Jim's 60 Gallon High-tech Planted Journal

[George Farmer]

One thing i must ask you is when you do your water changes do you heat the water first? or just gradually take it out/put it in?

How are you getting on with the algae problem?

I use hot water from the tap added to my RO/cold tap. Some say not to use hot tap water as it may contain high copper/heavy metal levels but if you have good plant growth then this will deal with all harmful excess nutrients. I empty 30 litres of old water using a 10 litre bucket. Then add 30 litres of mixed RO/tap (and ferts etc.) straight away.

My algae problem - see my journal. I'm off to New Leaf in Knaresborough tomorrow, quite excited actually.

I look forward to seeing some more pics from you.

 

[jimboliana]

I have plumbed the RO unit into the kitchen, it fits fine, just got to get a washing machine connection from RO-Man so i can produce water. I have been painting all weekend, should be finished some time next week ready for the sump and pump, i cant really do alot till they get here

I was intending on getting a black backround but i have also just been told 'why not paint it' from my man Brian at CORAL GARDEN AQUATICS so i might go down that path and paint it with tile paint or gloss

 

[George Farmer]

Obviously painting is permenant so ensure your happy and intend staying so with your final choice.

 

[jimboliana]

I think i am going to ues the oil idea you sugested as you said it worked a treat, i take you have not had any problems with it falling off etc?

 

[George Farmer]

It's perfect!

 

[jimboliana]

Well some good news at last, my sump is ready and waiting the only thing now is i have to either get it delivered or i can pick it up although it is in Bury St Edmonds and i am in Chelmsford

I know somone who is going up there next week who said they woud pick it up for me so it looks like things are slowly moving onwards, the dining room is almost finished so i should be ready to do the plumbing the weekend after next

I also got my copys of Aqua Journal through the post which was pretty quick and i got my adaptor for my RO unit so i can get that up and running when i have 5 mins

I have had a quick flick through the Aqua Journals (got 5 of them) and there is some really good tips and advice so lots more reading for me to do

My only problem now is time, I am so busy at work at the moment and my dad wants me to work all this weekend, bummer cant complain about the extra money though

I will keep you all updated on the progress and get some more pics when the sump eventually gets here

 

[George Farmer]

Hi Jim,

How much were the Aqua Journals and how many pages etc?

Good luck with the sump. I look forward to seeing how it goes.

You could buy your own camera with the extra money eh?

 

[jimboliana]

The Aqua Journal Mags cost me about $60.00 for 5 and that included the shipping from singapore, each mag is about 50-60 pages

As for the camera i am getting one for my birthday on the 17th of this month, i'm getting a Sony Cybershot DSC-P200 ordering off of Amazon next week so i wont have to keep borrowing the one off of my dad and i can take pics whenever i like

 

[jimboliana]

Right not much to report so far, sump should be on its way this week as it's ready and waiting

I have just tested my RO water for TDS and compaired to my tap water, the tap water was 473ppm and the RO water before the DI unit was 147ppm and after the DI unit it was 2ppm i will have to do a test on other perameters and see the difference

The only problem with the RO is that it is only 50 gpd so it is quite slow but i am glad of the results so far

In some ways i am glad that i am taking my time over this project as it gives me time to research in my readings and time to plan my layout, the Aqua Journal magazines have given me some great tips on selecting driftwood sizes, composing layouts and expressing perspective

Looking at them they were published in 1999, over 6 years ago and they are still great

 

[jimboliana]

Well after weeks of waiting i have finally got my sump so i now need to start the plumbing

The last couple of weeks at work have been very busy and i have not had any time to do my journal or my tank, lucky as i have been waiting for my sump. Please bear with me, it will all come together very soon (next weekend actually, i hope )

The dining room has now been decorated and next friday is my birthday so i will be getting my new digital camera and i wont have to borrow my dads any more and i should be able to post more pictures next weekend

All this has been very long winded but the beginning of my new tank is near, i'll keep you posted!

 

[George Farmer]

Cool. I look forward to seeing progress, good luck mate.

 

[jimboliana]

Slight hitch

As i was a bit greedy when i measured up for my sump it now looks too big for the unit, when i say too big i mean once all the other equipment is in there as well, so i have had the idea of hanging some of the equipment off the back of the doors i.e. pH controller on one and thermostat on the other, so just a bit of re-designing to do but nothing major i hope!

 

[bigmick474]

its looking good. i cant wait to see it finished, or at least with plant.(i'm guessing it'll never be finished, an ongoing project).
if only i had that sort of money..

 

[Sime]

we need some pics!

 

[jimboliana]

More pics are on there way, it's my birthday tomorrow and i am 99.9% sure i have got a digital camera from my beautiful girlfriend