frrok's Aqua Pro 25cm Cube

[frrok]

Started playing around with a new setup today. 25cm Aqua Pro cube. This will be a low tech setup with moss covered lava rocks and easy to grow un-demanding plants. Here's a few low quality phone shots. I'm contemplating adding more Aquasoil for added depth. What do you guys think? I understand that the stones will be covered up eventually. That is the plan. The stand is an Eheim aquastyle 4. Got it on Amazon for $47 shipped!

This will most likely house a betta and an amano shrimp. Maybe a couple of ottos.

[hisxlency]

looks good, great score on the stand. Love me some Amazon!

[frrok]

Originally Posted by hisxlency

looks good, great score on the stand. Love me some Amazon!

Thanks! That stand is normally $100 or more.

I'm probably going to add more Aquasoil. I want to make sure I have enough depth for roots. I'm probably going to have crypts in here as well. Still thinking about things. Nothing set in stone. Taking my time.

[BS87]

I'd be a little wary with the tank overhanging the stand, even by a little bit, especially with a rimless tank. You might want to get a small piece of plywood and paint it to match, so that the glass isn't having stress points where it overhangs the wood edges.

[frrok]

Originally Posted by BS87

I'd be a little wary with the tank overhanging the stand, even by a little bit, especially with a rimless tank. You might want to get a small piece of plywood and paint it to match, so that the glass isn't having stress points where it overhangs the wood edges.

Yea understand that and I'm aware of it. The thing is the tank is really small and it only overhangs 1 cm or 2 barely.
I guess I can cut a piece of plywood to to the edge of the tank and stick it underneath. I'll think about it. Not flooding yet so I have time

[sarahspins]

Originally Posted by frrok

The thing is the tank is really small and it only overhangs 1 cm or 2 barely.

It doesn't matter if it hangs over by a little or a lot. The bottom of your tank is set inside the sides, so if you are supporting the tank only from 1cm inside the edges, all of the weight of the tank is now on those bottom seams. It may not be a huge amount of weight with a tank that size, but I wouldn't take a chance with it - plywood is cheap

[Green_Flash]

Nice to see you back with a tank! It should turn out as nice as your last one.

[frrok]

Originally Posted by Green_Flash

Nice to see you back with a tank! It should turn out as nice as your last one.

Thanks man. Appreciate it.

[frrok]

Originally Posted by sarahspins

It doesn't matter if it hangs over by a little or a lot. The bottom of your tank is set inside the sides, so if you are supporting the tank only from 1cm inside the edges, all of the weight of the tank is now on those bottom seams. It may not be a huge amount of weight with a tank that size, but I wouldn't take a chance with it - plywood is cheap

Got it. I'll get my butt to Home Depot. Lol.

[frrok]

Unfortunately my betta died today. So I'm either going to get another betta or do either shrimp and micro rasboras. Haven't decided yet. But anyway. I added another strip of 3 12k white and I made a 25cm X 25cm plate of plywood and painted it white. All 4 corners are now supported. I also spent the day planting some plants and plan dry starting for a few weeks. Here are some updated shots. I planted some crypts that i have growing emersed but i may end up pulling then out if i get more plants. Thanks for looking.

With added light strip and hardscape.


Planted. Haven't decided on a foreground yet. May be tough if this is a low tech scape.

[houseofcards]

That's a nice setup, but why are you going with hardscape that will utilize the height of the tank?

[frrok]

Originally Posted by houseofcards

That's a nice setup, but why are you going with hardscape that will utilize the height of the tank?

Thanks!
I only used those rocks so the moss will have something to attach to... It's not really meant to be a "hardscape" per se. The focus will be more of the plants growing around it. I want a mix of stems and moss to kind of grow into each other. More like wabi sabi...
If you look at my old thread I did something similar.

[PeterN1986]

Where did you get that light stand from?

[frrok]

Originally Posted by PeterN1986

Where did you get that light stand from?

The light is an Exoexotic ecopico led arm.i got it from thatpetplace.com but any of the big name fish stores online sell it. Including amazon.

[frrok]

so came back from a two week vacation in hawaii and left this tank on autopilot. I made sure to leave plenty of moisture in the tank so it would not dry out. I figured by the time I came back I would see some growth. Well Im back and I see very little growth and it looks the moss has browned out. Humidity was fine i still saw moisture on the glass. Could be my lighting still not strong enough. Considering another strip of white. Also, the heat in my place is not on super high. room temp is around 68 and the LED doesn't produce alot of heat. I never thought that I could kill moss...but its def brown. Crypts seem ok, new leaves a couple melted but thats expected. Everything else is sort of meh, new growth but very very slow. not dead though.

let me know your thoughts....