New 180ltr 90x45x45 - first freshwater tank

[keone]

Hey, I might as well start a build log. To see the progression and since it's my first freshwater tank i will hopefully get guided in the right direction while building it. I do not wish to be fault free, I only learn from failing but avoiding newby mistakes is most welcome.

I bought this aquarium second hand - it came with lots of hardscape but since I have something visualised in my head I bought more. Damn that stuff ads up. Since I had 3 children I sold my youngest so I was able to pay for the extra hardscape i didnt take into account. When purchasing the aquarium I told swmbo (she who must be obeyed) I had all I needed. She could pick the fishies. I knew I still had lots of time to nudge her in the right direction so I'm sure all will turn out well in that regard. lol

Since then I have been playing with my new playground for about two weeks now. Preparing - reading and watch content to get myself a bit more eductated. It's life so I do not wish to rush into it and fail horribly and more important kill the habitants.

I was glad my other hobby is making diorama's and miniature painting so I have some basic skills in setting up a diorama but an aquascape is not as easy as it seems. Especially for someone like me - I have adhd. The whole living room changed to an aquascape bomb of materials. I'm happy I have a wife who has some hobbies as well and understands my "urges"

So here is what I have so far. The scape is far from finished - when I sneeze hard all little trees fall down like a domino stone project.

Right now I'm debating wether I should go higher in the background. I named the aquarium "Playground" - I imagine when I don't look all the little inhabitants go to the middle and play soccer or badminton. Although I also imagined a mini druid circle or imaguwi or however I spell that lol. So I do not want it too steep but I guess it only creates depth and I can still do what I have visoned in my mind.

What do you guys think? Tips - suggestions - gently advice about the horrible mistakes i'm already making - all is welcome

First pic is the log i bought extra - decided the other side was better -
Second pic is where I am at at the moment
Third is where I frankenstined some roots (the upload keeps rearanging the pics so - im sorry they are not in order)
Fourth is hpw the living room looks right now. I cleaned up a lot already since I started, but it's still a mess lol

 

[Connswater]

Your picture of where you are now is extraordinary. Looks fantastic to me. Plant choice will be interesting if you are not to lose the overall landscape.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

but since I have something visualised in my head I bought more. Damn that stuff ads up. Since I had 3 children I sold my youngest so I was able to pay for the extra hardscape i didnt take into account.

I really enjoyed that bit, I'll copy in @megwattscreative, she will know why.

Looks fantastic to me.

Certainly does, I don't usually comment on hard-scape threads, due to a <"total lack of aesthetic sensibilities">, but that looks fantastic,.

She could pick the fishies. I knew I still had lots of time to nudge her in the right direction so I'm sure all will turn out well in that regard. lol

......... <"Stocking guidelines">

cheers Darrel

 

[Wookii]

Since I had 3 children I sold my youngest so I was able to pay for the extra hardscape i didnt take into account.

I’ve tried selling all three of mine on eBay - they keep getting returned, it’s costing me a fortune in postage!

 

[Paul27]

The sense of depth you have achieved is awesome

 

[keone]

Thanks for the nice and funny comments! I love a bit of humor.
I guess - i'll leave it like it is for a day or two and start gluing the rocks and wood together before I'll move ahead to the next phase.

What do you think I should do since the soil - and filter media is new - Should i start with a dark start or a dry start and find another way to start up my filter. The soil is Ada amazonia 2 - I read it releases quiet alot of amonia which would help with a dark start i guess? Big and frequent water changes are planned anyway since I wasn't able to boil the big stump because of it's size. It will probably release alot of tanins the next few weeks.

I do have some idea's of types of plants/ mosses but still need to dig into that part more as i am not sure which will go well together yet- I'll be making a list in the next week.

Suggestions for plants and mosses are most welcome.

 

[megwattscreative]

I’ve tried selling all three of mine on eBay - they keep getting returned, it’s costing me a fortune in postage!

Thats where you need EBABY (copyright @dw1305 circa 2004ish). He tried to sell me fairly often, sometimes with a worrying amount of success. He can tell you about the very traumatic green grocer incident.

I'm not very knowledgeable on aqua soils but frequent water changes whilst there's lots of tannins and ammonia sounds like a good plan. Looks gorgeous so far!

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

He can tell you about the very traumatic green grocer incident.

Looking back probably not my finest moment.

t do you think I should do since the soil - and filter media is new - Should i start with a dark start or a dry start and find another way to start up my filter.

Dark start perhaps <"Dr Timothy Hovanec's comments about Bacterial supplements">.

The soil is Ada amazonia 2 - I read it releases quiet alot of amonia which would help with a dark start i guess?

Yes.

Suggestions for plants and mosses are most welcome.

Any moss you like really <"Mosses that do or don't attach to Hardscapes!">. I'm a <"fan of Cryptocoryne spp.">, but there are plenty of other rosette species that would be suitable.

Cheers Darrel

 

[Tankless]

I would go with a dark start especially as you're using Amazonia. It makes life so much easier not having to deal with the leaching ammonia melting your plants. That's if you're not in a rush.

 

[keone]

soooo another wonderful day of vacation.

Debatet on whether I should go further with my aquarium or trying to find my left testicel that's still lost from the taser incident, but decided to continue with the aquarium instead and getting it ready for the dark start. I did some minor tweaking and added some rocks to the right side, but other than that I think I'm actually pleased with what it looks like at the moment.

When adding plants I'm sure i'll add a branch here and there.

Should I be worried when the cotton wool starts to smoke? I'm using that and CA-glue to glue the rocks and wood together but noticed some smoke.
Is that actually heat or another chemical reaction? I didn't dare touch it as my fingers have been glued to strange objects before, but it looked scary and exciting at the same time lol

 

[Wookii]

Should I be worried when the cotton wool starts to smoke? I'm using that and CA-glue to glue the rocks and wood together but noticed some smoke.
Is that actually heat or another chemical reaction? I didn't dare touch it as my fingers have been glued to strange objects before, but it looked scary and exciting at the same time lol

No, if it smokes, its working properly. It is a chemical reaction that produces a lot of heat - definitely don't touch it, I tried that once and and it strips skin off fingers very efficiently! Once its cooled it should be rock hard, but its always worth sprinkling some crushed soil on it before it completely sets unless it's going to be hidden, as it will be bright white underwater.

The scape looks awesome by the way, you clearly have some skills there!

 

[keone]

its always worth sprinkling some crushed soil on it before it completely sets

Thanks for the tip - I now added some smaller stones to cover the spots but for places where that would look weird I will definitely try that!

you clearly have some skills there!

I wish lol - you don't want to know how much time I spent just sitting in front of the aquarium and moving stuff arround until I was pleased. I did read up alot before starting though - My dad once rode a horse which went really well for a first timer- he told me it was because he read so many cowboy books. My mother on the other hand climbed up and fell off on the other side 🙂

 

[keone]

A small update - i just finished gluing in all the hardscape. The black filterfoam I needed to block some passages between soil and sand had arrived last night so I could add the sand and throw in some scattered stones.
I tried to make it so so they wouldn't look like I hand placed them to try and give it a natural look. I think the sand lit up the foreground nicely and gives a nice contrast.

Now onto adding in and outflow and prepare for water. Getting a good circulation will be a challange with those two big stumps. But I have 3 weeks to figure that out. I could always add a second filter if it turns out the bigger pieces block the flow too much - I guess.

The little box with moss in the back I have brought over to try and propagate some of that while I wait for the filter and substrate to run in.

Funny thing - while gluing the last tree I noticed it had a cool shape - it looks like a belly dancing ent/ lady Groot. Can you spot which one that is? lol you need to have a little imagination but I think it's cool. Told my wife I had a stripper in my tank - she said she could do better - So I'm turning in early tonight😎

oh lol - she got excited about me playing with an aquarium so she ordered a 30 liter nano cube yesterday evening. She wants shrimpies.

 

[keone]

small update - once i didnt see no2 for 7 days I added plants and some fishies last friday. All seems to be going well. I had some slime on the wood but removing that manually when it grows
Now the waiting game begins. It needs more plants and mosses, but I will add those this week.

 

[bazz]

Looks great, and you are doing a sterling job of keeping the soil from off of the sand!

 

[keone]

Looks great, and you are doing a sterling job of keeping the soil from off of the sand!

haha - a magnet helps me with that. I learned that trick last weekend - I never knew the soil was magnetic but a small magnet attached to a scraper pulls all the soil from the sand like magic.