• You are viewing the forum as a Guest, please login (you can use your Facebook, Twitter, Google or Microsoft account to login) or register using this link: Log in or Sign Up

1st attempt at aquascape, 33 litre tank

O'Neil

O'Neil

Member
Joined
16 Jan 2012
Messages
314
Location
Newcastle upon Tyne
Looking for ideas for my spare 33 litre tank.
I have no co2 as of yet, but due to it's tiny size i will be using Flourish Excel.
Does anyone here have any interesting ideas they would like me to try out?
 
What i've been thinking is to have Eleocharis acicularis as my background plant with driftwood to form a bit of shape and possibly small caves and crevices for shrimp.

In the higher parts of the tank i've been planning to use twiggy bits of wood with Java moss.
Tank background will be black.
Java fern growing on the driftwood, with moss.
Substrate will be soil (pond soil) with sand / gravel to hold it down.
Would Flourish excel with daily doing be ok?
Also the only plant food i have is Tropiflora, beyond that i'm lost I am a bit of a noob, what other ferts mite i need.
 
Got my ferts and have been EI dosing for a week, i have noticed a change in the java fern but the hairgrass which i now believe to be eleocharis parvula has only sprouted a couple of new leaves.
I have about 2 watts per gallon (US) using carbo and ofc EI.
Am i being impatient or is this considered the norm, or shall i trim a little bit off the top to encourage new growth?
 
Hey guys,

Everything seems to be going ok, Eleocharis is growing nicely so have ordered another 25 from plants alive.
I'm a bit puzzled tho been following the EI dose plan on Fluid sensor and i have noticed that my nitrates are thru the roof, the tank is also uncycled, it's not a big deal as there are no livestock so not to bothered about cycling just yet.
Could my high readings be from from the ferts (KNO3)?

Thanks in advance
 
Well as it happens my nitrates have dropped sharply obviously due to the weekly water change.
I have however tested various water samples from plain old tap water to tank water and tap water with macro solution added etc etc and the addition of the macro solution has made bugger all difference to the nitrate readings on the test kits (api master).
The only thing I can think of would be ammonia from the soil and as the level dropped to a range i can now read on the test kit, I feel pretty confident that it'll continue to drop further.
Conclusion:
KNO3 doesn't increase nitrate levels (not the amounts in used for the EI recipe anyway).
Oh and as for un-cycled I realised that I have used gravel from a cycled tank and drift wood from long established tanks (DOH).
 
Nope, no-way, not at all, lol

I only ever use these kits as a guide as I know these tests are notorious for being inaccurate.
 
Quick update guys, I've demolished the current setup as the water was permanently yellow, gas was building up under the soil and the plant roots were starting to rot, I think it may have been the pond soil but I have no evidence to support my theory.
Any way I'm much happier with the changes I've made and I think you'll all agree it looks a damn site better than it did.
I will update with pictures tomorrow.
 
As promised here are the new pics of the 33 Ltr

First I re-arranged the driftwood, this took me a good few attempts.

This one was taken after I added the dry ferts.
scaled.php?server=839&filename=40808899.jpg

I then added cat litter instead of the pond soil.
scaled.php?server=442&filename=69894800.jpg

Partially filled the tank with water and very carefully planted my new HC and moved the Eleocharis Parvula to the far left corner, it's a little hard to see with the murk in the water.
scaled.php?server=812&filename=17435761.jpg

I then topped it up and added two cuttings from my brothers tank, dunno what they are tho......yet.
scaled.php?server=696&filename=40050389.jpg

This is the tank 1 day later, the water is a bit yellowish, not really sure why.
I can only think that i didn't wash the cat litter enough or possibly over done it with dry salts, not to worry tho will be doing plenty of water changes till i get it all settled.
scaled.php?server=513&filename=51474729.jpg

I plan on doing a water change today and will also start the EI doing small and gradually build it up with gradually longer photo periods, will start photo period at 6 hours.
Any advice or criticism is welcome.
 
Whoops just realised i didn't post any pics of the old tank, here is what it was like a few weeks in.

scaled.php


and below is the old link from when I started

http://ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=19721
 
im in the same boat as you just trying my first planted tank although i have gone low tech ... so far im thinking maybe i should of had a go with a nano first like you ... good luck im guessing like me you are finding the down hill of this learning curve steep indeed 🙂
 
I am indeed finding the learning curve rather steep, but with the resources and help from people on this site i'm defo gonna crack it and i'm sure you will too.
I'll be watching for a journal from you we may be able to learn from each others mistakes/sucesses :lol:
I will be setting up another nano soon that I got from Gary Nelson on here, I'll be doing a journal for that one too, i'll post you a linky when i get going if you want.
I have 3 tanks in total but i'll be sticking with the 2 nanos till i get to stage where i can call myself an Aquascaper as my main tank is a very mature 200 litre and don't wanna disturb my feesh................yet.
 
Bit of a quick update, will show a proper update when the tank is clean enough to take a photo of..been a bit busy recently : S

The HC is growing, it started off slowly and in the last couple of weeks or so it's had a bit of a growth spurt so i've replanted some in different parts of the tank to help it fill in now that I seem to have the ferts and CO2 in check.
All I need now now is some Blyxa for the back and it may actually start to look like a scape (ish)lol.
Blyxa will have to wait till I have some money.

So slowly getting there : )
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top