ADG Raffle Tank - Finally!

[cichlid1409]

I have never seen one flower, sounds cool. Feel free to prove me wrong wouldn't be the first time :)

[Mzungu]

Thanks, everyone! :) :)

I like the layout ideas, except for the lace. I would go with some kind of sword with some color to be a real focal point. That driftwood is sweeeet!

Thanks, Mike! I love the driftwood, it's such an awesome piece.

I will take your advice to heart, but for right now I'm keeping the Lace, lol. Ever since I had a lace plant flower in my 15g and had to give it away because it was getting too big, I've promised myself that once I got a tank big enough, with enough (more) room, I'd do it again. It's got to be one of my all time favorite plants, and I'd like to give it another try.

Lots of people say that Madagascar Lace does well, for some reason, with other, older, well-established plants living around it. My 15g has (and had) really old substrate and at the time of the other Lace plant, had tons of older crypts around it. I'd like to see if this one does as well. It's just a baby, so we'll see.

[cichlid1409]

I like the layout ideas, except for the lace. I would go with some kind of sword with some color to be a real focal point. That driftwood is sweeeet!

[tbui1178]

Nice tank MB!

[fishlady]

MB it's gorgeous......that is one sick tank girlfriend....i can't wait to see it all lit up .....keep the pics comin....thanks for sharing it with us.....
so awesome......

[Mzungu]

Okay, now it's a waiting game for Geoff to get home. :)

As for the Marineland Canister filter: First impression, it's all right. I still like Eheims better.

1. Couldn't find anything in the directions on which outlet is the input and which is the output. For those wondering, the input is on the LEFT of the canister. Of course, I had it the wrong way at first.

2. The instructions say to push the self-prime button twice to start it up. Psh. Push it about 10 times rapidly and you're good to go. The self-prime's a one-up on the Eheims, I'll admit.

3. Apparently the masses voted on not including detailed instructions. This is why I'm waiting for Geoff - I need to shorten the hoses, but don't want to flood the place, and I'm not sure what exactly this "blocking valve" or whatever on the canister does. I'm hoping it's similar to quick disconnects. But it's only on the canister - no telling if it'll stop the suction enough not to flood the house. Good thing this is only a 30g or so.

4. Flow's pretty strong for my liking. I'm gonna have to do something about that. Not sure what. Maybe I'll look around for a stray spraybar.

[Mzungu]

What lighting are you going to use? I like your planned layout.

Gracias!

It's a 4x24W T5HO fixture from Current. I'm using one of their 6700K bulbs, one 10K bulb, one actinic, and one "plant" bulb (all from Current). When I get the timer set up, I plan to turn on the actinic and plant bulb first, then the two daylights about 30 minutes later. Then, when it's sleepy time, turn off the daylights and then the plant and actinic bulbs 30 minutes after. I'll take some pictures of what the different times of the day look like when these bubbles clear up a bit.

[Mzungu]

Thanks!!

I couldn't have done it without my little helper:





Micro-Bubbles, anyone?





For some reason when we use the hot water (I used a combo of cold and hot) there are tons of tiny, tiny bubbles.

[armthehomeless]

What lighting are you going to use? I like your planned layout.

[Airjammer]

Looks good, keep us posted!!

[fshfrk]

It's looking good!

[Mzungu]

P.S. For all you troph people, I included a picture with a reflection of the 10 footer, in case you're reading this and I'm boring you. )

[Mzungu]

Very clean tank!

Thanks, Thai!

[Mzungu]

Just put in the AquaSoil, returning the driftwood to the tank after one bag. I used almost 2 bags for this tank. Through all my trials, I like putting the AS in the tank when there's just enough water to cover the planned depth of the substrate. Start with a LOW layer of water and then alternate between filling with water (GENTLY) and AS a couple times. I accidentally filled this too much - I prefer the water to be even with the AS. Oh well.





The Bolbitis. Had to look hard for this one in my "Moss Tank." ) This will definitely be an experiment - I hope it works. In the past, when I've added more light to a tank with Bolbitis, it was not happy with me. These few rhizomes were hiding under a huge canopy of moss. We'll see.



Plants are placed, and filling commences. :)









My new filter!



And here we sit:

[Mzungu]

Grats lol this should be interesting ive never seen a tank set up with Africana! Good luck, and keep us posted :)

I love the Africana. I have some in a 10g right now. They say on the back of the bags that it replicates the red soil of Africa, or something. I can tell you first hand that it does. It's beautiful. :)

Taking a break, the tank's halfway full, plants are placed, and I'm on to setting up the filter next.

Forgot to post that the filter was also a raffle item that Geoff won at the last GHAC auction!! :love:

Posting pics as soon as they upload. I want to document everything about this tank, lol.