Aquabox III journal

**V31** · 27th Feb 2006, 08:32

Hi,
it's not a time to present my tank in final look. I just come to hear some advice or suggestions.

This is my tank.

Tech:
25 x 25 x 25cm (~16L)
filter Eheim Liberty 100 (artificialy slowed flow rate by filtration media)
heating AquaEl 25W (26°C)
lighting 9W Resun (7:50am - 7:50pm)
1-2mm gravel + Sera FloreDepot
DIY CO2 (~3bps)
PMDD (0.5ml / one time per day)
Fe ~0.4mg/L, P 0.1mg/L, that's all I measure.
No water changes, only toping up about 3L per week due to evaporation.
Tank is about 4 months old.

Bio:
Micranthemum micranthemoides
Eleocharis accicularis
Glossostigma elatinoides (grows slowly)
Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae (planted few days ago)

2x Neocaridina sp. Cherry
4x Caridina japonica (Yamato Shrimp)
1x Otocinclus affinis

Sorry for bad photo quality, it was taken quickly without a stand after trimming. I also have black background to install. This is only quick shoot with no changes I made last week - i've added some Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae into hairgrass lawn.

Well, what would you suggest to the scape? Any fish recommendation? I like boraras but they are unavailable in our country

How does can 5 pieces of rasbora hengeli affect the water quality in such a small tank?

And small gift in the end :: deep space

I'll post new photos tomorrow. Thanks for replies.
Regards V31 (Czech Republic/Europe)

**Fei Miao** · 27th Feb 2006, 10:32

Nice and simple for a cube layout

Here's my take on the tank, I think it's time for some trimming especially the Micranthemum micranthemoides, add 2 smaller pieces of the same rocks for the rockscape.

**|squee|** · 27th Feb 2006, 11:48

Trim the MM to get a bushier and sloping from the left to right look. Add hairgrass at the empty space at the back of the right side, also trimmed to slope from left to right.

Nice serene feeling!

**Thirteen** · 27th Feb 2006, 12:06

simple and nice concept to me. but i kinda feel that ur lighting hours of 12hours is too long..Perhaps can reduce to 8hours.

**V31** · 27th Feb 2006, 19:09

Originally Posted by Fei Miao

Nice and simple for a cube layout

Here's my take on the tank, I think it's time for some trimming especially the Micranthemum micranthemoides, add 2 smaller pieces of the same rocks for the rockscape.

To find a similar rock will be a problem. I got this one from my father several years ago. But I'll do my best to find something later, we have a lot of snow here now

Originally Posted by |squee|

Trim the MM to get a bushier and sloping from the left to right look. Add hairgrass at the empty space at the back of the right side, also trimmed to slope from left to right.

Nice serene feeling!

Triangle look is my goal

Empty space was filled a bit with lilleaopsis. Wait for next photos.

Originally Posted by Thirteen

simple and nice concept to me. but i kinda feel that ur lighting hours of 12hours is too long..Perhaps can reduce to 8hours.

Does it make something better or what reason is for reducing lighting?

**|squee|** · 27th Feb 2006, 19:13

I see.

**Jungle-mania** · 27th Feb 2006, 22:15

Your plants also need to rest, so it's best to reduce the duration of your lighting. 8 to 10 hours is enough. If you are not comfortable, you can increase the lighting to 11w or 13w, but IMO I think you current lighting is sufficient for a small tank.

**V31** · 28th Feb 2006, 05:04

Okay, so this is next quick shoot without stand -> worse quality.. there is some sludge in hairgrass, I've to extract it on next trimming as I did last time. But the sludge amount is not so huge as last time.

For your interest I've used instead of comb (as somebody here recommended) narrow pipe. It's perfect, you drain not so much water and extract a lot of sludge.

As for the photo-update.. Tank is before trimming (I'll do it probably during the weekend) -> eleocharis is a bit long, the same micranthemum.. as for the lilleaopsis, it now transforms into submerged form => looks not so good

How to help it to make the transformation as quick as possible?

Stay tunned for next photos

and thanks for your comments.

otocinclus affinis on his hunt for algae

Regards V31 (Czech Republic/Europe)

**V31** · 1st Mar 2006, 04:48

I cannot wait till Sat.. quick update in better resolution

front view

side view

**troyz** · 2nd Mar 2006, 17:38

NICE LAYOUT,simple n nice..

**Harsh** · 2nd Mar 2006, 18:38

very healthy plants..
beautifull..

**V31** · 4th Mar 2006, 23:25

I've played with a scape and changed it a bit. Photos will be posted as plants will grow up a little.

Anyway, I'm going to buy some fish. I like rasboras, especially
Rasbora urophthalmoides :: http://www.fishbase.org/images/thumb...n_Bouro_u1.jpg or
Rasbora hengeli :: http://www.pececitos.com/especies/Rasb_Heng_g.jpg
(anyone knows the difference between r.hengeli a r.espei??)

Tank has 16L (empty) and there are also 4 yamatos, 2 neocaridna cherry and one o. affinis. How many fish would you recommend for such a tank?

Extra activity, next small (up to 30L) tank planning

**V31** · 8th Mar 2006, 03:45

small update, gotta trim soon..

**Jungle-mania** · 8th Mar 2006, 06:24

I actually like your original setup, but if you are going to cover the RHS with plants, I can see why. I think you should buy a pair of fish for each of thoe species and see how. I like the simplicity of your design, very zen.

**gregorsamsa** · 10th Mar 2006, 20:31

the layout is good.

can i suggest you heat your water till it is only 22-23 degrees? many people here would love to keep plants at this low temp actually.

as for the plant trimming, it would be better if you have created a more triangle layout. the trimming ends too abruptly in my opinion. grow some MM, just a little bit and it will look nicer

**V31** · 10th Mar 2006, 22:45

Originally Posted by gregorsamsa

the layout is good.

can i suggest you heat your water till it is only 22-23 degrees? many people here would love to keep plants at this low temp actually.

as for the plant trimming, it would be better if you have created a more triangle layout. the trimming ends too abruptly in my opinion. grow some MM, just a little bit and it will look nicer

Well, i thought that ideal temperature is 25-26.. i'll try to reduce it to 24 degrees..

MM grows wildly, i've to trim it twice a week

thx for advice

Originally Posted by Jungle-mania

I actually like your original setup, but if you are going to cover the RHS with plants, I can see why. I think you should buy a pair of fish for each of thoe species and see how. I like the simplicity of your design, very zen.

thanks

**V31** · 15th Mar 2006, 04:37

small update. it's a bit wild looking now

**V31** · 13th Apr 2006, 04:43

still growing, i did some trimming to increase mm's density inside the big bunch (on the left)

it's a bit wild looking now

What do you think about that small bunch of mm on the right? Should I take it out and fill the empty space with eleocharis or leave it there in low height. Thx for comments.

Btw, the best difusion I've ever used for CO2 is to pump the gas through cigarette filter. Very diy, very cheap.

Regards V31