OK Here goes.....my first go at a planted aquarium.
The tank itself is a AQUA-ONE AR980.
Dims : 98 W x 60 H x 47 D cm
Capacity : 215l
Lighting : 2 x 36" 30W, 1 x 30" 25W
Filtration : 3 x Carbon Cartridge with Filter Wool + 3 x Sponge Pad + Ceramic Noodles . 1000 L/hr
.....We bought the tank approx. 2 and half years ago and quickly set about filling it up, we put a few plants in, added the fish from our previous (smaller) tank, of which only 2 still survive (1 x cherry barb, 1 x pleco), and set the tank running. This is how it looked :
For our first attempt we didnt think it was to bad, and to be fair those plants grew, unfortunatley our enthusiasm didnt and we let it get out of control. The water turned a very dirty green colour and the plants just filled the tank.
Over the past 2 years, one by one the fish died, the plants rotted and tank became neglegted.
So a few months ago we decided to do something about it and having done a fair amount of research, last week end was the day we started..
I emptied some of the tank water along with a covering of gravel into our older tank along with a fluval plus 4 filter and my heater. This way i didnt think they'd be any problems with the remaining fish, which so far there hasnt been.
Spent two hours cleaning the tank today, in preperation for its new floor covering. Weve used 2 x 5.8 kilo tubs of TetraPlant CompleteSubstrate, topped with small black gravel. This is how it looked after we finished :
I really wanted a large piece of bogwood as the center piece for the tank, put have found really difficulty in findig a piece that was the right shape/size. After trying all the Aquatic centers in the area i went down to pets at home and picked up a piece of mopani wood. Although maybe not ideal as ive heard it rots, it does have the shape if not the size i was after. This is it :
And in proportion to the tank :
I might try and get a piece which makes it look as though it extends across the bottom of the tank...just think that the right side might look bare.
NEXT STEPS :
The woods currently being soaked to get rid of all the tannis, and im guessing it'll take a few days. I need to get my plants bought, and im thinking of getting them online....YOUR EXPERIENCE AND VIEWS ON THIS WOULD BE APPRICIATED.
The tank is fairly low lighted with about 1.5 WPG, so i know plant growth might be slow, however i am planning of going with pressurized Co2. Ive 2 systems in mind (links below), but am unsure which would be best so again views on either of these would be a benifit.
http
/cgi.ebay.co.uk/CO2-Complete-System-...1QQcmdZViewItem
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/HYDOR-GREEN-NRG-CO2-...1QQcmdZViewItem
Im going to let it cycle for a month or so because were going away for a week so want to leave fish until we get back.
Like i said this is our first real effort so were just going to run with it and see what happens.
Ill be adding pics and comments as we go along so hopefully you'll come back and see how we get on.
The tank itself is a AQUA-ONE AR980.
Dims : 98 W x 60 H x 47 D cm
Capacity : 215l
Lighting : 2 x 36" 30W, 1 x 30" 25W
Filtration : 3 x Carbon Cartridge with Filter Wool + 3 x Sponge Pad + Ceramic Noodles . 1000 L/hr
.....We bought the tank approx. 2 and half years ago and quickly set about filling it up, we put a few plants in, added the fish from our previous (smaller) tank, of which only 2 still survive (1 x cherry barb, 1 x pleco), and set the tank running. This is how it looked :
For our first attempt we didnt think it was to bad, and to be fair those plants grew, unfortunatley our enthusiasm didnt and we let it get out of control. The water turned a very dirty green colour and the plants just filled the tank.
Over the past 2 years, one by one the fish died, the plants rotted and tank became neglegted.
So a few months ago we decided to do something about it and having done a fair amount of research, last week end was the day we started..
I emptied some of the tank water along with a covering of gravel into our older tank along with a fluval plus 4 filter and my heater. This way i didnt think they'd be any problems with the remaining fish, which so far there hasnt been.
Spent two hours cleaning the tank today, in preperation for its new floor covering. Weve used 2 x 5.8 kilo tubs of TetraPlant CompleteSubstrate, topped with small black gravel. This is how it looked after we finished :
I really wanted a large piece of bogwood as the center piece for the tank, put have found really difficulty in findig a piece that was the right shape/size. After trying all the Aquatic centers in the area i went down to pets at home and picked up a piece of mopani wood. Although maybe not ideal as ive heard it rots, it does have the shape if not the size i was after. This is it :
And in proportion to the tank :
I might try and get a piece which makes it look as though it extends across the bottom of the tank...just think that the right side might look bare.
NEXT STEPS :
The woods currently being soaked to get rid of all the tannis, and im guessing it'll take a few days. I need to get my plants bought, and im thinking of getting them online....YOUR EXPERIENCE AND VIEWS ON THIS WOULD BE APPRICIATED.
The tank is fairly low lighted with about 1.5 WPG, so i know plant growth might be slow, however i am planning of going with pressurized Co2. Ive 2 systems in mind (links below), but am unsure which would be best so again views on either of these would be a benifit.
http
/cgi.ebay.co.uk/CO2-Complete-System-...1QQcmdZViewItemhttp
/cgi.ebay.co.uk/HYDOR-GREEN-NRG-CO2-...1QQcmdZViewItemIm going to let it cycle for a month or so because were going away for a week so want to leave fish until we get back.
Like i said this is our first real effort so were just going to run with it and see what happens.
Ill be adding pics and comments as we go along so hopefully you'll come back and see how we get on.
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