Zoom's 4ft system

hi boet!

nice!

wrt to your terracing idea, i see what you trying to do i think, here's an idea you might think about.. considering that the plants are kind of growing out in front of your terracing and hiding it, if you placed your terracing "steps" from the sides down to the centre, or even from one side downwards to the opposite side of the tank, instead of from the back to the front, you might actually get more of it "visible"..

with it starting on one side, you could actually start quite a bit higher than from back to the front of tank.

R0.02c

be cool

 

Thanks mydmmyname (what a mouthful that name is!)

Yes, I understand exactly what you saying. It actually is starting from the back left corner and moving towards the middle... but I do understand what you are saying. I'm a little scared to take it much higher because of the number of rocks I would need to form the terrace! I've probably got about 20-30kgs of rock in there as it is, not to mention the gravel... so I'm a little hesitant to go too much higher. The problem/issue I have found with doing a terrace like this is that when the tank is empty and you are doing it, the terrace actually looks nice and high, but the moment you put water in, the image changes completely. I noticed this on my Nano as well.

In all honesty the balance of my plants is incorrect! I need to balance out the plants better. I need to get my "fluffy and tall" type plants at the back on the highest and second platform. I'm getting a Java fern which I also need to place. The middle platform is suppose to be for the crypts (of which I actually have too many of and don't have the heart to toss) as well as the new crypts I am getting. And then the bottom is suppose to be the pigmy chain sword which is taking it's royal time to set it. I like the position of the vallis type plant on the right as it hides the internal filters when they fill out. I'm just struggling to find a decent spot for the watersprite plant. It grows nice and big... but in all directions, and can be VERY overpowering at times.

 

lol i know!! but "MDM" will do fine

you know.. the way i see it, taking on a scape like yours is kind of an adventure, and it keeps your mind occupied and exercising coz you'll be thinking about it and trying various scapes out in your head all the time

that is a good thing

it keeps us out of mischief hehe

and when it all comes together, and you sit back and see your work of art, it was worth all the effort!

 

looks good Ashley, some really nice plants you got there. also have to agree with vis that the plant heights dont look right almost out of proportion, but im sure with some trimming and growing its gonna look stunning. also about that move, i think you tank is gonna look its absolute best just before you move (murphy's law )

 

Sub station in my area blew up last night. **Kablewy***

Implications: Filter is now considered dead!
Need to do a 50% W/C today, get some Microbelift stuff (I just hope's my LPS carry's the stuff I need...) and restart the whole cycling process.

Danger is that I'm am now cycling a tank with not only fully stocked fish, but dead bacteria too. Filter clean to be done as well!

10% water changes to be conducted every 48 hours, feeding dropped to a minimum, and I'm considering throwing in a back of Zeolite to help with the ammonia and nitrite spikes.

 

Oh... I see I forgot to mention in the post above..... power was out for 16 hours!!

@Henk Hugo That Special blend stuff HONES!!!! (*STINKS*)

 

Few water changes over a week or so should do it.

Seems that a filter like yours start up faster again than a completely new
filter, or maybe its just me.

O and I think the tank will also do better if we all could see some pics.

 

Hey Zoom. tank is looking good. I just want to warn you on boiling rocks though. There have been several reported cases where aquarists boiled rocks and the rocks exploded due to the fact that there may be water in the center of the rock, and by boiling the rock you increase the temparature and thus pressure builds in the rock, causing it to explode. This could cause extreme damage and id recommend to avoid boiling rocks.

 

Indeed the Special Blend pongs

For those of you that want to know what we are talking about take a look here:

http://www.microbelift.com/products/home-aquarium/bacterial-products/special-blend

 

I will be monitoring the ammonia and nitrites carefully over the next few weeks. To be honest, this is a little "test" for me before the big move in a few weeks time. The Microbelift Special Blend says that it has ammonia and nitrate reducing capabilities to it. (I suppose this is because it is pure bacteria?). I also put some Zeolite into my filter. My logic here is that the Zeolite will remove the ammonia, as well as nitrites, and as the zeolite depletes itself, the bacteria will colonize at the same rate.

Some pictures will be taken of the tank just before I take it apart in 2 weeks time... as a final tribute to the old. The new is being planned bigger and better. Ok, so not bigger because the tank is the same size, but better.

Thanks Mic.E You are 100 % correct. I wasn't too keen on the idea of boiling rocks, and I would never suggest it to anyone... I took the risk because these rocks were taken out of my office's garden, and have no idea what could be on them.

 

Very nice dude!! I really love the substrate!!! Everything is very nice!!

 

@Zoom, if i may ask, I see on the one pic, you have a male and a few female Siamese fighters in the same tank? Don’t they fight with one another? I have a male and female, but in separate tanks. Can I put them in the same tank, I have 4 smallish angels, a few silvertips and the female in the 3ft, and then the male in my 1.5ft.

 

Hi Vez

Hope Zoom dont mind me jumping in.

Siamese fighters differ a lot in personality. Zooms one is fine with a female and loads of space.
Other males might fight with her untill she is dead. others will try and mate the whole time.

The rule ussually is to keep a few females 4 or so with one male and they should be fine.

You can try but keep a eye on them.

 

thanks Vis, i have a very nice male, and would love to put him in the big tank, will the angels nip him or not? he has one of those spikey tails.....

 

Hi Zoom,
thanks for posting the details.Tank looks great. Can you tell us how you do your water tests? I have a basic Tetra labo test kit but it is quite difficult to test Hardness of the water. Do you use a special electronic test kit?
thanks

 

My Male betta and angels got along fine... but as Vis has said... it's really up to the fish's personality. Some will fight. Sadly he passed away a few weeks back.

Generally speaking if you put 4-8 females in with a male, it should be ok... But this isn't rule... I did this once and the FEMALES killed the male.

Water tests done with "APi Master Kits".. it's a drop checker. (gH and kH I do not do... but you can get drop checkers for these as well)

 

Thanks zoom, I added my male to the tank last night, he was fine until he saw the female, he started to display himself to her, and then the angels saw HIM, the first one started nipping his tail, and he kept on ignoring then, and then suddenly he started to attack the angels, one for one, the one fight was that bad, as the Siamese got hold of the angel, they went into a “death roll ”, and the angel had a torn fin, and this morning I see they leave him alone, thanks

 

Possibly last update before rescape

Nothing much has changed from last update, except plants have filled out a bit.

Tank will be taken down in 3 weeks time when I move. New scape idea in mind, Pressurized CO2 coming, New light design in about 2 months time.

 

This is all I'll show you for new scape idea...


LOL

 

Cool you going back to plastic plants Man you wasted money on that CO2...

Your plants look healthy though.