127 replies to this topic

[malawiman85]

I love that sleepy cod photo... Awesome!

[Delapool]

Can see the blood and bone working quite well, I assume it will cause spikes and settle down / soak into clays - will be great to see it progress.

[Leichardti]

Yesterday I got the substrate side of things done.
Using three large black bins I drained ~250l of water from the tank which the fish went into, and drained out the rest.
About 1cm of propogating sand was spread around the base of the tank for the base layer.
On top of this I added a layer of shell grit + blood n bone. Roughly a handful of shell grit went in per square foot, and roughly 3 tablespoons of blood n bone around the whole base, not something I was keen on overdosing.
Once the “base layers” were finished I capped it all with about 1.5 inches of GinGin Quartz (River Sand). This keeps all the nutrients, minerals and all the plant goodies out of the water column.

All done and (carefully) refilling

Layers from bottom; Propogating sand (brown sand), shell grit & blood n bone, riversand cap. Layers look pretty cool imo aha

Fish back in a very cloudy tank... not a happy chappy.

Photo from just now. Tank is clearing up, did a 40% waterchange just before this photo to help it along a little

Now that I have a reasonable substrate in the tank I need to work on the other important things - Lighting, fertilizer and Co2. Currently I have a metal halide on the tank which would do the job, however I don’t like the weight of it, nor the fact that only one side works.
Some potential lighting upgrades include:
2x MicMol AquaAir 90 “Planted”

OR
3x Aqua Illumination Prime HD “Planted”

I think the latter would be the better option, but the former the cheaper. Opinions on lighting welcome
On the other hand I also need to get my Co2 back up and running. I have everything needed however my regulator and gauges have stuffed themselves.
For ferts I’ll be using the EI method + root tabs for heavy root feeders.
A long road to get everything setup the way I plan, but looking forward to it

Edited by Leichardti, 16 April 2018 - 10:27 AM.

[Delapool]

Going to be massive with the CO2 - are you injecting into the sump?

[Leichardti]

Still deciding on that @Delapool. Most likely going to use a Co2 reactor on the outflow piping to best diffuse it

Edited by Leichardti, 16 April 2018 - 07:04 PM.

[Delapool]

Ah, will be interested how you go. I’ve seen posts saying sumps are tricky but not many first-hand accounts. Still doable I’d have thought but I’ve never done it either

[Leichardti]

The tank hasn’t fully cleared up yet - Been doing daily 50-60% waterchanges and it’s nearly clear. I realllly should have washed that river sand first

During a 50% waterchange today I started to put some rocks in the tank.

Building up around the wood. Still moving them around a bit to get them looking the way I want.




Sleepy and Coaly seemingly enjoying having some rocks in the tank

Perfect timing... Coaly having a go at the Sleepy Cod


Now all filled up. Satisfied with the way the rocks are for now, might still move them around though.
Seriously thinking about getting a / some bullrout for this tank. Want an oddball of some sort. Would love to have redclaw crays...
Back right third of the tank will be planted up with Vallisneria and Limnophila Aromatica.

Just a bit of a photographic update

Edited by Leichardti, 19 April 2018 - 10:23 AM.

[Jules]

Looks good!

yeah bull rout for sure, and some archers on the top

[ice]

Looks great dude!

[Leichardti]

Just a funny clip I got the other night with some actinic fluros on; Sooty having a dig around the place

Edited by Leichardti, 21 April 2018 - 11:24 AM.

[Leichardti]

Yesterday I got my sump tank, a shitty cheap 4x1x1.5, perfect for what I needed and keeps costs low.

Came pretty dirty - Razor blades helped a great deal getting the algae off

In my bedroom doing the last of the cleaning. As you may have noticed I used fishing line to remove the bracing and lid holders. The baffles will act as bracing in the sump and the lid holder can go on the 6x2x2 which is lacking them.

Here’s a crappy “plan” of the sump, gives a rough idea of how it’ll be set up
For the return pump I’ll be going with something such as a Jebao DC pump aroundthe 5000lph mark
Fits under perfectly


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[malawiman85]

It sure does... have you thought about maintenance though... looks like a pita if you need to access it.

[Leichardti]

Does look like a massive pita to get into however it really isnt too bad - Gap between top of stand and sump is about 20cm, can easily gets arms under and in. Not a massive amount of room but still way easier than a cannister IMO

[Leichardti]

Carved out the seals and resealed the 4ft yesterday - Some were in pretty bad condition, others completely without a seal. Better safe than sorry

Edited by Leichardti, 25 April 2018 - 09:14 AM.

[Leichardti]

Ordered baffles today - should get them delivered on Tuesday. Then just need a pump and some media.

Today I was thinking about the sump and figured having a background on it would help make everything a bit easier visible.
I decided to paint the back white as it will likely contrast all the media best - matches the cabinet too

Nice and shiny

Plan for the sump - first section just to overflow and settle the water a bit. Second for mechanical filtration. Likely JapMat or Sponge + wool. 3rd and fourth section for biologica media. Originally I was going to have a K1 section however I’ve decided against it due to the noise. The biological sections instead will be filled with ceramic noodles and volcanic rock.

Some volcanic rock soaking
The fifth section will contain a reactor with macropore to keep things really clear. Finally the sixth (last) for obviously the return pump. I’ve chosen to go with a Jebao dc 5000 for the return.

Threw a wavemaker that was sitting aroud into the tank a few days ago - Just for the sexy rippling effect from the halide

Edited by Leichardti, 29 April 2018 - 08:00 PM.

[chrishaigh82]

Hey, are you putting some airlines under the sections with the ceramic media and jap matt.  Easier to have some agitation to remove the build up of detritus on the media that slips past the fine wool.  We have that on one of ours and works well but noise isnt an issue for that tank, one of our other tanks noise will be an issue but I'm thinking about putting a few long air stones so I can blast the detritus out from time to time while running the sump back on itself so you can the muck rather than pumping it into the tank?

 

Btw/ the tanks looking great.  

The bedside tank reminds me of a friend years back who had a fish room with a mattress in the middle of it as a bedroom.  I used to joke that he'd get a lady home and he'd take the comment as to feeling moist as a good thing but it was actually the tropical humidity in the room with all the tanks.

Edited by chrishaigh82, 02 May 2018 - 11:35 AM.

[Leichardti]

Hey sorry Chris, forgot to reply to this ^
Wasnt going to bother with airline in the sump, not really worth the hassle imo and means I have to buy an airpump hahaha

Lmao at the story hahaha, I keep getting wet with these fish flicking water outta the tank ‍♂️

Actually looks like I might go a different way relevant to sump. Thinking it’ll be too noisy right beside where I sleep tbh so looks like I’ll keep the canister and possibly get a second later on.

Potentialy cladding the stand this week, hopefully

Also still deciding on lights atm; prettty keen on three SBReef Planted 16” Basics currently. Very well priced and do a great job, anyone have any experience with them?

Not much has changed with the tank since last update, so here’s just a photo of how it looks at night:

Love how it makes my whole bedroom look at night, awesome to just lay here, watch and chillout

Edited by Leichardti, 30 May 2018 - 08:30 PM.

[Leichardti]

Someone’s was nailing my Neo all night. Usuall he’s the one to start fights or usually its just a bit of fin nipping but someone’s really been smashing him at night or when I’m not watching,this has only appeared iver the last two days
Suspecting the Sooty atm although he’s only about 12cm, Neo seems terrified of him and he gets some nasty nips in occasionally
Wish everyone would just get along, not surprised though honestly

Heaps of melafix in there now but will divide tank with eggcrate tomorrow, dont want a repeat of an older Neo incident..

[Delapool]

Good luck! Keep us posted.

[chrishaigh82]

I have read your thread multiple times and I am confused.  your later of blood and bone I expected to be followed with a heavily deep rooted plant colony but it was just a cichlid society.   Why the blood and bone (and I know I may seem dumb in this )