I'd like to bestow upon you all, another journal. This isn't my first dabble in planted tankery, however it's the first time i've ever done it 'properly' using 'High-tech' techniques and plants other than fast growing and cheap (but non-the-less pretty) 'weeds'
The name, 'In Reverie' stems from the fact that a few years ago when I got into fish keeping as a serious hobby I could only dream about having a tank like all of the beautiful ones I'd been mesmerised by on various forums. Now i'm an earning, tax paying citizen I (sort of) have the money to live those dreams.
Info
Tank: Juwel Rio 180 - 101x41x50cm (£50 2nd Hand!)
Filter: TetraTec EX1200 (-carbon +1litre Eheim Substrat Pro)
Central Heating: Hydor In-Line External 300w
Lighting: Juwel High-Lite 100cm - 45w x2 - Day + Nature Bulbs
Arcadia Twin T5 Starter - 39w x2 - Osram 880 + 840 Bulbs
Substrate: 1cm Base Layer Tropica Plant Substrate
2-3" Unipac Black Extra Fine Gravel (2-3mm Grain Size) x8 2.5kg Bags
At the time of writing, I've not set up any of the following equipment. That's for the next day or two.
Fire Extinguisher cO2 (2kg FE)
Lunapet Regulator + Solenoid
Rhinox 2000
Chameleon Drop Checker
DIY TPN+ (James C's 'recipe')
Plants:
Aquarium Gardening
Cryptocoryne balansae (Bunch 5)
Eleocharis vivipara (Bunch 25)
Heteranthera zosterifolia (Pot x3)
Vesicularia ferrei (Weeping Moss) (4g x2)
Vesicularia montaignei (Christmas Moss) (4g x2)
Aqua Essentials
Hygrophila corymbosa "Compact" (x1 Pot - Actually recieved Staurogyne sp.)
Nymphaea lotus (zenkeri) (x1 Bulb)
The Green Machine
Echinodorus bleheri (bleherae) (Amazon Sword) (x2 Pot)
Echinodorus 'Red Flame' (x1 Pot)
Alternanthera reineckii Purple (lilacina) (x2)
Vallisneria spiralis Tiger (x1)
Anubias bart v. nana (x2)
Microsorum pteropus (Java Fern) (x2)
So, let's begin!
Months of research and a significant dent in my pocket, here's what I have. (Minus the filter)
Here's the EX1200 sitting inside my (Old style) Rio 180 cabinet, with a 70cl Balvenie for comparison. I'm used to 15gallon internal filters, so to me this thing is an absolute monster.
1cm base layer of Tropica Plant Substrate
And in case anyone's interested, here's what Unipac Black Extra Fine Gravel looks like. I'm not entirely happy that it has lots of amber coloured bits throughout, but I can live with it.
Hardscape, bogwood from my garden center. Got it all pretty cheap with friend's staff discount..!
Planting
AG's crypts. A little disappointing, but healthy and they should grow out just fine.
AG's Heteranthera zosterifolia, this was in tropica pots with tropica labels... To me, this looks nothing like what it should, though maybe it has to grow in...?
AGs Weeping Moss, got three clumps this size, two of the Christmas Moss
TGM, Tropica Java Fern. Absolutely fantastic service from The Green Machine, couldn't be more pleased. I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to recommend them to anyone.
Everything from them was packed in bags like these, 2 plants to a bag, each plant+pot individually wrapped in bubble wrap.
Spotted some hitch hikers on my red flame and bleheri though
Aqua Essentials provided not such developed Tropica plants but healthy and of high a quality as I would expect. Lotus bulb and Staurogyne sp. (Not Hygro "Compact")
Filling from the garden hose, draped through the landing, bathroom and out the bathroom window. Girlfriend was thrilled...
90% of plants in, filling more..
Filled
And here it is in situ, in my studio room. (Plant plates by the way, not dinner..)
And as of 11pm tonight, here's it is. The cycle has also begun, hopefully jump started with some filter media from a friend.
Looking back at the original plans I made, I've stuck pretty closely to them.
The next stages are of course to implement the cO2, dose ferts and add the Arcadia lighting units to get me up to full light. I'm currently only running the Juwel lights while I'm not 'ferting' or co2ing.
I'll be sure to keep this journal updated as regularly as possible and whenever I make any modifications.
In the mean time i'd love some feedback, criticism, ideas, anything!
Thank you very much for looking,
Steve
The name, 'In Reverie' stems from the fact that a few years ago when I got into fish keeping as a serious hobby I could only dream about having a tank like all of the beautiful ones I'd been mesmerised by on various forums. Now i'm an earning, tax paying citizen I (sort of) have the money to live those dreams.
Info
Tank: Juwel Rio 180 - 101x41x50cm (£50 2nd Hand!)
Filter: TetraTec EX1200 (-carbon +1litre Eheim Substrat Pro)
Central Heating: Hydor In-Line External 300w
Lighting: Juwel High-Lite 100cm - 45w x2 - Day + Nature Bulbs
Arcadia Twin T5 Starter - 39w x2 - Osram 880 + 840 Bulbs
Substrate: 1cm Base Layer Tropica Plant Substrate
2-3" Unipac Black Extra Fine Gravel (2-3mm Grain Size) x8 2.5kg Bags
At the time of writing, I've not set up any of the following equipment. That's for the next day or two.
Fire Extinguisher cO2 (2kg FE)
Lunapet Regulator + Solenoid
Rhinox 2000
Chameleon Drop Checker
DIY TPN+ (James C's 'recipe')
Plants:
Aquarium Gardening
Cryptocoryne balansae (Bunch 5)
Eleocharis vivipara (Bunch 25)
Heteranthera zosterifolia (Pot x3)
Vesicularia ferrei (Weeping Moss) (4g x2)
Vesicularia montaignei (Christmas Moss) (4g x2)
Aqua Essentials
Hygrophila corymbosa "Compact" (x1 Pot - Actually recieved Staurogyne sp.)
Nymphaea lotus (zenkeri) (x1 Bulb)
The Green Machine
Echinodorus bleheri (bleherae) (Amazon Sword) (x2 Pot)
Echinodorus 'Red Flame' (x1 Pot)
Alternanthera reineckii Purple (lilacina) (x2)
Vallisneria spiralis Tiger (x1)
Anubias bart v. nana (x2)
Microsorum pteropus (Java Fern) (x2)
So, let's begin!
Months of research and a significant dent in my pocket, here's what I have. (Minus the filter)
Here's the EX1200 sitting inside my (Old style) Rio 180 cabinet, with a 70cl Balvenie for comparison. I'm used to 15gallon internal filters, so to me this thing is an absolute monster.
1cm base layer of Tropica Plant Substrate
And in case anyone's interested, here's what Unipac Black Extra Fine Gravel looks like. I'm not entirely happy that it has lots of amber coloured bits throughout, but I can live with it.
Hardscape, bogwood from my garden center. Got it all pretty cheap with friend's staff discount..!
Planting
AG's crypts. A little disappointing, but healthy and they should grow out just fine.
AG's Heteranthera zosterifolia, this was in tropica pots with tropica labels... To me, this looks nothing like what it should, though maybe it has to grow in...?
AGs Weeping Moss, got three clumps this size, two of the Christmas Moss
TGM, Tropica Java Fern. Absolutely fantastic service from The Green Machine, couldn't be more pleased. I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to recommend them to anyone.
Everything from them was packed in bags like these, 2 plants to a bag, each plant+pot individually wrapped in bubble wrap.
Spotted some hitch hikers on my red flame and bleheri though
Aqua Essentials provided not such developed Tropica plants but healthy and of high a quality as I would expect. Lotus bulb and Staurogyne sp. (Not Hygro "Compact")
Filling from the garden hose, draped through the landing, bathroom and out the bathroom window. Girlfriend was thrilled...
90% of plants in, filling more..
Filled
And here it is in situ, in my studio room. (Plant plates by the way, not dinner..)
And as of 11pm tonight, here's it is. The cycle has also begun, hopefully jump started with some filter media from a friend.
Looking back at the original plans I made, I've stuck pretty closely to them.
The next stages are of course to implement the cO2, dose ferts and add the Arcadia lighting units to get me up to full light. I'm currently only running the Juwel lights while I'm not 'ferting' or co2ing.
I'll be sure to keep this journal updated as regularly as possible and whenever I make any modifications.
In the mean time i'd love some feedback, criticism, ideas, anything!
Thank you very much for looking,
Steve