Tropica Aquacube Journal

[nickboden]

I've been reading many of the threads on here for a few weeks and finally decided to set up my Aquacube.

It holds just over 5 litres and I've used silver sand on the bottom. The light is a 10W but I have the 20W as a spare.

I want to plant something in the foreground but need some recommendations...................

Should I use my Azoo Mignon 60 HOB filter or just leave it as stillwater ?

 

[Alex_]

View attachment 40870

I've been reading many of the threads on here for a few weeks and finally decided to set up my Aquacube.

It holds just over 5 litres and I've used silver sand on the bottom. The light is a 10W but I have the 20W as a spare.

I want to plant something in the foreground but need some recommendations...................

Should I use my Azoo Mignon 60 HOB filter or just leave it as stillwater ?

I would Recommend putting your filter in as soon as possiable or esle your Anubius Rhiuzome will begin to rot. For foreground plants mabye Dwarf Hairgrass (Eleocharis acicularis) in the back round or micro sword but i personal have never had succuss growing mirco sword , do you think you are going to add co2? for a tank that small Flourish Excel would be a good choice. Any plans on livestock?shrimp?

 

[Themuleous]

I kinda like it the way it is, very simple, but very effective. As for something around it, perhaps micro sagittaira or I think you might get away with HC or glosso, Moody would be able to tell you if you could. You running any CO2?

Sam

 

[nickboden]

I kinda like it the way it is, very simple, but very effective. As for something around it, perhaps micro sagittaira or I think you might get away with HC or glosso, Moody would be able to tell you if you could. You running any CO2?

Sam

No CO2, just added Tropica Mastergrow but it's hard to dose for such a small tank. I just added a few drops !

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Plain sand probably isn't the best substrate for your cube.
If i where you i would start over and add some sort of mineral in your substrate. In my first aqucube (see below) i used pea gravel and JBL aquabsis underneath with pressurized Co2 and Nutrafin PlantGrow. The second is with ADA substrate and ADA brighty step1 and pressurized Co2.

The lighting needs to be upgraded. Go to B&Q and find a halogen with a reflector built around it at 20W or 10W which ever you prefure.

Have a look in my journals , links below.

As seen in the latest issue of Practical Fish Keeping.



The latest design.



My first Journal for the cube SHAKKIE ( top pic )
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...&hl=Shakkie

The second journal for cube design Soar. ( bottom pic )
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...&hl=Shakkie

Any question, dont be scared to ask.
Regards,
Graeme.

 

[Sibelius]

Where are your heater, filter, and CO2 in those pictures?

 

[Dave Spencer]

They are usually just taken out for the purpose of the photograph.

 

[Sibelius]

tut tut!

 

[nickboden]

Plain sand probably isn't the best substrate for your cube.
If i where you i would start over and add some sort of mineral in your substrate. In my first aqucube (see below) i used pea gravel and JBL aquabsis underneath with pressurized Co2 and Nutrafin PlantGrow. The second is with ADA substrate and ADA brighty step1 and pressurized Co2.

The lighting needs to be upgraded. Go to B&Q and find a halogen with a reflector built around it at 20W or 10W which ever you prefure.

Have a look in my journals , links below.

As seen in the latest issue of Practical Fish Keeping.



The latest design.



My first Journal for the cube SHAKKIE ( top pic )
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...&hl=Shakkie

The second journal for cube design Soar. ( bottom pic )
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...&hl=Shakkie

Any question, dont be scared to ask.
Regards,
Graeme.

Thanks ! I had seen and admired your Aquacube 'scapes (and many others on here).

I want to keep a sandy substrate but might use a handful of pea gravel for effect, perhaps banked in a corner. I plan to redo the tank with Tropica substrate unless anyone can persuade me otherwise.

I have no heater as it's in a warm room. There are no fish in there yet but had thought of White Cloud MM. The filter is an Azoo Mignon 60 with filter floss and coarse sponge.

At present there is no CO2 and I'm unsure which way to go with that.

I'll check out the DIY store but the Anubias seems to pushing out some new growth.

Thanks

Nick

 

[Sibelius]

WCMM are pretty much the only fish you'll get away with other than goldfish, in a tank without a heater, even though it is warm. Nevertheless, it's a good choice, I think they're nice fish.

 

[nickboden]

WCMM are pretty much the only fish you'll get away with other than goldfish, in a tank without a heater, even though it is warm. Nevertheless, it's a good choice, I think they're nice fish.

The shop where I got the tank and plant from said to wait for the Chinese WCMM which are meant to be easier on the eye.

 

[Graeme Edwards]

When taking photographs all equipment is removed.
Heating has never been a problem due to the heat given out by the halogen bulb. In a warm room and the bulb on turnd can get neat 80 at times.

Nick, conceder changing your substrate, sand and pea gravel is Baron land to plants and will not help growth.
Don't put your light on for too long , keep it below 8 hours.
Co2 could be with pressurized ( far more control and success than DIY ) or go for excel, don't know about this but do some research. With out either you will have a cube of algae with out fail. I know from experience trust me.
Basically you need optimum materials for plant growth, good Co2 levels over 45ppm with out fish down to 25ppm or less if considering mountain minnows, and keep on top of your water changes at least twice a week, the more the better.
Personally i would hold off with this tank until you have all the relevant materials and fertilizers, and a plan of how you will keep this nano healthy. Im sorry to say this but as you are it will not be a successfully planted nano. Please don't take me the wrong way i am trying to help you to success.
As for fish I have pygmae Corry's and they do just fine. These allot of fish to choose from for this nano. But wait until you have got it well established and that you are familiar to the maintenance on keeping water parameters stable, which are notoriously hard the smaller the water volume gets.

Kind regards,
Graeme.

 

[nickboden]

When taking photographs all equipment is removed.
Heating has never been a problem due to the heat given out by the halogen bulb. In a warm room and the bulb on turnd can get neat 80 at times.

Nick, conceder changing your substrate, sand and pea gravel is Baron land to plants and will not help growth.
Don't put your light on for too long , keep it below 8 hours.
Co2 could be with pressurized ( far more control and success than DIY ) or go for excel, don't know about this but do some research. With out either you will have a cube of algae with out fail. I know from experience trust me.
Basically you need optimum materials for plant growth, good Co2 levels over 45ppm with out fish down to 25ppm or less if considering mountain minnows, and keep on top of your water changes at least twice a week, the more the better.
Personally i would hold off with this tank until you have all the relevant materials and fertilizers, and a plan of how you will keep this nano healthy. Im sorry to say this but as you are it will not be a successfully planted nano. Please don't take me the wrong way i am trying to help you to success.
As for fish I have pygmae Corry's and they do just fine. These allot of fish to choose from for this nano. But wait until you have got it well established and that you are familiar to the maintenance on keeping water parameters stable, which are notoriously hard the smaller the water volume gets.

Kind regards,
Graeme.

Thanks very much for the advice.

I'm happy to go for a plant only tank. The way Tropica sells the Aquacube is for plants only without CO2 with just coconut matting for a substrate so I'm sure I can improve on that.

I'll do some investigation on substrates but have already swapped the 10W bulk for the 20W that came with the 'cube and it's only on for 7 hours per day.

Any plant and landscaping suggestions ? I quite like the anubias on the stump but may try and cut the wood as it's deeper than I'd like.

Nick

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Perhaps, go for lots of moss on flat stones around your anubius. If you change your substrate then HC is a good choice. Be aware that some plants don't grow under halogen light. UG ( Utricularia graminifolia ) should work well too, or some of the shade loving smaller crypts.
Research my Friend.