A newbie to the site and was told that I had to start a journal so here goes...
A bit of background, I kept marines for the best part of 30 years but a few years back my interest waned and rather than watch the system deteriorate I decide to move the it on. Recently the spark reignited and I decided to get back into the hobby but with something a little less demanding and I started to setup a Malawi system. During the course of setting this up two smaller systems also (somehow) appeared; a small all male guppy system and an Askoll 'Large' aquarium with Killis, Tetras and Corys. Amazing as I have never had any interest in freshwater tropicals before.
Anyway, as the Malawi project was nearing completion I was feeling more unsure about it and thinking it was not the way I really wanted to go. A bit of a rethink was required. I considered returning to the marine side of things but wanted something less time consuming. Then it hit me, I really fancied doing an Amazon biotope. Decision made.
The system had two requirements; firstly it must be easy to maintain and secondly it must look natural (no masses of equipment on display etc).
To make water changes easier (these will be performed every three days) there is a reservoir under the main tank where RO and tap water can be mixed to the correct pH, hardness and temp. A pump turns over the water in the reservoir which, by turning a couple of taps, will send new water to the main tank. Water is pumped out of the main tank direct to waste. Turn a tap and the reservoir is refilled from the mains/RO.
The main tank is 59x13x24. Equipment is two Eheim Pro 3 600s, two Visitherm 200W heaters, an Arcadia 32W LED Tropical and 32W LED Daylight. Additional movement/aeration can be provided by a Boyu 1850l/h if required but I don't think this will be necessary (this can also be connected to a UV). Decor is a DIY background, wood, leaf litter and a moss peat substrate.
The reservoir tank is 60l and has a New Jet 1700lph and 50W Rena Smart heater.
The tank has been filled with water and I am just sorting out a couple of minor teething problems. The plan is to put the plants in ( should be delivered in the next couple of weeks depending on availability) let the peat settle again, start cycling and (hopefully) start to stock at the end of February.
So there it is (I will fill you in on the other two tanks in time) and I will get pictures up in the next couple of days so you can see where it is at.
A bit of background, I kept marines for the best part of 30 years but a few years back my interest waned and rather than watch the system deteriorate I decide to move the it on. Recently the spark reignited and I decided to get back into the hobby but with something a little less demanding and I started to setup a Malawi system. During the course of setting this up two smaller systems also (somehow) appeared; a small all male guppy system and an Askoll 'Large' aquarium with Killis, Tetras and Corys. Amazing as I have never had any interest in freshwater tropicals before.
Anyway, as the Malawi project was nearing completion I was feeling more unsure about it and thinking it was not the way I really wanted to go. A bit of a rethink was required. I considered returning to the marine side of things but wanted something less time consuming. Then it hit me, I really fancied doing an Amazon biotope. Decision made.
The system had two requirements; firstly it must be easy to maintain and secondly it must look natural (no masses of equipment on display etc).
To make water changes easier (these will be performed every three days) there is a reservoir under the main tank where RO and tap water can be mixed to the correct pH, hardness and temp. A pump turns over the water in the reservoir which, by turning a couple of taps, will send new water to the main tank. Water is pumped out of the main tank direct to waste. Turn a tap and the reservoir is refilled from the mains/RO.
The main tank is 59x13x24. Equipment is two Eheim Pro 3 600s, two Visitherm 200W heaters, an Arcadia 32W LED Tropical and 32W LED Daylight. Additional movement/aeration can be provided by a Boyu 1850l/h if required but I don't think this will be necessary (this can also be connected to a UV). Decor is a DIY background, wood, leaf litter and a moss peat substrate.
The reservoir tank is 60l and has a New Jet 1700lph and 50W Rena Smart heater.
The tank has been filled with water and I am just sorting out a couple of minor teething problems. The plan is to put the plants in ( should be delivered in the next couple of weeks depending on availability) let the peat settle again, start cycling and (hopefully) start to stock at the end of February.
So there it is (I will fill you in on the other two tanks in time) and I will get pictures up in the next couple of days so you can see where it is at.
