Norbert Sabat

Hi

This will be my second journal (maybe for contest or maybe not ...i just want show people my works)

One word from the begining: in this tank layout wasn't important, this is small experiment with eleocharis and ferts routine with medium/low light and CO2. If I know that hair grass will grow so good layout will be different (not so symmetrical) but ...no one is perfect .

Tank is custome made 64x30x25cm (about 12.7gal), light is one Philips bulb 18/965 + arcadia reflector. Like you see this is only 0.37W/l (1.4WPG) but for this layout in 10" high tank is enough. I study few Oliver Knott tank with low light and i must say that rule 2WPG is good in 15-20" high tanks but in lower tanks you don't must follow that. I think even HC or glosso will grow in that tank (of course much slower and not so good but good enough).

Ok. Lets get start...

Substrat:

I used few different "gravels" and substrat adds. In backgroud i used MHK Aquagrunt (plant substrat reach in Fe), MHK Floran (kind of lava) and regular gravel (3-4mm). I used activated carbon and dry bacteria (Tetra bactozym) on bottom. Gravel is only in background because in that part will grow eleocharis. In foreground i used only sand (1.5-2mm) because in that part will be moss on stones. I used PCV fillet to separate gravel and sand (i removed it at the end)






I put in some rocks but i dont know what this is (some kind of slate). Java moss is on small river slate (look almost like ADA ricca stones ).
I fill tank RO water with PGP Hydro-mineral, setup CO2 (presurred with Resun glass dispenser) and put activated carbon in filter (Aquaclear 150). I don't add any ferts (except basic K,Ca-X,Mg,Na,S in PGP Hydro-mineral)



At start water parameters was:

KH 3
GH 5
pH 6.7-6.9
NO3 0
NO2 0
PO4 0
temperature: 23-24*C



After first week i removed carbon from filter, change 10l water (100% RO + PGP HM) and add 0.3ml TMG. I also put in 10 cherry shrimp and 2otos.
There wasn't lot algae, only few short hair algae on stones.



Ok. That's all for now. More coming soon...

Cichlid Junkie

It's a beautiful tank. Simple yet very classy.

trystianity

Wow, good job.

I like that you used common plants that should be easy for almost anyone to find and low light in a small tank makes it more accessible too. It really shows that you don't need to spend $1000 and your whole life hunting for plants and equipment to aquascape. It will be exciting watching this tank progress.

John P.

Norbert, you have true aquascaping prowess. Very nice (again). You should do this for a living.

Norbert Sabat

Thanks for comments.

That's true, this tank isn't expensive and very easy maintenance.

About costs:

Tank 20$
Rocks(i bought it on some garden center) 1.5$
"Riccia stones" 1.5$
DIY lighting (PCV,electronic ballast, bulb etc) 35-40$
Substrats 8-10$
Plants 5$
AquaClear 150 (I bought used) 9$
Fish 35$
Shrimps (I had a lot cherry in other tank ) 0$
CO2 System (I had from another tank) 0$

..so all cost are 115-125$.

Side detal. Bonus light on top special for photo.

UncleJT

Simple beauty, thanks for sharing Norbert.

Norbert Sabat

Little update

After two weeks i put in 20 wild Paraheirodon simulans. Small and beautifull fish....



Tank going well, no alge except Chantransja sp. on rock and tops of old eleocharis leafs (not too much but it irritated me. Eleocharis wasn't in good condition at start so maybe thats why he covered by Chantransja.

My rutine(2nd and 3th week) was:

water change: 10l (RO+PGP HM) past 3days
ferts: 0.5ml TMG (with water change)

KH 3
GH 4-5
pH 6.7-6.8
NO3 2-3
PO4 0.2-0.4

In 4th week I change my routine and i add 0.4ml TMG everyday and 1ppm NO3 (KNO3) with water change. I also put in Neritina sp. snail (this is realy amazing snail..he it all green algae from decoration)

guppy

How does the moss hold itself on the smooth rocks? Do you see any diffrence if you were to use rougher rocks where the moss can "hold" itself into place.

Norbert Sabat

Moss is hold by black thread (see pictures in my first post, I always use black thread). After few weeks it will be hold itself - maybe not so good like on rougher rocks but good enough. Also after few trimming sesion when "moss carpet" is thick, his "mass" hold itself (if you don't have too big water flow in bottom area )

Norbert Sabat

Update