Zev Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 I have stripped down my 400mm cube tank because it had become overgrown with some slimy floaty green algae and Utricularia. Ask Jim r, he saw it looked like some surreal haunted wonderland, anyway, I digress. I am going to set this up as a Niger river biotope for my normani. Ideal parameters are: Ph: 6.9 - 7.2 dH: 3 - 8 temp: 24 - 27 deg C Slight water movement and muted lighting. Plants will be: Foreground - Eleocharis acicularis Midground on driftwood - Bolbitis heudelotii, Anubias barteri var. nana and Anubias barteri var. nana 'Petite' Background - Vallisneria - if I can find it in the back of my com tank Substrate: JBL AquaBasis Small grey gravel The pics: Front substrate Side view of substrate Existing Fluval 104 and driftwood ticking over in my killie sump The Chief Building Inspector - had to put the light back on overnight incase she used it for a litter box! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 I tawt I saw a puddy tat. I did, I did taw a puddy tat!!!! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted July 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 My least favourite part of tank setup - arranging the driftwood, this way? That way? Arrgh, I give up... The bit of perspex it to go into the substrate to divide the tank in an effort not to let the Val take over the whole tank. Top view with perspex in the substrate Filling the tank from the sump with the Fluval 104, plastic bag is to stop the water digging the substrate up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted July 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Filling up - sorry, not intermediate shots of me trying to arrange the plants, wet paws and cameras do not mix... Full tank front shot Close up The Building Inspector happy now that her bed is back up and on top of the nice warm light - averages 28deg in there. No fish yet, will let it settle temp wise first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Ive given my Normani to Ryan so Im sure hes watching this with interest I have no lights on my tanks so dont get the best from them. Looking good Does the cat ever move? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted July 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 During the winter she can stay in there all day, go have something to eat, go back in the evening. She will turn up on our bed after the lights have been off for about an hour because it is getting cold! Hopefully the val will block some of the light at the back of the tank if the normani don't like the 70w Metal Halide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twinkles Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 wow thats very cool love the spiky piece of driftwood whats the plant on the left? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted July 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 The plant on the left is Anubias barteri var. nana Quite slow growing and mine usually end up covered in algae, either the green spot or the hairy one that you can't scrape off without damaging the leaves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oeminx Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Yep I'm watching Barrie Looking good I liked the first drift wood arrangement, but I can never get them quite right either :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Nice setup, can't wait to see what it looks like with fish. Should be an awesome tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted October 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2009 Ok, updated pic. The Bolbitis heudelotii decided to have a sulk and died back, it has been shifted under the left hand bit of driftwood and is starting to sprout some new leaves. Eleocharis acicularis is slowly spreading around. The moss is not strictly the right stuff for the biotope, but the fish gotta have somewhere to get up to mischief in There are a squillion snails that will have to be moved, but helped with keeping the various stages of algae growth managable, there is still one sort of algae in there, and I should have been taking pics of the others as they came and went just to show you all that a tank with this sort of lighting just doesn't go from setup to looking neat and tidy overnight. You can try and count the little blue eyes if you like, there are six adults and more than double that number of fry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 5, 2009 Report Share Posted October 5, 2009 Looking good Zev. Great job of the biotope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JazzyJeff Posted October 5, 2009 Report Share Posted October 5, 2009 Top effort Zev - Tanks is looking great! Love the cat's luxury suite! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc360 Posted October 5, 2009 Report Share Posted October 5, 2009 Good work no the tank. The Drift wood adds some interesting foci points. Can i ask you about the redness in the Val? Iron? Light? Nice effect though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaVitamins Posted October 5, 2009 Report Share Posted October 5, 2009 That is really cool I love watching peoples developments on their tanks, thanks for posting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted October 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2009 Good work no the tank. The Drift wood adds some interesting foci points. Can i ask you about the redness in the Val? Iron? Light? Nice effect though. I suspect it is too much light, I will have to check the iron levels, as I do not think there is enough for the amount of light there is. The cat is spoilt - this is what happens when you take your husband to the LPS to look at fish - you end up with a cat tent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Posted October 5, 2009 Report Share Posted October 5, 2009 Looking good Zev The eyes show up nicely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Posted October 5, 2009 Report Share Posted October 5, 2009 Very cool Zev! Are you adding any CO2? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted October 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2009 Yup, bottled food grade, via a ceramic diffuser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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