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Promising hardscape you got there... I didn't know lava rock is also used for cooking/BBQ
After not making any new setup for a while, I decided to give one of the old small tank a total make over.
The glass of my old tank is crusted with thick water mark, and it utilize a built in filter, which takes up precious viewing space and just not one of those clean, modern looking tank. It is a modified fish-only tank to start with after all.
So I ordered a custom tank as a replacement, measuring roughly the same.
100x40x40 cm in size, utilizing 12mm glass to keep it relatively safe.
When it comes to bracless tank, it is a good idea to get an experienced builder and use reasonably thicker glass for the tank is more susceptible to structural stress.
This time I played a little using 2 driftwood I got while hunting to a local fish shop arcade, and some lava rock to complement.
Pardon me for mediocre pic quality and lack of lighting (just point and shoot using my pocket cam)
Hardscape layout I came out with.
I took those lava rocks from our BBQ supply stock. What a convenience... when you dont use for cooking, just take it out for your tank
Last edited by medicineman; 6th Feb 2009 at 20:27.
Promising hardscape you got there... I didn't know lava rock is also used for cooking/BBQ
Nice hardscape, I love root type scapes.
And that is not a small tank!! Lol.
My interest has wandered! Do U?
Another great scape to catch up with! Thanks for sharing.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!! TIME TO LAY BACK AND RELAX!
A Journey Of A Thousand Miles Begins With A Single Step
Wonderful!!! Keeping us all in suspense!
Paul
Been looking for root type scapes to copy.
Time to stick my eyes on this thread.
Cheers,
U.K.Lau
nice 'roots' !
Can't wait to see your completed scape!
Looks like a beauty in the making. What kind of plants do you have in mind?
Well, the lava rock is indeed used in flame grill BBQ pit. The purpose is to even out heat from the flame grill, so the BBQ will be more evenly cooked.
I got these wood while hunting down the local fish arcade, carrying umbrella in one hand and picking up stacks of fresh stock driftwood in the midst of a long downpour. Naturally, I had very little competition and free as I wish to choose. A bit soaking wet, but it is all worth it.
I have plan for some thin vallis behind the wood, some dwarf hairgrass by the mid and back ground. The rest will be filled with hemiantus cuba to form a carpet.
Some of the lava rock will be seeded with moss. The base of the wood will be dotted with some anubias nana.
Update :
I have HC and hairgrass arrived last night and am planting right now.
Stay tuned for the clear FTS!
Specification (for now) :
- tank size : 100x40x41cm
- filter : Eheim 2017 (slightly oversized is good when it comes to filter!)
- lighting : 2 x 36W + 1 x 18W (will uprade again DIY next week)
- substrate : plain silica sand
- CO2 : 2 bps via JAP diffuser
- cooling : DAZS hang-on fan
- ferts : Wonder-Gro series
OK... after doing a quick planting utilizing whatever I have right now...
FTS, and the water clears up almost instantly in matter of hours, thanks to super sized canister filter I use (rated for 75-100g tank).
I'm not done yet, and will resume with moss, anubias and probably swapping some plants.
Vallisneria spiralis at the background seems to be too wide for the job, probably vallisneria nana or some hairgrass vivipara or something similar, with less, narrower body will do the job better. My stock of anubias nana are also not so nana anymore after years of culture they gain in size significantly, and I may need to swap for those petite ones (these will also grow slightly bigger over time).
These HC responded to light and fresh CO2 and they pearl
Interesting, I've never seen someone use sand as the main substrate before, this is a thread I must follow. I wish you every success in this upcoming scape!
Not done with the plants here, and maybe not satisfied with some of the stones as they all look alike of one size. Trying my best to find large pieces of lava rocks to diversify, and after that I'm sure it will look even better.
The wood on the left also needs some trimming as the small piece, pole like structure sticking out of the big one has no characteristic to the flow of view.
I'm getting some val nana and want to throw is some shrimp for completing cycle and as cleaning crew (though the cycling part is done halfway already, I have run the canister elsewhere in prior), and maybe some ottocinclus.
@jadeIcegreen,
Well, planting on plain gravel is the standard, old school way.
It works as long as you maintain good liquid fert regime, and maybe some bottom supplement in form of base fertilizer and root tablets.
If you ever saw my other setups, you will got the idea of using correct size and type of gravel.
Singapore aquarist usually more accustomed to lapis sand, feel free to ask around LFS and you will get some.
Added in lots of cherry shrimps (50 or so) and 2 ottos to keep algae at bay while starting a low bioburden to complete N cycle.
I hope the ottos can survive being in such a bare and relatively no algae tank. I guess I have to feed them some slices of zucchini or boiled vegetables once in a while. There has been quite some reports saying their ottos died of hunger due to lack of algae!
Anyways, just a bit of zoom on the right part
Still waiting for replacement and additional plants to arrive...
Would the sand particles be too coarse for the otos mouth?
Anyways, here is my custom made light box made out of hollow aluminium block and topped off with white laminated sheet.
4 pieces of wide hollow block cut and riveted. The height is ample to allow deep positioning of most type of tube, preventing excessive spillage of light.
This can be mounted on a bracket or simply hanged.
The white inner surface is less than great but I think will do as reflective surface.
Top side
Under side (all the lamps will be mounted here)
@jungle-mania,
Yup, if you are talking about how the ottos wont be able to stir around the gravel. But they are in the tank to clean up plants, glass and wood, and so there are only 2 of them. I'm trying to give up SAE or CAE as they are less usable at this case.
".... dark befell upon the land of Aquascapia and light was yet not created"
"... Let there be light!"
" and so there is light. Two times thirty six watts of CF and Five times sixteen watts of T4 burned up high upon the dome, and all critters of Aquascapia rejoiced and never shall they fear upon darkness again...."
He he....
It took me some the whole evening to assemble the tubes for this custom made light box. Unfortunately one of the T4 on-board ballast gave up even before use and the box ended up having a blank spot (look at the lower right)
I mounted the light box over my light-crazed tank and burn it up.
Now I suppose I have sufficient light to grow HC well!
I love your "biblical" embellishments!
Paul
Nice DIY work there!
hi medicineman u've got a very nice set up,any plan for some moss etc on top of the wood?
@craftsman,
He he ... just like epic story telling I like ....
@JadeIceGreen,
Sometimes DIY is a good option when what you want cannot be found/affordable.
Just be ready to take care of those obstacles and be ready to face the consequence when the product fails. Just learn and do better next time around.
@a4su,
There will be some moss, later on. I'll do it along with new coming replacement/additional plants.
FTS now. The plants surely fluffed up.
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