New member, new tank... advise please!

[Ozzy_Uk]

Hi All
this is my first attempt at a planted tank, and i would like some advice on plant species, hints and tips, and any thing else that is relevent!

i have a 75x30x40 cm tank, (should be about 85l inc external filter when filled)

i am planning to run at about 25C and have a selection of small tetra, danios or similar, as well as some snails and shrimps.

I am also using crestron home automation controller to manage the lighting (RGB LEDs), monitor the pumps, and temp, (and PH if i can find an appropriate sensor i can program), and email me daily update on the status of the tank...

I am also setting it up with a solenoid controlled CO2 bottle, which is also run by the crestron control processor...

i would like to create a vista that is based arround some large bits of slate i have, with a nice 50% or more "grass" covering the bottom, and maybe 1 or 2 taller plants arround the slate...

a sort of hill in the middle of the tank(foreground), with some extra slate bits at the back...

any recomendations for plants? (ideally with pictures)

any recomendations for fish? (again ideally with pictures)

here is some pictures of the tank "cabinet" build in progress... (really am starting from scratch)

all started as most projects do as a doodle on an envelope:

wood cut:

wood together:

(with polystyrene base to spread tank load)

1st coat of paint:

installing the crestron processor and power for heater, lighting/pumps etc:

two different chanenls of LED lighting, for different colors simaltanously, as well as color controlled by the crestron processor based on time of day (ie warm white/orange in the morning, more warmer white and blue white mid day to afternoon, then warm white to orange and then red in the evening):

144 LEDs...

nearly there:

thanks all,
Oz

 

[ale36]

Its looking really good, i really need to move out so i can get everything out of my head and convert it in to the real deal! keep the good work up!

 

[Nathaniel Whiteside]

Hello Oz and welcome to the forum, for a start! You've definitely taken a positive step in having success with a planted tank.

On a another note, the stand you've made does not look capable of holding a tank of the size specified in my personal opinion.

Is it fixed back to the wall?

To increase its structural integrity, I would be inclined at the very minimum to fix a board to the back of the lowest section, and possibly Carry it up behind the tank. This should stop the cabinet flapping over like a pack of cards, if not under the weight of the tank, with the slightest of knocks on the side when in situ.

Please do not take this the wrong way, as your effort is great. Just water is veyr heavy.
If you search the common manufacturers tank Display cabinets, they will all, invariably, have a 'strut' to hold the verticals together, to stop incidents explained above.

Cheers, and good luck,

 

[Ozzy_Uk]

Thanks for the feed back.
the unit is 12 and 18mm structural ply spruce).
it should handle 200kgs on the main shelf with no problems.
it is all about surface area. There is a lip all the way round the underside of the shelf too, as well as the centre support being 18mm ply, like the sides.
also the screws used from the sides are a 200mm intervals and 80mm long. It's all wood glued and screwed.
I'm confident it will be strong enough having spent the last 3 years building my house (15th century iron stone barn, did everything myself!)
will pop up a few more pics when I'm done with tonight's work on it. (Just got to get home first!)
cheers!
oz

 

[Ozzy_Uk]

Oh and forgot to say the back is solid 12mm ply too, single sheet, hence the back of the tank area is black, because you can't see the red wall through it. (Backs of lower cupboards are red, its not the wall you can see.)

 

[Nathaniel Whiteside]

Ahh, that sounds a lot better than perceived from the photographs. Sorry!

 

[Ozzy_Uk]

more toys arrived last night...

i also finished putting on magnetic catches to hold the front "surround" in place, and added a couple more strengthening uprights to spread the load more, just incase

Oz