Aquatopia - 6x2x2 Low-Med Light, High Tech Nature Aquarium

[MuddyWaters]

Thanks for hanging in with me on this discussion.

The 'trick' to not having algae is having healthy, fast growing plants and enough of them in your tank. It really is as simple as that

I have never had problems getting my plants to grow. They grow fast and have good color, etc. The issue has always been that along with that, I have lots of algae on the leaves of the slower growing plants, the glass and hardscape.

Anyway- I've suddenly realized I've hijacked the thread about your pending spectacular new aquarium, so I'll move this discussion to another thread. Your attention and input is much appreciated!

 

[Aquatopia]

Thanks for hanging in with me on this discussion.

I have never had problems getting my plants to grow. They grow fast and have good color, etc. The issue has always been that along with that, I have lots of algae on the leaves of the slower growing plants, the glass and hardscape.

Anyway- I've suddenly realized I've hijacked the thread about your pending spectacular new aquarium, so I'll move this discussion to another thread. Your attention and input is much appreciated!

Slow growing plants do tend to get some algae growing on the leaves. This is why it's best to try and have them shaded from direct light as much as you can. Is it definitely algae? If there is detritus settling in the aquarium then that often ends up coating the leaves of slow growing plants if there isn't sufficient flow to keep it moving. If allowed to settle then that will also lead to algae growing there because of the detritus, so you end up with a mix of detritus and algae.

I'm currently writing up how I worked out my EI Fertiliser so I'll be posting that thread once I'm done.

 

[Aquatopia]

Thanks for hanging in with me on this discussion.

I have never had problems getting my plants to grow. They grow fast and have good color, etc. The issue has always been that along with that, I have lots of algae on the leaves of the slower growing plants, the glass and hardscape.

Anyway- I've suddenly realized I've hijacked the thread about your pending spectacular new aquarium, so I'll move this discussion to another thread. Your attention and input is much appreciated!

I managed to finish the thread on EI Fertiliser that I promised.

 

[JuiceBox52]

This will be a beautiful build

 

[Aquatopia]

I'm still waiting for the tank and cabinet to arrive. There was a bit of a hiccup, the cladding that I chose has been discontinued so I've had to choose a different one. They are hoping to have it done ready for delivery next week though.

Here's a few pics of things that are here already and waiting for the tank.

First all of the substrate.

There is 40 litres of Westlands Aquatic Compost, 25 Litres of Irish Moss Peat, 20 Kg of Blush Brown Aquarium Sand and 100 Kg of Black Aquarium Sand. Hopefully that's enough.

This is a bag of 160 clay peat balls. These are basically like root tabs but they also soak nutrients back up from the water over time as well, so they last longer than most root tabs.

This is 3 containers I got, 2 for fish food (you can see one already has the Hikari Algae Flakes in) and the third is going to be my dosing container for my 250ml of water with the Micro Nutrients in.

This is the Aqua Medic CO2 Reactor 1000. The best CO2 Reactor there is, IMO.

This is an air pump and air discs that i got. I'll be running these in the tank during the night, it stops the pH from dropping too low and keeps the Oxygen level up.

This is the All Pond Solutions SKIM-2 Surface Skimmer and some Seachem Safe.

There's other stuff but a lot of it is just bits and pieces to go in the cabinet once it's here, so I'll wait until it is here to show those.

I'm getting really impatient to get started on it!

 

[MattW]

I've just used some aquatic compost on my new scape in my 90L. I had previously used basic garden compost as a single layer. This time, I have added aquasoil, pea pebbles and horticultural grit to make sure it doesn't compact. I'm hoping I'll get great results with the plants. I've also used that skimmer a few times, and I can't fault it. Works as a great combo with filter floss and a few drops of Accu Clear to clear up the tank.

Looking forward to when the scape is set up!

 

[Aquatopia]

I've just used some aquatic compost on my new scape in my 90L. I had previously used basic garden compost as a single layer. This time, I have added aquasoil, pea pebbles and horticultural grit to make sure it doesn't compact. I'm hoping I'll get great results with the plants.

I keep the Malaysian Trumpet Snails because they keep the soil aerated and turned over. They bury through it, like worms in your garden, and stop it from getting compacted. Works great.

I've also used that skimmer a few times, and I can't fault it. Works as a great combo with filter floss and a few drops of Accu Clear to clear up the tank.

Yeah, the filter floss in the surface skimmer is a great idea. Not sure how quickly it'll work on 680 litres but it's great none the less.

Looking forward to when the scape is set up!

You and me both! I have so much to do once the tank and cabinet arrives. There's loads to do before I even start the scape. Wiring the extensions under the cabinet, adding cabinet lighting under the cabinets, adding tool holders/net holders inside the cabinet, setting the lights up, etc., etc. I just want to get going with it all!

 

[Magnum Man]

as far as keeping the reticulated hillstream's... I personally find they do better in a cooler tank... I just looked a several sources for information, and many seem to copy each other saying 68 - 80 degrees but I think those are regurgitated numbers... with some sources saying only as warm as 75 degrees... my ( thriving ) tank's heater is set at 71 degrees with it going as high as 73 - 74 during the summer... I know others keep them at tropical temperatures but I believe they thrive at lower temps, but can tolerate higher temps

 

[Aquatopia]

as far as keeping the reticulated hillstream's... I personally find they do better in a cooler tank... I just looked a several sources for information, and many seem to copy each other saying 68 - 80 degrees but I think those are regurgitated numbers... with some sources saying only as warm as 75 degrees... my ( thriving ) tank's heater is set at 71 degrees with it going as high as 73 - 74 during the summer... I know others keep them at tropical temperatures but I believe they thrive at lower temps, but can tolerate higher temps

Yeah, I did a lot of research and from what I can gather the reason they can seem to do better in a cooler tank is because the Oxygen level is easier to keep high in cooler water. It has been shown that they don't need cooler water though, what they actually need is a healthy tank with lots of Oxygen.

It used to be thought that they needed cooler water but this was because the Oxygen levels are usually higher in cooler water and it is harder to maintain high Oxygen levels in warmer water.

Cory from Aquarium Coop has had them thriving and breeding in 85f! Not that it should be recommended but it is possible, it just takes more effort to keep the Oxygen level up the warmer the water gets. In cool water you won't have to bother as much.

My tank is going to be kept at 75f, so not that warm plus I'm going to be pumping air into the tank overnight to keep the Oxygen levels up.

 

[Aquatopia]

Well the tank and cabinet arrived today! Very happy with it. I've filled it up to test it and it's now sitting in place and full up, no leaks or cracks fo far!

I'm going to leave it overnight to make sure then drain the tank down tomorrow. Then I can start getting the substrate in and scaping!

I still have the extensions to fit through the cabinet (got some drilling to do) and the accessory stuff to mount inside as well. I'll probably get a few more bits done tonight and hopefully get them finished tomorrow, then I'll post some pics.

 

[Aquatopia]

The tank survived the night, no leaks or cracks!

The tank has just finished draining back down again.

I'm in the middle of fitting the extensions and lighting in the cabinet. I've got the holes drilled already so just got to put the extensions and light up now, then I'll get some pics.

 

[Aquatopia]

It's been a busy day. I got the mains extensions fitted throughout the cabinet and got the cabinet light put in place. I've also got the 4 x Fluval Plant 4.0 46w lights in place over the tank now.

As promised here's some pics.

First the tank and cabinet with the tank lights on (the lights are all on 40%).

All the marks on the tank glass are just from the water drying and the bits that were in the tank. There's no scratches.

This is the right hand side cupboard.

As you can see I fitted a handy kitchen roll holder and a couple of spare hooks for things to the inside of the door.

This is the inside of the right hand cupboard.

This side is where one of the Oase Biomaster 2 Thermo 850's will be along with the 2Kg CO2 Fire Extinguisher and the Aqua Medic CO2 Reactor 1000.

This is the middle cupboard.

I've fitted a magnetic rack for my aquascaping tools to the inside of the cupboard door and a few hooks for some small nets and a long scraper.

This is the inside of the middle cupboard, well the top shelf anyway. Nothing in the bottom for now.

I do have plans for the middle cupboard. Watch this space!

This is the left hand side cupboard.

I've added a shelf for my fish food containers and some hooks for medium nets to the inside of this cupboard door as well as hooks inside the cupboard for large nets and whatever else I decide to hang up in there.

This is the inside of the left hand side cupboard.

This side is where the other Oase Biomaster 2 Thermo 850 will be. The white mains extension to the left is for house lights on the wall above the tank and the light strip inside the cupboard. All the tank equipment will be plugged in to the black mains extensions.

That's it for now. Next I need to fit the Reef Factory Thermo Control. I'm thinking of putting the LED display off of it on the outside of the left hand side cupboard door, so I'll have to drill the door for the cable and fit that in.

Then I can start getting the substrate in the tank!

I'm also going to do a video of the tank and cabinet when I get chance, I'll post a link to that once it's done as well.

 

[Magnum Man]

sweet

 

[Aquatopia]

Here's some pics of the Reef Factory Thermo Control unit that I installed this morning.

Inside the left hand side cupboard now, with the Reef Factory Thermo Control unit fitted to the right side panel.

The red light is on indicating that the heating should be on, of course there are no heaters plugged into it yet.

Below is what I had to do to the left hand side cupboard door to fit the LCD display to the outside. I cut a thin slice down into the door, so the wire to the LCD display could slide down it. I then had to gouge a channel out of the back of the door so that the wire could be countersunk into the wood. This allows the door to still shut flush.

This is what the left hand side cupboard looks like now from the outside.

The full tank with the Reef Factory Thermo Control LED display in place.

The LED display is very bright, too bright for me. I'm going to get some dark window tint vinyl and put a small piece over the LED display to dull it down. Other than that I'm very happy with it.

 

[Aquatopia]

The Reef Factory Thermo Control can be connected to directly over your local network.

This is the screen you get when you connect to it. I can switch from C to F, enable/disable the sound alarm, switch the cosmetic lighting on/off (for the unit itself not the LCD screen). I can also drag the upper and lower alarm levels and the upper and lower levels that I want the heaters to turn on and off normally. It's nice and easy to use and has everything I need.