Here I will post my triumphs and downfalls as I setup my 20L shrimp tank. Its coming together but still has plenty of work to be done before it gets flooded. I will keep info brief but will answer any questions. This wont be fully fully jumped into until after we move when winters over but i gotta get somethin goin
Jake, its coming. Still plenty to do before its running, and after having black backgrounds on 2 of my tanks, the rest will probably also always have it
To do:
-Shelf (or 2)
-Doors
-Substrate/ Plan scape
-Background
-Cycle
At first i will probably only have moss, then plant after the move
Decided to knock out a couple easy things today, cut shelving and grabbed some black posterboard for background... I left more space at the bottom of the cab incase i ever decide to get a can filter but i doubt ill convert over for this tank... So it will probably house big bottles that wont fit on the small shelves. Also... Possible co2 one day in that area? Who knows...
I believe ive found my wood for this tank . Just not sure how i want it yet... I know id like to keep the right side open for a SS mesh xmas moss bush and feeding/viewing. I also want to add moss or fissidens to one of the upward angles of wood... Slowly but surely! Should be adding doors this week, substrate next weekend
I like what you've done with the cab so far - the flat black looks great and I really like the juxtaposition of it and the interior woodgrain in the third pic. The new shelving would look good with a coat of black as well, even though you'll more than likely be the only one to really see the interior. Good idea on leaving the open space at the bottom.
Look forward to seeing what you do with the doors - I say keep it simple with minimal fussing but maybe you could do something unique there considering the diy approach and the time you have. Instead of solid I could even see couple basic door frames with the center portions consisting of ss mesh (this would look great but probably a bit cost prohibitive), minimal-gauge chicken wire or even some black window screen...
And as for the background, is there a tried and true, more preferred method for attaching the black posterboard? I can think of several ways but I assume there is a "standard" for this.
My only addition might be to add another vertical dw-piece to the scaped side, creating a bit more dimensional cover/depth there and furthering the fissi-attachment possibilities. Diamond black sand would look great and definitely lend itself to the overall aesthetic.
Thanks for the comments! I also thought about painting the shelves, but i feel if i did that, i would probably just do the whole cab (inside) because itd look even weirder with black shell, black shelves, and pine color interior lol.
Had not thought about framing something for the door because of noise issues. Id like to keep it as quiet as possible and i also have a 1yr old daughter i dont want grabbing at the screens.. It IS a good idea thought for down the road!
For backgrounds im not sure what the standard is either. . I have used blue sticky tack and double strenght double sided tape. The sticky tack might drop the background every now and then (once a month) but i like how its easier to remove/adjust compared to the double sided tape aka super glue LOL.
I shouldve taken multiple angle pics, i did try to worry about all aspects and viewing angles, and im trying to stay away from too much "vertical" because i recently read some "shrimptech" and want to set this up more as a breeder tank, with slight emphasis on aesthetics... Especially for now...
Ugh, its driving me nuts that I have to wait on someone else to get these doors going, wish I had the tools and Id be setting this thing up right now... last thing left is the doors! Just ordered some salty shrimp gh+ so ive literally got everything i need except the dang doors :/ oh and some fissidens coming
Used a plate and plastic bag to fill. Dustiest substrate ive dealt with to date!! Last night I couldnt see an inch into the tank. This morning I can see the filters, but not the airhoses connecting them. Hopefully tomorrow its a bit more clear!
Also, im no longer happy with my aquascape as both pieces of wood FLOATED on me!! They sunk instantly in the bath tub, but I guess the few days of sitting around let them really dry out. so they are currently floating at the top of the tank, which means i will have cloudy water again whenever I add the DW back into the mix. I tried to do a water change just to clear things up... but the water I sucked out was clear as well, I said whatever and dumped it back in.
It will take care of itself... Besides the wood, I wont be messing with it much the next few weeks!!
There was just a thread, where a guy tested mine out!!
medium light at substrate and high light towards upper level.
Yes, I am worried about algae because I wasnt even going to dose this tank with co2 booster as there will just be moss/fissiden
But I think I am going to HAVE to dose co2 just to keep algae at bay. this is correct to think right??
Its a GREAT light IMO especially for the money. I REALLY want to get one for my 10gal RCS tank next but I just want to get this up and going before I blow more money
-edit-
Found the link, my light is the first one. says PAR 45 at substrate...
See the double head air pump? Its the cheap version. WHY IS IT SOOOO QUIET? Puts the one for double price to SHAME. it is pumping my 4 double sponge filters NO problem, VERY quiet. thats crazy to me. I thought I'd have to have that for 2, and have a completely different airport and split that one for the other 2. Very happy camper.
Those aqua culture pumps are great. Good bang for the buck. Is that a single or double bright beamswork? I'm considering that light myself for a 20l but aiming for medium light area
Never mind, just saw its the double bright. Thanks
Neither of the woods are sinking, I glued 1 to a tile, and dont think im going to use the other. Might just grow fissidens on the one I glued. have the 2x2 xmas moss bush, and maybe fissidens on the rock?? Will add cholla wood for sure.
This came today
And lastly, this doesnt belong here but heres a picture of what will go in this tank.
A stubborn piece of wood I tell yai even added a tile and its floating. Guess ill wait a few days and see. Added fissidens. Where would you put this? I was thinking left side, peak facing towards front of tank, rotated towards the center of the tank. Make snse? Like flowing left to right
I did a huge 5gal water change yesterday and added bee shrimp gh+, tested it, and it came out perfect! So I did the change.
Question is, I need to do as LITTLE water changes as possible to keep the aquasoil living longer right? (more water changes equals more water buffering for it) ??
So, I this was my 2nd "big" wc, 5g~ each time. I plan on letting it sit for 4 weeks, testing parameters, and then doing one last 5g change with remineralized water.
Does that sound like a good plan? Since only have of my tank technically has the right parameters in it?
Remember... not planting yet. Plan to add cholla wood and even a cholla wood breeding tunnel. Also alder cones and such... I also added another 2x2 xmas moss square figured it grow twice as quick right lol
white/brown/black stuff is slowly going away... time for a top off!
FTS, things are growin! Floaters need to hurry up and spread
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