Old Time Riverman

[BigC]

Severe bout of insomnia means I'm back on the boards again, sad or enthusiastic, you decide.
You sure get a pat on the back there Andy on that project. Its amazing, and yeah I had read your thread before but no harm going over things again. I don't posses the technological know-how to go down that route so I'll stick to 2x18w daylight spectrum's coupled to timers with a staggered photo-period of 8 hours to begin with. Sounds simple enough.
Thanks Andy, Liz and Elenore...your time is much appreciated.

I will post some pics later today of how the build is progressing (hard scape) and my possible planting plan for you to peruse and advise upon.

Moving along if I may to the area of Pressurised CO2
I have the bottles of gas (filled) and I need some regulators. That aspect I know about.
what other accoutrements do I need to fulfil this area. (essentials only)
of the items listed below tell me what I need;
(1) Regulators
(2) Solenoid Valve
(3) CO2 Tubing, can I use silicone airline.
(4) Reactor (is this the same as a bubble counter)
(5) Diffuser (what size for my tank) longevity how long do these last (Rhinox or ADA)
(6) All in one glass reactor and diffuser (again what size for my tank)
(7) Drop checker and reagent


I have a spare Eheim 2217 (Classic) canister filter can I use this for a water movement device (or would it's output be too strong) as I have come across this item on FleaBay

Again any advice on all of the above is very much appreciated.
Regards
C

 

[ian]

Damn, i have been on nights and C has it all sorted!

lol

 

[BigC]

Nah m8, far from sorted, dont worry there's lots of questions to go round.
All help is taken on-board and very much appreciated.
Regards
C

 

[BigC]

Ok got stuck into a few more jobs this morning after breakfast.
Got me a nice black background sheet stuck on there. I was going to go for a nice but rather expensive 3D Juwel background of either Root or Stone but seeing as it will almost certainly be covered by plants and on advice by Ian I decided to just for a plain black background.

[

I framed the outside of the aquarium back-wall with double-sided sticky tape and carefully stuck the whole layer into place.​

With the background in situ I turned my hand to
The Substrates; I'd forgot how bloomin time consuming gravel washing was!
First I laid down a shallow scattering of peat moss. I went ahead and purchased a tub of Tetra Complete Substrate simply because it's the most accessible additive available locally.

A shallow peat layer was first placed into the base followed by 2cms of sub soil​

The Tetra product does need to be capped though, so I had to buy 25kgs of 3mm Dorset gravel. (they didn't have any smaller bags of 3mm). No ADA constituents used there I hear you cry, well as much as I would like to try those out, I simply cant afford the stuff, it would have to come from the mainland and postal rates would add to the expense. In any case, hopefully the plants will grow in what I have to offer.

2cms of (unwashed) Aquasoil topped off with another 2cms+ of Dorset's finest 3mm Gravel (washed) will form the rooting material for my planted tank.
Note my trusty non ADA planting stick come muck spreader​

I have aquascaped with the bog-wood but bad lighting and reflections in the hallway is preventing me from getting a good image until this evening.
Shortly I will be offering up a planting plan for folks to pick through and maybe help me amend.
Regards
C

 

[BigC]

Well as promised here is my planting plan, and an ariel view of my tank as it stands at the moment.

I have a few extra plants in mind already but would like some input and various opinions and alternative schemes from the members, give me some viable ideas and I will cross match with what I had in mind.

http/www.tropica.com/media/84453/Print%20layout_The%20Classic%20Aquarium%20(128L).pdf

This may give me a better understanding of relationships and placement. One other question do plants form relationships meaning will one plant not grow as well if placed near another due to certain chemicals been given off by one or the other. There is a specific name for this and I've come across it before in books but the name escapes me.
Regards
C

 

[SuperColey1]

I don't posses the technological know-how to go down that route

Lol. No technological know-how needed for anything like this. Just bouncing ideas of those who do have know how, following others advice and then the willingness/ability to try things that you haven't done before. lol. However sayig that you don't need to go that route. Was just I get bored easily and always have kaboodles of DIY projects on the go at any one time to relieve the boredom of being a house husband.

Didn't know you were going theCO2 route. The 2xT8 will be more than enough with CO2. Light is utilised much easier with CO2 than without

I have the bottles of gas (filled) and I need some regulators. That aspect I know about.

I use welding regulators. Good quality ones. Try WeldUK. Item 5 on the link to the left (WeldUK) should be fine. May need an adaptor to fit the sirline on but they will answer that.

(2) Solenoid Valve

Optional but most people do use them. I used the one from Aquarianversand on ebay and fitted it inline rather than messing about fitting it to the regulator.

(3) CO2 Tubing, can I use silicone airline.

Nope silicon tubing is porous. Again Aquarianversan sell proper CO2 hose. It is pretty rigid stuff.

(4) Reactor (is this the same as a bubble counter)

Nope a reactor is an external device that fits inline with the filter and then the CO2 feeds in. Works similar to the item you show a picture of except the one in the picture diffuses bubbles into the water where a reactor aims to completely dissolve the CO2 into the water. I prefer the diffusers to the reactors.

A bubble counter is simply a monitoring device. As the CO2 comes down the line you can see the rate the bubbles pass through the water. Not necessary but most use them as they are useful to quickly adjust the rate if needed.

(5) Diffuser (what size for my tank)longevity how long do these last (Rhinox or ADA)

They last indefinately. You need to clean them weekly though. They basically last until you break them

(6) All in one glass reactor and diffuser (again what size for my tank)

No idea, on reactors.

(7) Drop checker and reagent

and 4dKH. All thereagent is is bromo blue, i.e. API Ph test kit. The little bottles that come with most DCs is bromo blue. It is yellow/orange in colour prior to mixing with 4dKH.

I have a spare Eheim 2217 (Classic) canister filter can I use this for a water movement device (or would it's output be too strong) as I have come across this item on FleaBay

Are you using another filter for actual filtration? The 2217 will be fine with that device however that is a glorified and much more expensive version of this:
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/CO2-Carbon-Dioxide-Diffuser-Dispenser-Aquarium-fish-/380303190668?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item588bd62a8c

The one above works the same way. Take the strainer off the end, fit the hoses on each end, fit the airline from the CO2 onto it and away it goes:

Other items needed:
Definately need a needle valve. Again aquarianversand do good ones that may well just screw into the regulator.

Also need a check valve (Non return valve) to go in the line somewhere. These can be cheap but I prefer the brass or steel ones:
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/High-Grade-Brass-Check-Valve-Co2-Aquarium-Air-Pump-/260601751468?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3cad1327ac

Solenoid:
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/CO2-magnetic-valve-solenoid-valve-night-time-cut-off-/200560025776?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item2eb24f20b0

needle valve:
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Feinnadelventil-Nadelventil-1-8-fur-CO2-Anlagen-/140356029359?pt=de_haus_garten_tierbedarf_fische&hash=item20addf0baf

Hose:
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/CO2-Schlauch-2-0-m-/200339728552?pt=de_haus_garten_tierbedarf_fische&hash=item2ea52da8a8
AC

 

[BigC]

Hi Andy,
The 2217 filter I have lying around and was maybe going to utilise this (empty) rather than buying a new Korilia pump.
The tank itself is a self contained affair with internal filter box, it was the only thing I could muster from LFS over here, Not ideal but I'll have to run with it for now at least.
Thanks for the list, I'll go and study these alternatives a little more
Do you have a bubble counter somewhere to access the rate of CO2 going into that device.
Regards
C

 

[lljdma06]

Well as promised here is my planting plan, an ariel view of my tank as it stands at the moment. I have a few extra plants in mind already but would like some input and various opinions and alternative schemes from the members, give me some viable ideas and I will cross match with what I had in mind.

http/www.tropica.com/media/84453/Print%20layout_The%20Classic%20Aquarium%20(128L).pdf

This may give me a better understanding of relationships and placement. One other question do plants form relationships meaning will one plant not grow as well if placed near another due to certain chemicals been given off by one or the other. There is a specific name for this and I've come across it before in books but the name escapes me.
Regards
C

You tank is too small for that placement plan. At least in my opinion. Part of what makes a good aquascape is being able to please the eye with leaf size and shape. The above ratio is pretty nice for a ~32g tank, though even I think that tank is too small for that plan. If too large leaves and plants are put into a small aquarium, the aquarium is overwhelmed. It's also really symmetrical with a focal point almost dead center. Ceratopteris will get too big and Anubia coffefolia and cadaliifolia leaves also get too big. I like some elements of it, but that layout needs tweaking.

Do you have a picture of what it's supposed to look like? A front tank shot?

 

[BigC]

http/www.tropica.com/layouts/some-experience/the-classic-aquarium-(128l)/description.aspx
I know what you mean Liz so can you suggest to me an alternative route
Maybe keep it simple but effective, I dont have the height with this aquarium so midground plants may well become my backgrounds if you know what I mean
Still like to go with Crypts somewhere and that focal Hygrophilia var. looks pretty good as it can be pruned pretty regular.
Think of a plan.....
Regards
C

 

[lljdma06]

http/www.tropica.com/layouts/some-experience/the-classic-aquarium-(128l)/description.aspx
I know what you mean Liz so can you suggest to me an alternative route
Maybe keep it simple but effective, I dont have the height with this aquarium so midground plants may well become my backgrounds if you know what I mean
Still like to go with Crypts somewhere and that focal Hygrophilia var. looks pretty good as it can be pruned pretty regular.
Think of a plan.....
Regards
C

Just asked you your tank dimensions in my thread. We gonna have to merge these topics too?

 

[BigC]

Tank Dimensions - 60x30x42cm​

By the time you get all that substrate in it eats a lot out of your potential planting choices so Midground, Dwarf varieties and Stem plants seem to be the order of the day, unless you know different. I dont need to worry about light penetration now as there's bound to be enough lumens at soil level.

 

[lljdma06]

Tank Dimensions - 60x30x42cm​

By the time you get all that substrate in it eats a lot out of your potential planting choices so Midground, Dwarf varities and Stem plants seemto be the order of the day, unless you know different.

Yep, same dimensions as my tank, you just have a lot more substrate than I do. Mine's about 3" in the back and probably 1.5" in the front. Would opt for dwarf species and smaller leaves. Thanks for the link to the tropica photo, yes, welcome to the formal gardens and that tank is overwhelmed IMO. I'm checking the website for something I perhaps like better. Tropica's information on plantcare is a little outdated. You do not need 4 tubes of 39W T5 to grow the above scape, so let me have a look.

Liz

EDIT: I don't like any of them... Can you perhaps post a larger picture of your tank, so I can see how you positioned your wood?

 

[ian]

I like the positioning, i can see some dwarf hairgrass around the front of the wood, i can also see crypts around the sides and maybe some larger ones around the back.

 

[BigC]

Any Better.....

 

[lljdma06]

Yes, much better, thank you... Will run and play with paint now...