View Full Version : My new 1.2m journal
sailing_derrick
26-06-2009, 19:50
I just started up a 1.2m planted tank with a custom background, those of u that have seen my other threads will know that i like these, the reason being that they create a huge bio filter and hide all the heaters filters etc.
It is a standard 1.2m tank with 4x 36w t8 tubes, 2 blue tubes and 2 grow lux tubes, wana replace the 2 blue tubes when i can get some more $$$.
The Substrate is Tetra plant complete substrate, sand and clay form a river and black sand to cap it all.
Plants i have in there are
Hygrophila Polysperma
Cabomba Piauhyensis
Hygrophila Corymbosa
Rotala Macranda
Rotala Wallichii
Najas Guadalupensis
Riccia Fluitans
Eichhornia Diversifolia
Limnophila Heterophylla
Taxiphyllum sp (spiky moss)
Cabomba Aquatica
Hair Grass
And some other plants which i havent ID'd yet
Fish in there at the moment are
12 White Clouds
6 Neon Tetras
3 Rams
3 Khuli Loaches
1 Scisor tail Rasbora
I want to put in some more white clouds, neons, khulis and rasboras as well as some glass cats and a few more female rams. That will happen soon, i got to wait till the filter can catch up, it has the filter media from my old tank as well as new stuff.
The fist few pics are when i first set it up and i only had blue t8's in there.
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12m010.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12m012.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12m022.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12m027.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12m032.jpg
how does the polystyrene background work as a bio filter im considering one aswell and what type of fitration have u got on there that u hide behind it?.
looks good though and love the cats, they look more like grey cats rather than glass cats :-))
sailing_derrick
27-06-2009, 12:12
how does the polystyrene background work as a bio filter im considering one aswell and what type of fitration have u got on there that u hide behind it?.
looks good though and love the cats, they look more like grey cats rather than glass cats :-))
Once the cement background has cured and the lime has leached out (this should be done before any fish etc are put in) the background will have a masssive surface area, which will be colonised by beneficial bacteria which get rid of amonia. The huge surface area means that more bacteria can grow than compared to if it were to only grow on your gravel, glass etc.
At the moment i'm waiting for it to be colonised by BB, my amonia levels are a bit high but dropping every week.
The tank really looks good sailing derrick. It has a duel purpose I see - Kitty TV :D
Nice stuff mate!
You also have Ceratopteris Silliquosa in there.
Check in pic 2, directly under the flash,...I think that's normal mondo grass. If so, throw it out...belongs in your garden :)
Pinkish plants at back-left looks like alternanthera reineckii
Maybe add a log or two in the tank to add further depth/perspective?
I would suggest that you take all the hairgrass and bundle them in the front right corner of the tank so that you free up the main portion of your tank for the logs and some foreground plants ie cryptocoryne parvas, sagittaria subulata, glosso, H.C?
Also maybe try and put a type of log across from one background to the a side of the tank on an angle and use that to anchor some moss onto?...a nice moss growing from wall to wall would just look stunning IMO.
Maybe add some CO2 to the tank + some T5 lighting?
Sorry, my mind is just working a bit overtime here, so I'm just stating as I think it :)
Background is really really awesome! Really can't wait to see the growth on 'em plants you got there.
Job well done so far dude :congrats:
Cheers 4 now
Dale
sailing_derrick
14-07-2009, 21:27
So here is the latest update, I got some neew plants and decided it was time for a remodel. I also got 2 big pieces of Mopani root and some more black sand. http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/IMG_0159.jpg http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/IMG_0160.jpg http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/IMG_0161.jpg http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/IMG_0163.jpg http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/IMG_0167.jpg http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/IMG_0168.jpg These are taken just after it was redone, will take more pics tomorrow when it all clears up.
After youve watched BORAT?..........LOL
sailing_derrick
14-07-2009, 21:36
ha ha, didnt think anyone would see that, its the add for his new movie whuch by the way is even more over the top than borat LOL
Oh, thought i might add that that i got 2 more lights in there, bringing the total up to 6 x36w = 216W = 3.3w per gallon and i got CO2 at about 34ppm.
How did you make that background??
sailing_derrick
14-07-2009, 22:01
How did you make that background??
Almost the same as in this one i did for my 30l http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?t=559 (http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?t=559)
Hi derrick..where did you get your c02 system if i may ask
sailing_derrick
15-07-2009, 08:58
i got it at panarama, was there yesterday and they didn't have any more, its the tetra co2 optimat by the way. I saw them at that lfs in kennilworth, dont recall the name rite now.
How much is it if i may ask n how often will i need to refill it?i assume it's not a proper pressurized c02 system?i'm looking for a proper proper c02 system.anyways..dont want to hijack this thread..your tank looking very good i must say
sailing_derrick
15-07-2009, 12:58
How much is it if i may ask n how often will i need to refill it?i assume it's not a proper pressurized c02 system?i'm looking for a proper proper c02 system.anyways..dont want to hijack this thread..your tank looking very good i must say
Yip its one of those ones that u press down the button on the can and it fills up the diffusion chamber which seems to keep my CO2 levels around 30 - 35 ppm. I was in Joberg last week and saw a SERA one for around R3000.00 .
sailing_derrick
22-09-2009, 14:31
Another update...
So i got bored of the old scape so decided to change it and free up some space by removing one of the mopani roots.
My fish and plants list has also changed quite a bit, i now have
Fauna:
2 Rams
5 Kribensis
2 A. cacatuoides
9 Glass Cats
8 Scisor tail rasboras
10 White Clouds
10 Neon tetras
4 Rummy nose tetras
3 unidentified alge eaters
Flora:
Rotala Wallichii
Rotala Macranda
Anubias nana
Anubias giletti
Cryptocoryne retrospiralis
Riccia
Hygrophylia polysperma
Lots of unidentifieds
Here are some pics
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/apistogramma028.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/apistogramma030.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/apistogramma033.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/apistogramma041.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/apistogramma046.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/apistogramma052.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/apistogramma056.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/apistogramma061.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/apistogramma064.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/apistogramma067.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/apistogramma075.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/apistogramma077.jpg
B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l!!!!! :D :D :D
Tank looks AWESOME....love the fish
Mongwopman
22-09-2009, 15:18
That looks awesome man!
What Rams are those?
Stunning tank...the background really does give it a natural look.
johan008
22-09-2009, 15:24
black gravel is what I need but I must say it looks great
sailing_derrick
22-09-2009, 15:31
B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l!!!!! :D :D :D
Thanx Veegal, ps u have PM
Tank looks AWESOME....love the fish
Thanx Gareth:bigsmile:
That looks awesome man!
What Rams are those?
Thanx Mongwopman, they are baloon rams (bought them thinking they were regular ones but as they grew they turned into these still very cool looking tho)
Stunning tank...the background really does give it a natural look.
Thax Ruan, really easy to make too...
LiftCrazy*
22-09-2009, 16:19
That is a great setup man!!! Nice one...
Sailing Derrick.. The first pics you posted was flipping awesome dude... but the re-scape you have done just proved to me that there is ALWAYS room for improvement. I am very impressed.
Can I ask some stupid questions: in the second pic (of the second lot of photos): what fish is that? and what is the fish with all that orrange finns?
Can I ask some stupid questions: in the second pic (of the second lot of photos): what fish is that? and what is the fish with all that orrange finns?
No question is a stupid question :D
The second pic has is of a female Kribensis in breeding colours and a balloon Ram (Ram at the top right corner).
The fish with the orange fins is an Apistogramma cacatuoides.
Can I ask some stupid questions: in the second pic (of the second lot of photos): what fish is that? and what is the fish with all that orrange finns?
There is no such thing as a stupid question :D
Second pic: Female kribensis in breeding colours and a baloon ram at the top right of picture.
Fish with orange fins is the Apistogramma cacatuoides. (http://www.google.co.za/url?url=http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_Apistogramma_cacatuoides.php&rct=j&ei=qwi5StPQOtrajQf_ubn8BQ&sa=X&oi=spellmeleon_result&resnum=1&ct=result&q=apistogramma+cocuides&usg=AFQjCNH0ztsBKEGCyWeBMRZjq24OFV4qyw)
Are they good fish for community? or species?
sailing_derrick
22-09-2009, 20:22
That is a great setup man!!! Nice one...
Thanx Liftcrazy:bigsmile:
Sailing Derrick.. The first pics you posted was flipping awesome dude... but the re-scape you have done just proved to me that there is ALWAYS room for improvement. I am very impressed.
Can I ask some stupid questions: in the second pic (of the second lot of photos): what fish is that? and what is the fish with all that orrange finns?
Are they good fish for community? or species?
They good comunity fish, all very peacefull
From the looks of things you have 3 Siamese Algae Eaters, the best kind to have. But to confirm you'll have to have a closer look, they should have just one pair of "whiskers". From the photos they look right, no golden stripe, the black stripe goes all the way from nose to tail, the black stripe is defined by the scales and is a bit jagged at the edges. Having 3 in that tank should make short work of all your algae :)
And the tank looks great, I'm not a fan of 3D backgrounds, but yours came out perfectly!
well done the tank looks really awesome. cant wait for my plants to start growing properly
Great looking tank. Loving the Variegated Triple Red Cockatoo. Hating the balloon Ram. Seriously, why did you buy it?
sailing_derrick
23-09-2009, 16:45
Great looking tank. Loving the Variegated Triple Red Cockatoo. Hating the balloon Ram. Seriously, why did you buy it?
Thanx, as in a previous post i bought them quite young and didnt know that they were baloons, thought they would grow up into regular ones. Still they are very cool and full of character.
Sailing - This tank is BEAUTIFUL in real life, the pics don't do justice
Derick, so many pics of the Apistos! You must really love them...
They settled in very well with full colors practically overnight...
very very nice tank by the way!
sailing_derrick
23-09-2009, 20:30
Thanx all for the awesome comments, hopefully will be getting some more apistos soon A. agassizii and A. borellii are next on my wishlist:bigsmile::bigsmile::bigsmile:
nice tank! im liking the kribs. do you ever notice the tetra population slowly declining?
Sailing - As soon as our Agassizii stop eating their eggs, there will be some available.....
sailing_derrick
26-09-2009, 20:40
Thanx, my tetras are steady:bigsmile: altho i think the biggest krib ate my khulis, saw here the second day i had her with a tail in her mouth lol.
nice tank! im liking the kribs. do you ever notice the tetra population slowly declining?
sailing_derrick
30-09-2009, 13:06
Soooooo in the last few days my female A. cacatuoides has turned bright yellow on is viciously gaurding a hole/cave in the mopani root, the male is also gaurding the hole, together they chase away any fish that come near and today while doing a water change the female was having a good go at my fingers in fack biting me numerous times LOL. My thoughts are that they are trying to breed:bigsmile:. I dont think any fry will survive as the other fish in my tank are sure to eat them soon as they become free swiming. Hear are a couple pics of her new colour.
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/apistogramma004.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/apistogramma025.jpg
And before
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/apistogramma077.jpg
Comments from anyone who has had these breed will be much apreciated.
Sailing - when the black lateral line becomes a black spot in the middle of her body, then she is ready to spawn, she seems to be nearly there
The black line down her body will generally become a very visibly noticed dot. Good luck :)
sailing_derrick
22-10-2009, 15:16
Pictures tanken last night
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12update005.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12update027.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12update031.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12update045.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12update055.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12update058.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12update064.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12update073.jpg
Ferryman
23-10-2009, 01:00
last pic, what are those fish with the orange in the dorsal fin?
Purple Kribs
Tank is looking very good and healthy
sailing_derrick
23-10-2009, 16:32
druuul
beautiful!
last pic, what are those fish with the orange in the dorsal fin?
Purple Kribs
Tank is looking very good and healthy
Thank u all, i just did quite a major trim this morning and moved things around quite a bit too, i'm hoping that things grow into what i have envisioned..
WOW - love the corner shot ..
Ferryman
25-10-2009, 20:42
i on the other hand do not like the corner shot... i find the inducement of drool quite taxing on my keyboard... though it may have spillage holes, it was not meant to drain drool at this rate... :D
Looking very nice indeed
sailing_derrick
27-10-2009, 16:29
WOW - love the corner shot ..
i on the other hand do not like the corner shot... i find the inducement of drool quite taxing on my keyboard... though it may have spillage holes, it was not meant to drain drool at this rate... :D
Looking very nice indeed
Thank you thank you, I just found out the scientific name of one of the plants in my tank is Proserpinaca palustris on the left http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/apistogramma077.jpg
WOW that looks awesome...... I want it
sailing_derrick
10-12-2009, 11:43
So here is an update, its had a rescape since the last pics, enjoy
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809002.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809003.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809004.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809006.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809007.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809008.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809009.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809010.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809011.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809012.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809013.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809014.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809015.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809017.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809018.jpg
bitaneata "Tefe"
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809021.jpg
agassizi "Alenquer"
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809025.jpg
bitaneata
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809027.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809034.jpg
bitaneata
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809037.jpg
bitaneata "Tefe"
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809039.jpg
bitaneata "Tefe"
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/12mDecember0809045.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/Newapistos002.jpg
bitaneata female
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/Newapistos008.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/Newapistos033.jpg
bitaneata "Tefe"
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/Newapistos034.jpg
bitaneata "Tefe"
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr5/sailing_derrick/fishnov09003.jpg
New inmates -
Apistogramma agassizi "Alenquer" Male and Female
Apistogramma bitaneata Male and Female
Apistogramma bitaneata "Tefe" Male (female coming soon)
Ottocinclus X 2
Oh and i have added DIY CO2
love the "metallic" shots on the bitaneata!
Gilbertr14
10-12-2009, 13:32
Very Nice
sailing_derrick
11-12-2009, 12:22
Looks awesome.
love the "metallic" shots on the bitaneata!
looks fantastic!
Very Nice
Looks Awesome
Thank you all, now all i need is for my pygmy chain sword to spread and cover the foreground:bigsmile:
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