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

[MattW22 138]

K2 are great, I use them a lot. Have you seen Floratica? They are on the pricier side and do mainly stems, but the quality is great. All the plants I've bought from them were cuttings, but had established roots already, which made it easy to plant.

 

[Aquatopia]

K2 are great, I use them a lot. Have you seen Floratica? They are on the pricier side and do mainly stems, but the quality is great. All the plants I've bought from them were cuttings, but had established roots already, which made it easy to plant.

I hadn't noticed them before. Probably just not been selling what I was looking for.

 

[Aquatopia]

Well the CO2 tubing is arriving today. Plants are also starting to arrive today. Now - do I get the tank planted with what comes today and get it filled up or do I keep the plants in water until the rest of the plants are here (Friday) and then plant and fill the tank?

There's benefits to both ways but I think planting what comes today and getting it filled up and running today is the better option for me. It's going to take me a while to get all the tank equipment setup (filters, CO2 reactor, doser, etc.) then time planting and time filling the tank. If I leave it until Friday then it's more to do all at once, in the one day. At least this way I can get it up and running today, then just plant the rest of the plants as they turn up so it's not as much work at once. I have a bad back and knees so they will thank me for a break in between.

 

[Aquatopia]

I ended up just getting one of the filters and the CO2 reactor set up today. I still have the other filter to setup in the morning. I've decided I may as well wait until Friday now, when all the first lot of plants are here, before I plant and fill the tank.

Three lots of plants have turned up today, they are currently in a storage tub filled with water and have an aquarium light over them.

The '50 Malaysian Trumpet Snails' that I ordered also arrived today:

As you can plainly see they are actually bladder snails! ...and there's nowhere near 50 there. More like 20.

I bought them from 'Damo's fish' on Amazon, I've contacted the seller but no response yet and, to be honest, I doubt I'll get one. I'll keep you updated though. Amazon says to give it a few days then if I don't hear from the seller get in touch with them again.

 

[Aquatopia]

On a better note, my friend Michal (owner of World of Mosses in Kirkcaldy) just sent me pics of some the plants he is sending me. He's sending them out tomorrow for delivery to me Friday.

Just look at the size of that Cryptocoryne aponogetifolia! The C. balansae is a decent size as well and that is a good sized chunk of Subwassertang!

Can't wait!

 

[Magnum Man23 137]

love the plants... I would not add those "pest" snails to any aquarium

 

[Aquatopia]

love the plants... I would not add those "pest" snails to any aquarium

Oh I won't be adding them!

 

[MattW22 138]

Oh I won't be adding them!

They’d be good in a pond

 

[Aquatopia]

They’d be good in a pond

Shame I don't have one!

 

[Aquatopia]

I actually got a reply from Damo's Fish last night - he said:

Sorry about the mix up I'll send the mts tomorrow. Many thanks

I guess I'll see if they actually turn up.

 

[Aquatopia]

Today more plants turned up, they are also now in the storage tub with the plants from yesterday.

I got the second filter all hosed up and connected, so everything is connected up now, both filters and the CO2 reactor including the CO2 Fire Extinguisher. All sorted now, ready to get filled up tomorrow after I plant.

I also sprinkled a few grey scatter stones to help blend the brown sand / black sand border.

 

[Aquatopia]

Will all these plants survive transport?

Yes, they will and did. I have had plants delivered like this many times. When the LFS get them they are transported for much longer than overnight.

The tank is now planted and up and running!

Excuse the crappy picture, I'll get better ones when it's cleared.

Filters and heaters are working fine with no leaks. Not turned the CO2 on yet. I've had fun adjusting the Gyre and re-planting the Crypts and Swords that kept getting blown out of the substrate.

I think I've got it on a low enough flow now as no plants have come out in the last 20 mins. It's on gradual pulse with a max flow of +20 and even on that setting eveything is getting flow.

I have to say I'm loving it!

More to come when it's cleared.

 

[Aquatopia]

Today I started the CO2 injection!

 

[Magnum Man23 137]

from that last picture, the tank is looking really nice

 

[Aquatopia]

from that last picture, the tank is looking really nice

The lights are just starting to come on now but it looks very dark in there this morning. I think the tannins have gone nuts!

I'll get pics once the lights are on full.