Alastair
Member
Hi all,
Another chocolate related journal, but not in a planted sense as much.
With my next big tank on order, which won't really have fish In at all as it'll be running huge amounts of co2 etc, and an NA tank due when I can afford I thought I'd set up a 'fish tank' for my chocolate Gouramis, vaillanti, and paros.
I'm missing them and want them back as soon as possible and to give them really what they deserve, a very heavy blackwater tank, really tannin stained and additional products to do what cattappa leaves do with out having to have big leaves in the tank.(easy life's cattappa x) brilliant stuff.
Where I've moved to I practically have unlimited hardscape materials, and was out walking the dogs through woods etc looking for some nice pieces of oak to use as branches over hanging a waters edge, and lots of leaf litter in the form of oak leaves.
I found a perfect piece amongst many that suited my plans, so picked this up, and carried on walking until I came to a stream which had some lovely black bolders and river pebbles which would look perfect over a sandy bed.
So with a very very heavy rucksack wood and leaves and two dogs I headed up hill home and got stuck in cleaning the stones and hosing down the wood. It has some emersed moss on which I've kept on above the water line and attached fissedens fontanus below in patches which had just been growing under a 3 watt ikea led lamp prior to this.
The tank, one of which I have always always wanted for a long time, is a Fluval Profile 1000 in aluminium which with its metal frame edges (currently on route) will add a picture frame type look to it and I like the drilled Base and internal pipework.
So here goes:
Tank: Fluval Profile 1000
Lighting: has two twin t5 units, but using just one Tmc Grobeam 600.
Filtration: fluval 306 plumbed into internal pipes and additional filtration by means of a Fluval G6 when it's come Perfect for conductivity readings etc and it's cartridges to add peat to if need be.
Decor: large piece of oak, oak leaves, alder cones, river bolders and pebbles.
Substrate: seachem fluorite black sand with a sprinkling of unipac Samoa
Fauna: 40 plus chocolate gourami
20 or more pharosphromenus species and a Farlowella
Possibly some crystal black shrimp but not sure if they can survive such low kh and ph I think this tank will have. I can try
Flora: fissedens fontanus and mini salvinia
So the tanks been scaped very quickly, wood sawn to allow the lid to stay shut and keep the wood wedged.
Heres tank dry scaped
DSC_1036 by Mr-T-, on Flickr
DSC_1038 by Mr-T-, on Flickr
DSC_1034 by Mr-T-, on Flickr
It's filled now and must admit I'm in love with the seriously dark brown water. Mostly from the wood I think.
I've also been and picked a few more pieces to add in amongst it but leaving then out for now so I don't spoil it.
This will be their final home and one where I hope they'll continue to add to their numbers
Will get some photos with the camera later of its not too brown
Another chocolate related journal, but not in a planted sense as much.
With my next big tank on order, which won't really have fish In at all as it'll be running huge amounts of co2 etc, and an NA tank due when I can afford I thought I'd set up a 'fish tank' for my chocolate Gouramis, vaillanti, and paros.
I'm missing them and want them back as soon as possible and to give them really what they deserve, a very heavy blackwater tank, really tannin stained and additional products to do what cattappa leaves do with out having to have big leaves in the tank.(easy life's cattappa x) brilliant stuff.
Where I've moved to I practically have unlimited hardscape materials, and was out walking the dogs through woods etc looking for some nice pieces of oak to use as branches over hanging a waters edge, and lots of leaf litter in the form of oak leaves.
I found a perfect piece amongst many that suited my plans, so picked this up, and carried on walking until I came to a stream which had some lovely black bolders and river pebbles which would look perfect over a sandy bed.
So with a very very heavy rucksack wood and leaves and two dogs I headed up hill home and got stuck in cleaning the stones and hosing down the wood. It has some emersed moss on which I've kept on above the water line and attached fissedens fontanus below in patches which had just been growing under a 3 watt ikea led lamp prior to this.
The tank, one of which I have always always wanted for a long time, is a Fluval Profile 1000 in aluminium which with its metal frame edges (currently on route) will add a picture frame type look to it and I like the drilled Base and internal pipework.
So here goes:
Tank: Fluval Profile 1000
Lighting: has two twin t5 units, but using just one Tmc Grobeam 600.
Filtration: fluval 306 plumbed into internal pipes and additional filtration by means of a Fluval G6 when it's come Perfect for conductivity readings etc and it's cartridges to add peat to if need be.
Decor: large piece of oak, oak leaves, alder cones, river bolders and pebbles.
Substrate: seachem fluorite black sand with a sprinkling of unipac Samoa
Fauna: 40 plus chocolate gourami
20 or more pharosphromenus species and a Farlowella
Possibly some crystal black shrimp but not sure if they can survive such low kh and ph I think this tank will have. I can try
Flora: fissedens fontanus and mini salvinia
So the tanks been scaped very quickly, wood sawn to allow the lid to stay shut and keep the wood wedged.
Heres tank dry scaped
DSC_1036 by Mr-T-, on Flickr
DSC_1038 by Mr-T-, on Flickr
DSC_1034 by Mr-T-, on Flickr
It's filled now and must admit I'm in love with the seriously dark brown water. Mostly from the wood I think.
I've also been and picked a few more pieces to add in amongst it but leaving then out for now so I don't spoil it.
This will be their final home and one where I hope they'll continue to add to their numbers
Will get some photos with the camera later of its not too brown
Last edited:
