Iwagumi To Natural Tank + Video (first Journal)

[owenprescott]

Hey all, originally I was planning on getting a 90litre optiwhite tank though I ended up moving into a bigger room downstairs and spent lots redecorating and getting new stuff. Instead I took the small tank out of the living room which my family had set up with 3 Cloud Minnows, multicolour gravel and 3 horrible plastic plants lol. I figured they deserve a better home and I can work on a budget until my next pay when I will go for my high tech plan.

I am currently in the process of uploading some videos showing the set up process etc so I will put those up when uploaded. Unfortunately my DSLR broke a few days ago after falling of a shelf so the second stage of the journal will be using my rubbish phone camera, not the journal quality I was hoping plus I wot be able to do any quality videos either until I get a new DSLR which is a shame .

Enough with the story, lets get down to some tank specs .

Stage 01
Tank Brand: Unknown
Dimensions: 19"L x 10"D x 11"H
Capacity: 23 litres - 5 gallon
Lighting: x1 SUN-GLO 15"/38cm 14w T8
Filter & Pump: Stingray (The ugly grey thing in the tank)
No Co2 or heater
Substrate: Hydroton Clay Pebbles & Akadama Japanese Bonsai Soil
Hardscape: Blue Slate Chippings (Massive bag with lots of small pieces)
Fish: Cloud Minnows x1 Male & x2 Female (Already in tank)


Stage 02
Plants (First to last planted) and Snails:
- 20 Live Tropical Fish Tank Plants from last-trading-post on Ebay. [Planted 28th September]
- Micranthemum Umbrosum [Planted 02nd October]
- 5 Deep "Black Trumpet Snails" [Added 03rd October]
- 55+ Hemianthus Callitrichoides (HC Cuba) [Planted 04th October]
- Riccia Fluitans [Planted 05th October]

I bought some Neutro Co2 and it arrived [3rd October] so I will be dosing with liquid carbon from this point on.

Video:
(Covers Stage 01 hardscape setup)
http/youtu.be/fcJCN1ZxSFY

[Screenshot from uploading video]
This is how the layout originally looked before the pump kicked up areas of substrate, I made small attempts to re layout the substrate while submerged during planting.

Pictures:

[04th October]

Hopefully I will have a new camera or have my broken DSLR repaired soon so I can do some quality pics and vids though I probably will be using my phone camera the next couple of months. Hope you enjoy the journal.

More images including smaller experiments in my St.ash... http/sta.sh/22dssiuswjuf?edit=1

 

[owenprescott]

* [08th October Update] *
"Sorry about pic quality, as mentioned my DSLR is broke"

As you can see it has transformed quite a bit already, at the moment my plan is to make the tank as natural looking as possible. I have also added x6 'Sakura' shrimp, those were the only selection the LFS had lol. Anyway the pics...

 

[Xraymark]

Looks really good.

 

[Aqua Marine]

Hey Owen, its looking good! I like the last shot of your tank as it shows a clear focal point with the stones on the mid-to-right hand side of the tank. Before the tank seemed a bit messy as there was no one spot that the viewer's eyes were drawn to! However I really like the new scape and undoubtedly this beauty will further intensify as the plants grow out!

 

[owenprescott]

Apologies for the late reply, my email client was sending notification emails to my junk mail so I was not aware of replies ha. Anyway here is the latest update.

* [19th October Update] *
Thanks everyone for the comments, my tank is certainly starting to take shape . I have been struggling with the carpet plants however, the HC Cuba and Riccia Fluitans have not been growing well, this might be because I have only been using liquid carbon for about a week or I have simply been moving around the substrate to much.

Anyway on another forum a user suggested that hairgrass grows well with liquid carbon so I have just planted some of that in the tank, we will see how it goes. I have also added some Glowlight Tetra's, I plan on taking the last two Cloud Minnow to a LFS soon and the tetras look great schooling.

As I remembered I have an old Sony compact camera I will now be using is from now on untill I but a new DSLR, some of the photos look slightly different as I was messing around with the presets on the camera to find a good setting.

Videos to come...

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Looks great mate, if I were you I'd move that stem at the front to the rear as it pulls your eye that way and away from the beautiful Hydro you have.

 

[slimeneo]

Wow, it's all so green! I really like it, good job

 

[owenprescott]

Thanks, hopefully the hairgrass will spread and make a nice carpet, I will do some heave duty maintenance keeping it as low as possible so the rocks are still visible. I am also curious which would best to aid plant growth, pressurized Co2 or a better lighting system?

 

[Ps3Steveo]

CO2 mate defo.

 

[owenprescott]

I have not been able to purchase any new equipment yet but the tank is developing well . I thought I would do another update as it is now 1 month today since I started the tank and this journal. This will probably be the last for a couple of months as I have been updating a fair bit so I will let it grow out and come back with a new update when the tank is more mature.

The tank seems to be growing well and the fish, shrimp and snails seem to be happy.