My 1.2m Tank Rebuild

So, I decided in the week that to move my tank rebuild forward by quite some time and did it yesterday. I gathered the last remaining items on Thursday and was ready to do the build. Here's the list:

Substrate:

• 1 x ADA Power Sand Advance (6L bag)
• 1 x ADA Bacter 100
• 1 x ADA Clear Super
• 1 x ADA Tourmaline BC
• 1 x Lava Rock (approx 7L bag)
• 5 x Langa Aquarium Soil (8L bags)

Hardscape - Dragon Rock
Filtration - Aqua One Aquis 1200 Cannister Filter
Lights - 3 x Zedlight MS 120 F
Heater - 150w Jaeger
CO2 - 5kg bottle with approx 3 - 4 bps difussed via el-cheapo atomiser
Plants:

• Ludwigia Palustris
• Alternanthera Reineckii
  
• Hygrocotyle Verticilata
• Heteranthera Zosterifolia
  
• Cryptocoryne Wendtii 'brown'
  
• Glossostigma Elatinoides
  
• Hemianthus Callitrichoides
  
• Eleocharis Parvula
  
• Hygrophila Pinnatifida

Here's the stages of the build.

Last view of previous state of tank:



Step 1 - Breakdown of Tank

• Removed livestock, plants, hardscape and substrate.
• Clean tank thoroughly

Step 2 - Prepare Substrate

• Add some ADA additives to the base
• Add Power Sand Advanced & add more ADA additives
• Add lava rock and start to position substrate
• Add more ADA additives
• Add 3 bags of the Langa Aquarium Soil

Step 3 - Position Hardscape

• Before I began with the substrate setup listed above, I left the previous rocks in the sun to dry out so that by the time I get this this step, I could sand them down a bit to remove some of the age on them. Wasn't perfect but definitely needed to do this.
• Although I had an idea & plan of what I wanted, I had to make some adjustments based on what I had to work with.
• Scaping Hack/Tip - Use some filter floss for substrate support when creating slopes. Works perfectly well to prevent land slides once water is added.
• Added the remaining bags of Langa as & when required to layer and fill up gaps

Step 4 - Planting

• Before plating, I used a spray bottle with water to moisturise the substrate...this makes planting easy.
• I started with the reds in the right, then the crypts, stargrass & umbrellas, pinnafitida and then finishing with the HC, Gloss and dwarf hairgrass
• You have to frequently spray the plants to keep the moist.
• I have tons more glosso but didn't want to entirely stretch the tank with it due to it being grown in emersed form (a bit too large for my liking), and also that I want to give the HC a chance to also spread a bit up top.

Step 5 - Fill up & finish

• After the planting was done (which took forever), I trickled my previous water that's already cycled back in, and then topped up from the tap.
• Left tank to run over night
• Moved fish back to tank about 2 hours ago...they're all happy & settled.

Now I'm going to monitor the tank and hoping the carpet starts to spread soon. The rock colour mis-match will be automatically be fixed in time given some age. That right corner & focal point needs mending, but I'll let the tank get settled & aged first before I am going to make any major changes.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the read.

Keep you guys posted on developments.

L.V

 

Thanks. Was fun yes, but a bit a tedious process too. Had to be careful when replanting the ones from my previous tank as I didn't want any snails in this new scape.

 

Looking good! Keep us updated about progress and growth, etc.

 

Looks good

 

Ellos everyone. Time for a quick update.

• I removed the L. Palustris as the look in the right corner just didn't do it for me. I'm still playing around with the idea of putting R. Colorata there (which I can get from a mate of mine). Whilst I'm deciding, the gloss has taken over.
  • I somehow managed to leave two tiny pieces of the Palustris in the tank, hence the shoots you see. It'll be removed still.
• The carpet is being trimmed about once every fortnight. Gap in the middle is due to the last trim...it should fill out soon.
• CO2 is currently offline...o-ring in cylinder worn out again shortly after replacing the entire valve. Didn't use much force at all with open & closing of the unit, so I'm taking it back for a free repair/replacement. I'm considering getting a new regulator to auto stop & start co2 flow.
• Initially battled with hair algae but managed to get that under control.
• I trimmed the star grass once only thus far, but it's due for another trim....will prob do it this weekend.
• Crypts have settled nicely and shown signs of growth.
• HC unfortunately not doing too well....being overwhelmed by the gloss (I suppose that's normal as the gloss just runs over everything)
• Have ordered 50 x cardinals....will replace the silver tips with them upon arrival.
• I might also place the R. Colorata in the back left corner of the tank as that gap isn't too pleasing to the eye for my liking.

Anyway, I'll post another update once there's a major change.

Cheers
L.V

 

What a great read @Lord Vader . Tank looks excellent

 

Time for an update.

As some of you may already know, I've redone this tank to go the dutch style route as I was just getting too annoyed with all the regular trimming of the glosso, as well as the algae battle I had on my hands. I rebuild it on 10 April and had a few challenges with algae again, but I seemed to have kicked its butt and have it under control. There's still little bits of algae here & there, but it'll be gone over the next couple of weeks. I've done 1 major trim, and 1 minor trim since the rescape and it's starting to take shape. Here's a pic of the tank in its current state. Please excuse poor pic quality, snapped it with my phone.




Ignore the two pieces of dragon rock...that's just there for my focal plant to go when it arrives. Also excuse where the CO2 is placed, it's temporary and will go to its proper location eventually.

Yesterday I did the minor trim, so I decided to pull out the dwarf hairgrass carpet in the middle and rather put the monte carlo cuts there as I now only want S.R and M.C there as carpets.

I know the tank is overstocked with plants, but I don't have another tank at the moment to put them. Needless to say that I'll probably be getting myself another tank (which I really didn't want)...I blame you guys for this

Plant list:



Ok, I suppose I have to say something about the fish too. They're Endlers, lots of them. If anyone wants some pregnant females, just shout...I literally have too many in this tank for my liking. I'm not a huge fish fan tbh...some of you may already be aware of it.

PS - I happened to stumble across two plants yesterday that I used to have tons of back in the day; the Myriophyllum and Eichhornia. Scored them for a bargain, given the condition they were in. But as you know, all we need is one cutting

Anyway, that's me for now. Will keep you guys posted on developments.

Cheers
L.V

 

Thanks. It might even be Rotala Nasjenshan too. Will let you know once it starts growing out

 

Looking cool - did you also get Myriophyllum aquaticum from Pet World? I picked some up there and wasn't sure what it was (also beat to hell, but just need a cutting as you say). Wish I could get more as it's so slow growing without CO2.
They occasionally get some interesting plants, although I head there usually for other supplies.
Anyone ever seen Mermaid weed - Proserpinaca palustris - in CT?

 

Thanks.
Yes, stopped by there by accident yesterday and when I saw the leaf structure, I just had to get it.
It isn't a slow grower without CO2 from my experience...I used cut down lots of these, back then when I had it on a bi-weekly basis. Just give it good light & ferts and it'll go nuts on its own.

Mermaid weed in CPT = Haven't seen it, have to check with online shops and ship it to Cpt.

 

Wonderful tank Vader

Wave Aqua is in JHB but they do have mermaid weed in stock currently. I think they ship to CPT?

https://waveaqua.co.za/product/epic-aquatics-proserpinaca-palustris-mermaid-weed/

 

Ah ok, yeah many staff there are unsure what most of the plants are, so I tend to just wing it and see what works.
Interesting you say that it is easy growing, I've found it really takes a while to propagate. My tanks are pretty low energy though.

 

Thanks Carmen

Thanks Carmen. I do think online is best route for this specific plant.

 

This is what I managed to save....it should grow. Will keep you posted on the rate it grows in my tank.

 

Thank you Quite a while off still though, but it's taking shape.