Sophia Posted April 20, 2011 Report Share Posted April 20, 2011 I will keep you posted, probably go there on Sat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunbird73 Posted April 21, 2011 Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 has anyone tried this black satin sand from petstuff 101? http://www.petstuff101.co.nz/Product.aspx?ID=350 It sounds good but if its mined from a natural rock then it could be tiny and sharp? I don't really like buying stuff without running my fingers through IYKWIM. I have synodontis (synodontises/synodontii?? ) on the daltons no.1, and they are good with it, no issues. Have shelldwellers on it too and they have no trouble moving it around and burying their stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted April 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 Yeah, it's really hard to tell with that sand. I do know what you mean about running your fingers through it. The daltons no. 1 is actually ok as long as they don't try to gill filter it. I can't be sure that'll work. I've got about 8kkgs of silica left and I've created a sand area that can be siphoned and cleaned if the silica ends up being crap so I'll give that a go first then maybe go shopping after the school holidays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted April 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 Planting complete. I don't have room for p44's rose x ocelot mother plant unfortunately. I somehow killed all my twisted val and star grass in the plant storage tank over the last couple of months so I'm on the hunt for more if anybody has some? Also any suggestions of interesting plants that will love high light conditions? As far as fish go I added 2 small and 1 medium L140 plecos, 3 panda cories, 1 male and 3 female apisto agassizi. Tomorrow I hope to transfer a few more pandas and some stem plants from the community tank and get the MH fixtures mounted above the tank. Then the rest of the work can be done at a more leisurely pace. Still need smooth sand for pandas and ultimately geos (constantly trying to not use the silica). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted April 21, 2011 Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 has anyone tried this black satin sand from petstuff 101? http://www.petstuff101.co.nz/Product.aspx?ID=350 I have a sample coming in the mail so I will let you know what it's like, or post it on to you if you like. They say it's a finer grade of the black grit which means it's not sand but fine gravel, so may not be suitable for cories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted April 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Seems the camera doesn't like staring straight into a powerglo. No idea why... Anyway, here's where it's at today. From left to right the plants are (or I think they are) Ozelot, Rose, Rose x Ozelot and the one on the right which I was given but didn't get the name. Behinnd between the ozelot and rose is 1 sprig of ambulia which will rocket up I'm sure. Behind between the rose and roseX is some of that stuff and between the roseX and the unknown sword is that other stuff (both of which go an awesome red under great light). Along the top of the riverstone wall is a mixture of crypts. Behind the log there is a green tiger lotus and there's some micro sword in front of the roseXozelot. The front of the tank is actually 50% of the depth but it looks like a tiny strip unless you look from the side in. It's going to be a sanded area with no plants. The apisto pots will be strategically placed somewhere out of view once the plants bed in and the sand is covered with riverstones to geo proof it. At the moment I've just got the 3' T8 powerglo on it to get the plants used to the tank as they've only been there 24 hours. In a week or 2 I'll add the halides for an hour a day and see what happens from there. Now I just need to wait for it to all grow. Oh, and I'll fill it to the top once I've got the rest of the riverstones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Cool! There is soooo much space for that plant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshlikesfish Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Looking good :happy1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted April 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Cool! There is soooo much space for that plant! Thanks! I don't think there is enough room though. The pup you sent me is on the top of the hill on the right and I suspect now that it'll get some real nutrients and light it'll be towering over everything in no time. (that and I no longer have a cent to my name (damn :evil: fish addictions) mutter grumble) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted April 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Looking good :happy1: Cheers! Once I've cleaned the garage I'll put some effort into cleaning the glass. It's a bit of a lost cause though. Still, I can just move my head a bit to see past the blemishes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 It's good, well thought out. If you haven't already, see the photos in my cory tank thread. On some of them you can see the difference in colour between the east coast sand and the silica when its all pushed next to the glass. While it isn't grey like the stones, there are beige and brownish stones in there that match the sand a bit and it's definitely darker than silica, brown like beach sand. I lightened mine with silica sand and now I'm trying to darken it again :lol: Tomorrow is sand hunting day anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted April 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 It's good, well thought out. If you haven't already, see the photos in my cory tank thread. On some of them you can see the difference in colour between the east coast sand and the silica when its all pushed next to the glass. While it isn't grey like the stones, there are beige and brownish stones in there that match the sand a bit and it's definitely darker than silica, brown like beach sand. I lightened mine with silica sand and now I'm trying to darken it again :lol: Tomorrow is sand hunting day anyway. Thanks, I was wondering about your cory sand. It looks very light but not white like silica as you say. So you think the east coast sand would cut it with those river stones? I wouldn't mind something lighter than the stones to be honest - now that they're in there the substrate is fairly dark all round. Let me know how tomorrow works out. I'll be popping into HFF to see if I can find a female german blue ram to replace the one I lost today but won't get much other time for hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted April 23, 2011 Report Share Posted April 23, 2011 got my sample and it's really a dark brown/grey with gold flecks in it, I think it could be good as the gold will make it not so dark. It's finer than the east coast sand and doesn't appear to have any shell in it. Have just got back from a morning out gallivanting in ridiculous traffic so will go and give it a good wash and see what it's like. Stand by for more info later on or tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted April 23, 2011 Report Share Posted April 23, 2011 After much rinsing I have done some tests. There is a bag of sand 17cmx18cm in about 10L of water and so far it's 4ppm KH and the Ph is the same as my test sample from the cory tank. The cory tank water has 6ppm KH. The sand behaves like silica sand, it stays flat and smooth. You can see grains of black, gold and dark brown. I am going to taste it and see if I can detect any salt. Am going to leave it to sit overnight and retest it, then mix some with silica and/or EC sand to see if I can make the perfect colour. A bag of this stuff at Central landscaping is $6.10 and it's the same size bag as the river pebbles. I may have enough in my sample to darken up mine without needing to buy more too heehee Oh and I meant to say they also have big river pebbles, a few as big as my head, many fist sized and larger. I think you can also buy by the bag full or I'm sure they will let you buy only as many as you need. They do offer samples of everything too. EDIT - water in bucket doesn't taste at all of salt 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted April 23, 2011 Report Share Posted April 23, 2011 Looking good!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted April 24, 2011 Report Share Posted April 24, 2011 here is the new sand colour. You can see a piece of silica with some mid brown right next to it (previous colour), the other lightish shade stuff is silica and east coast and the top layer is that + black sand. Possibly still not dark enough for me, will have to see if my rasbora get more colour now. Can't post a better picture as the water is too cloudy yet and still waiting for it to settle to make final decision. It's darker than it was, which is good. What I should have done is kept aside some black from my sample but I forgot. :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted April 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2011 That looks nice. Is it darker or lighter in real life than the pic shows? Still a sharp sand or is there enough silica / ec sand not to notice? Well done on the mix. I like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted April 24, 2011 Report Share Posted April 24, 2011 Under the lights it looks a bit lighter, more the colour of a pygmy's back now, before it was paler. It isn't sharp at all. I always thought it was smoother than the EC sand. In any case I recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted April 24, 2011 Report Share Posted April 24, 2011 Make a road trip to palmy! Himatangi beach has awesome sand and it's clean too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted April 24, 2011 Report Share Posted April 24, 2011 Hmmm a nice idea but $6 for a bag of sand is more appealing financially at present Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted April 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2011 Hmmm a nice idea but $6 for a bag of sand is more appealing financially at present +1 - but if anybody happens to be travelling via Himatangi Beach to Auckland I'll put in an order right now. Need about 30 litres of the stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted April 24, 2011 Report Share Posted April 24, 2011 a couple of photos in different light - it's clearly darker than the layers underneath but I am going to buy a bag of sand and get it a bit darker. I took a shot with some riverstones peeping through, you can see it blends pretty well at this colour. tank light on, camera flash off tank light off, camera flash on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted April 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2011 So I just re-wired the MH lamps (again - longer cords) and replaced the old bung lamps with brand new 6k bulbs and I am scared of these lights!!! I swear the new bulbs are twice as bright as the old ones and the old ones were ridiculously bright. Tomorrow they go above the tank. I'm thinking 1 hour a day for a few weeks is going to be all the existing plants need to get a a little boost over and above the powerglo. I'm crapping myself about the amount of algae these things could promote though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted April 25, 2011 Report Share Posted April 25, 2011 Nah, just put em on and see what happens. 8 hours a day at first but keep up the ferts and CO2. Have an excess of ferts in the water at all times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted April 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2011 Nah, just put em on and see what happens. 8 hours a day at first but keep up the ferts and CO2. Have an excess of ferts in the water at all times. How do I know if I've put enough in there? I've only got comprehensive in there at the moment, don't want to use excel. Anything else I should throw in? I've got co2 being added via nutrafin ladder but will hopefully add another or a couple of real diffusers with 3L juice bottles attached. Any tips appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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