Mr. Aqua 11.4g Blue Diamond tank/Riparium now with Super Tigers

[Nubster]

I started a thread not long ago where I was going to do a Mr. Aqua 12" cube Buddha tank. That's been placed on hold. After speedie408 unleashed his awesome Blue Diamond shrimp on us, I jumped at the chance to be one of the first to obtain these beautiful shrimp. In doing so, I decided that the 12" cube tank just wasn't enough real estate and I wanted to go with a more natural scape. So, I decided to stay frameless and being very happy with the first Mr. Aqua tank, I grabbed another. This time an 11.4g, 18.9" X 11.8" X 11.8" tank.

Plans for this tank include a large rock mound, maybe two filled with Eco-Complete and covered in moss/fissidens. There will be some other low light plants such as a handful of crypts I have on hand and some Hydrocotyle Japan hopefully to form a foreground carpet of sorts. I'll also be heavily planting my HOB filter and possibly going full riparium with the tank.

So here's the break down:

Equipment

• Tank - Mr. Aqua 11.4g, 18.9" X 11.8" X 11.8"
• Filter - AquaClear 50 HOB
• Light - Finnex FugeRay-R Ultra Slim LED Fixture +RED boost, will probably upgrade to afugeRAY soon for more medium light

Scape

• Locally collect rock and/or lava rock mounds
• Eco-Complete

Critters

• Blue Diamond neos
• Possibly Super Tigers if the water parameters cooperate

Plants

• Fissidens fontanus
• Aluminum plant
• Wandering Jew
• Pilea cadierei
• Fittonia argyroneura
• Ludwigia Hybrid Red
• Hydrocotyle Japan
• UG - included in plant package I just grabbed from FS section, doubt I'll have the lights to make it work though. Might try to incorporate it into the planted HOB.

So that's where I'm at right now.

[Nubster]

I've decided to go full rip with this...not just a planted HOB. It'll happen over time, but will happen.

[Nubster]

Tank back painted...

Prepped...



Painted...







Going out tomorrow to hunt for some rock for the scape. Look I'm going for is based off this pic taken by karatekid14....

[Jay Wee]

Have you considered Seiryu rocks? They look amazing in water. I recently got some and added it to my tank. The light reflects very nicely on the rocks.

Check it out.

[Nubster]

I did, but I don't want to pay for rocks...lol...I think I'll go that route when I setup my 12" cube though. I do love the look of Seiryu stone and your tank looks great, nice and healthy.

[Jay Wee]

Originally Posted by Nubster

I did, but I don't want to pay for rocks...lol...I think I'll go that route when I setup my 12" cube though. I do love the look of Seiryu stone and your tank looks great, nice and healthy.

Thank you sir. Can't wait to see what you do to this tank.

[MABJ]

Sweet idea on doing a Rip. I will maybe try them someday, but I'm content to watch others for now.

I use construction paper on my tanks lol. I'm a lazy guy there!

[Pablom]

I will definitely be following this!

[Nubster]

Thanks! Been watching yours as well. I'll be doing the scape in this thing this evening and flooding it. Shrimp will be here this week, not sure what day speedie is shipping. Hopefully he'll send out a PM to let us know so we can expect them.

[Nubster]

Speak of the Devil...looks like the shrimp are shipping out today so I should have them tomorrow...time to get busy!

[MABJ]

Hehe did you pick express or just live very close?

[Nubster]

Express. I hated to shell out that much but since I paid $9 per shrimp, I figured better safe than sorry. I'm on the east coast so I can't really get too much further from him. I was afraid that the shrimp would take several days to get here just going priority.

[MABJ]

Originally Posted by Nubster

Express. I hated to shell out that much but since I paid $9 per shrimp, I figured better safe than sorry. I'm on the east coast so I can't really get too much further from him. I was afraid that the shrimp would take several days to get here just going priority.

It really only takes two to three days if planned around busy times. A friend and I who shipped together are also east coast. We did express in winter but priority now. Nick's a pro packer

[Nubster]

Stand nearly done. I re-purposed an old cabinet that I had. It's really old judging by how it's built. It was in the house when I bought it. I'd have to guess from the 50's or 60's. Lady I bought my house from lived in it since 1927.

Anyways, I stripped it, repainted, and replaced the top. I went with a tile top. Mostly because that was easy and I have stuff on hand. I didn't take progress or before pics, but here's an idea...still need to re-install the doors and paint the trim around the top, which I ripped from old 2x6 from the carport I tore down and rebuilt over the winter, but that can wait...

[Nubster]

Pile of rocks I collected today, scrubbed and ready for vinegar testing and final selection...