29 replies to this topic

[malawiman85]

I love that sleepy cod photo... Awesome!

[Delapool]

Can see the blood and bone working quite well, I assume it will cause spikes and settle down / soak into clays - will be great to see it progress.

[Leichardti]

Yesterday I got the substrate side of things done.
Using three large black bins I drained ~250l of water from the tank which the fish went into, and drained out the rest.
About 1cm of propogating sand was spread around the base of the tank for the base layer.
On top of this I added a layer of shell grit + blood n bone. Roughly a handful of shell grit went in per square foot, and roughly 3 tablespoons of blood n bone around the whole base, not something I was keen on overdosing.
Once the “base layers” were finished I capped it all with about 1.5 inches of GinGin Quartz (River Sand). This keeps all the nutrients, minerals and all the plant goodies out of the water column.

All done and (carefully) refilling

Layers from bottom; Propogating sand (brown sand), shell grit & blood n bone, riversand cap. Layers look pretty cool imo aha

Fish back in a very cloudy tank... not a happy chappy.

Photo from just now. Tank is clearing up, did a 40% waterchange just before this photo to help it along a little

Now that I have a reasonable substrate in the tank I need to work on the other important things - Lighting, fertilizer and Co2. Currently I have a metal halide on the tank which would do the job, however I don’t like the weight of it, nor the fact that only one side works.
Some potential lighting upgrades include:
2x MicMol AquaAir 90 “Planted”

OR
3x Aqua Illumination Prime HD “Planted”

I think the latter would be the better option, but the former the cheaper. Opinions on lighting welcome
On the other hand I also need to get my Co2 back up and running. I have everything needed however my regulator and gauges have stuffed themselves.
For ferts I’ll be using the EI method + root tabs for heavy root feeders.
A long road to get everything setup the way I plan, but looking forward to it

Edited by Leichardti, 16 April 2018 - 10:27 AM.

[Delapool]

Going to be massive with the CO2 - are you injecting into the sump?

[Leichardti]

Still deciding on that @Delapool. Most likely going to use a Co2 reactor on the outflow piping to best diffuse it

Edited by Leichardti, 16 April 2018 - 07:04 PM.

[Delapool]

Ah, will be interested how you go. I’ve seen posts saying sumps are tricky but not many first-hand accounts. Still doable I’d have thought but I’ve never done it either

[Leichardti]

The tank hasn’t fully cleared up yet - Been doing daily 50-60% waterchanges and it’s nearly clear. I realllly should have washed that river sand first

During a 50% waterchange today I started to put some rocks in the tank.

Building up around the wood. Still moving them around a bit to get them looking the way I want.




Sleepy and Coaly seemingly enjoying having some rocks in the tank

Perfect timing... Coaly having a go at the Sleepy Cod


Now all filled up. Satisfied with the way the rocks are for now, might still move them around though.
Seriously thinking about getting a / some bullrout for this tank. Want an oddball of some sort. Would love to have redclaw crays...
Back right third of the tank will be planted up with Vallisneria and Limnophila Aromatica.

Just a bit of a photographic update

Edited by Leichardti, 19 April 2018 - 10:23 AM.

[Jules]

Looks good!

yeah bull rout for sure, and some archers on the top

[ice]

Looks great dude!

[Leichardti]

Just a funny clip I got the other night with some actinic fluros on; Sooty having a dig around the place

Edited by Leichardti, Yesterday, 11:24 AM.