Fluval Flex 57 Forest - pumpypants

[pumpypants]

Hi all I've been right through the aquarium hobby over the years, cold water, tropical, planted, discus, rift valley and marine.

Various tanks over many years and not many were a success if I'm being honest.

I said I'd never be here again - no more tanks in this house, but, after a 5 year break here we are.

I suppose I have a lot more patience this time around after a recent life changing event and I want to get it right first time - other aquariums were rushed or that'll do.

I have a brand new fluval flex 57 and I'm going for John innes no 3 in filter bags capped with black sand, very much low tech and dirty to begin with - with a potential turn to co2 later on.

I have an azalea root for the main centrepiece which I plan to java moss most branches with java fern emerging from the centre - but this it's where it's different this time I'm slowly buying everything I need and in no rush whatsoever - other plants will be added as I go along and have researched.

lighting - I'm not entirely happy with the stock lighting which comes with the tank and I have bought a 6500k 30w led floodlight - I'm just pondering if I can cut the hood in the centre and just simply position the floodlight on the top of the hood - will the floodlight still be too close to the surface from this distance?
I didn't really want to go hoodless. I suppose I could use the stock led to get me going and introduce floodlight later on.

and finally we are so lucky now with these forums and YouTube has absolutely been my biggest inspiration to get this aquarium off the ground.

 

[Dryrot]

Best of luck with this. I empathise, as I too am returning fishkeeper, and have found this forum and YouTube so exceptionally useful, and inspiring.

Can't wait to see how you get on.

regards

Bryan.

 

[Simmo]

Welcome from another long in the tooth aquarist! The support and info here has been a huge help to me in getting my first ever tank in which the plants have survived for more than a few months!
Personally I’d use the supplied light, especially if it’s by a window, and you can always change later like you say.
Good Luck!

 

[pumpypants]

I'm going to stick with the stock led for now, get the tank cycled - get it settled in and then consider the floodlight - again there is no rush.

I'm in no rush to get filled with water, I'm just assembling everything I need first.

Please excuse the filter bags and return pipe in the pic - but hopefully you can see my vision, moss cottoned onto the root with intertwining java fern maybe pearl weed across the bottom and red root floating plants for the top - I haven't considered what I'll be using for the rear yet.

 

[Simmo]

Great bit of wood. If you want plant recommendations I’ve found a separate post on the Plant Help bit of the forum gets the best results

 

[pumpypants]

A mega quick update to share, 4 filter bags filled with John innes no.3 have been added to the tank base and I've been to IKEA and bought an IKEA kallax unit (which is a perfect fit for this sized tank)

Tomorrow I'll be capping it off and adding some moss and fern to the root and adding water.

 

[pumpypants]

First pic of how it's going, I have done a little gardening but not a lot tbh
I've gone for a mix of plants, hygrophilia polysperma for the rear, Taiwan moss for the root and rock, java fern coming up and out of the root, crypts for the front - a little too uniform but I'm hoping they will grow in, Monte Carlo I'm trying but seems to be struggling.

I have co2 on the tiniest tickover and John innes no3 inside filter bags under the black sand.

The java fern has taken off since adding co2 and as expected the polysperma I can't keep up with, I haven't cleaned the glass once in a fortnight 😲😳, I've just added yesterday a tiny bristlenose and 5 shrimp.

I'm looking forward to the moss spreading on the branches, there is a bit of leaf melt in there and spits of algae this to be expected in a new setup.

Never used co2 before in a planted setup or soil under substrate - I have a feeling this one is going to be successful.

I'm going to treat it like a new beard and try not to touch it for 2 months

 

[pumpypants]

A quick how it's going
I've added rotala cuttings which have just came through the post but they are not in permanent positions yet.

I need to read up on how to take better pictures, but everything is coming along nicely - can't keep up with some of the plants.

I have a DIY light idea for a floodlight in the hood over in the DIY section as the stock light is not the best

 

[pumpypants]

Another mega quick update I have found a way to really inject some brightness in the fluval flex ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ please see my

DIY fluval flex light mod

Compare the image above (the stock light to the modified flex below)