My Main Display Tank

Hi

I recently rescaped my main display tank. Some tank information:

Specifications:
300L AquaH2O
External AquaH2O cannister filter @ 1200l/h
2 x 300W heaters set at 28 degrees C.
Silica sand substrate with nails under heavy root feeding plants
3 large mopani root wood pieces

Light configuration:
From back to front
T8 36W Osram Fluora
T5 54W Sylvania 865
T5 54W Philips 840
T5 54W Sylvania 865
T5 54W Philips 840

I am thinking of changing one of the Philips 840 bulbs for a T5 Philips Aquarelle or Sylvania Grolux, if I can find it.

Total of 20000 lumens over 1080 square inches of surface. This gives about 19lumens/sq. inch. Looking at WPG, it is running at 3.3WPG

Flora:
Ammannia gracilis
Anubias barteri v nana
Aponogeton crispus
Cabomba caroliniana
Ceratopteris cornuta
Cryptocoryne wendtii "tropika"
Cryptocoryne petchii
Echinodorus martii hybrid
Echinodorus barthii
Echinodorus osiris rubra
Eliocharis acicularis
Hygrophila longifolia
Limnophila sessiliflora
Limnophila aromatica
Microsorum pteropus (narrow leaf)
Nymphaea lotus red
Riccia fluitans
Taxiphyllum alternans
Taxiphyllum barbieri

Fauna:
6 x Chromobotia macracanthus
6 x Brachydanio rerio
12 x Paracheirodon axelrodi
2 x Crossocheilus siamensis
3 x otocinclus

Hopefully getting some 8 x P. Scalare from Prof Dirk soon. :bigsmile:

Maintenance:
Weekly 40% water changes
Dirk's fertilizer after water changes
Occasional KNO3 to keep the nitrates at 15-20ppm. I have a low fish load...maybe that will change with the angelfish. I am also looking at adding some more cardinals.
Happy Life Happy Carbo liquid CO2

Tank water parameters:
ph = 6.6
kh = 1.7
gh = 4.0
temp = 28 degrees C

Here are some pictures. I haven't really taken any pics of fish. I need a new camera! I am battling with exposure, colour balance, etc. I must admit, I am not much of a photographer! These shots were taken about 3 weeks after the rescape.

Full tank shot


Experimental Riccia carpet


Nymphaea lotus red and pearling taiwan moss


New Ammania gracilis settling in nicely


Regards
Lauré

 

What a beaut!

 

Goeie Donner!


Looking great Laure!
If I could dream up a tank, thats what i would look like!




PS, let me in on the secret, where did you find all those plants, not in PE!

 

very very nice...

 

Agreed nice indeed

 

that is very very nice like the look of the plant in the front left corner

 

I love those Aqua H20 tanks.....
Had a look at Tropical Amazon on Saturday...expensive but veeeery preeeety...
He seems to be importing them as well as the aluminium lighting ballasts...

 

Very nice, a good selection of plants makes a big difference..
Well done

 

Tank looks great

 

Hi

Thanks for the kind comments. I am expecting the Ammania to grow in nicely at the back. The new shoots are already a nice pinkish colour. The Sessiliflora is going wild, as you can see. I trim about 20cm weekly! If you are in PE and want some, PM or email me on a Friday. I normally do tank maintenance on weekends, so I will keep some for you.

The Riccia carpet is, as noted, experimental. But it is providing a few headaches. It is high maintenance. Besides growing so fast, you have to constantly remove the plastic grids, untie the netting that keeps it in place, and patch up a few spots. Remember, Riccia does not root.

Nope, only the Java moss and the swords. The rest are courtesy of Prof Dirk and the stems are sourced from a nice plant thread on this forum :bigsmile:

Regards
L

 

I really like a good planted setup - and you have the reason right there! VWD! That tank strikes the balance just right!

 

Very Nice !!!!!!!!!!

 

Good job .. must have been a lot of fun setting that thank up.

 

:bigsmile: Looks very good.Some good 'scaping' skills there,everything aranged and planted to create a beautiful display.Welln done.
Post updates please.

 

Beautifully set up!

 

Hi

Once again, thanks for the positive feedback. I will post some updates next week. I am hoping to get my P. Scalares from Prof Dirk over the weekend. They are still juvies, but when grown will give a nice balance to the tank. I think what is lacking right now is definetely some nice fish!

My clown loaches are actually not that shy; they just don't like the paparazzi. I am also planning to increase my school of cardinals to about 40. That should provide a nice effect. In addition to the 10 that currently live in this tank, I have another 12 in quarantine at the moment. When they are ready they will move over. I am hoping they don't eventually become angel food...

Regards
L

 

Beautiful.

 

Your tank realy looks awesome..

 

What's your carbon and fert dosing regime,how much how often?

 

The Prof's Scalares are gonna love your cardinals Naaah they should be safe, as they will be nicely grown when the Scalare get big enough to eat them..

Tank looks good Laure