Crypto Island Nano Cube journal (56KW)

[Guillermo]

I had an empty space in the corner of the living room, so I decided to set up a low tech nano tank after convincing the wife it'd be look a lot better than a little table with a boring lamp LOL

Almost evertything is a DIY project, except the tank, the lamps and the filter.

I called it 'Crypto Island' because I like Cryotocorine Wendtii Brown a lot and it's the center piece of the tank.

Here the specs :

Tank : 12"x12"x12" 6 mm. glass, I painted the back with 10 coats of black acrylic water based paint.





The ca-nano-py : Aluminum frame with 6 mm. glass to prevent moisture in the CF lamps, with a dark walnut varnished pine wood cover.The cover has a mirror for reflection.22 Watts. 6500 K CF lamp. I put two extra sockets in case I want/need increase the light power.















The Filter is an Azoo Mignon 60, it's designed for 4 gallon aquariums, but I just need little watter movement, if I see the need of another one I'll buy it later





No heater, the room temp is 70-74, so it's enough for my intended population (shrimp an some snails)

No Co2, but I left some space in the lower part of the stand for prevention.

Stand : 100% pine wood with dark walnut varnish.I put a piece of styrofoam between the tank & stand.









Substrate : 1 bag of regular Seachem Fluorite. I rinsed it like mad, this thing is hard to wash, hehe. I used a vegetable strainer on a 5 gal bucket and ran water through it.I've always used this method, but this is my first time with fluorite.





ON EDIT: Repeted pic

[toofazt]

I like your canopy idea. Where did you get those lights?

[daFrimpster]

Great start. I am looking forward to following your progress.

[esarkipato]

Wow, great photos! Looks like you put a lot of thought and effort into this project. Can't wait to see it all planted! I was gonna ask, don't crypt wendtii browns get pretty large? I just sold a couple that were at least 20" tall, but I guess they grow pretty slowly.

[Guillermo]

Here, the planta and wood :

3 Mopani roots
1 Cryptocorine wendtii brown (centerpiece)
2 Microsorum Pteropus / Java Fern (in the back)
2 Anubias Nana (on the mopanis)
Some lilaeopsis Novae Zelandiae (foreground)
Some Lilaeopsis Brasiliensis (foreground)
Some Moss (sp?) tied tos a mopani root to 'hide' the fillter intake

















I forgot to take pics of the MT (Java Fern), but you'll see them later.

Laying out (I changed the Java Fern and put two bigger ones):







Cloudy , huh ?

[Guillermo]

Hi guys, thanks for the kind words.

toofazt, I bought it in Wally World, lol its a General Electric CF screw-in bulb.

daFrimpster, I'm trying to put all the pics today, more to come in some minutes as I've finished last night.

esarkipato, I have 1 CWB in my 82 low tech planted tank and its only about 3 inches tall, so I thought it would be nice to have it in a nano.

On Edit : Spelling

[Guillermo]

Well, these will be the last pics for now, the tank has been set up since Jan 28th, and I took these pics last night "the finished product", I had a little "accident" and broke the front glass grrr, but i will see how it goes and replace the tank later.











I had to add some RO bottled water to clear up the tank, and it's not crystal clear yet, but it's clearer now.

Here is the hit in the glass, I hope it does not get worse.



Ok, this is all for now, I appreciate your patience to look so many pics, and I would like to know what you think about my tank.

Cheers from Mexico City !!

[Guillermo]

Hey Ernie (esarkipato) this is the Crypto WB I told you I have in my 82 :

[Matthew Mahling]

That is a slick set up you made. Nice scaping too.

[deeplove]

I'm digging that light fixture man. It's a pretty nice setup you have there.

[Guillermo]

Hey Matt and deeplove, thanks for your compliments.

I was thinking about adding some little river rocks, what do you think ?

[deeplove]

Naw. Just let that fill in a bit. Especially the foreground plants. Once the ferns and the moss start to grow back there, then you'll have some nice greens that will fill that space up.

[Guillermo]

Thanks for the input deeplove, so I will let the lilaeopsis grow.

I would like to add a couple of pieces of narrow driftwood, like Manzanita's, they are beautiful, we'll see.

Regards,

G.

[A Hill]

nice little setup you got there. also nice scape. flourite is a PITA very dirty stuff

lookin good

-=- fish newb -=-

[Guillermo]

Thanks for the kind words Fish Newb, yes rising Fluorite is painful (and expensive too, LOL) Here the bag cost 28, go figure