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Omega's Iwagumi - Xibalba

Omegatron

Member
Joined
6 Nov 2013
Messages
132
Location
The Netherlands
Hi,

Snooping around here for inspiration and learning from others i thought it was time i created an account on this beautiful forum aswell.

I recently got a new tank, the dimensions are: length 120cm X wide 40cm X height 35 cm (inches= 47,2 X 15,7 X 13,8).

I had to get a new stand as well. Since I am on a budget I decided to build it myself. On
Planted Aquarium Tank Portal - Project Aquarium
I found sort of a tutorial of how to build it. Since my dad has friends in the construction business I asked him to check how much the materials would costs. I gave him the print screens from projectaquarium.com and then it went quiet…too quiet. Until a week later he sends me these pics.

diyadastand1.jpg

diyadastand2.jpg


He secretly had the stand build! I was very surprised and very happy because to be honest if I had to do it myself… well let me put it this way…I can’t even build ikea furniture to something usable. I did paint it myself though :)

standwit1.jpg

standwit2.jpg

standwit3.jpg


In the meantime I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with the aquascape. I’m a sucker for the Amano style and I love Iwagumi so I had an idea. I build a fake tank and threw some rocks in. Sadly that didn’t work. Luckily there are forums like these were people are willing to help each other.
So I created something that I thought would look nice and Lawrence helped me to make it work and also teaching me why you would do something and why not. Since we had only contact by mail using photos and a major time difference it took us about 2 weeks to create the final layout. Lawrence was a big help in making this scape, to be really honest I often felt like Amano’s helpers in those black t-shirts and following Lawrence his input. I could not have done this without him

This was my fake tank:

foto11.jpg


And here I went to recreate and improve it in the real tank:

IMG_0060.jpg


When I thought this would be my final layout I got an email from Lawrence with this drawing attached. What would I think of a path/river/road running through the tank. I wasn’t 100% enthusiastic about it because I have no idea how to keep in clean and not covered in plants. But I really liked the sketch and thought I will figure it out when I get to that point.

The sketch:
foto21.jpg


The Tank with and without the path:

foto1-2.jpg


metpad.jpg


When the hardscape was ready I went for planting.
I’m using the following plants (with ADA Amazonia soil):
  • Hemianthus callitrichoides
  • Glossostigma elatinoides
  • Eleocharis parvula

For technique i have the following:
Filtration:
  • Eheim Professional 3 2071
  • Eheim Ecco Pro 2036
  • Pressurized Co2
  • Inline heater
  • 2x T5 Bulbs (1x 6000k and one 9000k) with a Odyssa fixture.
  • I fertilize with micro/macro solutions that i make with powders using EI method

filters-1.jpg


Some pictures after planting:

frontview.jpg


totalview.jpg


upperangle.jpg



Update, 25 days after planting:

2.jpg


1.jpg


Let me know what you think of it!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Stunning great cabinet and amazing scape, like others have said love the river and what great growth 4 weeks that's brilliant u get much algae or any problems ? Stunning and welcome to ukaps


Thanks Dean
 
That's really nice good work:) Cool user name too transformer mad in this house.
 
Hi,

thank you all for the compliments I am really honored. Im really happy the scape turned out so well. Why it grew out so fast? Tbh i have no idea. I did nothing special. adding CO2 and dosing EI from day 1. I dont know if this could be a reason behind it but I accidently started out with 10 hours of light instead of the 8 I was planning. (the timers were still set for the previous tank and forgot to change it).

To be really honest the scape looks better on the pics atm then in real life. Im still figuring out the reason but the HC colors arent great. they are dull and yellowish. debating atm the add more iron or Mgso4.

Thanks again, i really appriciate all the feedback!
 
Hi guys,

Back for an update, things arent going the way they should lately. A few weeks ago my girfriend decided to feed the fish.... this whas the result:

voer1.jpg


voer2.jpg


So i wasnt really pleased with her feeding the fish and i had to clean out the tank, I had to replant 70% of the HC because it all came lose when cleaning.

Now a few weeks after replanting its starting to look better but then i noticed the silicone acting weird. It al started when i picked up the tank in september i noticed some bubbles in the silicone. the LFS said it wouldnt give any trouble. but overtime the silicone turned white and i contacted the LFS this week with the same picture. As a result the tank is not save and they are building me a new one. Big bummer to start all over again.

the silicone:

foto3-3.jpg


So next update will be an exact copy of this layout and hopefully i have better luck with the new tank.
 

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Bummer. I would be asking for compensation.....

Sent from my GT-I9505G using Tapatalk
 
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