[vraev]

Hey guys,

I made a planted tank nearly 6y ago and had to tear it down immediately (a couple of months) due to family issues. I still love planted tanks and watch too many planted tank videos and always resisted re-starting one up. Last year, I bought a tank and light here from Ryan and it has been used for growing some carnivorous plants, until finally, this week, I decided to re-try a high tech planted tank. I am planning on doing a dry start with Montecarlo and elocharis hair grass mini. This is one bag of aqua soil (9L) and I am contemplating whether I should open up the second bag, or use some colorado sand. I want to make a strong hardscape that I will enjoy for a while to come. I couldn't justify spending a lot for stones and ended up buying "landscape" stones from Big Als. Looks pretty good if I may say so. What do you think?

My goal is a Lush green HC or Monte Carlo carpet with grass in between giving the sense of scale. I want a bright red focal plant at the back/center in between the rocks (should I get bigger rocks?) The livestock I want to have is again very specific : oto cats, siamese algae eaters, Amano shrimp, celestial pearl danios, chili rasbora and at least a couple of Dario Dario.

Which of these ideas do you guys like best? Any other suggestions on rearrangement?

Thanks

V

 

[iamaloner]

Imo

Soil level looks good
Bigger rocks if you want hardscape focus other red focal plant will eat up the space
I like the 2nd layout the best but the 1st one is also very good

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[vraev]

Thanks for the comments. I agree... I like the second one the best so far. I am also on the lookout for more stone to raise the focal strength on the top left corner. Need a bigger stone.

 

[coldmantis]

Are you planning on adding co2? if you already have a setup, Monte Carlo is a pretty easy plant to grow and doesn't really need DSM. You might even loose more MC from transition from emerse to submerse then just planting and flooding.

 

[vraev]

Ah..good to know. Yea.. I want to do MC, hairgrass mini, a red alternatha reneckii .. maybe hydrophila pinnatafida. Can you even do a dry start with stem plants?

 

[coldmantis]

Ah..good to know. Yea.. I want to do MC, hairgrass mini, a red alternatha reneckii .. maybe hydrophila pinnatafida. Can you even do a dry start with stem plants?

pinnatafida yes not sure about ar though probably?

 

[Ryan s]

Nice too see this tank, and light still being used by you. Second scape looks good, I'd take away the flat rocks on the left. Looking forward to up dates.

Hey guys,

I made a planted tank nearly 6y ago and had to tear it down immediately (a couple of months) due to family issues. I still love planted tanks and watch too many planted tank videos and always resisted re-starting one up. Last year, I bought a tank and light here from Ryan and it has been used for growing some carnivorous plants, until finally, this week, I decided to re-try a high tech planted tank. I am planning on doing a dry start with Montecarlo and elocharis hair grass mini. This is one bag of aqua soil (9L) and I am contemplating whether I should open up the second bag, or use some colorado sand. I want to make a strong hardscape that I will enjoy for a while to come. I couldn't justify spending a lot for stones and ended up buying "landscape" stones from Big Als. Looks pretty good if I may say so. What do you think?

My goal is a Lush green HC or Monte Carlo carpet with grass in between giving the sense of scale. I want a bright red focal plant at the back/center in between the rocks (should I get bigger rocks?) The livestock I want to have is again very specific : oto cats, siamese algae eaters, Amano shrimp, celestial pearl danios, chili rasbora and at least a couple of Dario Dario.

Which of these ideas do you guys like best? Any other suggestions on rearrangement?

Thanks

V

 

[vraev]

Thanks @coldmantis. Will try it out. I might do what you are suggesting and just flood it early too.

Nice to hear from you Ryan. I wish I had followed through and got your Twinstar S. That would have been perfect for those high light plants. But looking forward to seeing this tank shine.

I just got some new rock from Jesse here on the forum.. will be trying some new designs tonight.

 

[vraev]

Hey guys,

Got some new stones, made a new layout. There is a subtle difference in between the two options. I really like the main stone's flow and I think it will fit very well with a swept layout. The first is me just laying them on the substrate, while the second required some mighty balancing to get it stable. Hopefully it doesn't fall and crack the glass.

other views of the 2nd..

What do you guys think?

 

[kevinay007]

I like the last one!

Fyi, mini landscaping stones are seiryu stones

 

[vraev]

Thanks guys. Here is an update. I planted it two days ago and already did my first water change. I still don't have a filter for the tank.

 

[coldmantis]

Looks very good man, When I see your tank I have fear in my eyes. When that Hair Grass grows into the Monte Carlo man oh man it will be very high maintenance to trim/pull.

 

[vraev]

Lol..I’ll be happy if it survives the next two weeks until I get my filter (waiting for Boxing Day: is it worth it?? Do you think the Eheim 2215 will be much cheaper than the current 189 price tag at Big als?). Lol

 

[iamaloner]

You can always buy a used on also

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[vraev]

It's ok. I found one for a great deal ($40 less than anywhere else = $149) on Reefsupplies. I don't think BigAl's boxing week sale will even beat that. Hopefully it will arrive this week.

 

[Ryan s]

I'm glad you found a filter, tank looks great. Keep us updated.

 

[vraev]

Thanks Ryan. Here is the fully planted aquascape. Now to wait. I am seeing quite a bit of Monte Carlo melt though.

I need a CO2 setup. Anyone knows where I can get a 5lb or a 2lb CO2 cylinder and an appropriate CO2 regulator with a needle valve? In the past I used a Milwakee dual stage regulator. But I got the tank at aquainspiration (whom you guys know is out of business).

Definitely need to get new clear tubing for the filter (Eheim 2215). I also had to cut the outflow tube to fit in this tank. Overall the Eheim 2215 was worth going for the increased flow. I like the swaying action of the plants now..and that is pretty much on full. I also need glass lily pipes. Why is everything so expensive now? even on eBay? I used to get a beetle counter and lily pipes each under 15-20$ for cal aqua pieces. Does anyone have any suggestions for decent quality glassware? Is the Jardli lily pipes good quality and good countours for sending flow around the tank?

Just checked my NH3 levels yesterday. Seems like I have a week or more to wait before I can start dropping in some Amano Shrimp.

 

[coldmantis]

My fingers are crossed for you that your rotala wallichii won't melt away and turn black. That's one plant I never grew successfully long term but I always seem to buy my wallichii at big als.

 

[vraev]

Thanks. I got mine at BigAls too. Fingers crossed.

With regards to CO2, I was looking into a UNS mini CO2 regulator and a 24oz paintball tank. How long do you think that tank would last for this tank?

 

[coldmantis]

Thanks. I got mine at BigAls too. Fingers crossed.

With regards to CO2, I was looking into a UNS mini CO2 regulator and a 24oz paintball tank. How long do you think that tank would last for this tank?

Hmm I did a write up I think on GTAA in regards to paintball tanks many many years ago. Too lazy to look for it but if I recall when I used paintball tanks 24oz running at 1bps would last around 4-6 months if running at 2bps maybe 3 months. I was running it around 3 bps on my 40g breeder and I think it lasted around a month to 1.5 months. Here is a tip for you most paintball places don't fill the tank properly if they do not weight it before and after I would run away (or bring your own digital scale lol). I can't tell you how many times I have refilled a paintball tank only for it to die a few days later since it wasn't filled properly.