First ever journal- takes a turn Updated 3/20/13(20G L)

talontsiawd · 12-06-2012, 01:52 AM

Looks amazing. I wouldn't be too concerned with your stand. I have the same filled with vinyl. Not sure how much but I know 1/3 of it lowered my already lowered car almost 2 inch in back and made my car virtually un-drivable. People uses these the time for records and they hold up to that.

dubs83 · 12-06-2012, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by talontsiawd

Looks amazing. I wouldn't be too concerned with your stand. I have the same filled with vinyl. Not sure how much but I know 1/3 of it lowered my already lowered car almost 2 inch in back and made my car virtually un-drivable. People uses these the time for records and they hold up to that.

I'm not too worried about it now. I ended up reinforcing it with 2x4s Still trying to figure out what I'm going to do about a door, though.

dubs83 · 01-26-2013, 05:38 PM

Well, it's been quite a while since I updated this and so here it goes. The tank is doing great! It's a few months old now and has gone through some obvious changes. The hygro compakt has really taken off, as has the glosso, and the crypts are shooting off younger plants. I am dosing Seachem Flourish and Trace for now with a DIY auto dose contraption. I have the dry ferts but am waiting to finish off the seachem products.

Filtration wise, there have been some changes. Replumbed the entire wall will union joints to make cleaning a bit easier and added a quick drain port so that I can drain the tank during water changes and not make a mess. I'll throw pictures of that up a bit later.

Began injecting pressurized co2 and was really concerned about the bulbs I have over the tank. They are PAR38 LED 2x18w (5500k) and 1x24watt (6000k). As you can see, they havn't really been a problem. I absolutely love the red I'm getting out of the hygro. Anyway, sorry for the bad grammar and hope you enjoy the pictures/update!

Currently, I have 6 ottos doing the clean up but I considered picking up a few juvenile blue rams (1males and 3 females) and hope they pair off.

Any comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Still trying to figure out what to do with the middle back ground there.

dubs83 · 01-31-2013, 05:15 PM

Another pic of the Hygro Kompakt. I love this plant!

talontsiawd · 01-31-2013, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubs83

Another pic of the Hygro Kompakt. I love this plant!

Looks wonderful. It's one of my favorites as well but I haven't had room in many of my last scapes to use it. I love it when it colors up.

dubs83 · 01-31-2013, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by talontsiawd

Looks wonderful. It's one of my favorites as well but I haven't had room in many of my last scapes to use it. I love it when it colors up.

Yea, I had no idea it would color up this well. It was, literally, the size of my thumb when I picked it up! Very happy with it considering that I didn't think anything would grow under these lights!

hisxlency · 01-31-2013, 08:24 PM

great build. I too am doing a 20L. Hoping its half as good as yours

Conrad283 · 01-31-2013, 09:21 PM

This is a great looking 20L

Frank Abagnale · 01-31-2013, 09:55 PM

That's looking really nice! I had no idea about derimming a tank until I saw your thread today! Wish I would have known that when I set up my 40 gallon!

binbin9 · 01-31-2013, 11:19 PM

very good stuff you got a great eye for scaping

dubs83 · 02-01-2013, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conrad283

This is a great looking 20L

Thank, Conrad

Quote:

Originally Posted by hisxlency

great build. I too am doing a 20L. Hoping its half as good as yours

Thanks! One thing I learned is to take your time and do it right the first time. There were a few things I rushed through and had to go back and fix/change. Keep us updated on your build!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank Abagnale

That's looking really nice! I had no idea about derimming a tank until I saw your thread today! Wish I would have known that when I set up my 40 gallon!

Thanks, Frank. You know, I read up on derimming tanks here but I don't think I'd have the nerve to derim anything bigger then a 20g. I think I saw some one on here derim a 75g but I'd be too nervous about it. You're probably better off leaving the 40g in tact.

Quote:

Originally Posted by binbin9

very good stuff you got a great eye for scaping

Thank you!

Aquaticus · 02-01-2013, 03:04 PM

I love this tank. Adding to watch list.

zoragen · 02-01-2013, 05:42 PM

Beautiful!!

My 20g look BARE compared to this

hisxlency · 02-13-2013, 01:27 PM

lovely tank. I just got my 20L the other day. I cant seem to find the right size wood as im looking for something like the one you have.

iter · 02-13-2013, 10:39 PM

Amazing tank!!!

May I ask what species of crypts you currently have in there?

Also as a side note, the glosso around the hygro is starting to grow upwards because it is trying to reach the light. My suggestion is to quickly trim those that are acting like that, or else it is going to get REALLY annoying.

Also be sure to thin out the glosso too after a while, as the runners under the top leaves would start to grow upwards and it is a pain since the glosso runners would start to be not on the substrate but hovering above it. So when you do a trim you basically kill everything. Learned that from experience. In severe cases, you even have to pull the plants out to replant it.....not fun at all.

Anyways, good luck!!! Great stem plant growth!!!

12-06-2012, 01:52 AM	#31
talontsiawd Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Concord, CA Posts: 2,406	Looks amazing. I wouldn't be too concerned with your stand. I have the same filled with vinyl. Not sure how much but I know 1/3 of it lowered my already lowered car almost 2 inch in back and made my car virtually un-drivable. People uses these the time for records and they hold up to that. __________________ -Matt Eheim Pimp Club # 382 The Fraternity of Dirt #53 13 Stones Journal 6 Gallon Betta Tank

01-31-2013, 11:19 PM	#40
binbin9 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Seattle Posts: 332	very good stuff you got a great eye for scaping __________________ Binbin9's 12 Gallon - Iwagumi Inspired Scape 12 Gallon Long Club Canon Pimp #71 Macrostoma Project

02-01-2013, 05:42 PM	#43
zoragen Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: N. VA Posts: 282	Beautiful!! My 20g look BARE compared to this __________________ Eheim Pimp Club #490 Ecco 2232

02-13-2013, 10:39 PM	#45
iter Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 136	Amazing tank!!! May I ask what species of crypts you currently have in there? Also as a side note, the glosso around the hygro is starting to grow upwards because it is trying to reach the light. My suggestion is to quickly trim those that are acting like that, or else it is going to get REALLY annoying. Also be sure to thin out the glosso too after a while, as the runners under the top leaves would start to grow upwards and it is a pain since the glosso runners would start to be not on the substrate but hovering above it. So when you do a trim you basically kill everything. Learned that from experience. In severe cases, you even have to pull the plants out to replant it.....not fun at all. Anyways, good luck!!! Great stem plant growth!!! __________________ -Kevin

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01-26-2013, 05:38 PM	#33
dubs83 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 44	Well, it's been quite a while since I updated this and so here it goes. The tank is doing great! It's a few months old now and has gone through some obvious changes. The hygro compakt has really taken off, as has the glosso, and the crypts are shooting off younger plants. I am dosing Seachem Flourish and Trace for now with a DIY auto dose contraption. I have the dry ferts but am waiting to finish off the seachem products. Filtration wise, there have been some changes. Replumbed the entire wall will union joints to make cleaning a bit easier and added a quick drain port so that I can drain the tank during water changes and not make a mess. I'll throw pictures of that up a bit later. Began injecting pressurized co2 and was really concerned about the bulbs I have over the tank. They are PAR38 LED 2x18w (5500k) and 1x24watt (6000k). As you can see, they havn't really been a problem. I absolutely love the red I'm getting out of the hygro. Anyway, sorry for the bad grammar and hope you enjoy the pictures/update! Currently, I have 6 ottos doing the clean up but I considered picking up a few juvenile blue rams (1males and 3 females) and hope they pair off. Any comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Still trying to figure out what to do with the middle back ground there.

01-31-2013, 05:15 PM	#34
dubs83 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 44	Another pic of the Hygro Kompakt. I love this plant!

01-31-2013, 08:24 PM	#37
hisxlency Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Centreville, VA Posts: 208	great build. I too am doing a 20L. Hoping its half as good as yours

01-31-2013, 09:21 PM	#38
Conrad283 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 243	This is a great looking 20L

01-31-2013, 09:55 PM	#39
Frank Abagnale Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 40	That's looking really nice! I had no idea about derimming a tank until I saw your thread today! Wish I would have known that when I set up my 40 gallon!

02-01-2013, 03:04 PM	#42
Aquaticus Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Middleton, WI Posts: 71	I love this tank. Adding to watch list.

02-13-2013, 01:27 PM	#44
hisxlency Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Centreville, VA Posts: 208	lovely tank. I just got my 20L the other day. I cant seem to find the right size wood as im looking for something like the one you have.