Mark D
Member
- Joined
- 2 May 2015
- Messages
- 47
So the time has most come to start the refurb and upgrade on the Rio 400.
4 years ago it looked like this:
However today it looks like this:
I had been considering a refurb and upgrade for some time, but recent equipment failures have moved things along (first a heater failed on and cooked everything but a single yo-yo loach. Then a seal started a slow leak on the 2nd canister filter).
A few minor things I have done already, like the seneye. However it will be a total empty out and start again with regards to most of whats in there.
I already have some new wood soaking and its pretty much waterlogged, I also have some java moss in my old shrimp tank growing ready.
I am looking at this in 3 phases:
For phase 1:
I will look to keep this updated with progress. Any ideas, tips, comments, questions or advise welcome.
4 years ago it looked like this:
However today it looks like this:
I had been considering a refurb and upgrade for some time, but recent equipment failures have moved things along (first a heater failed on and cooked everything but a single yo-yo loach. Then a seal started a slow leak on the 2nd canister filter).
A few minor things I have done already, like the seneye. However it will be a total empty out and start again with regards to most of whats in there.
I already have some new wood soaking and its pretty much waterlogged, I also have some java moss in my old shrimp tank growing ready.
I am looking at this in 3 phases:
For phase 1:
- New heaters - 300W Hydor inline and 200W internal. The 300W Jewel one running now was my emergency standby, put in after recent failure of the superfish unit, the active led does not function so no good long term, and the fluval E300 has a tendency to display low flow even with a wavemaker pointed straight at it!
- New back up filter, just a cheap internal one for now (see phase 3). The Aquamanta EFX1500U can handle the tank by itself, but I want something as a backup
- New Substrate - Pea Single (for now) my current set up is play sand so I am used to dosing ferts based on minimal nutrient in the substrate
- New Rock - Dragonstone
- New Wood - Mix of finger root and mopani
- New basic planting - Java fern, Anubius, cryptocorene etc to get things going
- New Air stones/ornaments - Its not a pure planted tank, but a mix
- Pressurized CO2
- New lighting system - I am finding the Jewel ballasts increasingly troublesome, with really wired quirks like needing to be manually plugged in to start then working off the timer plug, not working with reflectors fitted etc So time for something more reliable.
- Increased planting and improved ferts routine (currently using easylife liquids including easy carbo, looking at alternatives including EI)
- Lifesupport upgrade - probably one of three ways I am looking at here, another Aquamanta EFX1500U or similar, a thermofilter (probably an Eheim one) or sump. This is further out, so very much open to ideas
- Substrate Upgrade/Replacement - I do like gravel around airstones but looking into options better suited to plants for the rest of the tanks.
I will look to keep this updated with progress. Any ideas, tips, comments, questions or advise welcome.