150 Gallon - My First Serious Try - New Photos (8 July)

[150EH]

Where did you buy your lights and what did they cost you, if you don't mind. The plants look good and I'm sure they will fill in quickly with a good substrate.

I have Fissiden on my DW and I rarely trim it because it's hard to retrieve the bits, I have some other very slow growing mosses on what looks like a root that can be removed and trimmed, but the Christmas moss on you DW will look great but it may be a pain to trim. I watch a video on Amano's maintenance while waiting for a tank to mature, it was all Crypts and they used a small stiff hose kinda like the Lee's thin wall tubing and it was connected to a siphon, they would just circle every plant sucking up melted leaves ,etc. it was a nice way to clean a deep tank and something to keep in mind for both of us. There's nothing worse than relaxing watching you tank as moss tumbleweeds roll past and they attach to everything.

[2in10]

Beautiful start, love the root look to your wood, awesome job on the LED.

[fizzout]

Originally Posted by 150EH

Where did you buy your lights and what did they cost you, if you don't mind.

Those are DIY lights using Cree XML LEDs. I put some details in this thread. I think by now, I may have spent about $600 on these lights (ouch, figuring that out hurts my wallet). As for the trimming, I hope the mosses grow enough so that I need to trim. I like the idea about using a siphon to clean.

Originally Posted by 2in10

Beautiful start, love the root look to your wood, awesome job on the LED.

I appreciate your encouragement. I think this is probably the easy part. Not sure what to expect once the water goes in.

[fizzout]

Since I'm mostly waiting for the plants in the 150G to grow in, I decided to try this mini-project. Let's see what happens.

[ps3steveo]

What wattage LED's did you use on this?

[fizzout]

Originally Posted by ps3steveo

What wattage LED's did you use on this?

I am using Cree XML LEDs. They are rated nominally up to about 10 watts. I am currently running the LEDs at 2.5 amps, which results in 7.5 watts per LED.

[fizzout]

Here are some updated photos of my tank. I attached more plants to the driftwood. I also put some Fissidens on the substrate along the borders of the HC and planted Crypts in the middle. Other plants include Anubias, Bolbitis, and peacock moss. I had mini Bolbitis along one of the branches, but that was replaced with Anubias.

I uploaded several high resolution pictures here, which are updated with the latest photos.

[styxx]

Subscribed. This is one that I'm going to have to follow. I love that driftwood, wow!

[fizzout]

Originally Posted by styxx

Subscribed. This is one that I'm going to have to follow. I love that driftwood, wow!

I got those Manzanita branches from the flower market in downtown LA where I was able to choose from a very large selection. Each one cost about $25. If I had shopped around more, I might have found a better deal, but you know the saying, "time is money." Regardless, these looked acceptable at the time and now I have become accustomed to them (sounds like a relationship).

I still need to cut the zip ties where the branches are tied together. I plan to attach NLJF in the cruxes of where the branches touch and put mosses on the ends to hide the cut ends on the wood. I might attach some Riccia at the very top where one of the branches will break the water surface. At least that is the plan now (how long before Fissidens start showing signs of life?).

[Couesfanatic]

Awesome tank! I'd do 150 boraras brigittae. Now that would be awesome. That and a pair of German blue rams.

Keep us updated, I will be watching this one.

[fizzout]

Originally Posted by Couesfanatic

Awesome tank! I'd do 150 boraras brigittae. Now that would be awesome. That and a pair of German blue rams.

Keep us updated, I will be watching this one.

Thanks for the complement. I hope I can live up to the potential. I think fish are about two months (or more) away from now. In the mean time, I still have to set up the overflow, sump and filter. Also, I need to figure out how I will inject the CO2 into the water. If I procrastinate, I may be looking at a terrarium until Halloween.

[Kwitzats]

I am so jealous! Wish I had the space for a large tank.

[mrduna01]

Love it so far keep us updated!

Originally Posted by discuspaul

Just curious - why do you feel the need to keep the tank at lower temps than discus thrive in?
That would be an absolute superb tank for keeping a dozen or more adult discus, along with several schools of the tankmates that you like - such as Cardinals and a ground crew of Cories.
Many species of fish and plants can, and will, do well at temps of 82 or higher - won't you just think about it - I for one would be very pleased to help out.
It would make for an awesome showpiece !
Just to give you a little food for thought - here's my 75 gal low-tech planted discus tank - half the size of what you have - yours could easily put mine to shame:
http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/...spaul/Sept2011

Actually discuspaul convinced me NOT to give discus a try. His posts convinced me that if I can only afford small juveniles that the work and water changes it required would make it more of a chore than a relaxing hobby which would only be hightened in a planted setup. They are beautiful though!

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk 2

[fizzout]

Originally Posted by Kwitzats

I am so jealous! Wish I had the space for a large tank.

Believe me. I don't have the space either, but I'm squeezing it in. I finally gave in to the need ...

Originally Posted by mrduna01

Love it so far keep us updated!
Actually discuspaul convinced me NOT to give discus a try. His posts convinced me that if I can only afford small juveniles that the work and water changes it required would make it more of a chore than a relaxing hobby which would only be hightened in a planted setup. They are beautiful though!

Thanks for the encouragement. I would love to have discus fish, but they are too hard. And I think I like growing plants more than keeping fish, so I want to try lower temperatures to see how that works out. I can always go back.

[monkeyruler90]

Tank looks amazing and can't wait till you have the logistics figured out and this thing filled with water. Good luck man, I'm sure you can't disappoint!!!