I imagine it will be easier to plant in. But I'm struggling to justify the much higher cost. Is there any advantage to the powder other than the ease of planting?
Secondly emersed. Never tried this before but my recent tear-my-hair-out experiences (well would be if I had any) with HC makes me tempted. At the same time I have some boraras brigittae in my main tank that I want to get out soon as possible as they are struggling with the low temp, high flow and larger and more boisterous vietnamese minnows in there. How long typically do people grow something like HC for before flooding the tank? Is it worth doing with only the 11w light that came with this tank?
Additional comments and critiques very welcome.