3Ft Tank Build

[Alasse]

I may possible be picking up a new canister for this today or tomorrow.....i'm a tad excited lol
 
I will need to empty the tank to slide it to the other end of the desk so i can run the canister. I should have thought and ran the plants from the left to the right lol, but then i spose the wood would not have fit so nicely. Nevermind, i wanted to change it over to rainwater anyway, so will be a prime time to do so.
 
So i will need to start looking at stocking, still very undecided on that

I would dearly love to get some discus, but at around $100 per fish, pretty sure that aint happening lol

 

[Alasse]

New canister in the house!
 
Will look at getting it on the tank tomorrow, bit too late in the day here now, and its pouring rain lol and i dont wanna be bucketing water from the rainwater tank inside in that weather!

 

[Dandyman3]

You have a real nice tank there. Just shows what a bit of hard work and patience brings. Is that your filter which is dangling down on the left hand side? Just wondered what they were lol 

 

[Alasse]

Thanks Dandyman
 
I didnt think this tank was ever going to settle lol, but left alone it made it.
 
Nope they are powerheads, the top one isnt turned on as its way too strong for this tank i found, i came out after the first night it was on to piled up substrate lol The small one underneath is the just keeping the water moving for the heater thats in there so no hot spots can occur. They will be removed tomorrow one the new canister is on the tank.
 
Will do another trim of the weed in front of the rocks as well, the stuff is feral lol. I am replanting the trimmings, eventually the entire foreground will be covered with the weed, so i expect quite a bit of trimming in my future lol

 

[Dandyman3]

Thanks Dandyman

 
I didnt think this tank was ever going to settle lol, but left alone it made it.
 
Nope they are powerheads, the top one isnt turned on as its way too strong for this tank i found, i came out after the first night it was on to piled up substrate lol The small one underneath is the just keeping the water moving for the heater thats in there so no hot spots can occur. They will be removed tomorrow one the new canister is on the tank.
 
Will do another trim of the weed in front of the rocks as well, the stuff is feral lol. I am replanting the trimmings, eventually the entire foreground will be covered with the weed, so i expect quite a bit of trimming in my future lol

 
Yeah, you can clearly tell the tank has settled in nicely now. It amazes me every time the shapes and variety in the wood you can get. Yours being a prime example. My bog wood looks so basic compared to this now haha 
 
Oh I thought they were something along them lines. Keeping up that circulation... 
 
I am replacing my front of the tank still... Just trying to get relatively low maintenance plants (in regards to co2 etc.) to fill the bottom like a carpet. I love it when they spread and expand. The ones I planted originally are going wild in the back of my tank. Doesn't live up to your great designs though 

 

[Alasse]

So the new canister is on...man i so want more of these type now lol. I think i will eventually change over to all AquaMantra. This canister is a dream to service, a dream to start up (its is digital self priming). It is also the only canister i have ever had that when it says what it will filter, it means it!! I cannot rave enough honestly, love it!
 
The tank is also now all rainwater, and OMG is freezing lol. The poor cherry hitchhikers would have got a good temp shock, they're tough little beasties though, i am betting they will all make it through!
 
Now to start the hunt for some stock & more plants

 

[Alasse]

Update:
 
I'm waiting on an online company to get back to me with a quote on shipping costs. If it is decent, i will be placing an order for some plants & fertz

Fingers crossed....i really wanna get this plant finished so i can sort out stock

 

[Xzavier247]

Looking good!

 

[Alasse]

This tank has really come into its own.....plants are looking awesome. I just trimmed the foreground plant AGAIN (2nd time since last update) and replanted the trimmings.
 
Will update pic once i've given the tank a general tidy up (mainly removed all the free floating plant matter from the trimming). So will probably be tonight i will grab a new pic

 

[Alasse]

DIY CO2 - bottles drilled and tubing put in. Just gotta zip out and grab a couple of airstones, then i can make up the mix and getting it on the way to bubbling!
 
Will grab a pic of everything tonight

 

[benthyer]

Looks great Alasse, I really enjoy reading through people's journals in here as I get the opportunity to see what processes you all go through to get your tanks set up.

I look forward to the next update!

 

[Alasse]

Pic time
 
Full tank shot

 
The foreground weed needs trimming again lol The giant cardamine will also require trimming and replanting....
 
I will be ordering some more plants and goodies for the tank tomorrow, and they should arrive early next week
 
The DIY CO2 is on.....only just made up in pic so not working yet (plus not sure how old yeast is, i may need to buy a new lot, will give it 12 hours to see if it is alive or not)

 

[Dandyman3]

Seems that all is going well. Do you find anything else that seems to help increase water clarity or any particular tips/tricks you have learned over your experience with tanks? 
 
Loving the updates 

 

[Alasse]

Everything is cruising along now after its very bumpy start! The tank also now has a few inhabitants, 10 or so neon tetras have moved in, the plan is to add another 30-40 neons over time
 
Good filtration and/or good housekeeping help with water clarity, thats what i have found.

 

[Dandyman3]

Interesting. 
 
Cardinal neons or just tetra's? I find cardinal neons tend to be smaller but have a more vivid colour.