View Full Version : Lucky 13
I was a little depro - not being able to transport the 2m tank that small_fry had for sale ... thought it was the end MTS :eek:
All is well - we are now on number 13 :bigsmile:
Aquatic plants are harvested from my outside tanks ... the other from the pond. Moss from the nursery ... Still need to make a call on the lights.
http://www.f-fish.net/images-cabinet/lucky13.JPG
I have added 40 more pictures on http://www.f-fish.net/Home/project-report/lucky13 I am a little obsessed with the water falling from the shelf. :smile1:
Now that is a stunning tank !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:top:
Absolutely stunning!
Stunning tank. Where did you get the spiralis vallis. I would really like to get some.
Love the plants on the shelf - very cool tank this.
Thanks ... on day two - today, I am sitting with a cup of coffee in my hand and pondering what to do to the tank ... I think I'll just let it sit for a while - grow some character. Let the plants die that need to die. I did change the filter media - the Sera crystal really does do a good job to help clear the water.
High-wash
05-08-2009, 09:21
i like :)
Stunning tank. Where did you get the spiralis vallis. I would really like to get some.
LFS - 9 months ago ... these are from my tanks outside, they love real sunlight. Not sure what they will do in this tank.
vallis in my experience require strong lighting
Vallis will grow in low light , just slowly...
F-Fish - if the vallis has babies - would you part with one or two ?????? Happy to pay the shipping and the plant cost...
Zafgak - sure got some now if you want ... I need to trim the outside tank and make space .. guaranteed to have snails + eggs. How should I ship it? Zip-lock and SAPO? Do I need to add water to the mix?
Do I need to add water to the bag? Pm me your postal and I'll ship you a baggie in the morning. I have both "normal" and screwed .. but it is all mixed.
Very very cool!
I see that is a Google Sites page? How did you go about it, which template are you using?
And how is your domain setup, because mine is just a redirect from the current domain, and ends up at Google Sites anyway.
Or are you using Google Apps? Because I've tried getting my ISP to redirect my page, with zero luck.
PM sent
Zafgak - sure got some now if you want ... I need to trim the outside tank and make space .. guaranteed to have snails + eggs. How should I ship it? Zip-lock and SAPO? Do I need to add water to the mix?
Do I need to add water to the bag? Pm me your postal and I'll ship you a baggie in the morning. I have both "normal" and screwed .. but it is all mixed.
@Sauron - thanks - yeah google sites - no template, did the custom thing with the new layout features. Works OK.
PM'ed you about ggl domain stuff.
Jaguar007
05-08-2009, 21:15
Really Really Great. Just like nature. Good Work.
Add some anubias to the wood and 2 small angles 4 rummy noses 5 corries ... Need to figure what to do with the not-so-aquatic boreno fern I have, must be a place for it in this tank that will work.
Stil a work in progress ...
http://www.f-fish.net/images-cabinet/lck13an01.JPG
Quick tank update ...
For tomorrow I am planning on doing the first water change since set-up. Last week I added 40 neons. At some stage before that I added 6 angles. Bringing the total to 8 angles (might be a bit much for the tanks size). The plants on the shelf are doing great - bought 10 "aquatic" pants from a LFS added them to the shelf this evening. I am starting to like the idea of a riparium, not sure this qualifies as one. I also invested the grand sum of R25 for a Philips TL-D 36W/865 - what a nice T8.
Awesome looking ecosystem :D
Thanks Kribs ... A gave the tank a good sniff this morning, decided against a water change got some leaching but nothing serious.
I am really loving this setup at the moment, starting to wonder if this is not a better way to do an aquarium (some plants emersed other submersed).
Below some pictures of the planted shelf ...
http://www.f-fish.net/images-cabinet/L13L23Aug09.JPG
http://www.f-fish.net/images-cabinet/L13R23Aug09.JPG
Hey F-Fish - is there any way your tank will fit into a speed services bag ???? I will pay the postage to CT ...... :) :)
It is amazing
I'm gobsmacked! Too stunning for words!
Thanks Zafgak / Veegal .. It will fit into my Caddy - If I load and leave now I'll be in CT by morning - can not guarantee that the tank will look the same when I get to CT. - lol -
If you really want it in a speed service bag I do have a sledge hammer, but assembly instructions not included. hehe.
I am looking at all my tanks with a new eye to rip and replace / add a plant shelf / build a glass hood same hight as the tank.
I have been wanting to do this for a long time - now I see it real life - I just gotta get off my bum and get going.........
LoL f-fish.
How deep is your plant shelf?
This shelf is the same hight as the brim of the tank in the front and is 12 cm deep. I have a cascade 600 (I think) in the tank (left hand side) that pushes the water onto the shelf - a diy spray bar with big holes and an open end runs halfway down the shelf .. it is nested in a bed of hydroton. The hydroton is heaped against the back wall. All of this is covered with a moss that I got from the nursery (no clue what it is) plants are made to sit in / on the moss.
But as this grows I might have to add some barrier to stop things from growing off the shelf and pulling the lot into the tank.
I think I'm going to 'steal' this idea from you if you don't mind f-fish. I wanna try it on the 1m cube......or perhaps on the 2m - but either way, I'm going to have fun :) Thanks!!!! It's certainly is an inspiring set-up.
Not my idea - but go wild .. I do think this could make for a nice alternative to the typical way we keep fish and plants happy.
What a novel, and AWESOME idea! :) That is beautiful, F-Fish, well done!
This tank realy looks awesome ,,, for the guys in cape town, the supplier opposite milnerton fire station use to sell these tanks.
Thanks Madam, Donny - I do find it most intriguing that the plants that we buy at our LFS do way better outside the water than in it. All the plants except 3 have been on offer at some stage as a true aquatic plant.
So I have a new test - if I can get a plant to root in my DIY hydroponic bucket - it is probably not truly aquatic - if it dies because the leaves are not submersed - I will plant it in a tank.
The inhabitants in the tank are still the same - Angle, neon, glass catfish, some rummy-noses tetra and one SAE (albino). The tank health has been good. Removed the hydroton added some glass strips to make a container on the shelf ... water flows mostly from right to left - thanks to a slopping floor.
Attached a picture from todays water change - I like big water changes, the fish do not seem to mind in planted tanks (just what I have noticed, not that I talk fish) the pipe on the right is the siphon to the garden - the left water from the tap.
http://www.f-fish.net/images-cabinet/Lucky13waterchange.png
Very interesting little shelve you have in the back :)
Quick pictorial update ... all in good in lucky 13 land - I need to see about covering that back wall with something.
http://www.f-fish.net/images-cabinet/l13-frnt002.jpg
Gert Combrink
17-06-2010, 22:47
I do think that a moss wall, with terrestrial garden moss could work, for a background!
I like that idea ... thanks Gert - now I need to see if I can find normal moss somewhere, also need to figure what the medium would be - maybe a scotch pad or something. Let me go dig.
I think an update on this tank is due??
Ferryman
20-08-2010, 16:29
Hear hear. I'd specially like to see how the surface growth compares with its submerged halves
Come now F-fish, time for some more piccies
Moved Lucky 13 into a window spot in the fishroom ... did very little to for a few months (ahh twice a day feeding was about it). With the amount of light coming in from the window in the afternoon I am hopping that I do not need the 4ft tube for a while. Not sure what to expect w.r.t. algae - time will tell.
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The 96% water change was needed to lift it to the new stand ... some of the plants move around a bit - I'll leave it and see how it goes. Level is also out ... will fix that in a week or so. Tap water temp was about 20 degrees. After the fill and standing in the afternoon sun with odd bit of cloud cover temp is now at 25 degrees. No heater at the moment. Not sure you can get more low tech than this. Power consumption is 6 watts for the power head moving the water onto the shelf. In winter I needed two 300 Watt heaters and lights.
Thanks Donny ...
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I did a major filter upgrade to this tank a week ago after doing some cleaning .. say major cause it such a small filtration system for a 4ft. Yes I added a peace open celled sponge. I shall call this the fountain filter. In the past I had some batting, but the sponge and fountain flow seems to leave the big peace easily accessible for cleaning without removing the media.
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A few tanks shots .. must say the move to the window has been great. No lights on the tank means that most plants now look towards the window. Still it is green (no algae) and fish seem happy water smells nice.
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Two angels remain some 30 odd neons, 8x danios, platties, 3x glass fish, 4x corries, 1 albino redtail shark, 2 x otocinclus, 4 x rummy nose and a stray guppy or two.
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I've removed all the grass and reeds from the top shelf .. want to get a nice big leaf feeling.
Later Ferdie
wow man.. ur tank looks nice and healthy! love it..
Thanks Shihr - yeah this is the tank that I put the most effort in at the moment.
Did a 80% WC yesterday - used the low tide to rescape the tank and create more cave space under the arranged logs. Still no lights other than sun light. Algae does not seem to be a problem. As might be expected this tank has no real current - only the drops from the top shelf dropping into the tank and the fish darting from the one to the other side.
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Pic above I used the flash ...
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No flash / no room light (desk reflection is the LCD's I think) just the window on the west dumping light.
Later Ferdie
azurekoi
12-12-2010, 08:03
@ f-fish ... Realy like the Spathyfilliums in the terrestrial section... Whu nottry some Phylodendron Spc... they would love the humidity and give a nice alternative leaf shape... + their habit of sending their airial roots into the water will suck even more nitrites from the tank...
Years ago in CT there was a wholesaler called Rainbow Aquatics...his fish room had them growing EVERYWHERE - in and out of the tanks and reaching for the skylights - veritable jungle... Spent many happy hours in there...
Just a thought....
Thanks azurekoi ... will look into the Phylodendron again - think you are talking about those that have spade shaped leaves yeah. I might be wrong will need to check but was under the impression that the sap from the Phylodendron is poisonous to both man and pet. Will definitely look into it. The terrestrial section is what keeps me intrigued with lucky 13. Since this is the only real filtration happening on the tank.
I have a section on the left that still needs filling and yes more leafs shapes will help - was thinking of getting some more peace lilies maybe variegated but I do not think they like wet feet.
"Just a thought.... " - hehe all thoughts appreciated !!!
Later Ferdie
azurekoi
12-12-2010, 14:33
Hmmnn.... Gonna go check that one out... If they are poisonous,that is new to me(I'm almost as big a terrestrial plant nut as i am about my fish - Cycads,Aloes,Gasteria,platyceriums and Nepenthes especialy)
The one you are revering to is P.scandens - you get some lovely variegated forms... P.seloum (Xanadu) is also small enough and clump forming...Could work well in a corner...
Or try What I am doing in my paludarium.... Got some Sekelbos sticks bout inch thick and siliconed 2 plastic bits to walls of tank to keep stick in place - one on each side....I have 3 of these over the water - perfect for wedging my Nepenthes inbetween.... Also known as Monkey cups,these carnivorous orchids are WAY COOL and will work well in the spot your paludarium is in...PM me for info on how to get some in Gauteng...
The over all look recreates vines over a jungle river and is quite stunning(no pics yet - paludarium still needs a lot of work before I subject it to your one's for scrutiny/comparison...lol)
In June is cleaned most of the tank - removed all the terrestrial plants and let the tank sit for a few months covered in plastic, water, fish, plants, heater and a small internal filter. Then I added the corner HMF
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and decided to rethink what I wanted to try on the shelf this time.
So the verdict was some open cell sponge as "substrate".
I left the plastic sheeting as cover so it has been humid most of the time ...
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Added some moss at some stage and a few plant cuttings on the weekend.
I need to rethink what I want to do in the tank also - maybe the EW substrate mix ?
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I am considering making a plastic tent for this tank ... hmmm
Later Ferdie
Took the covers off lucky 13 .. got nasty fungus on some of the plants on the shelf this week - so time to air the lot of it and decide what I want to do with this thank shelf this season - maybe a bog garden of sorts ? I really like this tank as open so the tent idea might actually not work.
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Time to remove all heater.
BTW it is a no no on the EW ... now looking at alternatives again.
Later Ferdie
Lucky 13 is just not coming together after the winter hibernation ... the cover up was good, but when I removed the covers all the plants - and fungus died down. The idea for the bog garden has gone full circle. Now I am back to the tent idea - went to builder to source some 6 mm glass - two sheets R180 1200x 280 and 1200 x380 while carrying it home I realised that this was going to be to heavy to make the "door" from glass. So I used the 280 for the top of the tank and found some of the plastic I used on another tank for winter that is very clear when clean (not the case for the stuff growing on the left) .... will let this rest for a while and see what the vapour build-up is like on the glass and plastic. Up shot, I could use the 380 sheet for a cover on my other 4ft ... hmm maybe a tent design for the neighbour of lucky13 is on the cards?
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Thanks to the whole tillandsia thing - I now have plan for lucky13 for 2012.
Two weeks ago I started an experiment - added 3 plants in terracotta pots with the tent closed to see how they would do.
Pic 1 and 2 shows the problem - fungus, so we heard that this will be an even bigger issue for the tillandsia plants. So the plan is simple - open the tent at night - allow things to "dry" close 75% during the day. Not sure how this will work but I am now testing this with added ferns and all the tillandsia plants loose not mounted.
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I still need to contemplate air movement ...
Later Ferdie
azurekoi
15-12-2011, 21:07
Cool idea,but why don't you go get one of those humidity meters they use in Reptile enclosures.... My palu runs at bout average 80% humidity after I cut some holes in my canopy and the Tillies and Broms(Bromeliads) are doing fine a year later....
Was looking at your pics of the Tillies you bought - you have quite a mix of species with varied growth requirements.... Gonna be dang interesting to see wich ones make it and addapt to indoor growth.... G'luck!
humidity meters hmm - you have me thinking ...
Thanks azurekoi ... that has set me off in a different direction
Yes I see I need to replace the battery (it has been working for many years - had to go and treasure hunt for it in the lounge).
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The unit has a Relative humidity measurement range : 25% RH to 95% RH so that should work in the tank.
Now I can get a better feeling (other than waiting two weeks to see what dies ;-) for the tank.
Mzungu You mentioned ventilation ...
I think fungus problems are due to ventilation problems, with proper ventilation, there shouldn't be fungal issues.
Does this mean fresh air circulation or just air movement to reduce the humidity.
Thanks Ferdie
Verdict is out .. having the tent closed pushes the humidity over 90% even at night, so I need to look at some form of air movement.
Computer fans? Surely they would work? I used to have 2 x 240v fans. Those things could move a load of air. I am sure I just searched in google and found a local company that supplies them. You just wire them strait onto a plug and pop them into a wall socket.
azurekoi
17-12-2011, 19:44
Computer fans might be a bit much.... Just a small airpump venting into your tent structure should bring it down a bit....
Both seem possible .. I now have another measuring point above the tank. The insetting thing is that the number above the tank are way different than what is being measured below the glass roof on Lucky13. This tells me that the roof I added 3 weeks ago by it self will contribute to the humidity needed even without adding the tent.
Current stats -
Sensor on-top of the roof +26.6 C and 41% relative humidity (affectively the room temp and humidity) inside the tank just under the roof +25.4 C and 73% humidity.
BTW just got a cryptanthus of sorts .. so Now I need to start thinking about scaping this stuff not just plonking them on the pots.
Later F
azurekoi
19-12-2011, 08:34
Cryptanthus is what my main plant in my Paludarium is - basicly planted in full bog plant conditions(water from waterfall constantly running over/in its planting pocket) and doing very well like that.... Cool plants...
f-fish, Where did you get the sponge for your corner "hamburger" filter and what density is it?
TIA
@Skye01 (http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/member.php?u=2229) ... see http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?6867-HMF-now-and-still-to-come&p=98399&viewfull=1#post98399 think we it was something like 25ppi .. @Altum (http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/member.php?u=67) supplied the black sponge. He might still have stock.
f-fish, Thanks for the link I'm now on to keep up to date with the HMF filters. Thanks for that, I used to have a sponge supplier, so I will see if they can help me out in the new year...
3 Days and no pic .. as the Tillandsia thread says, these plants have given me and Lucky 13 a new lease on scaping.
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I was contemplating using the air pump and air-curtain bar in the lucky 13's plant shelf, but for now it seems OK. The ferns that where rotting are starting to push new fronds.
Later Ferdie
It really is looking awesome. :adore: What is the plant that looks like it is producing a purple flower in the centre(ish)? Ok so now give us a rundown on what plants you have planted where on the shelf, I'm really interested. TIA
azurekoi
19-12-2011, 19:44
Skye01 - looks like Tillandsia juncea to me....
100% 12217 I was truly amazed at the transformation of these plants after the soaking - everything had more volume.
Check out the Tillandsia thread for most of the names .. the others are random fern stuff that I found that looked like they might survive in the tank. Sorry I was not diligent to that degree to record them on digital record.
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