Carinotetraodon No Longer In Cuba

[AdAndrews]

Hi, before i start i would like to thank Truckasaurus123, aaron north and supercoley1, without you guys i wouldnt have even got this far. And JennyBugs/isnail who helped me grately with information on dp's.
I have been planning this tank for a while now, I started off with a simple idea of keeping a dwarf puffer, but then the plan progressed into being a planted nano. So...

Equipment

Tank: Arcadia 35 litre/9 Gallon. 40x34x38cm

Filter: Eheim Aquaball 2208- 480lph(on paper)

Heater: Rena Smart heater 50w

CO2: Liquid Injection, EasyLife EasyCarbo 1.5ml Daily

Lighting: 2x 11w Arc Pods=2.4WPG approx

Ferts: TPN+ 2ml Daily

Substrate: Tropica Plant Substrate, Capped with Argos Play Sand

Planned Stock:

1 Dwarf Puffer
5 Ghost Shrimp

Plant List:

P.helferi
HC(cuba)
Java Fern
Riccia
Hemanthius Micranthemoides

Comments Welcome.

 

[Truck]

looking forward to pics

 

[AdAndrews]

I Started off by getting a new glass hood made to accomadate 2 Arc Pods, as the existing one would fit properly. The dimensions were 375mmX130mm and 4mm thick

I was thinking about what background for the tank, and eventually I decided to spray paint it black:

I just did this with Matt Black, i thought it would show off the colours of the plants well. It took about 6-7 Coats.

 

[Truck]

the black spray paint did the job well

 

[AdAndrews]

the black spray paint did the job well

Thanks truck. it seemed to take forever though, plus a second trip to B&Q didnt help

This is some of the equipment:

I am going to be ordering off Aqua Essentials and Plants Alive next week to get the rest of the stuff, plus plants of course.

This is the list for AE:

1 Pot HC
1 Pot Hemanthius Micranthemoides
1 Pot Java Fern
2 Pots p.helferi- (wicked plant)

EasyCarbo 500ml
TPN+ 500ml
Dry Ferts:
Potassium Nitrate and Potassium Phosphate.
Tropica Plant Substrate
ADA seiryu stone 2kg
Driftwood

Thanks, comments welcome

 

[AdAndrews]

For thouse of you that are unfarmiliar with the arc pods, this is them:

Its 11w, you can also get them in 9w. They clip onto the glass, thus the reason why i had to get a new glass hood made. Also they are T5 tubes inside, but apparently the actual light that gets to your tank is about 20-30% less than 11w as the shape of the pod and poor reflection means it emmits the light waves elsewhere.
I may upgrade to 3 of these and get another either 9w or 11w, depending on how the plants grow.

Back Later........

 

[AdAndrews]

So this is the original plan of the tank, i had previously studied aaron norths, "forgotten valley". this gave me the inspiration to create my own planted tank, I hope he wont be offened by the likeness of the plan.

I really liked the choice of plants in aarons set up, particlarly the p.helferi, so i am using that as a carpet along with hc(cuba) to see how it will get on. This is why i may need more light in the form of another arc pod. As i am new to planting you will have to bear with me. I plan to have the filter/heater at the back right, although this is quite big i will try to keep it as low as possible and blend it in with plants and background. then i will have a big clump of java fern(normal) infront, then the positioned rocks with upward pointing driftwood, thin like branches, on the end of this will be riccia, this was lately changed from the java moss that was planned. Then, bordering the rocks will be the carpet of p.helferi blended into the hc(cuba), i will probably extend this whole carpet right to cover the whole of the sand substrate over time, but right now i am just concentrating doing as much as i can an working my way towards the front, so there will probably be a neat stretch of sand at the front right hand corner.

Feel free to leave comments/critique

 

[AdAndrews]

The next step was to wash my play sand, i didnt find this that much of a chore, it didnt take many washes to get it out.

As i will be ordering on monday(if all goes to plan) i will dry in the sun over the weekend and then put it in my tank ready to use. I will be planting dry, as a few members said it would be easier to get plants closer together, and thanks to truck i have a nice pair of tweezers!

 

[AdAndrews]

just thought i should let you lot know that the aquaball 2208 internal is cycling in my rekord 60, it has been for about 6 weeks now, i plan to setup the tank leave it for 2-3 or 4 weeks just for growth to kick in and the introduce the new filter(aquaball).

Even though this filter is quite big it is neccesary for the dwarf puffer. Lets just hope i can hide it.
For the mean time when the filter is maturing and the 4 weeks when the plants get settled i will be using the crappy little arcadia filter that came with the tank for water movement and to clear debris. THIS IS PURELY FOR MECHANICAL FILTRATION. I will stuff it full of filter floss so clean the water, and it came with a spray bar which will be useful for water movement.

Thankyou

 

[iSnail]

Looks a good plan Make sure there are plenty of nooks and crannies for your curious little puff to explore A couple of mine actually sleep in bogwood holes too.

 

[JenCliBee]

Looking good m8, cant wait for the finished article

 

[AdAndrews]

Ye, i may add a small coconut cave(if i have space) isnail.
thanks jen, its been delayed several times as aqua essentials keep running out of the stuff but if all goes to plan i will be planting mid week

Does anyone have experienc with the rena smart heater. it says to have the bottom"guard" on but i dont see the point when there is a wopping great big whole going through the middle. i will post a picture to show what i mean later

thanks guys

 

[AdAndrews]

just a small update if there are anybody following this

i have just ordered my stuff from aqua essentials, the green machine and plants alive, so all being well i will be recieving it mid week, thurs or fri.

I will be planting when i get it.... keep you posted

 

[Truck]

look forward to pics

 

[aaronnorth]

good luck