My Planted Quarantine tank

Hi All,

So I got my quarantine tank on Friday. After some dissapointment about my 5 foot. Apparently the shop assistant was busy cleaning the tank for my collection, and while cleaning he managed to chip one of the glass braces. So I can only get the tank once they have repaired it.

Anyway, some happy days as I could start with the small tank. So here goes. My first attempt at a planted tank. Thanks to @Ryno for the plants and @wsteene for advice on the setup process. Any comments are welcome.

The tank as I got it on Friday. Dimensions: 460 x 300 x 230
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Here I painted the back glass Black
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Here are the plants used. Micro Swords, Amazon Sword, Anubia.
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Tank after setup. Bit cloudy
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Tank next day
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I thought that one of my old filters would fit. No luck, so I ended up using the Cotton Wool filter for the time being. Will source a decent filter for the tank. Busy with the light as I don't like the hood. Going rimless on the tank. Work in progress hence the light only resting on the rim.

 

good luck. took me at least half an hour to plant the microsword in the 100L tank. planted it in a checkered patern over the front 3rd of the tank. dosing exel and comprehensive waiting for my trace to arive at lfs. have 100W of light running now in the tank. so hope they will grow. that tetra algae min killed all the algae. wiped of the glass with no effort at all. briliant stuff. hope the big tank comes soon with no problems this time....

 

Glad to hear the algae is gone. Could have been a hell of a job cleaning. Must say I could see your plants again.:top:

I hope the Micro swords grow quick. Want a nice thick carpet. Will spread them more as they grow. Using Seachem Excel at the moment. My brother is making some brackets for the light. Will post as soon as the light is fitted.

 

I want to make a bracket like that for the 100L

 

Can perhaps bribe him to make one for you too..

 

Looking good @SloMo.00., waiting to see some pics on the big oke (5ft). Think it will look good once the bracket is in place. Hopefully the micro swords will cover up your foreground quite quickly, what is your stocking list for this one going to be?

 

Thanks @wsteene, Jip the 5 foot should be finished this week or latest next week. I am going to remove the Sword from the small tank. Will replace with Hornwort or some Vallis if I can get some.

Plants in the small tank will be: Anubias, Micro Swords, Hornwort, Vallis, Wisteria. Will keep some Corydora's and a Betta as permanent inhabitants. The other fish will be in there for two weeks maximum before they go into the big tank.

Will post pics when I am finished planting.

 

I have vallis for you..

 

@Ryno, I feel a trip coming along with some T5's delivery to Potch....

 

Can be done. Maybe with a round of golf

 

Ha ha. Definitely.

 

So here is an update on the Light fitting made for the tank.

110mm PVC pipe cut to size and split to house the fluorescent tube.
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Here is a Milk tin Cap I used to cap the ends
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Here is the end caps
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Here is the bracket used for the light to rest on the rim of the tank
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Here is the bracket fastened to the PVC pipe and sprayed
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Here is the tank without the light fitting on
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Tank with light on
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Will be changing to a HOB filter soon. Put some Rotala in the tank on Friday. Will see how it progresses.

What do you peeps think?

 

@SloMo.00., really looks nice, keeping thumbs up for your Rotala

 

Thanks @wsteene, I really hope the Rotala grows. Needs high light, otherwise I'll have to move it as soon as the 5 foot tank is set up. Getting the 5 foot this week. Woohooo!arty2:

 

haha. looks good. Still like the light fitting. hope that rotala grows. hopefully youre getting a 5ft tank and not a 4.98ft tank if you know what i mean

 

@Ryno. Jip, it used to be 5 foot in 6mm glass. So with 10mm glass it is infact less space. But I feel much more comfortable with the safety aspect. It is a real simple way of making a bracket. Have one spare if you are interested. Sure it would work for your 3 foot. Very sturdy, and the PVC isn't that heavy. Should work well.