18 replies to this topic

[Naraic]

Just thought I would post up a little journal of my 60L Nano Planted Tank.

 

Equipment;

• 60cm Curved Corner Nano Tank
• Eheim 2213
• Hydor In-line Heater
• Ista pH Probe and Controller
• Ista CO2 Regulator/Controller
• 2 x 60cm Ista 8000K L.E.D's
• In-line CO2 Atomiser
• In-line pH Probe Holder
• Two Little Fishes Nano Magnet

Substrate;

• Laterite (Just the stuff from Aquotix)
• Dino Dung
• 2mm Black River Sand

This Tank as you can see if predominantly powered by Ista Equipment, with my budget I was able to get way more for my dollar with this brand. I got a fully controlled CO2 system with a pH probe operated in-line all for $499 which left me $300 unforeseen to spend on better lighting.

 

I already had the Eheim 2213 from a few months previously but needed to work out how to plumb all of the in-line equipment, taps and Heater into a very tight space. Ollie at Aquotix helped me out a great deal with this, even taking time away from trimming his massive planted tank to fiddle with the tangle of pipes I brought in.

 

 

 20131124_190837.jpg   54.57KB   13 downloads

 

 

 

I laid the Laterite and crushed Dino Dung on bare glass and covered it all with the Black River Sand, placed my Granite Rocks as Amano as I could and filled it up to run it for a couple of days.

 

Got my plants from Aquotix and planted them up after I had drained the tank, this recommendation made life so very much easier, once I had planted my little foreground plants and shoved in the Fissidens moss I added water to a depth of about 7cm to keep the longer stems buoyant whilst I planted those up. I had accidentally left the Rotala in a bag in my car for two days! The CO2 and those bloody Ista lights have brought it back great guns though!

 

 Full Tank Early Picture Resized.jpg   143.09KB   13 downloads

 

Above is an early full tank shot.

 

Below is another full tank shot, the poor Rotala!

 

 Artsy Full Tank Early Shot Resized.jpg   161.73KB   13 downloads

 

Below is a shot of the Hair Grass early on and the Fissidens

 

 Hair Grass The Early Days Resized.jpg   170.85KB   15 downloads

 

Below is a full tank shot taken from the couch on zoom! So excuse the quality and the piece of Rotala that came away after this mornings replanting.

 

 Recent Full Tank Shot Resized.jpg   130.81KB   17 downloads

 

In conclusion, I have been blown away by the level of customer service available here in Perth, such a small Hobby but great stores. There are still people out there willing to help you with your dream tank AND to stick to your budget and not poo poo you for not spending more.

 

Thanks for reading.

 

Better Pictures coming soon.

Edited by Naraic, 16 May 2014 - 10:55 AM.

[Michael the fish fanatic]

Awesome tank

[dori]

nice tank dude, did u get your sand from soils aint soils?

[chaderotti]

Where did you get the bottle and reg from? And for how much?

 

I'm really liking the sleek look of the ista CO2 bottles, but worried about finding a place local that'll fill them up

[dori]

Where did you get the bottle and reg from? And for how much?

 

I'm really liking the sleek look of the ista CO2 bottles, but worried about finding a place local that'll fill them up

aquotix do refills i think

[Naraic]

I got all of my gear from Aquotix in two separate visits, I just checked my receipt and I believe that I got the CO2 setup, bottle, bottle stand, regulator, pH probe and pH controller for $499 less 5% so that makes it $474.50.

 

Yes Ollie did tell me that they have a bottle refill or exchange system, $20 exchange over the counter or refills overnight as they have to cool down the bottle first in the freezer I think he told me.

 

The sand is from soils ain't soils, it was a true experience to get clean!

Edited by Naraic, 03 May 2014 - 10:06 AM.

[Michael the fish fanatic]

what is the name of that sand from soils aint soils as i want to buy some????

[Naraic]

It was just on the river sand display table as Black 2mm River Sand with one 10kg bag left underneath, when I last visited Aquotix they had a new black sand but I cannot remember what it was called Black Crystal Quartz Sand or something similar I think it was. It was set up in their white nano tank system and looked bloody stunning.

[Naraic]

UPDATE;

 

After some great advise from Sam at Aquotix I worked up the courage to pull up all the stems, cut off the old bottoms and replant them in a slightly different layout to increase the effect of the Red stams (Rotala Macrandra)

 

 Freshly Replanted.jpg   83.52KB   11 downloads

 

It was a very counter intuitive way for me to think at first "What! cut off the roots and almost half the damn growth!" However, as I started removing the older portions of the stems I noticed the small spots of algae forming on the oldest leaves. A eureka moment for me I believe, as this may very well have been the downfall of past attempts; allowing old stems to rot out at the base that is.

 

After one week and the addition of Staurogyne repens in place of the Chain Sword this is how the tank looked.

 

 Styrugene added 1 week recovery.jpg   97.63KB   12 downloads

 

 Styrugene added 1 week recovery high angle.jpg   148.99KB   12 downloads

 

 Styrugene added 1 week recovery full tank shot.jpg   142.22KB   12 downloads

 

Well that is it for now, I am still on my first 1L Ista CO2 bottle and I am really blitzing it in for the plants. I think I may be lagging behind in terms of fertilizing at the moment so will up that by about 20% across the board, bar Potassium Nitrate as my nitrates are steady at 10PPM with my current dosing rate.

[Westie]

Dark substrate always makes a planted tank look nice
What shrimp do you have in there?

[Michael the fish fanatic]

I absolutely love that tank. great job

[aajvcad]

Looks great...

[Naraic]

Shrimp?! I don't know anything about any shrimp!

[DavidK]

What kind of fish you got in there? After my exams I'm starting a nano while finishing my 5ft tank for my slender $500 fish that lives in Africa heheh

[Michael the fish fanatic]

Any updates???

[Michaeal-959]

Looks awesome. Wanted to build one of these but my pockets stop about 10cm short of this

[Mattymak]

Yeah update would be good

[kane29]

Considering it is a nano tank, I would be willing to give you some rarer/more difficult plants if you want to add something (instead of creeping jenny) for cheap.

[Dr Cucumber]

Nice tank