1ft Cube question

[Verminator]

This is not exactly a "beginners" question; but it sounds quite ridiculous to me so i thought i'd put it here seeing as i think this may be discarded as quite utterly "dumb" haha

So i literally just had an idea, i'll run it by you see what you think and if its possible or not?

I'm starting a 1ft cube, which the title suggests. Now i'm going to keep it low tech to an extent. Maybe 2 otto's and a few shrimp that is all, probably less. I'm going to get an Echinodorus Ozelot as the centre piece. Now i know what your thinking; "that plant is going to be monsterously to big for a 1ft cube". Yes i know! This is where the weird bit comes in to play. I want to grow it and obviously it'll grow up out the water - which is partly what i want. I then want to plant Anubias nana and nana petite around the base on small bits of wood, with open areas of substrate perhaps.

Very simple yes!? The Anubias would grow well under the shadow of the Echinodorus hopefully preventing algae on the leaves to some extent and the Echinodorus would take up most of the nutrients and light and grow up. With a clean up crew to add a bit of visual to the tank. Simple i know, just wondered if that plan is flawed in some way i cannot see.

Anyone think of anything that'll go against me? Seems to farfetched to me.

Thanks, James

[torque6]

Its not far fetch, but even for a low tech, ideally slow growing plants has to be accompanied with fast growers. Is the ozelot reasonable in nutrient uptake ? Since it should be low on algae as well, just 1 otto, or 2-3 shrimps would suffice.

[Verminator]

Its reccomended as a fast grower thats very easy with its demands. Height and width are between 20-4cm and 25-30cm respectively. Light low-very high and Temperature can be as low as 15C to a high of 30C. So a hardy, easy to keep and fast growing plant. I would have thought it would be ok, thus it was my first choice to keep. The Anubias will be the slow grower, Ozelot fast grower basically. Two types of plants, quite simplistic and appealing to the eye is what i hope to achieve with this tank.

[torque6]

Then no worries mate

[Xianghao]

the idea sounds cool.. don't forget to post a picture when it materializes!

[Verminator]

I certainly shall. I'll be going shopping Wednesday morning for a suitable cabinet then, once that is in place i shall go purchase my cube Updates to this thread shall come soon.

Watch this space

[torque6]

Looking forward to it.

[uklau]

I also have this idea of growing Echinodorus in a small tank & have it overgrown to form emmersed plant/plantlet (because my every attempt to grow them emmersed failed).

Later, I put this on hold as I couldn't find a suitable light set. With the usual rest on top of the tank light set, the plant would easily touches the light set & got toasted.

What light set are you going to use?

[Cpark188]

Verminator, I Know you got the idea of this tank you're going to setup. Your idea is great and inspired me with your thought, what's your title?

[WaterH2O]

Give it a try I always learn from experience.

[Verminator]

@ uklau - I'm unsure what light set to use. But i know i'll be shopping around for a T5 light set that i can fit a little higher up than what would be standard for the Echinodorus. Shall update on that as it happens.


@ Cpark188 - I dont know what you mean by whats my "title"?

[Cpark188]

@ Cpark188 - I dont know what you mean by whats my "title"? [/quote]
oOh..sorry, I thought you have a name for this tank that you going to setup. Thanks.

[jacian]

Another thing to take note is the thick substrate, I suggest min 3 inches thick of substrate for your Echinodorus, meaning you are left with 9 inches of water level.

[Jervis]

I suggest you have a rich base fertilizer surrounding the plant... you can create a hill at the center of the tank to achieve the 3" thick substrate without compromising too much on the water volume. You can use your Nana petite to cover the hill.

Possible to hang your light from above? You can then raise the light according to the height of your Echinodorus.

[Verminator]

@ Cpark188: Ha i figured so, i was just being dumb i think I think i'll call it "One Tree Hill", if anyone is aware of the series on T.V (American show btw) The concept is basically this entitlement Simple haha

@ Jacian: I have found a tank which is slightly bigger than a cube, which i may purchase instead. It gives me that little bit more room to play around with the substrate depth, maybe an inch or so - which in such a small tank can be a big help as i'm sure you're aware.

@ Jervis: I shall use a good base fert. A slight slope will be created, although i want to keep it minimal, using the Anubias tied to small bits of wood or rock around the base. The lights could possibly be hung above. There is only one issue with that idea that i need to figure out. The cabinet which will house these in is at the moment unknown - i havnt got one. So this i will have to take into concideration when i got shopping tommorow, couldnt find one today at IKEA

[Verminator]

For a tank 15 inches high - a 2ft tank basically. Is 9 inches above the tank and the shelf above enough room to fit a standard, typical everyday tank light on? I'm drawing up the sizes of a cabinet to have made for my 2 new cubes to be placed in, the 2ft tank is going to be on the first shelf.

Tank dimensions

Width: 15inches (38cm)
Length: 3ft (90cm)
Height: 4ft (total)

Basically going to be a shelf at the 2ft mark, inwhich my 2ft tank will sit on. Then there will be another 2ft gap between this and the next shelf (which will basically be the top of the cabinet and my x2 1ft cubes will sit ontop of this. A concept i hope i've explained well enough for you to understand what i mean

What do you all think? The other alternative option is to have the cabinet standing at 6ft tall Which i figured was to tall, so i left it at 4ft with the cubes placed above this. Failing that i could always place the 2ft tank ontop and have the two cubes below? Although that may faulter my Echinodorus & Anubias tank plans would it not?

Input certainly welcome

Thanks, James

[girlanimated]

Quite a novel idea, from what I imagine I don't think anybody has tried doing that before

All the best!