*NEW* 75 Gallon journal

[stevenjohn21]

Ive had this 75 gallon tank setup before, but due to being a novice i rushed into things and the outcome was.......terrible ! Ive decided to take things slowly (even though its killing me) and decide exactly how i want things. The setup im going for is a little bit of everything...Dutch style, Amano & Iwagumi. Im not sure how it will come out but in my head it looks excellent ha ha!

75 Gallon standard
4x 54w Catalina T5ho
Rena XP-3
Pressurized C02 with Rex style reactor
Seachem Flourite (Dark)
Pool Filter Sand

I emptied this tank around 8 days ago, the last setup was a mess, i kept adding plants to it without fully knowing what care was needed for them, so some died whilst some went crazy and blocked everything else from the light.


I decided whilst the tank was empty i would scub the inside of the tank with a bleach mix to kill any nasties that was growing on the silicone or glass itself. This also gave me a chance to connect my reactor.


Next was to decide what i wanted as the main focal point, using the "rule of thirds" i decided that a leftover piece of driftwood i had from another tank would be perfect. The piece seems just the right height and has tons of potential to grow Anubias, java fern and/or moss around the base or the branches.


Next up was to decide the layout of the actual tank. Ive seen lots of "island" & "beach" effects by dividing 2 different color substrates which i like. Making 2 islands would be great to keep Iwagumi away from the Dutch & Amano styles. I decided to use plexi glass and cut them into strips, being 2.5" high. I used a candle to heat the plexi glass and bend it to the shapes i wanted. After i got the correct shapes i just simply siliconed them to the bare bottom of the tank. Once the silicone was dry i decided to pour the flourite from the bag straight into the tank (yep, no rinsing) I dont see the point in rinsing the substrate, you pay all that money for the goodness inside the substrate only to ....wash it all away ! Makes no sense to me.


Turns out im 2 bags short (only used 2 bags in the pics) but hopefully the LFS will have these for me on Friday. I filled the tank with water and will leave it for 24 hours before i switch my filter on. I did have a few suspended particles but i just used kitchen paper towels to soak them up which worked very well.
Underneath the driftwood and the right hand side of the tank i used pool filter sand in some panties to make the "hills". Once i get the other 2 bags of substrate i will make the left side a little more hilly. This picture was taken straight after the water was in........ not too cloudy considering i didnt rinse it !


This is the left side of the tank where i would like a dutch style background with a Amano foreground and around the "tree stump"


This is the right side where im hoping to grow HC in a Iwagumi style.

[rustbucket]

This looks really cool so far, will be watching for updates. I love the unique shape of the silicone.

[SanctusLetum]

Very nice. What are you planning on using for substrate in the central area?

[CPD]

This is an awesome idea! I'll be keeping an eye on this one


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[stevenjohn21]

Originally Posted by SanctusLetum

Very nice. What are you planning on using for substrate in the central area?

I'm not sure yet, I was thinking pool filter sand but the only color I can get is too light and I'd like a tan color sand.

[rainbuilder]

Looking good! I have one of the same size but I haven't planned it nearly as well as this. That driftwood is awesome.

[stevenjohn21]

Originally Posted by rainbuilder

Looking good! I have one of the same size but I haven't planned it nearly as well as this. That driftwood is awesome.

Thank you, Im getting to a stand still at the moment as im not sure what substrate to place in the middle and i keep changing my mind on plant choices.


Today i bought some HC which will be grown for a couple of weeks using the DSM in a tub, not sure if i want HC or Glosso to carpet the right corner.

[stevenjohn21]

This weekend i tried not to rush things so went slowly. Managed to get the rest of the flourite and sand , still not sure about the light color of the sand but it will do....for now.
I planted the HC and tried a few stem plants in areas, although not sure exactly where i want the plants just yet. Ive ordered some more stem plants so hopefully i will have a better idea on wednesday when they arrive.......but for now , here are the recent pics. The tank is still a little cloudy because i dont rinse the flourite, why wash the good stuff away ? AThe flat rock is holding the driftwood down and will be moved in a week or 2 once its waterlogged.

[CPD]

That looks unreal! I love the look of it


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[stevenjohn21]

Originally Posted by CPD

That looks unreal! I love the look of it


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Thank you ! I took the Riccia out, i cant stand the bits floating around and hanging on to plants....the stuff gets everywhere, even in the drop checker !

[stevenjohn21]

Update :
I've cut all the stem plants in half to double my plant mass (I'm cheap I know) not entirely sure how to create a Dutch style aquarium as its a lot harder to do than what all the beautiful tanks look like online! I'll have to wait for my plants to get to a good size before it will start taking shape.
I noticed the driftwood trunk has some dark algae on it , not too bad but enough for me to notice. I run only 2 tubes (108watt) for about 7-8 hours a day and my drop checker is very light green . I'm thinking even 2 of these tubes maybe too much light so I'm going to try 4 hours with 1 tube running and 4 hours with 2 tubes , hopefully this will help.

[stevenjohn21]

Houston we have a problem ! Today i woke up to 2 dead angelfish :-( i thought the tank was cycled , but apparently not. Nitrite was sky high , i just dont understand how last week the params were fine and today they are not. I added some seachem stability so im hoping the angelfish that survived will be ok.

[stevenjohn21]

Ok , things are back on track and my recent Nitrite spike has sorted itself out and params are all steady (for 5 days now) I have ordered some more stem plants and will arrive this friday so im hoping i can get the planting done then. The HC has not done good, its not dying but its not growing either. I guess its going to take a long time to fill that right hand side. Pictures will be up on Friday/saturday once the plants have arrived.

[andrewss]

interesting, never really seen dividing barriers like that for the substrate...

sorry to hear about the angels

best of luck for getting the cycle sorted

[ChadRamsey]

looks go so far man.

Do you plan to leave the barriers in there or are you going to remove them down the road?