125 soil & co2 - Journals

Dielectric · 02-06-2010, 08:49 PM

well, i have almost everything i need to convert my 125 from EI to soil. so im starting a new journal for it. I'm keeping the co2, and the T5's. going to rearrange some of the plumbing when it empty.

I have 2 large bags of Miracle grow organic potting soil, 100lbs of pool filter sand, 50lbs of play sand for the soiless foreground, (I like the way it looks.... I need to find some sort of flexible plastic that i can silicone to the bottom glass to keep this seperated) & 100lbs of Charcoal Turface.... I would say i have alot more than i'll need, but its always nice to have extras laying around.... my wife would disagree.

Not sure if all the wood will stay, I guess i'll play around with it before any dirt goes in. I want to build some steep slopes or terraces but am not sure how to go about it. I'm open to suggestions.

I want to keep the play sand shallow against the front glass, even with the plastic trim, then slightly slope it back to the divider where the soil will start. beyond that point i want it to slope up fairly high towards the ends & back of the tank. but i dont want the substrate too deep. Ive thought about cutting up small, shallow storage containers, putting them upside down and bulding stairs or using rocks etc. but how do you keep it looking like a hill, rather than a set of stairs. especially when im not using heavy gravel. If i use large rocks, the mud/sand/turface will just fall between the crevices, if i use slate, or upside down plastic bins it'll end up looking like a stair cse with the plastic showing. HOW DO YOU KEEP THE SLOPE?!?!?!

This project will procede past the planning/daydreaming phase once i submit a vacation request and its approved.

mudboots · 02-07-2010, 06:36 AM

Not sure about getting the slope versus stairs, but just make sure you have species with mega roots in the deeper areas. Humbletex has really deep substrate in an El Natural, about 3 inches or so deep on average, and he's avoided anaerobic problems by using the root-heavy plants. Though if you're keeping your CO2 and running T5's pretty much any of your plants will be growing well enough to develop great root systems.

I'm assuming you already know what you'll be using, but just in case, most Echinodorus and Cryptocoryne species fit the bill, as well as Nymphaea and Nymphoides lilies.

Major mistakes I've made in my 125 NPT all involve moving stuff around, so make sure you get it where you want it, and if you change your mind, just manage by selective trimming (just not all at once...lol).

Dielectric · 02-15-2010, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudboots

Not sure about getting the slope versus stairs, but just make sure you have species with mega roots in the deeper areas. Humbletex has really deep substrate in an El Natural, about 3 inches or so deep on average, and he's avoided anaerobic problems by using the root-heavy plants. Though if you're keeping your CO2 and running T5's pretty much any of your plants will be growing well enough to develop great root systems.

I'm assuming you already know what you'll be using, but just in case, most Echinodorus and Cryptocoryne species fit the bill, as well as Nymphaea and Nymphoides lilies.

Major mistakes I've made in my 125 NPT all involve moving stuff around, so make sure you get it where you want it, and if you change your mind, just manage by selective trimming (just not all at once...lol).

I do have some Nymphaea and some swords that are over 2 ft tall & 2ft wide.. i was thinking of ditching the large swords because they are so huge. . i cant find anyone to take them. i almost feel bad, they were the first plants i ever bought and only a few inches big.

anyways my vacation was approved. the work starts Thursday night. can't wait.

bratyboy2 · 02-15-2010, 06:12 PM

if you want to give them away i could give them a nice home. i have some tall tanks that i could use them in for my breeding tanks.

mudboots · 02-16-2010, 06:21 PM

On the large swords, you can always trim them down by removing the older leaves and just keeping a few of the newer ones. That way you'll be starting off with plants that are already ready to do the job.

...or send them to bratyboy

bratyboy2 · 02-17-2010, 12:40 AM

yah or send them to me! lol

Dielectric · 02-17-2010, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bratyboy2

yah or send them to me! lol

if i dont use them i might send them to you for the cost of shipping.... though they will not fit in a small box

Dielectric · 02-17-2010, 04:52 PM

tomorrow night im going to pull all of the wood out. debating if i want to use it all. it takes up so much space. i have some pieces in the garage yet. i have 80gallons of r/o water sitting in buckets and 5 gallon jugs. drives the wife mad to have them sitting in "her" kitchen. luckily for her im all out of buckets/jugs. i need to go to Lowes to buy a few more, and a drop cloth.

also decided im not going to use the turface most likely, its just so damn light weight.

bratyboy2 · 02-17-2010, 09:27 PM

yah i have never liked the turface.

and to much driftwood is always a good thing. u always have options to use in the tank.

hey if u dont use them thats cool. i would def pay your for shipping. yah 2 ft tall isnt goiing to fit in a 5 buck box maybe a 15. just let me know i will keep checking in with yah

Dielectric · 02-18-2010, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bratyboy2

yah i have never liked the turface.

and to much driftwood is always a good thing. u always have options to use in the tank.

hey if u dont use them thats cool. i would def pay your for shipping. yah 2 ft tall isnt goiing to fit in a 5 buck box maybe a 15. just let me know i will keep checking in with yah

too much drift wood = mulm traps & poop pits. when i lifted the stumps out, they stunk underneath.