Well thought it would be a good time to start my journal so here goes…
Firstly I’d like to say that this scape, in whatever form it takes, is dedicated to my dad who despite not always understanding or being enthusiastic about my hobbies has paid for most of the purchases that have made the planted tank possible. He cringes whenever I suggest wiring up my own lighting, or fitting a high pressured CO2 cylinder in the living room but he still allows me to go ahead and helps wherever possible.
Just a quick note on the name, I named the scape because it seemed only right, at least to me.
The name was chosen for a lot of reasons; one being the decor was collected locally. I’m also proud of my heritage, and will take inspiration from the land around me. And what a landscape, the rolling green hills and lush valleys. But the name also includes the people, borderers tend to lead a slightly slower pace of life than the rest of the country does, they take changes in their stride and adapt to them and this is the attitude I’m taking with the tank. Going slowly and seeing what happens.
I decided to keep a journal as I enjoy reading everyone else’s and have learned so much from them. I’m sure mine won’t be nearly as useful as some, but even if people learn what not to do at least it was worth it. But also I hope I be given plenty of guidance as I go along there’s a lot of very smart helpful people on here and if they are prepared to give me advice as I go along then I’d be daft not to take it. As you can see this post is probably be very long, so I don’t imagine anyone will read it all and you have no idea how grateful and respectful I am of anyone who does.
Initially my planting won't be anything exciting more convincing my self that my plants won't just die any more, if that is indeed the case. So don't expect epic landscape displayed as a planted tank just yet.
OK some information on the tank and set-up
Tank:
240l/ 52 gallons
48”X18”x18”
It’s old and scratched to pieces, but it will make a good display none the less
Lighting:
2 x 54W T5s with reflectors
+ Possible 1 x 30W T8 without reflector
All Sylvania 865 daylight tubes
Still undecided on what I’m actually doing totally here and may need some help once all my kit arrives
Filtration:
External Fluval 304 ( my most hated possession)
Internal Fluval 4+
Hopefully this will be enough turn over as the tank is fully enough already without adding a powerhead
Heating:
Presently an internal 300w heater
I may swap over my hydor 300W external from my other tank but my hatred of working with the external filter is stopping me right now.
Keeping it at about 25C
CO2:
Pressurised 5Kg Fire Extinguisher
Azoo regulator and solenoid
Glass diffuser
Substrate:
B&Q topsoil + JBL substrate nutrient concentrate
Topped with fine Gravel.
Décor:
Local Rock
More info further down.
Fertiliser:
All in one mix dosed daily
Right now I’m pretty much at a standstill until all the equipment arrives, it is all ordered. Total cost of £250 right now and I started with a £100 budget.
But I thought I should start right at the beginning so I’ve copied and pasted the next bit from a previous thread, hope nobody minds too much but it contains all the needed information.
The tank went from this
To this
I was up most of the night doing it, and as you can see, I've made a tank that look perfectly all right into a tank which is a bit if a mess. My Ballast for my lighting still hasn't arrived, so the new lighting isn't fitted yet.
Things I've learnt so far
1) No matter how old you are you can still get shouted at for spilling water all over your parents carpet.
2) I truly hate the fluval 304, its the worst filter in the world and was nearly binned at 2am, it is now doing what its supposed to
3) The VAX is a truly amazing invention, even if its 12 years old and been unused for most of those years. Nothing else has the ability to remove all the water and left over coral sand from a tank quite the way a VAX can.
4) The VAX is also very good for removing water that the 304 spills all over the carpet
5)Never trust the calculator on the internet that tells you that 10KG of gravel will give you a 1cm of depth
6) No matter how angry your parents are they are still prepared to get the colander from the kitchen at 1 am to remove the finer gravel from bags of larger stuff.
Next steps
I need to fit the lighting, get another 20kgs of fine gravel and order plants. I also want to add a couple of fish from my other tank to give the filter bacteria something to do. The tank will eventually be properly stocked but for just now there are a few fish without shoals in my other tank so they are going to be moved, probably sometime tonight.
edit - Oh yeah I also meant to add a handful of peat to the top soil along with the jbl substrate concentrate, it was to give the plants a few extra minerals and also counteract the higher pH in the water. But I forgot so nevermind.
Firstly I’d like to say that this scape, in whatever form it takes, is dedicated to my dad who despite not always understanding or being enthusiastic about my hobbies has paid for most of the purchases that have made the planted tank possible. He cringes whenever I suggest wiring up my own lighting, or fitting a high pressured CO2 cylinder in the living room but he still allows me to go ahead and helps wherever possible.
Just a quick note on the name, I named the scape because it seemed only right, at least to me.
The name was chosen for a lot of reasons; one being the decor was collected locally. I’m also proud of my heritage, and will take inspiration from the land around me. And what a landscape, the rolling green hills and lush valleys. But the name also includes the people, borderers tend to lead a slightly slower pace of life than the rest of the country does, they take changes in their stride and adapt to them and this is the attitude I’m taking with the tank. Going slowly and seeing what happens.
I decided to keep a journal as I enjoy reading everyone else’s and have learned so much from them. I’m sure mine won’t be nearly as useful as some, but even if people learn what not to do at least it was worth it. But also I hope I be given plenty of guidance as I go along there’s a lot of very smart helpful people on here and if they are prepared to give me advice as I go along then I’d be daft not to take it. As you can see this post is probably be very long, so I don’t imagine anyone will read it all and you have no idea how grateful and respectful I am of anyone who does.
Initially my planting won't be anything exciting more convincing my self that my plants won't just die any more, if that is indeed the case. So don't expect epic landscape displayed as a planted tank just yet.
OK some information on the tank and set-up
Tank:
240l/ 52 gallons
48”X18”x18”
It’s old and scratched to pieces, but it will make a good display none the less
Lighting:
2 x 54W T5s with reflectors
+ Possible 1 x 30W T8 without reflector
All Sylvania 865 daylight tubes
Still undecided on what I’m actually doing totally here and may need some help once all my kit arrives
Filtration:
External Fluval 304 ( my most hated possession)
Internal Fluval 4+
Hopefully this will be enough turn over as the tank is fully enough already without adding a powerhead
Heating:
Presently an internal 300w heater
I may swap over my hydor 300W external from my other tank but my hatred of working with the external filter is stopping me right now.
Keeping it at about 25C
CO2:
Pressurised 5Kg Fire Extinguisher
Azoo regulator and solenoid
Glass diffuser
Substrate:
B&Q topsoil + JBL substrate nutrient concentrate
Topped with fine Gravel.
Décor:
Local Rock
More info further down.
Fertiliser:
All in one mix dosed daily
Right now I’m pretty much at a standstill until all the equipment arrives, it is all ordered. Total cost of £250 right now and I started with a £100 budget.
But I thought I should start right at the beginning so I’ve copied and pasted the next bit from a previous thread, hope nobody minds too much but it contains all the needed information.
The tank went from this
To this
I was up most of the night doing it, and as you can see, I've made a tank that look perfectly all right into a tank which is a bit if a mess. My Ballast for my lighting still hasn't arrived, so the new lighting isn't fitted yet.
Things I've learnt so far
1) No matter how old you are you can still get shouted at for spilling water all over your parents carpet.
2) I truly hate the fluval 304, its the worst filter in the world and was nearly binned at 2am, it is now doing what its supposed to
3) The VAX is a truly amazing invention, even if its 12 years old and been unused for most of those years. Nothing else has the ability to remove all the water and left over coral sand from a tank quite the way a VAX can.
4) The VAX is also very good for removing water that the 304 spills all over the carpet
5)Never trust the calculator on the internet that tells you that 10KG of gravel will give you a 1cm of depth
6) No matter how angry your parents are they are still prepared to get the colander from the kitchen at 1 am to remove the finer gravel from bags of larger stuff.
Next steps
I need to fit the lighting, get another 20kgs of fine gravel and order plants. I also want to add a couple of fish from my other tank to give the filter bacteria something to do. The tank will eventually be properly stocked but for just now there are a few fish without shoals in my other tank so they are going to be moved, probably sometime tonight.
edit - Oh yeah I also meant to add a handful of peat to the top soil along with the jbl substrate concentrate, it was to give the plants a few extra minerals and also counteract the higher pH in the water. But I forgot so nevermind.
.
great fun) I ended up with this.
