40shadesogreen
Seedling
- Joined
- 28 Jun 2010
- Messages
- 2
Hello to all members of UKAPS from Derek & Lynn from Belfast 
We have, having moved home bought a Jewel Vision 450 and we are looking to set-up our new tank right from the start in planning to use live plants. We currently have a small 2ft tank with approx 25-30 mollies & platys, and, sadly to say housing `plastic plants`
Along with the tank we also purchased two bags of black substrate, which, I am somewhat concerned that not enough light will be distributed down to the lower plants. Another problem that we can envisage is given the height of the tank, in getting an arm down the the bottom for maintaince work.
I would like to create a concave effect within the tank, with an `S` pathway in the middle leading to a blue or black? background. Any advice would be appreciated on backgrounds as once its on its on.. Blue sky or black infinity?
Another question that I have, (and all this at the planning stage before we even start on plants), is in forming a base.
I have heard and read up on styrofoam used as backgrounds, however, if styrofoam was to be used on the base and untreated to create (and in using less substrate/soil) to form the concave shape, would this have any detrimental effect on the roots of the plants? I would plan on trimming the styrofoam two inches in from the front and sides so that the white cannot be seen, and built up with gentle slopes so the substrate does not `fall off` The height would be no more than about 5 inches at its highest point and stuck well down with aquarium mastic. We could use extra substrate to achieve our desired effect but my concern is in that the tank is on a wooden floor, however it is `supported` giving extra weight that we could do without.
Any advice that members could give would be greatly appreciated..
(Does anyone else agree that LFS`s are, at times, as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike?) :?
We have, having moved home bought a Jewel Vision 450 and we are looking to set-up our new tank right from the start in planning to use live plants. We currently have a small 2ft tank with approx 25-30 mollies & platys, and, sadly to say housing `plastic plants`
Along with the tank we also purchased two bags of black substrate, which, I am somewhat concerned that not enough light will be distributed down to the lower plants. Another problem that we can envisage is given the height of the tank, in getting an arm down the the bottom for maintaince work.
I would like to create a concave effect within the tank, with an `S` pathway in the middle leading to a blue or black? background. Any advice would be appreciated on backgrounds as once its on its on.. Blue sky or black infinity?
Another question that I have, (and all this at the planning stage before we even start on plants), is in forming a base.
I have heard and read up on styrofoam used as backgrounds, however, if styrofoam was to be used on the base and untreated to create (and in using less substrate/soil) to form the concave shape, would this have any detrimental effect on the roots of the plants? I would plan on trimming the styrofoam two inches in from the front and sides so that the white cannot be seen, and built up with gentle slopes so the substrate does not `fall off` The height would be no more than about 5 inches at its highest point and stuck well down with aquarium mastic. We could use extra substrate to achieve our desired effect but my concern is in that the tank is on a wooden floor, however it is `supported` giving extra weight that we could do without.
Any advice that members could give would be greatly appreciated..
(Does anyone else agree that LFS`s are, at times, as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike?) :?
