Tankenstein - Low Tech 55L Cube

[BexHaystack]

Hi all, this is my first attempt at a planted tank and I’d like to share the experience and hopefully get some advice and encouragement from you members along the way. There will be happy times I hope and perhaps there will be tears – I’m picturing algae woes and melting plants...

‘Tankenstein ‘ - Low Tech 55L Cube

So named because I have spent many unsociable hours researching, planning and experimenting in preparation for this protect. And because I am not quite sure whether it will turn out to be a masterpiece or a monster!

Specs:

Tank: 40x40x40cm Aqua One Optiwhite 55L

Filter: JBL CristalProfi 701

Heater: External Inline 200w (Chinese knock-off)

Lights: 2 x Blau Nano Led 11w

Substrate: Tropica Aquarium Soil

Hardscape: Wood – Tree Heather & Oak. Stone – Landscape rock and grey pebbles


Exactly a week ago I did the hardscape and filled it up, added some API QuickStart (I’ve started with a completely new, uncycled filter) and did a 50% wc every day (which probably removed any of the QuickStart benefits!)

Day 1 (11/04/16):

Building up the back








Filled up and running


A week later and after a few minor adjustments to the scape and some topping up where the substrate had sunk, I planted the following:

-Ammania ‘Bonsai’ tissue culture

-Anubias nana ‘Mini’

-Bacopa caroliniana

-Bacopa ‘Compact’

-Cryptocoryne petchii

-Eleocharis acicularis

-Eleocharis sp.

-Hydrocotyle tripartia ‘Japan’

-Hygrophila pinnatifida

-Juncus repens

-Lilaeopsis N-Z

-Ludwigia repens ‘Rubin’

-Ludwigia palustris

-Micranthemum umbrosum

-Staurogyne rubescens


Day 6 (16/04/16):

Lovely plants from Aquarium Gardens


I wanted to get the tank full of plants from the off, I’m hoping that a high biomass will help cycle and stabilise things…and boy is it full of plants! I found planting quite a challenge, the Tropica soil was much ‘lighter’ than I expected it to be after a week under water and I hadn’t mastered the use of the planting pinsettes, the plants kept on floating up but I got them all in eventually.

Filling it up







Up until today I’ve been doing 50% wc every day and will now go on to do 50% every other day. I will probably give the filter a quick rinse this weekend. I am adding just under 2ml of EasyCarbo a day. The lights are on about 60% strength from 2pm-8pm.


Everything seems okay at moment, though it’s only been a couple of days…


I have some questions to ask:

-Should I be considering adding ferts at this stage, what I’ve read seems to suggest I should be dosing micros but I’m keen to know what you guys think?

-Is this level of lighting okay? I’m really worried about getting algae if they’re too bright but don’t want the plants to go without? Again, any advice welcome.


Thanks for reading
Bex

 

[Nelson]

That looks great 🙂.

 

[14548]

Hi there!

Nice plantation! That should help with algae...

Lightning time and power seems ok to me, easycarbo daily is Nice too.

You should start dosing K as soon as you can too, it helps good plant growth and doesn't help algae 🙂

Good luck !

Best regards,

 

[Guest]

Nice work...instant jungle🙂

 

[Greenfinger2]

Hi Bex, Love it

 

[Eduard18]

My man! With that biomass and WC regimen you'll be just fine ! Easycarbo and K will do too ! Just seat back and relax! About your plants, from my own experience, I can tell you this: pinnatifida is a finicky one - I had good results using pressurised CO2 and lots of light- bacopa will need lots of light for compact growth too; staurogyne will need some time to adapt; Ludwigia Ian will need room and light to grow to its full potential; anubis and crypto

Envoyé de mon SM-G935F en utilisant Tapatalk

 

[Eduard18]

are undemanding, as you already know

Envoyé de mon SM-G935F en utilisant Tapatalk

 

[PARAGUAY]

Looks really good

 

[zozo]

The title already is a stunner Tankenstein itself also looks good so far...
I more expected your nick to be Dr. A. Cula.. 😛

 

[richard powell]

Looks stunning mate well done. I'm thinking of doing a small cube to go with my bigger tank

 

[Wisey]

Great start, looking good!

 

[Lindy]

This looks fantastic already!

 

[parotet]

Hi Bex

I agree with the others that this tank looks very promising. Regarding the light, as you know, I have used one of this lighting units. They are not very powerful, I would say they are in the mid-range and you have a 40 cm tank, which is quite a lot of distance for this light. So IMO this light is just ok, and the advantage is that it can get dimmed if necessary (although I doubt you will need it). Another advantage is that you have a lot of biomass, which is something critical at the beginning. Actually I think this is what most people mean when it is said that a planted tank should be planted very densely...

Regarding the ferts, I rely on enriched substrates and a very lean dosing in the water column. I add some squirts of micros once a week, and I dose macros only when I notice any deficiency. Of course I could add more macros without worries, but in my case I find no advantage in having more growth. With your setup, the good thing is that you have an interesting flexibility to speed or slow down the growth according to your taste and possibilities. Unfortunately there is no rule regarding the amounts of ferts to be used in each case (at least no rule works for me)... it is matter of trial and error for each layout.

I would say that all this along with a good tank husbandry will transform you tankestein into a nice jungle in a few weeks!

Jordi

 

[tim]

Looks great Bex, which ferts are you planning to use ? I always add them from day 1, the amount of waterchanges carried out on tank start up massively dilutes any you add anyway so adding ferts will give the plants everything they need, look forward to following your progress 🙂

 

[BexHaystack]

Looks great Bex, which ferts are you planning to use ?

Thanks Tim! I'm not sure what to use... There are so many products available (I'd like to get something ready-made). Do you have any suggestions?

 

[Alexander Belchenko]

Very nice, many many plants from the start, that's good for stability of the tank. But, oops, where is your hardscape now? That's always hardest part: to keep hardscape visible after plants grow. Good luck!

 

[BexHaystack]

The title already is a stunner Tankenstein itself also looks good so far...
I more expected your nick to be Dr. A. Cula.. 😛

 

[BexHaystack]

I would say that all this along with a good tank husbandry will transform you tankestein into a nice jungle in a few weeks!

Hey Jordi! Good advice as always 🙂 thanks

 

[BexHaystack]

from my own experience, I can tell you this: pinnatifida is a finicky one - I had good results using pressurised CO2 and lots of light- bacopa will need lots of light for compact growth too; staurogyne will need some time to adapt; Ludwigia Ian will need room and light to grow to its full potential; anubis and crypto

Thanks for the tips Eduard, I'm holding my breath for the pinnatifida, I've planted some in substrate next to rocks and wood and some just tied onto wood...hopefully it will decide what/where it likes...

 

[tim]

Thanks Tim! I'm not sure what to use... There are so many products available (I'd like to get something ready-made). Do you have any suggestions?

Aquarium plant foods all in one is good, http://www.aquariumplantfood.co.uk/apf-plant-nutrition-in-bottles-dry.html
Tropica specialised and premium dosed alternate days has also given me good results, I have to admit I'm quite tight so tend to use EI or mix my own all in one, haven't tried many pre made ferts other than the ones above.