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Ram Bam and Gone- torn down ready for its new life

Gill

Member
Joined
17 Mar 2008
Messages
3,898
Location
Coventry
As there was no real interest in the tank or any of the mountain of equipment.
I am setting this back up in the morning. So will be up early to prep the tank and hardscape it.
I already grabbed a carrier bag full of live food Tuesday. And will be seeding the tank with all daphnia etc. Plus shrimp love munching on daphnia.

This time I am going to use the Flip Aquatics method, And will be using a Matten Filter. It Will be powered by my Hailea Air Pump with Variable Dial. And will be using 3 Uplifts if I can Do the DIY myself. If Not will Order the ready made Superjet Uplifts. Going to Use the Jap Matt triple pack to get the most efficient filtration.
And I will not secure them, so that they can be lifted out easily for maintenance. Just wedged in.

Hardscape will be using the Gorgonians(these have been sitting outside for months. in my hardscape bin) and a few Lava rocks with Moss attached. As well as a few select root pieces from my collections. This will all be baked in the oven to sterilise it.
Shrimp will be a skittles mix of them, basically what i can get in the area and from forums etc.

Planting will be mosses, Hydrocotyle species and epiphytes attached to the matting, and wood. will prob use bolbitis again as loved how lush that grows. And might try Pinifitida again.
Tons of floaters for grazing and extra filtration.

If anyone has any cuttings or floating plants, please let me know.

Now as I suffer with a severe Neurological condition, Keeping fish and shrimp and aquascaping provides me with a centre. That allows me to calm myself and create a control. I have the pipefish in the bedroom in the bay window box. And When I need to I can sit infront of it and chill. And growing my own live foods helps as well. As I need to remember to maintain these and restart cultures and rotate etc.
I know I will be moving house again within the next 3-4 months, but don't mind that. As moving house with shrimp will be easier than with large amounts of fish. And shrimp can be somewhat neglected during a move without any detriment to them. And they can live happily in a storage tote if need be.
 
Thanks.
Did not have the Jap Matt I wanted to went with matala matting. Which is tightly spun threads.
It was easy to cut to size and just wedged it on to see how it looked.
Now Planting changed as there was a Java Fern Mother Plant. So got that and a few large Anubias. And some moss.
Got back and started on the tank.
Firstly turned on the heating for the Consevatory, While the Botanicals were simmering away. As well as the Lava rock.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-ifpQ6v-3tqmhkBnwEpV5NaAPsHQiaYs/view?usp=sharing
view

Got the tank cleaned nicely with hot soapy water and then rinsed a few times. this is where a Blanki shines, cuts thru any old dry algae.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-cs3DxwJfCHl6GTvijsxp7psZb8ZMLmV/view?usp=sharing
view

The matting was easy to plant into. Just used a screwdriver to make holes which i could push rhyzomes into. Same with the anubias.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-aXfDX2nPidYNcKNYMMesvA-lzDWQvYd/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-_AOO9VqLpmABPKTGF6gWryWBLdcbyWM/view?usp=sharing
view

Once i was happy with the placement. Added the Java Moss and Fissidens.
Now it is not how i wanted it to look, but it will grow in over time as the plants begin to cover the matting.

The Uplifts changed aswell. Decided to put the MBF into the back chamber and also used a Betta Double Sponge filter and added a pipe to direct the water outlet.
Will need to make a superjet uplift in the morning using upvc piping. Just need to buy the right bits from the DIY store.
 
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That's looking really good, nice work. Funny you mention boatmen as I had a few in my pond this summer, fascinating creatures.

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I added another uplift this aftenoon. Went with 32mm for largest amount of water forced up the tube. That I was comfortable working with. DIY store cut it to size for me.
Was surprisingly easy to make the holes needed using a dremmel tool. And push fit is so handy.
Only thing I forgot was to cut the outlet with an angle, like the professional versions. Will do that another day.
In total this cost me £4. As already had airline tubing.

Really impressed with how much water this moves. So can see why breeders use this type of filter.

And in the long run maintenance will be very easy. Just squeeze out the sponge filters in the back. And never touch the matala matting, as its porous enough to never need rinsing out.
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Large outflow on the corner. And small in the middle.

Back of the tank.
Moving bed ziss type filter
Betta double sponge filter
32mm uplift


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Went to b+q this afternoon. And purchased a sheet of polycarbonate roofing sheet.
Measured out the panels needed and cut with a Stanley blade.
Glued it all together and then added bracing and lips for it to sit on.
It slides back and forth easily and lifts off with ease.

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Need to attach the moss to the stones and pebbles.

Also added more plants today. Creeping Jenny and hydroctyle to the top.of the matting. So that it grows over the surface of the water.

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I am really liking how this is growing. All I am doing is a water change and scooping out the floating plants once a week. And drying them out to make Shrimp food.
I added Loads of Pelia last week. And like that the fish etc move it around the tank. And it looks very Natural in little mounds.
Can Barely see the Matalo Matting now, as plants have grown well.
Moss is started to cover the emersed part of the matting. And also Hydrocotyles aswell. And Have added some Moss from morning walks with Puppy to it, just to see what grows.
 
That's the OG pad of fissidens from Fil in the bottom right. Take bits off and let it grow.

Long fin WCMM are spawning in it

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Each ram has it's own territory. This one likes this bit to itself and keeps it very clean.
Just wish these weren't pricey as 20 each
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Oh the white fluff is spider egg sacs. Been feeding them to the halfbeaks today. Found them in the peg basket. And did not want to waste

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So After Tonight's statement by BOJO, will be staying home for the foreseeable future. And will return to work once advised to.
will be doing alot of scaping etc, and decorating.
 
So far been Collecting Moss from around the garden, And have added more the Matting above the water line.
Also Added the Pump from the Trickle tower, and used the spray bars that came with it So have 2 more outlets pumping water into different areas of the tank.

Also purchased some of the Red Moss. Had it sitting in a KFC gravy pot on the kitchen window ledge.
Have now added this to the tank. Used a piece of Styrofoam which has a little shelf in it. So that I can have just enough water in it to cover the moss. So Far it is growing well.
 
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