55g natural style scape journal (update 3-30-11 w/ 100 chili's added)

[rickztahone]

TANK DIMENSTIONS/STAND:
standard sized 55g tank from Petco. Stand is DIY as well as the canopy

LIGHTING:
Hagen GLO double T5HO 54w w/ Giesemann bulbs, 1 midday, 1 flora.
LED moonlights

CO2 EQUIPMENT:
10# aluminum tank. Concoa 2 stage reg. Post body kit built by Yikesjason, 3 way manifold w/ 3 NV55's and 3 JBJ BC's, 6 total brass check valves. ISTA CO2 indicator. Rex style reactor. This set up will eventually be supplying my 2 10g's and my 55g.

SCAPE EQUIPMENT:
Slim Line background bought online. Manzanita from PC1

SUBSTRATE:
27L of Aquasoil

FERTZ:
EI Dry dosing and RM root tabs

FILTRATION:
2 Rena XP3'S

FAUNA:
will house RCS and about 100 chili's (not concrete yet)

FLORA:
Still undecided...


Pics:



I also have a build thread on TPT which i'm not sure if i'm able to link to here but if i can i will edit this post and provide it. It shows the stands being built and such. It's pretty pic intensive though, lol.

[Dan the Man]

Wow dude. I'm excited to see this one develop! Beautiful wood and arrangement. That manzy makes your 55 look like a 90. Are you planning on having any stone in your setup? Also any flora in mind?

Subscribed!!!

[rickztahone]

Originally Posted by Dan the Man

Wow dude. I'm excited to see this one develop! Beautiful wood and arrangement. That manzy makes your 55 look like a 90. Are you planning on having any stone in your setup? Also any flora in mind?

Subscribed!!!

thanks Dan. I was unsure of any stones but i kind of feel like it does need some, i'm just not sure where. Maybe on the left right in front of the Manzanita? As far as Flora i was going to try to get a full Hemianthus callitrichoides carpet going. Maybe some:
Echinodorus Angustifolia
Anubias barteri 'Petite' (maybe)
Hottonia palustris
Hygrophila polysperma 'Rosanervig'
Limnophila aromatica (i just love the color of this plant!)

maybe a few more but i do not want to have this tank as a collectoritis tank, lol. I will have to narrow down what it is i want from this at the end of the day. thanks for the subscription.

[rickztahone]

put some plants in there. Still need to buy the rest of the plants to get it going fully. Here's the plant list i need if you want to help me out:
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sw...u-got-ill.html

Everything went without a hitch, the reactor was spilling a lot of bubbles at first but is doing great now. My ISTA is turning a nice light green almost yellow :-).


thanks for viewing.

[semperfimrn1]

i want branches like that!! where can you get some?

[rickztahone]

Originally Posted by semperfimrn1

i want branches like that!! where can you get some?

From this man ------>MANZANITA MAN<------

[antbug]

Rick,

Looks great. I love your wood placement and the background is killer. The only suggestion I could offer is the right side. The plant on the left is taking away from your beautiful wood. Great start though. I'll be watching this one!

[rickztahone]

Originally Posted by antbug

Rick,

Looks great. I love your wood placement and the background is killer. The only suggestion I could offer is the right side. The plant on the left is taking away from your beautiful wood. Great start though. I'll be watching this one!

You know i had the same feeling. I just really want to use that plant but not sure where to put it. It definitely takes from the look of the wood. You almost can't tell it's coming down from the top because of it. good eye and thanks, i just don't know where i will put it.

[bnbfishin]

Looking good there Rick. I would say move that plant to the back center, otherwise maybe out of the tank all together if it takes that much away from the wood?

I need to update my journal!

[rickztahone]

Originally Posted by bnbfishin

Looking good there Rick. I would say move that plant to the back center, otherwise maybe out of the tank all together if it takes that much away from the wood?

I need to update my journal!

thanks, i was thinking of putting it in the left corner since it's so broad leafed and maybe it will cover the filter intake better than the sunset i currently have there.

[bnbfishin]

That's true about covering up the filter intake. Guess it depends on which plant you like better in that spot. Where would the sunset go then?

Originally Posted by rickztahone

thanks, i was thinking of putting it in the left corner since it's so broad leafed and maybe it will cover the filter intake better than the sunset i currently have there.

[semperfimrn1]

i really love the way your tank is decorated

[rickztahone]

Originally Posted by bnbfishin

That's true about covering up the filter intake. Guess it depends on which plant you like better in that spot. Where would the sunset go then?

LOL, i have no idea. I can't believe i'm have such a difficult time with these plants and i eventually want like 8 more plant types.

Originally Posted by semperfimrn1

i really love the way your tank is decorated

thank you very much. So far, most of it has been DIY which is an added bonus to keep the cost down

[speedie408]

Awesome hardscape man. In to see what you're gonna make of this tank

[rickztahone]

Originally Posted by speedie408

Awesome hardscape man. In to see what you're gonna make of this tank

thanks Speedie, i have most of your tanks subscribed, lol. You have an awesome aquascaping hand.