New Tank Beginnings

[Angry_Platy]

I thought that since the initial riccia attachment was harder than what I expected that I would keep a journal of what I did to get my tank to a more appealing state. Any suggestions with tank layout will be appreciated....or anything else for that matter

TANK BEFORE

Day 1

Took riccia out of breeding net and broke it up in a bucket of warm water. It stuck to my hands, to the bucket and I managed to get water all over my kitchen floor

I then placed the broken up bits of riccia, laid them over a section of ceramic driftwood and put a hairnet over the top. It appeared tight out of the tank but when I put it in the tank it floated up setting free most of the riccia. Catch riccia floating through tank, put back in bucket and onto:

Plan 2: lay riccia over ceramic log. Attach a hairnet over the top. Secure the hairnet with extremely fine fishing line taking care not to crush the riccia yet making it tight enough so it didn't float up. Place in tank. Watch as bits float off. Am happy that the hairnet is not floating up and it looks like the riccia is growing off the ceramic log

Riccia on log

Close up of riccia on log

My plan with the riccia on the ceramic log is to have a corner at the back of the tank divided off with this riccia coated log and have thin vallis behind it. Most of the log will be buried in the gravel with the riccia covered parts exposed...My plan is to not have any of the ceramic showing at all....I want a mossy feel for this stage This way it will help contain my val a bit better as well

I am not going to be rushing this project. This weekend will "possibly" be the switch from sand to gravel depending on the health of new fish bought last weekend. They are currently in quarantine in the 10gal which is where the fish in the 30gal will be residing temporarily while the switch occurs. I need to take out ALL the sand since I am putting a substrate heater in which needs to rest directly on the bottom of the tank. I need to make sure the new fish are heathy enough to be with my current fish before I even think about this step. One thing I will definitely be doing VERY soon is taking off the aquarium background and getting a blue or black background....I will try both then decide which looks better.....

 

[George Farmer]

Exciting project - I look forward to seeing the progression.

 

[Angry_Platy]

Day 1 Part 2

I just flipped the background around so now it is black. It looks kinda cool though I will be getting the air bubbles out once the fish are out of the tank and I can take the filters off and then have free access to the back of the tank. I tried to get a close up but there was too much reflection.

EDIT....I had to stand on a stool to access the back of the tank and when peering into the AC300 filter I found a guppy that had gone missing 2 weeks ago. I assumed it had died or jumped. Now it is swimming happily back where it was in the 30gal

 

[jimbooo]

hi angry platy, love the riccia log, i see you have riccia fluitians (the true submersed kind used by amano) rather than dwarf riccia. that one spreads out much more quickly so the log should be covered in a few weeks. good start though.

i'll keep an eye on this thread, hope it all works out

by the way black background will look awesome with black gravel... cant wait for the next stage..oh i'm so excited for you.

James

 

[Angry_Platy]

So today was D-Day. I hadn't planned on doing it today as I have ordered some plants which will be here this week some time. I have ordered :

Didiplis diandra
Assorted red sword plants
Tonina (little bit scared about this one, on all the sites I have read they all say it is difficult)
Mayaca
Umbrosum
Samolus pots

Most of these plants are suitable as foreground plants hence I have room for them with the way I have planted today. The tank now has black gravel with laterite and definitely has a new look to it.

Here goes:

Tank after removing all the sand and fish

Plants out of tank

Tank with almost all the sand removed. After this poc was taken we had to tilt the tank to allow the python to suck up all the watyer from the corner as well as remove any excess sand. I then wiped in out with a towel and gave the inside glass a good cleaning

Tank with first later of black gravel on the bottom, no water yet

Washing the laterite. I forgot to do this till just before I had to put it in. I washed it till as least red was running out of it as possible.

Laterite on top of gravel. Was a little tricky sprinkling wet laterite onto wet gravel but I managed to get it fairly even I think.

I then put the remaining black gravel on top of the laterite

Back left corner of the tank. I used the ceramic log (covered in riccia) as a retaining wall. I needed to use the stones to stop the fish going into the inside of the log. I didn't want fish in there as there will be minimal water circulation in there and if they died in there it would be near impossible to retrieve them. There will be low-medium height plants in here eventually, when my order comes in. All I have there now is narrow leaf swords.

Tank half filled, no plants yet.

Tank filled all the way with plants Much better I think.....I know there are water marks on the glass. They will be gone VERY soon (I just realised when looking at the photos)

For a reminder:
Tank Before

I also added a substrate heater which is hidden by the val corner at the back right of the tank. It will be plugged in and switched on as soon as I find another power outlet

Bearing in mind the new plants will be coming this week, any opinions would be appreciated I am not planning on changing anything since I like it as it is (imagining the new plants in there too).....

And a question: Now I have laterite in my substrate will I still have to use root tabs for my swords?

 

[Mr Miagi]

Looking awsome Angry! That sure was Dday! Ill keep an eye on this thread too! Cant wait to see all those fish back in and that vallis shooting even more than it did previously! HAHA!

Godluck! Im sure itll rocket away!

 

[jimbooo]

congratulations AP on a sucessful turnaround. looks much better already.

as to the root tabs i'd personally put one under each heavy root feeder (swords etc) when you first plant. you probably wont need to add them again. only do so if the plants are showing deficiencies.

i used them when first planting, never since (and that was about 9 months ago)