tim
Member
Stunning mate really well executed, been such a long wait for you, glad all has gone well, do you still plan to go even bigger next year ? Looking forward to livestock pics once they've settled in.
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A 'little' box of chocolates, licorice n allsorts - baby chocco fry
- Thread starter Alastair
- Start date
Alastair
Member
Cheers steve 😀
Yes mate. Its the invitro tennelus from freshwater shrimp. There was heaps of it I was shocked. Its only small at the minute mate so might double in size. There's some fully grown in their too.
Thanks ryno. Im hoping it will grow into what i envisage so looks a little untidy at present though. Much clearer today after a nice 50 percent water change which I did not enjoy ha ha.
Thanks nutty. This is why I miss co2 and the increased growth but im settled with the slower growth for now.
.I think the fish have been seriously punished having to stare at this lol
Wow thanks miranda. Certainly makes it very rewarding if that's the reaction it has.
It certainly is maidenhair fern. Got it from sanj on here. Some of the roots are in the water so im hoping it takes well. Should do.
Oh yeah definitely mate. I feel much much happier now it's here. Looks even better now its clear. The lights are getting brighter too. They never had more than 3 hours continuous use.
Thanks mate. Who'd have thought a delayed tank can depress you so much ha. Hope it continues to improve and go how I see it looking in 3 or 4 months. Im itching to put shrimp in but must resist lol
Hiya faizal. That's one thing I was worried about was that I'd lose the depth but its turned out quite well. The first time with the initial tank didn't look as well but ive raised the substrate slightly higher where the wood is too.
The emmersed shot has to be my favourite part at the moment.
Im just running 5 hours a day at the minute, then will up it to 6 after 2 weeks then up to 7 and a half to 8 after 2 months when its taking off.
Cheers ian. Thanks for that. Feel like a bit of pressure is on me now lol .
Hiya tim. A very long wait yes lol. Glad its finally here. Does it seem wrong im spending hours staring at an empty ish tank each evening???? There's no fish in it yet.
Thats going to be my favourite bit. Adding the fish and shrimp over a couple of weeks. Im tempted to slowly add shrimp around 3 weeks time.
Yes im planning or will should I say be going bigger next year. 6ft all round and 50 or 60 cm high but think it will possibly need bracing which I dont fancy.
Thanks everyone for your comments so far
MirandaB
Member
What temperature do you have this at Alistair,could only see one heater and just wondered how you heat something like this? 🙂
Alastair
Member
Hiya.
Its kept at a consistent 26 degrees Celsius. Your right its only got the one 300w heater but its one of the eheim jagers which are rated to heat tanks significantly bigger than other 300watts. This can heat tanks up to 1000 litres. I have a spare fluval e300 on hand in case it struggles during winter but the temp hasnt dropped since it reached its setting. Its a big heater too. 😀
MirandaB
Member
That's a big heater lol your electric company's going to be rubbing their hands 😀
Bandersnatch
Member
- Joined
- 16 May 2013
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- 27
Always like the pictures of tanks when it has its test fill and its just a expanse of blue seems like it has so many possibilities.
Looks like its going to be a great tank nows its pplanted as well though, going to be fun seeing something like this grow in.
Looks like its going to be a great tank nows its pplanted as well though, going to be fun seeing something like this grow in.
hydrophyte
Member
- Joined
- 22 Aug 2009
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- 1,072
This is top notch! It will look fantastic as it grows in.
Alastair
Member
Lol to be honest it doesnt kick in that much really but imagine when the room temp drops it will start too.
Thanks mate. Only down side is low tech - slow growth. I need the tennelus to root in before I go adding my corys.
Hey hydro thanks mate. That's one of my favourite shots yet.
.just to add, I stained and fitted some edging to hide the double glass base and the unsightly polystyrene base yesterday. Im quite happy with how it looks. Also the tank has beem cycling really quickly.
Quick phone pic with edging on
faizal
Member
Sorry Alastair but I remember you saying that the e. tennellus were invitro ones. Does that mean their leaves are of emmersed form? I wish you had access to a PAR meter so that you could share the substrate PAR levels in this tank. I am loving the progress. I like the edging work that you've done on it. It looks very neat. The tank also looks like it's getting a lot of the outdoor light from this picture.
How long do you think it will take before the rooting of the e. tennellus occurs?
How long do you think it will take before the rooting of the e. tennellus occurs?
Aron_Dip
Member
Looking awesome mate, trim sets it of a treat. Really looking forward to this in a few months time and happy you've finally got back on track 😉
Alastair
Member
Umm yes mate the leaves are emmersed and pretty small but you get such a massive amount in one pot. Ive also got some submersed tennelus which is throwing out runners but the invitro I reckon would take a couple of weeks so my corys will be last to go in. The nutra soil seems lighter than amazonia so dont want to risk plants floating uo from them scouring the substrate as I feed banana worms ane the corys dig for those
The tank is next to a south facing door so does get some light in but it only seems that bright as the back door and net curtain were open
Ive also got a seneye device which I need to set up and its the one that also measures par readings so once my desktop comes back from dell I can pop up some readings if you like
Cheers mate. Its looking good now just having a problem with a little film appearing an hour or so after each water change so may invest in one of the water skimmers fron eheim which attaches to the intake.
Just got some beading for the base board too 😀
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George Farmer
Founder
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- 21 Jun 2007
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- 6,741
Top set up, top scape, all done by a top bloke. Well done mate. 🙂
faizal
Member
Cheers Alastair 🙂 . It would be great to get an idea on the substrate PAR levels. But please no hurries mate. Take your own time.I am just curious about your lighting levels. I loved the growth you had in " A Chocolate Puddle". I hope you get the same thing out of this tank too.🙂 Keeping up with your tank closely,...always.🙂
aliclarke86
Member
- Joined
- 21 Mar 2013
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- 1,488
i'm curious about the original aqua soil used as a base layer, does this work as a slow release for nutrients? i ask because you are also using a few other planted aquarium specific substrates as well and these also have nutrients in them do they not?
The little skimmers are great al but you do need to wrap a little stainless mesh around the intake or it will gobble up CRS 🙁
Alastair
Member
Cheers george thats some pretty big encouragement their for me to try my best with this one then. Really appreciate that thanks mate
Not a problem faizel. As soon as i can link it up ill let you know the readings. Theyll be no where near the readings from the puddle as I used a ati sun power on that one but this self build seems pretty good from apoearance but im curious myself too esoecially with only using low energy gu10 bulbs.
Hiya, .
Yes it works partly as a slow release for nutrients that's one of the reasons but also it goes through a process where it decomposes and produces carbon which is taken up by the roots of the plants. Also the pond soil doesnt contain the same level of nutrients as john innes etc. Its less.
The other specific plant substrate does provide nutrients whilst helping to keep ph low but is l mainly aesthetic. I prefer the small round grains compared to sand etc..
Cheers mate. I was also looking at the powered eheim skimmers too but will wait and see how it goes as it doesn't look too bad today. I've raised the lily pipe outlet a little today too to see if that helps.
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Alastair
Member
Just been doing a water change today and noticed this little guy. Im boggled as to how it's in their 😕
Hope it survives though just so I can see what it is
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Hope it survives though just so I can see what it is
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Andy Thurston
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- 16 Apr 2013
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Where? Under leaf? Or up and right of heater? Its hard to see on phone
Nice tank by the way
Nice tank by the way
Alastair
Member
Thanks mate. Up and right of the heater. Clueless how it got there
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Andy Thurston
Member
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- 16 Apr 2013
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- 2,804
Itll be fine as long as it steers clear of filter and water change pipe. It probably hitch hiked on one of the plants. If youve got a mature filter spare stick it in to help with any ammonia. Id be much more worried if you had john ines or similar in there. I dont think aqua soil will be as bad for ammonia.
Youll have to call it something daft like 'freddy fry' of 'billy the fish'
Youll have to call it something daft like 'freddy fry' of 'billy the fish'