Nicks 4X2X2

[Nick16]

i might add a few more pics of the finished cabinet as i realise i havent.

so far i have added 2 SAE's and 8 harlequins (from my 120L holding tank)
i will put in, 2 keyholes, 4 gold barbs, 1 platy, 2 more SAE's, 1 BN and 6 corries.

then i will probably buy:

another dozen harlequins.
Boesemani's
Praecox rainbows
perhaps another BN, or some whiptails

Was considering denisonii's but its aot of expense (80 for 5 adult ones) but this tank will be disabled in august so its not worth the cost.

 

[lljdma06]

Was considering denisonii's but its aot of expense (80 for 5 adult ones) but this tank will be disabled in august so its not worth the cost.

Yes, this is how I am with my 8g. I want to rescape it, but I'm going away to study in Italy in a couple of months, so I'm like, "Why bother?" and just do the rescape when I get back in late May. So it's just kind of sitting there now.

I like the stocking list, very good and showy, but I would stick a couple more platies in, rather than have just one. They do like to be in groups and the keyholes will happily hunt and eat the platy fry. A good source of live food for minimal effort on your part.

llj

 

[Nick16]

here is a couple of shots of the tank and cabinet before i filled it. (i had tested it for leaks)

i have also installed some lights inside the cabinet to make life so much easier.
you can also see the individually switched extension blocks stuck onto the rear of the cabinet for greater access.

some more updates will follow in the next day or so. (sunday or monday)

cheers.

comments welcome.

 

[lljdma06]

some more updates will follow in the next day or so. (sunday or monday)

cheers.

comments welcome.

Awwww. With labels and everything so you don't accidently fry yourself. It is perfect!

Looking forward to more updates. The cabinet looks great!

llj

 

[Nick16]

yup

its the way to go, i know what im turning off rather than guessing!
also, those extension blocks with the individual swicthes are a god send, i can fit times next to each other (normally you cant) and also, i can turn single things on and off rather than the whole block.

 

[Nick16]

another update. shot on March 7th.
im about to put my BN in to clear up some of the algae on the glass that is famous in new set ups. ive managed a good month without any appearing, even with ammonia and nitrite being through the roof for most of it.
i didnt really want to have to put the BN in as i fear the thrashing around might uproot some of the acicularis.

ive left the hardware in for now, as its not a competition shot. there is alot of growing left to do.
typically the harlequins decided to hide....

 

[Truck]

Love it, looks fantastic, simple scaping makes for a striking effect.

 

[Nick16]

thanks mate, i think it looks aweful at the moment, just needs to fill in!
once the blyxa takes, the acicularis spreads a bit further (after first trim) and i will cut and replant stems to bush them out.

i think thats going to be trickey in a tank 2 foot tall, as i would normally wait until they reach the surface and then trim, but the stems are so chunky already! its not like rotala that all thin, this eusteralis is a big boy! and its branches out really well at the top!

two of my crew cleaning the wood up. they worked a treat, will put the other two in shortly.

 

[Biulu]

Wow! That was quick. From an empty tank to a fully planted one. Very nice! HOw long did it take you to get all the hairgrass in? Must have been backbreaking...

 

[Nick16]

did take me quite a while

thing is, my keyholes and BN seem to love uprooting it, and my SAE's have taken a liking to my blyxa. so im getting some crypts in soon.

when i get the next shot up, it whould look a bit better.

 

[Nick16]

a quick update: (pics to come later)

i have removed all the hairgrass as it didnt want to take very well after the first trim. not only is the tank very deep (finding it tricky to balance light levels, to get enough light to the base, it has to be total overkill in the mid water areas) its also stopping the fish from uprooting everything.
i moved the BN, and my group of SAE's out of there as they decided they would blunder around and uproot literally everything. Now however, my keyholes have decided digging in the gravel is good untill the hairgrass is uprooted, then we move onto a new area!!

i also wasnt a fan of the blyxa so i have swapped this from some becketii and some parva.
this week i have some tenellus comming which will hopefully stay rooted and im also thnking about some balansae or similar to go in as well.

 

[Nick16]

As of today. (again sorry for the dodgy pic, only running 50% of lights)

comments welcome as usual.

 

[ian]

that'll look really good when grown up. What LPH are the Koralia's?

the substrate looks really good as well, is it the same as before?

 

[lljdma06]

I like the new additions. Crypts are always nice.

 

[Nick16]

yup same substrate but regret using EC.
koralia's are:

K nano (top right) = 900lph
K 2 (left) = 2300lph

cheers guys. hoping the tenellus will really take!