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New Roma 200 journal.

RickB

Member
Joined
4 Apr 2016
Messages
379
Location
UK
Hi everyone!

Today I order my new tank, the Roma 200.

I am keeping all the basic equipment as it is and keeping things as simple as possible.

The plan is to have 90% of the base covered in natural quartz sand with the exception of a small area in the back left corner and around the base area's of some wood I am going to use.
The wood will have microsorum tridents attached to it with some hair grass and maybe bacopa compact or some other easy grower planted sparsely around the parts where the wood goes into the sand, these small area's will have a little bit of plant growth substrate with soil powder on top covered lightly in gravel.

The back left area will have a small planted area but nothing too dense, a few crypts with hygro siamensis behind them to provide an area of cover for the future fish.

I will probably does a small amount of liquid carbon daily mainly as a deterrent to algae, with ferts I will be using tropica specialised but only dosing tiny amounts to start with and adjusting as needed.

Not a lot else for now, although later I will post a picture of the wood I will be using.

Thank you for reading.
 
WP_20180517_10_20_20_Pro.jpg WP_20180517_10_21_24_Pro.jpg

That is the wood I will be using.

One trident will go at the top of the big arch, the other on the top of the smaller stump on the right.
 
WP_20180518_14_20_04_Pro.jpg
The substrate has arrived, now to wait for fluval to call with a delivery date.
 
Waiting is annoying, too much time to think.

Like the planting....

I am leaning towards all crypts now apart from the ferns, and all in and around the wood.

Some Balasae behind the wood ( a bit of a punt but I will learn something either way), Petchii just in front of the wood, and nevellii in and around the base of wood, maybe some parva too, not sure on that though.

Any thoughts?
 
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I will probably does a small amount of liquid carbon daily mainly as a deterrent to algae, with ferts I will be using tropica specialised but only dosing tiny amounts to start with and adjusting as needed.

Better to use the LC to improve plant health not deter algea, plus would be tempted to dose optimal ferts to start off with then when plants are healthy growing you could then try reducing. Plants love you for too much ferts but not enough ferts they suffer release toxins and then the algea starts. So better to aim at too much ferts than not enough.
 
Better to use the LC to improve plant health not deter algea, plus would be tempted to dose optimal ferts to start off with then when plants are healthy growing you could then try reducing. Plants love you for too much ferts but not enough ferts they suffer release toxins and then the algea starts. So better to aim at too much ferts than not enough.

Optimal as in EI or optimal as in what it says on the bottle?
 
Optimal as in EI or optimal as in what it says on the bottle?

Well depends on what ferts your using. If EI then STD EI dose if out of bottle I would dose slightly above what it advises for low tech. After all better to have ferts in excess and healthy plants.
 
Well depends on what ferts your using. If EI then STD EI dose if out of bottle I would dose slightly above what it advises for low tech. After all better to have ferts in excess and healthy plants.

Ok so 3 pumps a day instead of 2 (weekends off)
 
Well the tank and cabinet are coming tomorrow, gonna be another week before I start to set it up though, kids off school for a few days and a bit of painting to do in the living room first.
 
Considering how light the sand I am using is, would you use grey pebbles or darker pebbles?
 
I'd not looked at the sand photo closely - just be aware that fish can be uncomfortable with such pale substrate & be less active over sand areas, they will also often fade color intensity, so it's important to choose (more) confident fish species

If you watch George Farmer's Shop Aquascape & Tour video there's an aquascape @3.20 with similarly light sand
- the degree of hardscape & plants offset the lightness of the sand area very nicely
Note how the stone echos the sand shade with lighter cream colours mixed in the grey (for a more natural look)
If you choose darker or unrelated stone (colours), the sharp contrast will be more dramatic with less "flow"
 
I'd not looked at the sand photo closely - just be aware that fish can be uncomfortable with such pale substrate & be less active over sand areas, they will also often fade color intensity, so it's important to choose (more) confident fish species

If you watch George Farmer's Shop Aquascape & Tour video there's an aquascape @3.20 with similarly light sand
- the degree of hardscape & plants offset the lightness of the sand area very nicely
Note how the stone echos the sand shade with lighter cream colours mixed in the grey (for a more natural look)
If you choose darker or unrelated stone (colours), the sharp contrast will be more dramatic with less "flow"

So like this a bit? https://www.completeaquatics.co.uk/...-for-aquariums/marina-beach-pebbl-2kg-12-18mm

This is the gravel I have: https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/product/aqua-range-aqua-substrate-gravel-natural-lakeland
 
Looks good so far

I'd add in some larger pieces of rock such as this mixed slate
you can likely find (cheaper) slate at various garden/landscape etc places - the linked stone just has good colors

All the white sand areas will be a lovely showpiece for algae (ie it will be so much more visible on that sand than other darker coloured areas) so be sure to include some sort of sand sifters; give it a stir at every water change/maintenance - & save extra (sand) for replacing old discolored sand
You only need a very thin layer of sand unless planted
 
What is the best way to algae off old stones? I have some pieces of mini landscape rock and tried power washing them but it did not work.
 
Thin bleach (ie no additives) - I use maybe 250ml/10litres water
Just soak overnight, rinse thoroughly, then air dry (or treat with Prime etc)
 
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