Dirt convert

5BodyBlade · 08-21-2011, 11:41 PM

Pic problems scroll down

5BodyBlade · 08-21-2011, 11:58 PM

...

5BodyBlade · 08-22-2011, 02:43 PM

This my journal for my 46 gallon bowfront. It's been dirted for a while now, but I never posted a journal on it so there are big gaps between some steps and many changes to flora and fauna.

Fish:
15 Harlequin rasbora
4 Cory Cats trilineatus
3 Oto Cats
2 German Blue Rams
2 Apistogramma Cacatuoides
1 Siamese Algae Eater
Malaysian Trumpet Snails
Pond Snails

Plants:
Jungle Val
Ludwigia repens
Hygrophila difformis
brown Cryp
Ozelot sword
Temple
Dwarf sag
Riccia fluitans
Java fern
Java moss

Here is the before with just sand and gravel. I could never get any carpet plants to grow and did not get much growth out of what I did have.

5BodyBlade · 08-22-2011, 02:48 PM

Complete teardown. Put fish and plants in rubbermaid container with existing tankwater. Used organic topsoil with Seachem root tabs and chunks of clay 3" to 1" sloping back to front.

5BodyBlade · 08-22-2011, 02:50 PM

Capped the soil with the sand/gravel mix from old setup.

5BodyBlade · 08-22-2011, 02:51 PM

Added driftwood and planted after filling slowly halfway.

5BodyBlade · 08-22-2011, 02:53 PM

Filled all the way. Let the filter do some cleaning before putting fish back in.

5BodyBlade · 08-22-2011, 02:55 PM

Took out the guts of my T8 light and replaced with 2 39W T5HO and new ballast. Bright! Getting some good growth.

5BodyBlade · 08-22-2011, 02:58 PM

Not happy with the way things are so decided to do a total rescape. First time doing actual aquascaping rather than just sticking things in open areas. Divided the tank in a 1:1.618 ratio and put the focal point, which is the triangular piece of bogwood at that mark and moving to the right.

sewingalot · 08-22-2011, 03:05 PM

Oh! I really love the rescape! Looks like a stream bank. Very nicely done. It's perfect. Now come visit and fix my planted tanks to look like that.

5BodyBlade · 08-24-2011, 06:40 PM

Thank you, it took a lot of tries to get it where I like it.

AngelfishKid · 08-24-2011, 09:09 PM

One of dustins dirt converts?

5BodyBlade · 09-03-2011, 09:09 PM

Yep. That's how I first found out about dirt.

5BodyBlade · 11-29-2011, 12:58 PM

Built a DIY light fixture hanger from electrical conduit.

5BodyBlade · 11-29-2011, 01:08 PM

Changed the wire and just used hooks. Also painted it black.

08-21-2011, 11:41 PM	#1
5BodyBlade Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Westport, MA Posts: 339	Dirt convert Pic problems scroll down __________________ http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...ml#post1486151 40B, 2x39 T5HO, Turface, pressurized co2,EI dosing Last edited by 5BodyBlade; 08-22-2011 at 02:44 PM..

08-21-2011, 11:58 PM	#2
5BodyBlade Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Westport, MA Posts: 339	... __________________ http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...ml#post1486151 40B, 2x39 T5HO, Turface, pressurized co2,EI dosing Last edited by 5BodyBlade; 08-22-2011 at 02:44 PM..

08-22-2011, 02:43 PM	#3
5BodyBlade Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Westport, MA Posts: 339	This my journal for my 46 gallon bowfront. It's been dirted for a while now, but I never posted a journal on it so there are big gaps between some steps and many changes to flora and fauna. Fish: 15 Harlequin rasbora 4 Cory Cats trilineatus 3 Oto Cats 2 German Blue Rams 2 Apistogramma Cacatuoides 1 Siamese Algae Eater Malaysian Trumpet Snails Pond Snails Plants: Jungle Val Ludwigia repens Hygrophila difformis brown Cryp Ozelot sword Temple Dwarf sag Riccia fluitans Java fern Java moss Here is the before with just sand and gravel. I could never get any carpet plants to grow and did not get much growth out of what I did have. Attached Thumbnails __________________ http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...ml#post1486151 40B, 2x39 T5HO, Turface, pressurized co2,EI dosing

08-22-2011, 02:48 PM	#4
5BodyBlade Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Westport, MA Posts: 339	Complete teardown. Put fish and plants in rubbermaid container with existing tankwater. Used organic topsoil with Seachem root tabs and chunks of clay 3" to 1" sloping back to front. Attached Thumbnails __________________ http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...ml#post1486151 40B, 2x39 T5HO, Turface, pressurized co2,EI dosing

08-22-2011, 02:50 PM	#5
5BodyBlade Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Westport, MA Posts: 339	Capped the soil with the sand/gravel mix from old setup. Attached Thumbnails __________________ http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...ml#post1486151 40B, 2x39 T5HO, Turface, pressurized co2,EI dosing

08-22-2011, 02:51 PM	#6
5BodyBlade Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Westport, MA Posts: 339	Added driftwood and planted after filling slowly halfway. Attached Thumbnails __________________ http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...ml#post1486151 40B, 2x39 T5HO, Turface, pressurized co2,EI dosing

08-22-2011, 02:53 PM	#7
5BodyBlade Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Westport, MA Posts: 339	Filled all the way. Let the filter do some cleaning before putting fish back in. Attached Thumbnails __________________ http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...ml#post1486151 40B, 2x39 T5HO, Turface, pressurized co2,EI dosing

08-22-2011, 02:55 PM	#8
5BodyBlade Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Westport, MA Posts: 339	Took out the guts of my T8 light and replaced with 2 39W T5HO and new ballast. Bright! Getting some good growth. Attached Thumbnails __________________ http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...ml#post1486151 40B, 2x39 T5HO, Turface, pressurized co2,EI dosing

08-22-2011, 02:58 PM	#9
5BodyBlade Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Westport, MA Posts: 339	Not happy with the way things are so decided to do a total rescape. First time doing actual aquascaping rather than just sticking things in open areas. Divided the tank in a 1:1.618 ratio and put the focal point, which is the triangular piece of bogwood at that mark and moving to the right. Attached Thumbnails __________________ http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...ml#post1486151 40B, 2x39 T5HO, Turface, pressurized co2,EI dosing

08-22-2011, 03:05 PM	#10
sewingalot I ♥ BBA! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (112/100%) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: WV Posts: 12,769	Oh! I really love the rescape! Looks like a stream bank. Very nicely done. It's perfect. Now come visit and fix my planted tanks to look like that. __________________ Without Algae, death of mankind would be inevitable. 55 gallon journal

08-24-2011, 06:40 PM	#11
5BodyBlade Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Westport, MA Posts: 339	Thank you, it took a lot of tries to get it where I like it. __________________ http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...ml#post1486151 40B, 2x39 T5HO, Turface, pressurized co2,EI dosing

08-24-2011, 09:09 PM	#12
AngelfishKid Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 60	One of dustins dirt converts?

09-03-2011, 09:09 PM	#13
5BodyBlade Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Westport, MA Posts: 339	Yep. That's how I first found out about dirt. __________________ http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...ml#post1486151 40B, 2x39 T5HO, Turface, pressurized co2,EI dosing

11-29-2011, 12:58 PM	#14
5BodyBlade Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Westport, MA Posts: 339	Built a DIY light fixture hanger from electrical conduit. __________________ http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...ml#post1486151 40B, 2x39 T5HO, Turface, pressurized co2,EI dosing

11-29-2011, 01:08 PM	#15
5BodyBlade Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Westport, MA Posts: 339	Changed the wire and just used hooks. Also painted it black. __________________ http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...ml#post1486151 40B, 2x39 T5HO, Turface, pressurized co2,EI dosing

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