Alastair
Member
Right, thought it was about time I finally start my journal especially after a few people pushing me to start it up. Brownie points to the first person to guess why I chose the name for the journal ( those who know are excluded).
Having had so much fun running high tech, there was one tank alone that gave me so much inspiration to give the low tech el natural tank a go and that was Bigtoms bucket of mud. I have read that journal so many times. It was especially the shallow tank and the immersed growth and the fact the tank can be left to its own devices with little intervention from me. A bonus whilst I'm on the road to recovery.
Unfortunately, i was unable to get a large square shallow tank due to my dining table so opted for diffrent dimensions.
Lxwxh is 120cmx70x30 and 10mm thick
Here it was as of last weekend when it arrived.
With this being a low tech no co2 etc, obviously lighting needs to be low, but I couldn't resist the urge to purchase an ati sunpower 4x54watt, however I'll be having it hung about 3 to 4 foot above the water level.
Cabinet is a DIY one. Had so much problems with joiners and cabinets so this is not an ada one but the front is similar. Yet to be varnished up etc.
Tank finally in place after some chopping adjustments of the stand
That isn't how the wood will be finally placed.
Substrate is a very small amount of John innes number 3 mixed with a large amount of aqua pond soil to just about an inch. This will then be topped with about 35 litres of Ada Amazonia/ flora base
Current plant list is cyperus alternifolious which will be planted in shower caddies and stuck to the rear right corner of the tank as part of the immersed corner.
I have seen a few other plants I'll mix in with these and big Tom has kindly donated a triffid off his monster of an echinodorous which will add to this.
To also go in
Needle leaf java fern
Java fern trident
Frog Bit
Crypts
Bolbitus
Anubis and some mosses.
Flow is going to be by way of as small a filter as possible.
Will be updating through the week.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Having had so much fun running high tech, there was one tank alone that gave me so much inspiration to give the low tech el natural tank a go and that was Bigtoms bucket of mud. I have read that journal so many times. It was especially the shallow tank and the immersed growth and the fact the tank can be left to its own devices with little intervention from me. A bonus whilst I'm on the road to recovery.
Unfortunately, i was unable to get a large square shallow tank due to my dining table so opted for diffrent dimensions.
Lxwxh is 120cmx70x30 and 10mm thick
Here it was as of last weekend when it arrived.
With this being a low tech no co2 etc, obviously lighting needs to be low, but I couldn't resist the urge to purchase an ati sunpower 4x54watt, however I'll be having it hung about 3 to 4 foot above the water level.
Cabinet is a DIY one. Had so much problems with joiners and cabinets so this is not an ada one but the front is similar. Yet to be varnished up etc.
Tank finally in place after some chopping adjustments of the stand
That isn't how the wood will be finally placed.
Substrate is a very small amount of John innes number 3 mixed with a large amount of aqua pond soil to just about an inch. This will then be topped with about 35 litres of Ada Amazonia/ flora base
Current plant list is cyperus alternifolious which will be planted in shower caddies and stuck to the rear right corner of the tank as part of the immersed corner.
I have seen a few other plants I'll mix in with these and big Tom has kindly donated a triffid off his monster of an echinodorous which will add to this.
To also go in
Needle leaf java fern
Java fern trident
Frog Bit
Crypts
Bolbitus
Anubis and some mosses.
Flow is going to be by way of as small a filter as possible.
Will be updating through the week.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Can`t wait to see this progress. Chuffed to see it finally underway after all the rotten luck you`ve had. Subscribed! 
