Thr33Swords Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 Hey Guys, So I got a new tank made by Greg Kingston (you guys were right, Greg's handiwork is amazing) that is 181cm x 52cm x 52cm. He delivered it for me today, and now the fun can begin. It all started with me buying a new cabinet off TradeMe, for the purpose of getting a custom tank made to fit. I'll put some photos at the end of the post of the new tank sitting next to the cabinet with the current tank on it. So, I guess for this thread I will update as I make progress. For this first post I will list my goals, what I have done already, and my plans for the future. So without further adieu: Goal: To have a heavily, but still somewhat low-tech planted tank, with peaceful community fish with automatic water change system. What I have done so far: • Bought Cabinet • Custom tank made • New accessories purchased - 2 x 300w heaters (using current 150w as a backup), external canister filter, fluorescent lights and fittings • Wood purchased for canopy • Drift wood, plants and gravel ordered • Move the current tank out of the way to set the new tank up. • Build a canopy for it to match the cabinet and make it look like it was all one unit to start with. • Aquascaping and filling of the tank, the do a fishless cycle. • Slowly introduce my current fish to the new tank once cycled. What I still have to do: • Fill gaps, sand and varnish the canopy to match the cabinet. • Buy items needed for and build an overflow system as well as a drip system for automatic water changes. • Buy more awesome looking fish Photos: Added June 18th: Added June 26th: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finznfangs Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 !drool: Jealous of your tank! This is gonna be good :spop: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 Nice and long, looks good. If the fish are going into the new tank then I would either dump all the media from the old filter into the new filter and run it in the small tank untill yo move the fish or when the new tank is setup just run both filters on the new tank for a few weeks if the media wont fit the new filter. will save on having to do a cycle on the new tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thr33Swords Posted June 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 Nice and long, looks good. If the fish are going into the new tank then I would either dump all the media from the old filter into the new filter and run it in the small tank untill yo move the fish or when the new tank is setup just run both filters on the new tank for a few weeks if the media wont fit the new filter. will save on having to do a cycle on the new tank. That's exactly what I did It's been running on the small tank since Tuesday. I went from two hang-on filters to a huge canister filter. I bought some ceramic rings and other bio filter media, as well as filter wool and chucked it all in the canister filter along with the old media. I also plan on using the gravel, driftwood and the rocks from the current tank as well, so I should get a decent amount of bacteria in the new tank. I also have a third hang on filter, of which I have been seeding the last couple of weeks as well, to run the small tank as I slowly introduce the fish to the new tank. I also have a large bottle of Nutrafin Cycle as a backup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thr33Swords Posted June 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2013 Small update: Finished the canopy and placed all the rocks and driftwood inside. The plants should arrive tomorrow, I have ordered 60 plants in total. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomGilberg Posted June 18, 2013 Report Share Posted June 18, 2013 it may be to late, but for a good low tech planted tank a nutrient rich substrate play an important role..... is that just plain substrate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thr33Swords Posted June 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2013 it may be to late, but for a good low tech planted tank a nutrient rich substrate play an important role..... is that just plain substrate? Only the top layer is plain gravel, underneath I have some flourite substrate. I am following the low-tech guide that I found here: http://www.sudeepmandal.com/hobbies/pla ... ank-guide/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thr33Swords Posted June 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2013 A few updates: The tank water has cleared up beautifully, I have about 50 plants in there (Think I'll add some more though) and the fish seem to be loving their new home. Now I can't wait for my plants to grow a little haha. I might get some already grown plants to populate the background however, seeing as how this is a low tech tank and these plants will take a while to grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish guy Posted June 25, 2013 Report Share Posted June 25, 2013 nice hardscape :thup: were did you order your plants from Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thr33Swords Posted June 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 nice hardscape :thup: were did you order your plants from Thanks I got them from a gentleman on trademe, username is Waterplantz. I got 69 stems of various plants for $24 including shipping to Auckland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melrick1 Posted June 27, 2013 Report Share Posted June 27, 2013 How much did it cost to have the tank made? I really want to upsize my 1200mm tank, and the cabinet would fit it, just need to convince the bank (wife) lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thr33Swords Posted June 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2013 How much did it cost to have the tank made? I really want to upsize my 1200mm tank, and the cabinet would fit it, just need to convince the bank (wife) lol Greg (Tanks2U) built it for $400 which included super clear glass for the front pane (he had a piece lying around). If you don't have it, here's his details: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Tanks2u Greg Kingston Auckland Quality custom built aquariums and sumps, trickle filters Can be shipped from Manukau Auckland to anywhere in the country Phone: 09 273 4121 Mobile: 021 900 727 email: [email protected] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thr33Swords Posted July 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2013 So my plants seem to be doing really well, lots of new growth, and I have to say I am surprised at how quickly they're growing considering I am doing a low tech low light set up. Here's some photos of the tank showing how it looks in the living room... I think I need a bigger TV now, it looks so small in comparison Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted July 5, 2013 Report Share Posted July 5, 2013 looks good :spop: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thr33Swords Posted July 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2013 looks good :spop: Thank you Here's a small update on my plants: Only lost two plants so far, but I chalk that up to the fact that they spent nearly a week and a half in transit due to the bad weather and flooding that kicked up a stink in the South Island. The rest of the plants are doing extremely well, some have doubled in size since I planted them two weeks ago, which is amazing to me since I expected very slow growth in a very low tech/low light set up. Just to add some more bigger plants apart from my silk ones (which I'll take out when the real plants are big enough) I have added some oxygen weed from Animates yesterday. I'd like to add even more plants, especially ones that are already a bit larger Here's some photos I took yesterday: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 Looks nice, the only thing that i thing I would change for now is the oxygen weed, swap it for some twisted val? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thr33Swords Posted July 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 Yeah I just want to keep the oxygen weed in there until the other plants have grown enough to take over the empty space, then I will get rid of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thr33Swords Posted August 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2013 Since I haven't updated in a while, I figured I'll do so now Ended up getting rid of the oxygen weed because my fish seemed to hate it. They would rip the plants out of the substrate, no matter how many times I replant it haha. At least my other plants are growing nice and tall, so I will soon do a re-scape to trim and replant some of the taller plants. I also added 3 Amazon swords to the back of the tank, so hopefully they'll grow nicely and fill the background up. Fish wise, I added 3 baby bristlenose pleco's. Not only are they adorable, they're also proving to be the most amazing little vacuum cleaners I have ever seen. I didn't have what I'd call an algea problem, but I would end up with a little bit of brown algae on plants, rocks, driftwood and the glass. Less than a week in the tank and the 3 have cleaned every single surface in the tank! I now add courgette to supplement their diet, and will buy some algae wafers as well. Recent photos: And here's one of the pleco's sitting on my driftwood: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jradians Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 Looking good! I was wondering what plant supplements you're using and if you are/considered dosing with excel? I'm shifting my family out of Auckland shortly, and I have envisioned a setup similar to yours for my next project Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thr33Swords Posted August 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 I just dose Seachem Flourish Complete twice a week using their recommended dosage. Seems to be doing the trick. I am buying some dry ferts now, however. So will be changing how I dose in the future. I did consider using Excel, but to be honest I am getting more than satisfactory results from this alone, so maybe I'll leave it for now. I am going to be setting up another tank soon, so will try and go a little more high tech and see how that goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thr33Swords Posted August 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 UPDATE: I did a complete rescape. Well, when I say complete I pulled all the plants, added new stuff, replanted everything, then did a 50% water change. I found this amazing driftwood at Lake Pupuke a while ago, so decided to put it in the tank today. Yes, that is one long piece, I have some of the rocks overhang it a little bit, I like the look. Here's some photos of what the tank looks like now: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomGilberg Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 much growth on those fake plants then? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thr33Swords Posted August 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 Nope, none at all! Stupid things Yeah I left them in there to fill space until the amazon swords have grown some more. Once they're bigger I'll move one into the corner and plant some smaller ones again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reuben.a Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 nice, cant wait to see it once its grown out :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thr33Swords Posted August 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 Me neither haha. I am considering getting some Excel and increasing my lighting until the plants have grown a bit more. I'll give it a month to see how they get on first though. If they grow as fast as they did last month, then the tank should start filling up in a few months time as I trim and replant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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