First tank build

itiwhetu said:

I have been building tanks for forty years, If the tube doesn't say aquariums don't use it. This is the silicone I have used for the last forty years
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kiko said:

and as you can read on the bottle and I've stated before...
"also there's different types of silicone...you have rtv ones which pretty much will start curing as soon as it comes out...you have true silicone which will take forever to cure but also be stronger"
which your brand also shows on it --> 100% silicone...and the reason it takes so long to cure
as for liquid glass..I had never even heard of it until about a few months ago from a millwright at my job
I've looked around and a 1L bottle of it goes for about 40 bucks
He said at the time around 20-30 years ago in russia that's what he did for a living and the sealant was liquid glass which apparently has no "foggy" look to it like silicone
Maybe in the future I'll try it out xD

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kiko said:

getting my maria to even go along to switch from a 10gal to a 45gal already took some convincing...if I went with a 150 she'd put me sleeping with the fishes ^^
in all those years...have you tried liquid glass? I would like to see a tank with liquid glass finish

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I am a Newby said:

So hello all im new to hobby, had covid in lockdown i got idea to build my own tank as i could not fins suitable size one to go on my desktop next to monitors and pc.
As it goes called mate told him glass dimesion he bought it and delivered and it all started.
Tank size 33 x 30 x 35 all 6mm glass. Planted and hardscaped to look nice form front and sides.
Soudal aquarim silicon, aluminium corner guards and pvc u shape edge protection.
50w heater set to 25c and 500l/h internal filter with coarse spunge.
After siliconing and waiting 48 h cleaned all glass from exces silicone added framing and 2 inner braces on top as lid holder.
Painted back to blab with plastidip spray can.
Tested for leaks 24h test. Washed all gravel and sand, boiled mangrowe wood to get rid of tanins and siliconed in place lots of smaller rocks to make rock formation .
On bottom of tank i placed thin foam to protect glass then larger black gravel, then sera floredepot soil that contains tablets, then smaller gravels mix and toped with quarc 1mm sand.
Cut marimo moos balls open and super glue them to wood and rock , 2 x anubias barteri var. nana tied with floss to small rock and rock barried in subtrate while rhizome lays on rock with roots just above gravel, 5 valisneria planted in back both left and right corner and some dwarf sagittaria in foreground .
Filled with tap water i was told we have good water and guys that gifted me plants said they dont even dechlorinate it.
Well i did after filling tank i added Dajana chlor stop per instruction and Dajana start plus per instruction.
Thats it water is murky been told to wait few days it should clear and now i wonder what next, my plan was top just let it cycle naturaly and to wait for plants to take maybe 1 month or so before i start adding some shrimps and few tetras nothign else.
Will do 50% water change every 3 days for first 2 weeks.

Any idea, suggestion or tip is highly appreciated.
Tnx in advance.

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I am a Newby said:

Update on tank im finaly done with it not gonna touch anything for a while.
Now i have planted 10 difrent plants in such a small tank if it grows in gonna be jungle.
Plants:
Anubias nana
Anubias something - some small leaf one dont know name
Valisneria
Moss ball
Hornsworth
Duckweed
Dwarf sagitaria
Moneywort
Cryptocoryne "Rubella
Unkown plant - seller didnt know name.
No fish so far just 7 adult shrimps i got originaly and so far i seen arround 10 small shrimps maybe 5mm in size if not less.
Looks like its all good no shrimp died so far and one mistery snail that is growing good, maybe 50% bigger now in just 1 month or im tripping maybe but he looks way bigger now.
Water murky in pics as its just after planting and water change after i kicked a lot of debris from soil as plant just refused to stay in it.
Useing sera fertilizer and on old anubias i seen lots of grow each plant has 5 new leafes.
Diy co2 in bell seems to work well so far.
Here is pic of unknown plant also maybe someone knows what it is.

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Madisonkrug said:

That plant looks like Pogostemon Stellatus Octopus i think. Tank is looking amazing! Cant wait to see it grow out hope you show some update pictures in a bit!! Shrimp can be very sensitive to shifts in water parameters so if i had any advice it would be to really stay on top of those in such a small tank and to monitor any macro and micro nutrients in your fertilizers so you dont accidentally create an imbalance!

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I am a Newby said:

I was told its this one https://tropica.com/en/plants/plantdetails/Hygrophilapolysperma(050)/4483
Shrimps are ok they are mating no issues at all.
Will post when plants grow in.

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