James Flexton
Member
Hi Everyone,
Some of you may remember my journals from way back in 2006/2007 when I went a bit planted tank mad (Jimbooo's Jungle Journal 1,2,and3, the step by step riccia article and the plant maintenance article) all initially on fishforums.net then over here when UKAPS first established. Well since around 2008 I had to take a side step away from serious planted tanks due to work and family commitments, I simply didn't have the time for all the maintenance etc.. I still kept the tanks running just light planting and fish focussed rather than plants.
Anyway blah blah blah.... the planted tank bug has taken hold of me again and when the seal on my Juwel Rio180 gave way after 10 years I took the resident cichlids back to the LFS for rehoming and took the opportunity to start again.
After taking the old tank outside, filling it up and throwing a hammer through it (just because......) I set to looking at finding a replacement tank.
I am lucky enough now to own my own business and have moved all my tanks to the office. I get more time in the day for maintenance here than at home with two kids bighting at my ankles... (the fathers out there feel my pain I'm sure... water changes, buckets, dirty fish water and 1 yr olds don't mix)
As the new tank was going to be in the office I thought it acceptable that the company bank account pay for it. With that in mind I had to keep an eye on the budget or the accountant may raise an eyebrow or two, but not too close an eye.. I wanted a modern nature aquarium, ada style open topped, light fish load and demanding plants. etc..
So after a brief glance at ADA tank and cabinet packages I quickly decided to go with a custom tank from ND aquatics to fit on top of my old Juwel rio180 stand. As the tank will sit next to a Juwel Vision 450 in the office it should look good in its place (hopefully).
I decided to go for the shallow type tank that seems to be all the rage right now so ordered a 101 x 41 x 30 in optiwhite glass with rear pane painted black.
whilst waiting for the tank I got busy buying all the "stuff" I'd need.
new Eheim 350T thermal filter
2Ltrs of sera sipporax media
glass pipes
ADA clear hose
new co2 reg with precision needle valve and solenoid
bubble counter
drop checker
up inline co2 diffuser
co2 tubing
2kg FE
2x9kg Amazonia
1x9kg Amazonia powder
KNO3
KH2PO4
trace powder
measuring spoons
and a dosing bottle (for the trace mix)
lighting will be 2 x TMC aquagrow 1500 ultima ND tiles with 8 way aquaray controller hanging from an iquatics rail. (lights haven't arrived yet but should be here soon)
Hardscape is going to be a grey mountain rock set up
plants are to be decide but will certainly involve a lot of HC.
first I drilled a hole in the side of the cabinet for filter tubes
started to set up the iquatics rail
tank in place
Aquasoil in
after lots of fiddling about - rocks in (credit to calum who finally sorted the right side that was causing me grief)
tip: there is a lot of height in this layout, beneath the right side rock arrangement there are at least 10 pieces of slate on the base below the aquasoil. no point using expensive rock or substrate to build it that high..
also substrate supports are in the form of garden edging roll. dipped in hot water to straighten and cut to size
aquasoil is a joy to work with but it's certainly worth topping with the powder.
bottom layer here
my method of spreading the powder
finished adding powder
I've read that spraying the substrate before filling helps to stop it moving away when filled
filter and co2 all set up. (drilled a hole in the cabinet for co2 hose to inline atomiser)
filling up - bowl worked nicely, no movement from substrate at all
tank full and filters running.
I'm going to follow advice from James at the green machine and do 70% water changes for the next 3 weeks before planting to let the ammonia stage pass, fishless cycle the filter etc.. then plant.
now for the plant planning....
until next time..
Some of you may remember my journals from way back in 2006/2007 when I went a bit planted tank mad (Jimbooo's Jungle Journal 1,2,and3, the step by step riccia article and the plant maintenance article) all initially on fishforums.net then over here when UKAPS first established. Well since around 2008 I had to take a side step away from serious planted tanks due to work and family commitments, I simply didn't have the time for all the maintenance etc.. I still kept the tanks running just light planting and fish focussed rather than plants.
Anyway blah blah blah.... the planted tank bug has taken hold of me again and when the seal on my Juwel Rio180 gave way after 10 years I took the resident cichlids back to the LFS for rehoming and took the opportunity to start again.
After taking the old tank outside, filling it up and throwing a hammer through it (just because......) I set to looking at finding a replacement tank.
I am lucky enough now to own my own business and have moved all my tanks to the office. I get more time in the day for maintenance here than at home with two kids bighting at my ankles... (the fathers out there feel my pain I'm sure... water changes, buckets, dirty fish water and 1 yr olds don't mix)
As the new tank was going to be in the office I thought it acceptable that the company bank account pay for it. With that in mind I had to keep an eye on the budget or the accountant may raise an eyebrow or two, but not too close an eye.. I wanted a modern nature aquarium, ada style open topped, light fish load and demanding plants. etc..
So after a brief glance at ADA tank and cabinet packages I quickly decided to go with a custom tank from ND aquatics to fit on top of my old Juwel rio180 stand. As the tank will sit next to a Juwel Vision 450 in the office it should look good in its place (hopefully).
I decided to go for the shallow type tank that seems to be all the rage right now so ordered a 101 x 41 x 30 in optiwhite glass with rear pane painted black.
whilst waiting for the tank I got busy buying all the "stuff" I'd need.
new Eheim 350T thermal filter
2Ltrs of sera sipporax media
glass pipes
ADA clear hose
new co2 reg with precision needle valve and solenoid
bubble counter
drop checker
up inline co2 diffuser
co2 tubing
2kg FE
2x9kg Amazonia
1x9kg Amazonia powder
KNO3
KH2PO4
trace powder
measuring spoons
and a dosing bottle (for the trace mix)
lighting will be 2 x TMC aquagrow 1500 ultima ND tiles with 8 way aquaray controller hanging from an iquatics rail. (lights haven't arrived yet but should be here soon)
Hardscape is going to be a grey mountain rock set up
plants are to be decide but will certainly involve a lot of HC.
first I drilled a hole in the side of the cabinet for filter tubes
started to set up the iquatics rail
tank in place
Aquasoil in
after lots of fiddling about - rocks in (credit to calum who finally sorted the right side that was causing me grief)
tip: there is a lot of height in this layout, beneath the right side rock arrangement there are at least 10 pieces of slate on the base below the aquasoil. no point using expensive rock or substrate to build it that high..
also substrate supports are in the form of garden edging roll. dipped in hot water to straighten and cut to size
aquasoil is a joy to work with but it's certainly worth topping with the powder.
bottom layer here
my method of spreading the powder
finished adding powder
I've read that spraying the substrate before filling helps to stop it moving away when filled
filter and co2 all set up. (drilled a hole in the cabinet for co2 hose to inline atomiser)
filling up - bowl worked nicely, no movement from substrate at all
tank full and filters running.
I'm going to follow advice from James at the green machine and do 70% water changes for the next 3 weeks before planting to let the ammonia stage pass, fishless cycle the filter etc.. then plant.
now for the plant planning....
until next time..