Re-planting My Tank

[fmervin]

I recently came across a tank setup in the practical fishkeeping magazine which I liked very much and I plan to copy that look. As part of the setup PFK had used a juwel stone clay background which is installed inside the tank and looks very good

The problem is my tank is already running and I have fish in it. As I understand it, the background has to be attached to the tank with a silicone sealant which means I will have to drain the tank. I thought perhaps I could move the tankmates with the tankwater, filter heater et al to a bucket and then drain the tank. Will this be ok?

Secondly, since I am relandscaping my tank to include plants, I'd like to use a nutient rich substrate. I currently have sand as a substrate which is around 2 inches. I could remove some of the sand and layer it with some nutrient rich substrate (any suggestions?) This might save me money and trouble to purchase root tabs.

My tank is quite small, just 65L so should be relatively easy to drain and relandscape But I need to give a new look to the tank to include plants.

Any ideas? All help will be greatly appreciated

I'll try posting the link to the PFK article if I can find it online

 

[aaronnorth]

The problem is my tank is already running and I have fish in it. As I understand it, the background has to be attached to the tank with a silicone sealant which means I will have to drain the tank. I thought perhaps I could move the tankmates with the tankwater, filter heater et al to a bucket and then drain the tank. Will this be ok?

Yes, or you can buy silicone that dries underwater.

If you are planning on having the nutrient rich substrate on top then it will have to be a substrate that doesnt cloud such as seachem flourite or eco complete.

 

[fmervin]

The problem is my tank is already running and I have fish in it. As I understand it, the background has to be attached to the tank with a silicone sealant which means I will have to drain the tank. I thought perhaps I could move the tankmates with the tankwater, filter heater et al to a bucket and then drain the tank. Will this be ok?

Yes, or you can buy silicone that dries underwater.

If you are planning on having the nutrient rich substrate on top then it will have to be a substrate that doesnt cloud such as seachem flourite or eco complete.

Thanks for that Never knew that we have silicone that dries underwater. BTW, do you know if any silicone is ok for the aquarium? Or do I need to buy a specific one?

Also, I was checking on ebay for some riccia and they usually sell it in a golf ball size clump. Will this be ok to start with? Also, I was thinking of attaching this on to slate so is there any particular (aquarium safe) slate I should be looking at? Lastly, since I plan to cover the riccia with hairnet, will the riccia grow through the holes in the hairnet? The reason I ask is because the holes in the hairnet are so fine it seems it might not be able to grow through that

Thanks for all the help

 

[aaronnorth]

not sure on the silicone.

a golf ball sized clump can go a fair way if you spread it out evenly, plus it grows quickly. If you find it isnt enough then leave it too float where it gets more light & CO2 so it gorws twice as quick!

I would want the holes to be a decent size, say around 3mm+
When i had riccia, i had a mesh grid on which i attached the riccia with some fishing line, it creates a quicker carpet then as it doesnt have to cover up the whole net.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=&amp...t&p=2102425

 

[Truck]

silicon wont cure underwater, i needs the air.

buy some juwel putty or some proper aquarium silicon

 

[aaronnorth]

silicon wont cure underwater, i needs the air.

buy some juwel putty or some proper aquarium silicon

http/www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk/adhese...lack-3084-p.asp

 

[Truck]

well thats a newen on me, because silicon needs air to cure.

 

[aaronnorth]

well thats a newen on me, because silicon needs air to cure.

It probably has some sort of hydrophobic molecule which allows it to do this. Because it is a polymer it can easily react with the another element (polymerisation).

I am not sure if it is correct but i am just assuming, perhaps someone knows in the science forum...

 

[Chewie27]

Silicone can and should dry underwater if you get the right stuff! i have used it many times as a plumber! Can't say i've ever used it in a fish tank though.

 

[fmervin]

a golf ball sized clump can go a fair way if you spread it out evenly, plus it grows quickly. If you find it isnt enough then leave it too float where it gets more light & CO2 so it gorws twice as quick!

Thanks again I think I'll try that, I'll float the riccia on the surface of my tank for about a week before I start planting them.

I would want the holes to be a decent size, say around 3mm+
When i had riccia, i had a mesh grid on which i attached the riccia with some fishing line, it creates a quicker carpet then as it doesnt have to cover up the whole net.

[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=&amp...t&p=2102425"]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=&amp...t&p=2102425[/URL]

The eBay links don't seem to be working anymore, sorry to be a pain but could you please point me to a similar item?

Also, I plan to grow Christmas moss on a couple of rocks, will this hold on to the rocks? Will the mesh/hairnet technique for this as well?

 

[Ficious]

is there a way you can set up the background so you dont have to add silicone? i dont think i could take the plunge and add a background thats permament.

i know from experience that flourite rinses out...the first time i used it i didnt rinse, and well, it rinsed in the tank. the cloudyness went away within a few hours (5 gallon) but my plants have really grown well. its 25 usd in the states for a 25lb bag...which would suite you well

 

[aaronnorth]

a golf ball sized clump can go a fair way if you spread it out evenly, plus it grows quickly. If you find it isnt enough then leave it too float where it gets more light & CO2 so it gorws twice as quick!

Thanks again I think I'll try that, I'll float the riccia on the surface of my tank for about a week before I start planting them.

I would want the holes to be a decent size, say around 3mm+
When i had riccia, i had a mesh grid on which i attached the riccia with some fishing line, it creates a quicker carpet then as it doesnt have to cover up the whole net.

<a href="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=&amp...t&p=2102425" target="_blank">http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=&amp...t&p=2102425</a>

The eBay links don't seem to be working anymore, sorry to be a pain but could you please point me to a similar item?

Also, I plan to grow Christmas moss on a couple of rocks, will this hold on to the rocks? Will the mesh/hairnet technique for this as well?

I cant find it, i dont thick the seller is on there any more. If you go to B7Q i am sure you will get some there, it was a metal grid with 5mm square holes in.

 

[fmervin]

is there a way you can set up the background so you dont have to add silicone? i dont think i could take the plunge and add a background thats permament.

My thoughts exactly, but from all I've read about this kind of background is that it needs to be attached to the back with sealant. Perhaps someone else with experience with a similar background can offer some suggestions

i know from experience that flourite rinses out...the first time i used it i didnt rinse, and well, it rinsed in the tank. the cloudyness went away within a few hours (5 gallon) but my plants have really grown well. its 25 usd in the states for a 25lb bag...which would suite you well

I've thought about this and decided not to change the substrate. The reason being that I don't think I'll go for plants directly into the substrate. As of now, I plan to have amazon swords attached to the bogwood, riccia on slate or mesh and Christmas moss on a couple of rocks. I feel that this should provide the green without the hassle of an enriched substrate

 

[sambofish]

regards to your backing i had a simler one black rock effect all i done was weged it in place between the glass on the bottom and a glass lip at the top and then put gravel at the bottom it never moved till i wanted it to

 

[Craster]

I've thought about this and decided not to change the substrate. The reason being that I don't think I'll go for plants directly into the substrate. As of now, I plan to have amazon swords attached to the bogwood, riccia on slate or mesh and Christmas moss on a couple of rocks. I feel that this should provide the green without the hassle of an enriched substrate

I really don't think that swords will be particularly happy growing on wood. They are heavy root-feeders.