Nokturnalkid's 30 gal journal...no 56k

[nokturnalkid]

Well, I guess it's about time to start one of these. Long story short, vacation+running out of co2=algae. Next step is to nuke the tank and start over. All livestock is in a 20 gal tub waiting to see if I really want them in this scape. Btw, don't mind the monkey's(you will see what I mean), this tank is in my 1 yr old son's room. It's turning into his play room and mine at the same time. Lol. Future updates will include a black background and hopefully a backlighting system. Yadda yadda yadda. Here's all the specs you guys have been waiting for...

• Tank: Standard 30 gal, 36"x12"x16"
• Ferts: EI daily with diy tpn aka the good sh*t
• Filtration: Rena xp3 and Koralia 1
• Lights: Hagen Glo 2x39w with 1x midday and 1x aquaflora
• Co2: Pressurized diffused via reactor
• Substrate: 3m colorquartz
• Hardscape: Lava rock(?) and manzanita
• Fauna: otos, pond snails(lol), and rcs for now. Debating on a rummynose and harlequin espei mix or a cardinal tetra and hatchetfish mix
• Flora: as of right now: rotala green, rotala wallachii, ludwigia brevipes, crypt wendtii tropica, blyxa joponica, rotala colorata, rotala nanshjean, pogostemon yatabeanus, java fern 'windelov', and dhg 'belem'

Now for some money shots although all this eye candy has been taken from a cell phone...

diy emt light bar and pulley system, full adjustability from 1" above the tank to about 14" above the tank.



hardscape


here it is waiting sparsely planted waiting for more plants



added more plants, don't mind all the floating things because it's not wc day yet


more close-up eye candy
left side

middle

right side

[nokturnalkid]

Oh yeah, don't mind the empty spot on the left. I got a vision for that corner but gotta go visit Jojo at Aquascapes first.

[nokturnalkid]

Some pics of the newly introduced fauna, some oto's and rcs. Sorry for all the cell phone pics.

some pics of the rcs munching



just chilling

[SleepyOwl]

It's a bit different. I like it! The branches make it look more natural.

[zyn1]

haha i see the monkey

[nokturnalkid]

Originally Posted by SleepyOwl

It's a bit different. I like it! The branches make it look more natural.

Thanks, I'm glad you like it.

[nokturnalkid]

Added more fauna...a school of 10 pygmy cories. Dang these things don't keep still at all.


Some pics of the new arrivals




rcs, ottos, and snails having some lunch


some pics after playing around with the dw arrangement(don't mind the whitish dw, it came out of a bleach bath and will color in a few weeks)




Thanks for looking...

[JoraaÑ]

So far looking goods....You know Jr. what you need to do...Pull those branches out and put some moss...perhaps Fissidens then put it back....after 1 month or so you gonna love your scape.

[nokturnalkid]

Originally Posted by Joraan

So far looking goods....You know Jr. what you need to do...Pull those branches out and put some moss...perhaps Fissidens then put it back....after 1 month or so you gonna love your scape.

Thanks aj. Good idea with the fissidens but unfortunately moss refuses to grow in my tanks. During the winter it's all good but come summertime, it's all downhill from there. My tanks run on the warmer side so I've basically given up on mosses. Btw...that sampler of elatine trianda you gave looks like it's gonna make it.

[Felf808]

Your fish and shrimp look very happy. This will be a good one

[nokturnalkid]

Originally Posted by Felf808

Your fish and shrimp look very happy. This will be a good one

Thanks B...

[pianofish]

Loving the tank man, I had the exact same fish stock as you, but then I got angels and it was all downhill from there, ate every single RCS lol, and some of the dwarf cories too. Good luck with your scape and stocking. +1 on thinking about rummynose school, they look really cool together.
Your pal,
Pianofish

[nokturnalkid]

Originally Posted by pianofish

Loving the tank man, I had the exact same fish stock as you, but then I got angels and it was all downhill from there, ate every single RCS lol, and some of the dwarf cories too. Good luck with your scape and stocking. +1 on thinking about rummynose school, they look really cool together.
Your pal,
Pianofish

I've been really thinking about what type of fishes I want in the tank. I'm probably getting a few more pygmy cories, around 5 or so. While I was at the lfs, I had my eye on some ember tetras. I thought it might look cool to have a large school, ~30 or so, of really tiny fish.

[trigun808]

Hha nice man, oahu ftw?
:P
Plant trades some day man, i might have some plants u want