Saintlys Iwagumi Journal. Part 2

[saintly]

well guys,

i didnt think i was the type to do a journal, but anyway here we go.

im only at early stage's at the moment so you'll all have to bare with me.

this is what the tank looked like as of saturday 3rd may



the new tank stas,

RENA 300

1 x eheim 2028
1 x filstar 2
rena internal heater

red sea pro co2 system. with f/e

arcadia 4 x 54w t5 luminaire

SUBSTRATE,

1 x 18L power sand special large
6 x aqua soil malaya
bacter 100
iron bottom.

FERTS,
tpn+
seachem iron

slate stone

see next post to continue.


this is the tank stripped down and clean, and as you all probably now, this is hard work!



its also amazing what little critters you find behind the aquarium

 

[saintly]

ok,

here's where i put ADA IRON BOTTOM in the tank along with ADA BACTER100. maybe some of you might be thinking i should put the ADA BACTER100 on the power samd?

the reason i've put around the front and side edges only is because acording to ADA, BACTER100 has BGA neutralising abilities so my thinking was to get a head start on it where it initially forms...in the substrate! this is my thinking not ADA so i might be barking up the wrong tree completely!






then i add most of the power sand. maybe 3/4 of it. this is expensive stuff! in large quantities.
also more BACTER100 as per instructions

 

[saintly]

[/quote]

then i add 1 bag of AQUA SOIL MALAY just to give me a base to work off!

notice the NEW version of the ADA soil spreader device, thingy? aqua essentials will be stocking soon!



then i start to add the slate stone. as most of you know this turned out to be an enjoyable nightmare.

 

[saintly]

ok, after many variations on stone placement, here's what im going to use



i've tryed to creat flow in the aquascape with rise and falls in the aquasoil.

now i've got to order the plants.

PLANT LIST:

15/20 pots hc or glosso ( not sure yet.)

6/7 pots hair grass ( for around the stones)

i also want a taller grass for the back ground, but im not sure what sort yet. i'll investigate ada sites. suggestions? ( nudge nudge GEORGE FARMER) what do you suggest?is this enough plants for 120 x 40 aquarium?

thats it for now, for at least a week untill i start to plant.

thanks for taking the time to read.

all the best

mark

 

[Esfa]

Looking good!

Eleocharis vivipara would be a good background plant.

 

[saintly]

exactly what i was thing esfa! i've just been looking it up. seems though that tropica dont stock that particular variety. amano uses it alot and looks great.
im tawn between glosso, hc or eleocharis acicularis with riccia in between any of them so it can grow through.

anyone know where i can get Eleocharis vivipara from in england?

 

[Esfa]

java-plants does it. that's where i got mine from.

 

[saintly]

thanks esfa, i'll check em out.

 

[saintly]

OK,

I just cant help myself. i got bored this afternoon and did some rearanging again. aaronorth kinda pushed me too. thanks mate. good links.

i will be putting the black background up again. i just wanted to clean the glass.....for the 10th time today lol.

i want to get planting.

 

[saintly]

and yet another.

sorry everyone for so many variations.

i am actualy starting to go a little stone crazy now

 

[Esfa]

View attachment 51271
I love the right hand side on this.



View attachment 51279
I love the left hand side on this lol

 

[Luketendo]

and yet another.

sorry everyone for so many variations.

i am actualy starting to go a little stone crazy now

View attachment 51279

I think this is the best.

Although the one with just a left hand side has potential to be triangular, much like someone else's tank but I can't name or find it.

 

[saintly]

i've ordered my plants from aqua essentials today.

list as follows,

18 pots glosso (for most of the substrate surface.)

7 pots eleocharis acicularis( for around rocks)

10 pots vallis nana, (for left and right corners)

nad a rather large bill

richard at aqua essentials recommended the vallis.

i'll probably change the layout as i plant.

all plants coming from tropica next week, so a busy weekend install i think.

cheers

mark

 

[lljdma06]

Why did you change it? I liked the other one better. That is still my favorite arrangement. You guys are always changing things around.

llj

 

[saintly]

i know, i know.

i just cant help myself.