Li@m Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Heres the thread. you might get confused a littlebit but just keep reading and its alottle way back when it gets to low tech and what not. -------> http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lighting/85667-par-data-spiral-power-saver-bulbs.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted November 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Wow, long read, I'll read it after a shower. A lot of info to absorb here, thanks for the help li@m and Sophia. Will get back to you after a read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 thanks Liam, I will also read it later, my brain is full at present Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted November 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Not much you can do without a PAR meter, so the idea, more light allows the plants to absorb more nutrients, garden soil as a substrate though? What kind, topsoil or just a spade in the garden? I didn't see much about CO2 in the first 5 pages that I read. He says he doesn't use CO2 and his tanks look stunning. and he says riccia sucks the nutrients out of the water column(I'm guessing this is because it doesn't have roots) and if this is so, would the substrate fertilizer Supply Ferts to root plants? It's all really confusing probably because I don't know half the stuff he's saying. So riccia, needs high lights (to an estimation on PAR) and lots of Ferts in the water? I'm thinking riccia and hairgrass. Riccia for carpet an nice rock feature and hairgrass as a backdrop. With some kind of grassy look in the rocks. Edit I'm thinking of using twisted Val as a side like in his pic http://www.jeremysquires.com/img/aquarium/aquarium_AGA_DJS0069.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 A few tanks that I like he looks of, I do like the iwagumi look http://www.aquaportail.com/aquabdd/photos/utricularia-graminifolia.jpg http://www.oliver-knott.com/uploads/pics/4-aquarium-oliver-knott.jpg http://www.aquascapingworld.com/gallery/images/769/medium/1_Autumn_Sunrise_4.jpg Can any one ID any plants? Umm hairgrass is the only one I know for Iwagumi, and something Called HC I don't have a clue what this is, but everyone talks about it. And where do you find rocks like that? I looked up the river, but nothing but round ones. And silica sand, in wellington, where do you buy it? I may see if the new LFS can get some in. If anyone in Wellington can help much appreciated. I may just go low tech on this tank, I have seen people set up nanos with regular desk lamps, is this really possible, and if I'm going low tech on this tank how big of a light should I be looking at. And any suggestions for a background colour is also appreciated, was pondering black, but then I'm scared it would look too dark. Any help is appreciated Thanks in advance Matt N1CK said that the first one looks like Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae, although I'd have to disagree as it looks too tall, and L. n-z is quite short. I'd say it is either L. brasiliensis or maurtitiana. I found an article on that last tank once, and it said that the stem plant was Rotala rotundifolia and the green stuff on the wood/rocks is Riccia fluitans which has been tied down to prevent it from floating. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted November 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Legend I liked the grass look of the last one on the rocks im looking at getting some riccia of trademe in a few weeks, a lady said she has some. Thank joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Ok after a leak test (I just filled it to the rim because I'm too lazy to do the add 25% each day for 24hrs) and it's leak proof, I marked the water level with a marker and it's still sitting on that line. No pics as its pretty boring :slfg: Time to start looking at substrat and rocks, and a big thanks to BURN for offering to send me some riccia I have decided to go with a white background, so I'll just use some A4 sheets of paper, or art paper (because it's thicker). Will update in one week from tomorrow! Edit: after rummaging through some of the garden fertilizers we have, I have found one that seems to be promising. It contains N.P.K Trace elements These are all 0% Nitrogen(N) as ammonium Phosphorus(P) as phosphates Potassium(K) as potassium chloride Sulphur(S) and sulphates Copper(Cu) as copper chelate Iron(Fe) as ferrous chelate Manganese(Mn) as manganese chelate Zinc(Zn) as zinc chelate Boron(B) as borax Magnesium(Mg) as magnesium oxide Molybdenum(Mo) as molybdate And Calcium(Ca) as calcium carbonate 32% Picture Is this any good? I've heard the NPK in aquarium fertilizers before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 it's impossible to say if it's of use until you have decided whether to go low tech or high. If you go low tech I'd say no, leave the ferts out, or just put a few JBL balls in the substrate for the plants with roots. If you are going high tech then you get a :dunno: from me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted November 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2011 :slfg: it all depends on the cost of everything. If I do decide to go high tech, I'd have a DIY CO2 with diffuser ect and "high" estimate of light the best I can do with out a PAR meter and Ferts. I'm torn to go high tech so the riccia can grow on rocks. I still have to finalize plants. Probably hairgrass or twisted Val and riccia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted November 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 Okay a few drawings of what id like to do, I'm not sure about it yet, this or, having two rock features at each back corner, then a riccia lawn, and then a stream of silica sand. And I'm most likely going with a hairgrass background. Anyway I'm not the best artist so... Tank hasn't made any progress yet, still just heater and background on... I've gotten an Aqua One AL15D of trademe (I think it has 2x15w bulbs?) which should suffice for lighting 4W per gallon or 30W per 20cm(height) of water. Hopefully it should arrive this week. BURN has sent me some riccia today , hopefully I can grow this bunch out enough to have spares for others! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted November 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 I have actually just purchased a nutrafin/Hagen? CO2 reactor with the ladder of trademe as well. Just need to sort out Ferts substrate and hardscape. Almost there! :happy1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Li@m Posted November 22, 2011 Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 Lol your plan is super neat, ill post a pic of one of mine for my nano.(2moro) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted November 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 Cheers, I'm finding equipment to be cheap, and as soon as I have enough flora I'll be off. Maybe pop a few ottos in there to help keep algae in check and maybe a nice red fighter, or a school of rasboras !drool: can't wait till this is finished. Only two more exams to go. I look forward to seeing your plans as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted November 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 I have received the riccia today, it is pearling with high lights DIY co2 and some Ferts. Absolutely beautiful. Ignore the bubbles on the glass, it's in a 1L jar with a 35W halogen on it. It's Definately pearling :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Li@m Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 Well here it is..( it aint completely finished) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted November 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 Hmm, it's interesting, maybe you could label what each bit is? Lol I'm bit confused but get the general idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted November 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 My Hagen Nutrafin CO2 Natural Plant System arrived today. It's so cool! I could watch the bubbles go up that all day. Riccia was pearling again today, the DIY CO2 Ive got in there is bubbling away nicely. I started making my DIY canister filter today at a total cost of $20 so far. It won't be complete until tomorrow because I forgot to get some more tubing :facepalm: update to come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted November 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 Sorry still no pics of the filter as its not done yet! Total cost of filter so far Tupperware container - $5 Hailea pump - $15 Clear Vinyl piping - $2.40 Black irrigation elbow - $0.70 Plus silicone. So a total cost of $23.10, not bad. I plan to use some seeded material from my turtle tank. When out guy shopping today with my list and storming from place to place like a mission I got Aquatic mix - $10 Some big pieces of schist some green some black - $0.60! LCD thermometer - $4.50 Check valve - $3.50 All within half an hour, would've been quicker but there was traffic :evil: Still no silica sand yet, maybe I'll have to try up north when we go where ever for Christmas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Li@m Posted November 25, 2011 Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 HFF has 25kg of silica sand bags 4 sale. Can't remember the price but it was pretty reasonable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted November 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 Yeah, I've seen theirs but shipping doubles the price :roll: sigh I'm going out to a pool place tomorrow to get some pool sand which is silica I'm told. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zayne Posted November 25, 2011 Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 go to placemakers in wellington to get silica sand, last time i got some i think it was 35 for 25kgs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted November 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 I'm thinking about it, to put things in perspective I have a 30L tank and 25kg of sand would fill it, in reality I only need like 5kg. I'll see how much pool filter sand is tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted November 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 Okay, so my light was lost and I was sent a heater instead... Will be ordering some dwarf hairgrass and riccia later today. I put the aquatic mix down first, added some macro nutrients and some nitrophoska. Then I cleaned up the glass with some wet paper towels, and stuck the rocks in I'm not sure about the scape yet. Any suggestions? No progress on the filter yet, still leaks and I'm struggling to seal it up with silicone... I hope I'll get there eventually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted November 28, 2011 Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 You'll need to cover that aquatic mix with at least 3cm of sand, and fill the tank very slowly, otherwise it will make a huge mess! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted November 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 Yeah will do, want to get the aquascape just right before I add my sand. I've heard disaterous algae problems with non capped stuff. You reckon 3cm? Seems a bit much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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