Nursery Island 10ltr Nano

[SuperColey1]

THE SPECS:

TANK : 33cm x 15cm x 20cm homemade 10 litres

FILTRATION : Maxijet MP400 powerhead with DIY spongefilter attachment

HEATER : Newattino K 10W

LIGHTING : 3 x 3W 5500K Luxeon LED - underpowered to circa 8.4W (3.75WPG)

SUBSTRATE : Leonardite bottom layer, ProFloraStart mid layer, Roman Gravel 'natural highland blend'

DOSING : EI
Macro Mix - 500ml DI water, 40g KNO3, 15g KH2PO4, 10g K2SO4, 10g MgSO4 - 0.7ml daily
Micro Mix - 250ml DI water, 15g AE chelated trace - 0.25ml daily
EasyCarbo - 0.3ml daily
50% water change weekly

PLANTS : Microsorum Pteropus 'Needle', Blyxia Japonica, Glossostigma Elatinoides

INHABITANTS : Corydoras Schultzei Black (Fry)

The leonardite bottom layer - about 1cm depth:

The ProFloraStart mid layer - about 2cm depth around the sides and 4cm at the top of the central 'mound':

The Roman Gravel 'natural highland blend' top layer - about 2cm all over:

Hardscape to come tomorrow (after a good search)

Planted and up and running on Monday (hopefully)

The Fry will go in next weekend to give the filter a chance to get wet and remove dust etc.

AC

 

[Truck]

im liking the look of this one, did you cut the glass yourself?

 

[SuperColey1]

Yep

Is a bit crude and doesn't meet perfectly but not too bothered about that. lol

AC

 

[Truck]

how did you cut it? it still looks cool either way.

 

[SuperColey1]

Nice flat table, steel rule, glass cutter (similar to a tile cutter) then use the edge of the table:

Same as acrylic really but glass breaks cleaner.

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2wt9S7SApo...re=channel_page

AC

 

[SuperColey1]

I went and fetched a load of cobbles from the local nature reserve today. What a day to pick. This is the only photo I took whilst out and although its not that clear to see the snow is falling here. Minutes later it was a blizzard and I could hardly see anything but the ground below me At this point the road I came from is the opposite side of this lake so about 400m (This is one of many lakes in this reserve.) However the way back home is a twisty windy 2 miles or so between the lakes. Aargh

Here is the selection of stones I got. I didn't go overboard as I can always go back and fetch some more/different sizes etc.

The hardscape:

And a glimpse of the equipment. I will be DIYing something to raise the powerhead higher than it currently is. The sucker mount nor the hang on clip allow me to get it any higher!!

If the Glosso arrives tomorrow I shall be planting tomorrow night

AC

 

[Xenosis]

I like the hardscape, i will be keeping my eye on this one.

 

[nosoup4you]

Hurry up with it Andy, I can't wait. lol

 

[SuperColey1]

I moved the stones a bit and then got bored and so..........

..........Here is the tank with equipment.

Do you like my modded spraybar? This is half a fluval internal spraybar which then goes into an L bend from the tetratex EX700s pipework. Then another L bend from an old 'FrF' internal UV. Each section is held together by 1" of 12mm hose jammed into the joins. lol Works really well and looks quite cool too I think.

And then....yep you guessed it. I got tired of waiting for the Glosso. lol

Out came the superglue, some small stones and then I cut a few pieces of rhizome from the needle fern. Ran out of superglue after 3 pieces (2 pieces per stone) so I had to go to the dreaded cotton thread for the other 3. I absolutely hate using cotton wool. Takes ages, keeps slipping off, hard to get tight etc. lol

Anyway managed that. Then took the single Byxia Japonica plant I got from a UKaps member and shoved it in. Has been sitting in the main tank for a week and is nearly melted. Hopefully will come back nicely.

Here is LED tank heaven:

This is in the daylight. The bottom tank has 3 of the 5 series on at this point so thats 9 x 2.8W (25.2W = 0.76WPG :lol)

The top tank has 3 x 2.8W on.

Here are a few close ups which are quite representative of what I see in reality. Very hard to get good pictures of this tank because this gravel seems very reflective!!!

When the 3 pots of glosso comes I shall split eachpot into 8 and then plants 24 clumps around the foregound and sides and then leave it.

Dosed 7ml macro, 2ml trace and 2ml EasyCarbo and then left it for the lights to come on.

Hope you like it

AC

 

[Truck]

i love it! it looks good

looking forward to seeing the wrigglers

 

[SuperColey1]

looking forward to seeing the wrigglers

Ha Ha with my camera's macro setting that will be when they are adults

AC

 

[Truck]

lol, how big are the wrigglers now? still tiny? what do you feed them on?

ps what silicone did you use to seal the tank?

 

[nosoup4you]

Looking great! In regard to the reflective gravel, I have a similar issue in mine with lightly colored gravel...do you suppose that this (light reflected back to plants) is of any benefit to the plants?

 

[SuperColey1]

lol, how big are the wrigglers now? still tiny? what do you feed them on?
ps what silicone did you use to seal the tank?

The wrigglers are still transparent. You can see eyes, stomach and a faint backbone. They vary in size (My black Corys have spawned 4 times in 3 weeks) from 2mm to 6mm in length. This tank is needed desperately because a lot are dieingoff before getting to the second week.

The silicon was Aquarium Safe. cartridge for cartridge gun off ebay about a fiver.

Looking great! In regard to the reflective gravel, I have a similar issue in mine with lightly colored gravel...do you suppose that this (light reflected back to plants) is of any benefit to the plants?

I guess so but I doub't it will be a lot in comparison to direct light

AC

 

[Truck]

cool, im looking forward to seeing this develop, i like your idea, another tank is another excuse for a new scape good idea if you ask me