TheBubblingScot
Member
So I introduced myself a while ago but then r/l kept me away from adding anything further. To make matters more complicated I found out I was pregnant (yey unplanned pregnancies). To cut it short I'm now 4 months pregnant and my poor dirty tank is driving me nuts. So after some journal browsing I finally felt inspired enough to lump my big body into gear.
Here is my poor old tank in its current sorry state...
Specs :
91cm long
30.5cm wide
46 cm high
Makes 128 litres?
Metal half hinge hood with hinged section at rear for light power block and wires. (TBH was never a fan of this hood)
I plan to rescape a new planted set up from the old one but have no clear vision at this point. What I do want to do is reuse what I can in order to save money. And any new additions need to be cost effective or cheap. Not sure how far I can get with that mind set, but with a baby coming and the loss of my job last year, my poor hubby is my only source of income now, so anything that saves money is good. (Enough ranting woman, get on with it!)
I had already bought some gear to start with just before things had kicked off.
Here is what I have:-
Filter:
+ Eheim classic 600 external (basic kit just came with sponge filters)
+ Eheim 9mm double tap
+ Eheim 16mm double tap
+ Eheim external prefilter and powerhead (to protect tiny critters and allow external filter to not clog too quickly)
+ Eheim aquarium air 400 + 2 diffusers (for oxygenation if required)
Filter mediums (not sure what to use in what quantity):
+ Eheim Substrat Pro
+ Fluval Biomax
+ Fluval Clearmax
+ Fluval Zeo-Carb
Optional extras:
+ Eheim variable flow outlet
+ Eheim Lily flow pipe
CO2: (no idea at this point as never used before, more on that below)
+ JBL CO2 plus PH permanent test
Substrate:
+ Tesco low dust cat litter 10L (base)
+ Dennerle crystal quartz gravel diamanté black 10kg (cap)
+ Clay Peat Balls Root Nutrient for Aquatics Plants macro and micro fertilizer x 40 (to place evenly within base layer, but won't use too many (due to possible PH/KH issues?)
Chems:
+ Easy-Life Fluid Filter Medium - 500ml
+ Easy-Life Profito Plant Fertilizer - 500ml
Decor:
+ Bog wood x2 with java ferns (already in tank)
+ Spider wood x1 (currently soaking in tank)
(There is bogwood somewhere under there)
Lighting:
Currently only have an abysmal 25w daylight tube. I know I'll need better lighting and would love your advice on this one.
Note that the tank is in a room that receives full light from floor to ceiling windows which hit the left side and front of the tank.
CO2 wise, I have never used it before and my husband is quite hesitant at having pressurised canisters and CO2 gases in the house. I'm hoping you can all set me up with something simple, cheap and safe to use.
Also can anyone ID these plants? I've forgotten what they are. (Sorry about the reflection)
I was planning to drain the tank but could anyone advise how best to protect the plants and wood whilst out of the tank?
I also have poor neglected baby ramshorns in there that I need to temporarily rehome, but they should be okay in a jam jar for a short while?
Advice welcome! Thanks for reading.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Here is my poor old tank in its current sorry state...
Specs :
91cm long
30.5cm wide
46 cm high
Makes 128 litres?
Metal half hinge hood with hinged section at rear for light power block and wires. (TBH was never a fan of this hood)
I plan to rescape a new planted set up from the old one but have no clear vision at this point. What I do want to do is reuse what I can in order to save money. And any new additions need to be cost effective or cheap. Not sure how far I can get with that mind set, but with a baby coming and the loss of my job last year, my poor hubby is my only source of income now, so anything that saves money is good. (Enough ranting woman, get on with it!)
I had already bought some gear to start with just before things had kicked off.
Here is what I have:-
Filter:
+ Eheim classic 600 external (basic kit just came with sponge filters)
+ Eheim 9mm double tap
+ Eheim 16mm double tap
+ Eheim external prefilter and powerhead (to protect tiny critters and allow external filter to not clog too quickly)
+ Eheim aquarium air 400 + 2 diffusers (for oxygenation if required)
Filter mediums (not sure what to use in what quantity):
+ Eheim Substrat Pro
+ Fluval Biomax
+ Fluval Clearmax
+ Fluval Zeo-Carb
Optional extras:
+ Eheim variable flow outlet
+ Eheim Lily flow pipe
CO2: (no idea at this point as never used before, more on that below)
+ JBL CO2 plus PH permanent test
Substrate:
+ Tesco low dust cat litter 10L (base)
+ Dennerle crystal quartz gravel diamanté black 10kg (cap)
+ Clay Peat Balls Root Nutrient for Aquatics Plants macro and micro fertilizer x 40 (to place evenly within base layer, but won't use too many (due to possible PH/KH issues?)
Chems:
+ Easy-Life Fluid Filter Medium - 500ml
+ Easy-Life Profito Plant Fertilizer - 500ml
Decor:
+ Bog wood x2 with java ferns (already in tank)
+ Spider wood x1 (currently soaking in tank)
(There is bogwood somewhere under there)
Lighting:
Currently only have an abysmal 25w daylight tube. I know I'll need better lighting and would love your advice on this one.
Note that the tank is in a room that receives full light from floor to ceiling windows which hit the left side and front of the tank.
CO2 wise, I have never used it before and my husband is quite hesitant at having pressurised canisters and CO2 gases in the house. I'm hoping you can all set me up with something simple, cheap and safe to use.
Also can anyone ID these plants? I've forgotten what they are. (Sorry about the reflection)
I was planning to drain the tank but could anyone advise how best to protect the plants and wood whilst out of the tank?
I also have poor neglected baby ramshorns in there that I need to temporarily rehome, but they should be okay in a jam jar for a short while?
Advice welcome! Thanks for reading.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk