Steve Smith
Member
Re: Stus Hardscape for Tropica Aquacube
Great little tank Stu! Love it
Great little tank Stu! Love it
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Nano Tropica Aquacube 20x20x20cm [Now planted!]
- Thread starter Stu Worrall
- Start date
jonny_ftm
Member
Re: Stus Hardscape for Tropica Aquacube
Plants can have a hard time to adapt from submerged to emersed state, rather than the opposite. Tom, on the barr forum wrote this method initially growing HC.
If you start with submerged form, you'll need frequent misting the first days, than progressively space the misting so that the leaves can adapt to emersed form. The risk here is fungus developping if kept wet. Humidity must be kept above 80% while a good vent is still present and leaves dry to avoid trouble. Misting can never compensate a low humidity. Many tried Tom method and failed, others, including me, didn't have any trouble. I think the key factor is really to switch to a dry humid state the faster possible, with a constant humidity above 75-80% (monitored via a calibrated cheap hygrometer).
Never close the tank completely, plants need CO2 and O2, find balance between openings and humidity. I use a 5mm acrylic top I cut my self and that will be maintained straight by aluminium U shaped borders
Also never let water above the soil level ---> algae and fungus
When submerging the tank, you'll have to max the CO2, as under water they'll move from 300ppm in the air to very little in water. Than, CO2 can be decreased on some days, or even better 2-3 weeks. No fish of course meanwhile. Tom and others didn't note any HC melting during immersion if CO2 is kept high
Better results will need a mineralized soil (ADA AS) or organic one (castings). To cycle your soil, use mulm and water from main tank and spray/mist plants with that water too. Flash the water few times when immersing to remove any leaked organic parts
Tom advised 4-6 weeks to cycle the soil and so that plants establish well. Or immersing when plants achieve the density you look for. I'll be going 8-10 weeks for planning restrictions and also as I love the "watch it growing without maintenance" thing.
I find your tank worth the try of a dry start. The time spent waiting for introducing fish is compensated by a maintenance free planted aquarium
Plants can have a hard time to adapt from submerged to emersed state, rather than the opposite. Tom, on the barr forum wrote this method initially growing HC.
If you start with submerged form, you'll need frequent misting the first days, than progressively space the misting so that the leaves can adapt to emersed form. The risk here is fungus developping if kept wet. Humidity must be kept above 80% while a good vent is still present and leaves dry to avoid trouble. Misting can never compensate a low humidity. Many tried Tom method and failed, others, including me, didn't have any trouble. I think the key factor is really to switch to a dry humid state the faster possible, with a constant humidity above 75-80% (monitored via a calibrated cheap hygrometer).
Never close the tank completely, plants need CO2 and O2, find balance between openings and humidity. I use a 5mm acrylic top I cut my self and that will be maintained straight by aluminium U shaped borders
Also never let water above the soil level ---> algae and fungus
When submerging the tank, you'll have to max the CO2, as under water they'll move from 300ppm in the air to very little in water. Than, CO2 can be decreased on some days, or even better 2-3 weeks. No fish of course meanwhile. Tom and others didn't note any HC melting during immersion if CO2 is kept high
Better results will need a mineralized soil (ADA AS) or organic one (castings). To cycle your soil, use mulm and water from main tank and spray/mist plants with that water too. Flash the water few times when immersing to remove any leaked organic parts
Tom advised 4-6 weeks to cycle the soil and so that plants establish well. Or immersing when plants achieve the density you look for. I'll be going 8-10 weeks for planning restrictions and also as I love the "watch it growing without maintenance" thing.
I find your tank worth the try of a dry start. The time spent waiting for introducing fish is compensated by a maintenance free planted aquarium
Re: Stus Hardscape for Tropica Aquacube
Brilliant idea on the heather wood, Stu.
Sure, it's been used before but you've done something different with it. Kudos!
Love the planting plans too.
This is gonna be a cracker! I'm getting excited for you.
Brilliant idea on the heather wood, Stu.
Sure, it's been used before but you've done something different with it. Kudos!
Love the planting plans too.
This is gonna be a cracker! I'm getting excited for you.
flygja
Member
Re: Stus Hardscape for Tropica Aquacube
Never doubted you for a second 8)
stuworrall said:
Never doubted you for a second 8)
Re: Stus Hardscape for Tropica Aquacube
Did some HC planting last night. its currently wrapped in clingfilm and I should hopefully finish it off tonight and get the filter and co2 fitted
flygja said:
Did some HC planting last night. its currently wrapped in clingfilm and I should hopefully finish it off tonight and get the filter and co2 fitted
Re: Stus Hardscape for Tropica Aquacube
I managed to do a water change tonight and get some pictures. Ignore the wood at the top as ive removed it and will replace it when i can get it flat like in the previous pictures. It floated too much and stuck up so I need some more glue in at next water change
Other than that everything planted quite well with the minimum of clouding. Pics below include the Dazs Chisel diffuser and some nice ADA parts set grey tubing (I left them in as I was bound to break the glass if I tried to take it out!). Boyu bubble counter on the outside. I took off the HOB and the light for the photography.
Front
Angled
Close-up of diffuser and planting
Corner
In-situ in the lounge under the TV with the HOB and light in place. The jury is still out for bruce, he doesnt like the wood at the back either
I managed to do a water change tonight and get some pictures. Ignore the wood at the top as ive removed it and will replace it when i can get it flat like in the previous pictures. It floated too much and stuck up so I need some more glue in at next water change
Other than that everything planted quite well with the minimum of clouding. Pics below include the Dazs Chisel diffuser and some nice ADA parts set grey tubing (I left them in as I was bound to break the glass if I tried to take it out!). Boyu bubble counter on the outside. I took off the HOB and the light for the photography.
Front
Angled
Close-up of diffuser and planting
Corner
In-situ in the lounge under the TV with the HOB and light in place. The jury is still out for bruce, he doesnt like the wood at the back either
Thats just stunning Stu! It looks awesome in situ to, i'm so jealous.
mattyc
Member
this is a great looking tank.
Good work!!!
Matt
Good work!!!
Matt
cheers all,
you're right about the wood as it looks crap after I checked the pictures so I took it out of the top sections. Ive got to cut it and reposition so it creeps over the top rather than standing to attention!
thanks for the hairgrass by the way thomas, its planted up nicely in the back of this tank!
I really like the ADA tubing, really flexible and doestn kink when you loop it over the top of the tank. Ill be using it in all my tanks at the last stage from now on. Just wish it wasnt so dear!
The HOB is working wuite well as the outflow drops onto the top of the co2 bubbles thus distributing them around the tank. The only thing im worried about is a lack of flow aournd the left side of the main stone.
you're right about the wood as it looks crap after I checked the pictures so I took it out of the top sections. Ive got to cut it and reposition so it creeps over the top rather than standing to attention!
thanks for the hairgrass by the way thomas, its planted up nicely in the back of this tank!
I really like the ADA tubing, really flexible and doestn kink when you loop it over the top of the tank. Ill be using it in all my tanks at the last stage from now on. Just wish it wasnt so dear!
The HOB is working wuite well as the outflow drops onto the top of the co2 bubbles thus distributing them around the tank. The only thing im worried about is a lack of flow aournd the left side of the main stone.
aaronnorth
Member
beautiful Stu. I loved the wood before the plants went in, but i am not too sure it goes now! Still, if you do reposition it to creep over like you say i think it will look even better
I like nutrafin CO2 airline, that is flexible and doesnt kink either for a lot less money
I like nutrafin CO2 airline, that is flexible and doesnt kink either for a lot less money
John Starkey
Member
Hi stu,
stunning mate,great sense of scale,good plant choice,brilliantly executed,
regards john,
stunning mate,great sense of scale,good plant choice,brilliantly executed,
regards john,
Great hardscape, great layout, great plant choice, great planting technique, great photography...
I'm extremely impressed!
Congratulations, Stu!
I'm extremely impressed!
Congratulations, Stu!
TDI-line
Member
Re: Stus Hardscape for Tropica Aquacube
Die Hard Scaping.
stuworrall said:
Die Hard Scaping.
Re: Stus Hardscape for Tropica Aquacube
Thanks again all. Did a bit of wood re-positioning last night and the un-natural pieces have been fixed and the fissidens glued on. will try and get some pics later.
Does anyone know if UG is ok with easycarbo? dont want to kill mine off before its even got started!
TDI-line said:Die Hard Scaping.
Thanks again all. Did a bit of wood re-positioning last night and the un-natural pieces have been fixed and the fissidens glued on. will try and get some pics later.
Does anyone know if UG is ok with easycarbo? dont want to kill mine off before its even got started!
aaronnorth
Member
bladderwworts (and liveworts) react adversely too liquid carbon, but people do report success at the standard dose, there is always the od chance you cant use it at all though
TDI-line said:stuworrall said:
Die Hard Scaping.
I like that. Let me tell you, sometimes you feel like you're going to die after scaping. Beautiful little tank.
I'm not a huge fan of gluing plants, but so many do it that I'm sure it isn't harmful.
llj
Little update. ive been doing daily water changes. The HC is grwoing well and im going to give it a trim tonight. Unfortunately some of the UG is starting to melt but other bits are fine so im hoping some survives so it can grow on.
As I dont start scapes with AS very often (only used it once) when should I start dosing TPN+ ???
As I dont start scapes with AS very often (only used it once) when should I start dosing TPN+ ???
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