mountaindew

Specifications

• 55 gallon glass aquarium 48x12x19 high
• Marineland magnum 350 canister filter with pleated filter insert only.
• Changed and cleaned as required ”no carbon or bio filters used”
• Sun systems new wave 48” 2 bulb 6500k t5 light fixture with a 9 hour photo period
• Modified for aquarium use
• Flourite Substrate
• Laterite Substrate additive
• Peat plates “mostly for rocks to set on”
• C02 applied at filter intake. “diy. For best results use ph controlled c02 dosing”
• Custom 8 watt back ground lights, 2 each.
• Blue aquarium background board
• Coral life power strip and timers
• Small power head for added water flow.
• Aquarium heater Hydor inline unit on filter return line or UV
• U.V. sterilizer

Plant types

Glossostigma gelatinoids
Rotala Wallichii “floater”

All the plant material used, will be cuttings from other tanks. The plants are acclimated to this style of care and are expected to grow well. Plant Nutrient dosing schedule will be per Seachem products “easy to get and use”

1ml Fe per 2x per week

2ml N0 3x per week for the first 3-4 weeks only then 5x per week after

1ml P0 2x per week for first 3 weeks only then 1x per week after

4ml K0 3x per week for the first 3 weeks only then 5x per week after

2.5ml trace 2x per week

20% or more water change per week (conditioned tap water”easy”).

Note ro/di water is recommended for top off and for changes. Some Algae and other problems can be lessoned or avoided if you perform this step


Fish Types

Neon Tetras

Part 1: All equipment detailed above is collected, including plant nutrients. The display Tank is then placed on the stand and checked for level and proper access to back for cleaning and maintenance.


Light fixture used required some custom supports. A simple 2 part design that sets into rim of tank, sliding back out of the way when required were fabricated from black and clear acrylic.



Close up picture of light support setting on tank rim


Then 2 custom strip light and background holders were fabricated from black and clear acrylic.



The florescent strip lights were then installed on the brackets and checked for proper fit.



Then brackets and lights are placed on back of tank and connected to timer.



Background light Effect Test


Testing of lights and performing a final cleaning of all equipment including canister filter and plumbing is completed. Next a final picture of empty display tank ready for landscaping

Part 2: Preparation of substrate material. As per directions on bags of Flourite, this material should be rinsed and cleaned of silt material. This step was omitted because it was to cold outside.

The display is started by laying a couple of peat plates down. Then a layer of laterite substrate additive is added. Some rocks were selected and placed in front of display tank to get ideas for layout.

Flourite is then added to cover the peat plates and laterite additive, and then mixed together.

The large rocks are placed in the tank and arranged to get the look of some hills and valleys.

Finish adding the substrate and move around as desired.

Next a few smaller rocks are added here and there to give it a balanced look.

At this point most aquascapers add plants. In this case Glossostigma plant shoots are easy to plant after the tank is full of water and substrate has settled. Then water is slowly added avoiding disrupting the substrate.

Tank is full of water and temperature is allowed to stabilize. Glasso plants are then carefully placed. in this case with plenty of room between to grow.
Date 3.10.2k8

At this point the display is finished
The normal dosing and maintenance will be done for the next 2 weeks. Then sometime during week 3 or 4 fish are added. In this case 5 neon tetras were added per week for 4 weeks. The dosing of some type of bacteria supplement is recommended between each bio-load addition. Then allowing water perimeters to adjust between each small bio-load addition reduces the chance for potential problems.

Setup 60 days later

Background light set for dawn and dusk


Date 05.12.2k8


Date 12.18.2k8

Date 02.10.2k9


End View



Later afternoon photo. "Different Lights were used"
Picture was only sized to upload on web, no mods.

Goes to show that point and shoot cameras can take decent pics.
Thanks for viewing

Date 3.10.2k9 ONE YEAR after setup




Thanks again for viewing this thread
And I hope you found it informative and Fun
Mountaindew

anhtu402

Amazing setup! I really like how glosso is covering over the rocks. It's similar to what my glosso is doing right now, however, I didnt imagine it would look that good until now. Now i'm debating if I should leave it in and not replace with HC.... hmmm.. hehe.. I really like your tank!

ON the picture of "Setup 60 days later", are you experiencing green water or is that just your camera? I am experiencing green water right now, but am experimenting as how to eliminate it. Should keep us updated with more pictures as it grows. Loves the stem plants, what are they?

mountaindew

Thanks for the nice comments!

It was mostly the camera. I was having problems with it loosing its settings.
I use UV on all my displays, so geen water and other problems are avoided.

GlitcH

Nice.......thx for puttin it out there for us......I'm really impressed with your substrate and how it hasn't settled over time.

houseofcards

Very nice use of Glosso/rock to create height and contour substrate. It's mostly trimming and growth to create effect, yes? What was the reason the Rotala is so close to front glass?

mountaindew

Thanks for reading and the reply. I filled this aquarium before I planted the glasso, that way if it did settle i could fix it. Then added a few shoots of glasso here and there and let it grow out.

mountaindew

Thanks for the nice reply!!
Yes it is mostly the way its trimmed. The substrate as shown in the pictures is at most 7" deep behind rocks.

I weighted the Rotala bunch with a small rock so it would float around in the current but stay pointing in the right direction "roots down". As it become larger it extended roots down and choose its own spot to anchor and live!
"I guess you could say its a natural placement" . Against convention of stem plants always in back.
Anyway I figured where ever it landed I could trim it the way I wanted.

cah925

I've never heard of natural placement in an aquarium. It's an interesting effect on the tank. I am blown away by how nice this very simple setup looks. Keep up the good work!

mountaindew

Thanks!
I was hoping to inspire others with just that! "A simple setup"

maxima

Hey what a unique setup !
I find tanks like this one quite attractive, featuring only a few species and with a different composition; it's a relief to see something inspiring in its originality.
By the way, thanks for showing your work on that light fixture. I want to give it a go myself but I'm totally dumb about DIY stuff
I should make notes about this one.