raven_wilde

What kind of lighting are you going to use? If I remember my old tank correctly, this model comes with some crappy low-watt incandescant that would never grow anything for me.

bpimm

I think I will make some kind of hanging pendant. I grabbed a daylight CF spiral from Home Depot, I might see if I can make it work.

I'm open to suggestions here also.

I have a 1000 Watt MH, do you think it might be to much?

580 watts/Gal. maybe a little to much.

Brian

Jimbo205

I just saw in Wal*Mart yesterday, some attractive light fixtures that might work with a Nano / Betta Bowl.

They were roughly $8 to $10. One you could use a Daylight CF Spiral and the other - it was a 20 Watt very tiny bulb (halogen??) - I am not sure if that one would work with plants. Let us know what you find.

bpimm

Time for an update and a question.

The question first, is this piece of driftwood to overpowering? I'm leaning that way but I like the wood, I thought I'd ask the pros.



It looks even bigger it the picture.

Construction update:

With the overflow dropping to the sump under the tank I decided it needed a pre filter to keep debris from getting into the sump and plugging the pump inlet, I came up with this. let me know what you think.




It is made out of under gravel filter lift tube material and the lee's 5/8" hard tubing.

I should have the base finished tomorrow, the light is under construction, I am almost ready to plant. I have gone to all of my LFS possibilities and didn't find a single plant healthy enough to start with so I think I will have to wait on planting this tank until my 90Gal. is ready.

Brian

John P.

Looks like it's coming together nicely! I like the filter you've devised--that should work well.

As far as planting the aquarium, if you decide to go forward with that driftwood, how about a foreground of Hemianthus Callitrichoides (HC) and an Eleocharis Montevidensis background? Here's a rough idea of how it might look:

ranmasatome

that prefilter looks awesome...really like it..

As for the wood.. i think its too big for the tank unless there is some way to lessen its presence in the tank.

John N.

This is my first tme scrolling through this thread, and I was quickly browsing it going "cool, cool" then came to a screeching halt! Tank on top of blender!?! Hmm..So after taking the time to read through this awesome thread I totally get it now! Too funny.

BTW I hated that heater that you got. I had one, and it failed to keep a good temp, and actually stopped working after a few months.

-John N.

bpimm

How does the HC do in a soil tank with no water column ferts? I was thinking of Lilaeopsis Brasiliensis because it would root into the soil. I would love to try some HC but I didn't think it would work without ferts.

Love the pic. nice to see it planted.

I don't like the sound of that. maybe mine will be a fluke and work, it's the shortest heater I could find and I only have about 1/4" to spare.

Brian

bpimm

Well the base is finished and I set the tank up in the window.


I finished the light and hung it temporarily until I can get the height correct.
For a light I started with one of these.



Then converted it to a hanging pendant.



I think I will make a sleeve to extend below the fixture to focus the light down more and save the eyes in the room, it's a little harsh right now.

I mixed up the soil today and reported on that process here.
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...new-tanks.html

So now I wait to find plants.

Brian

bpimm

Soil is in the tank and some HC is planted. I decided to make a bush out of the HC instead of ground cover. Then again I really don't know what I want to do with this tank yet.

Here it is with the HC planted.



I'll try to get a better picture after the bubbles clear.

Brian