bbtom10
New Member
Hi all, I’m Tom and whilst I’ve been a very amateur fish keeper for several years, my aquascaping and planted tank adventure began just over 2 years ago.
I had a Fluval Flex for Christmas (I am 46) a few years ago and enjoyed my at-at model with a couple of Java ferns. Small selection of randoms fish and eventually added some shrimp.
I discovered MD Fish tanks, like I’m sure many of us have, summer 2022. I was quickly inspired to put some aqua soil in mesh bags and grab some plants and a few rocks and a piece of wood from the local wood. Very quickly I decided I wanted to get a bigger tank, agreed with my wife that it would add to the house and set about trying to find a bargain.
I found a Jewel Rio, 120L, 100cm x about 30cm x about 45 cm on Facebook marketplace. Got it for £50, bought it home, painted the cabinet white and peeled the plastic lid off. I also managed to find an Oase Biomaster Thermo 250 on eBay for £100, and set up two £12 Amazon spotlights on a strip of wood. I used some slate from the landscaping section of the garden centre which cost me £15, and a few more bits of wood. I decided I wanted a black and white theme for the livestock so bought a dozen black neon tetra, a small group of panda cories, and a couple of otocinclus.
I had a few problems with my water quality, probably even posted on here before about. I thought it was the slate (rustic slate with lots of rusty bits) leaching into the water, but now I ex[ect it is because I have ridiculously hard water (tds ppm>450, kh 18 etc.).
Eventually got it right and learned a few other tricks along the way. For example, the mopani wood and the rosewood from ‘The Range’ is £2.99 a piece and can really be combined to create some great scapes. Larger pieces are £11.99 and yet would be closer to £30-£40 at an aquascaping store.
This year we’ve had a garage conversion/extension which crept into us doing the lounge and now I have a nice space for a 4 foot tank.
I’ll be creating a proper journal for my journey with that tank. As I type this I’ve just finished the first weekend of setting it up and can’t wait to share my idea. It will mean closing down the Jewel Rio but all in the name of happy families and pursuing your dreams.
I’ve already benefitted from this friendly and welcoming community and look forward to sharing more.
Tom
I had a Fluval Flex for Christmas (I am 46) a few years ago and enjoyed my at-at model with a couple of Java ferns. Small selection of randoms fish and eventually added some shrimp.
I discovered MD Fish tanks, like I’m sure many of us have, summer 2022. I was quickly inspired to put some aqua soil in mesh bags and grab some plants and a few rocks and a piece of wood from the local wood. Very quickly I decided I wanted to get a bigger tank, agreed with my wife that it would add to the house and set about trying to find a bargain.
I found a Jewel Rio, 120L, 100cm x about 30cm x about 45 cm on Facebook marketplace. Got it for £50, bought it home, painted the cabinet white and peeled the plastic lid off. I also managed to find an Oase Biomaster Thermo 250 on eBay for £100, and set up two £12 Amazon spotlights on a strip of wood. I used some slate from the landscaping section of the garden centre which cost me £15, and a few more bits of wood. I decided I wanted a black and white theme for the livestock so bought a dozen black neon tetra, a small group of panda cories, and a couple of otocinclus.
I had a few problems with my water quality, probably even posted on here before about. I thought it was the slate (rustic slate with lots of rusty bits) leaching into the water, but now I ex[ect it is because I have ridiculously hard water (tds ppm>450, kh 18 etc.).
Eventually got it right and learned a few other tricks along the way. For example, the mopani wood and the rosewood from ‘The Range’ is £2.99 a piece and can really be combined to create some great scapes. Larger pieces are £11.99 and yet would be closer to £30-£40 at an aquascaping store.
This year we’ve had a garage conversion/extension which crept into us doing the lounge and now I have a nice space for a 4 foot tank.
I’ll be creating a proper journal for my journey with that tank. As I type this I’ve just finished the first weekend of setting it up and can’t wait to share my idea. It will mean closing down the Jewel Rio but all in the name of happy families and pursuing your dreams.
I’ve already benefitted from this friendly and welcoming community and look forward to sharing more.
Tom
