roybot73. twenty gallon long.

[roybot73]

Well, after a long while of reading everything I could off of this site and as many others as i could find, and after building the birch stand and amassing lots and lots of equipment, it's finally in place and awaiting plants.

Stand.


Gear.


Hardscape.


Feel free to comment and weigh in with advice, tips, or suggestions.

Thanks!

[pleco4me]

WOW, i love the hardscape, look forward to the planting

[MrJG]

Off to a great start man! I really love the stand's extra height. Hardscape is rockin' I'm not saying to change a thing, its obvious you have planned ahead. I'm looking forward to watching this one mature.

Have you hooked the CalAqua pipes up to the filter tubing yet? Thoughts on those as far as initial quality?

Did you build the stand yourself? It really does look like a top notch job.

[fshfanatic]

Originally Posted by MrJG

Did you build the stand yourself? It really does look like a top notch job.

and after building the birch stand

I am thinking probably so..

[Dan in Aus]

wow it looks great so far i am curious to how it will turn out. Subscribed

[NeverEndingNinja]

Absolutely beautiful setup! Can not wait to see what you do with the plants. I'd definitely say this should be a minimalistic style aquascape, with very few plants, just to accentuate your wonderful hardscape.

[roybot73]

Wow! Thanks alot everyone!

MrJG:
Those are actually "Powermen" brand pipes off the 'Bay. $45 ish shipped. The Cal Aqua intake is too long to fit in/on a 20L, so I bought an ADA 60P to put them on I've got 5/8" x 1/2" barbed nylon reducers on the XP1 tubing. Haven't had the filter running yet, but the 1/2" id tubing from Home Deep seems to fit pretty well -- not too tight, not too loose -- it's some work to get it off. They're kind of thinner than I expected, but don't seem overly fragile. Same deal with the CalAquas -- a bit thinner than I expected.
I did make the stand, and will try to post pics tomorow...


Plants are to be:
HC (of course!)
Dwarf Hairgrass
Blyxa Japonica
Anubias Petite
Anubias Nana
Green Crypts (maybe... on order, but not sure yet)
Ludwigia Arcuata

Thanks again !!!

[roybot73]

MrJG -

It's basically a box that's been biscuit joined, and pocket screwed to hold it together. Really simple construction.

I had been planning it for a while, then I saw this : http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ph...-90cm-ada.html
which really really inspired me to get it done.

[fishscale]

That is a beautiful stand. Need to get my hands on some tools and learn more about woodworking/

[roybot73]

Her are a few (crappy) pics of the cabinet build. I didn't go crazy documenting the process -- I just wanted to get it finished...

I'll probably do the same thing for my 60p, but with one door, and no handle. Maybe in maple. Who knows -- I'll get there when I get there

Highly Technical Drawings.



A Pile of Boards.



Glue Up.



Full Frontal
The birch has some amazing depth to it, and the curly maple handles were dyed with Iron Buff -- which is just distilled white vinegar with some super fine steel wool soaked in it and strained off -- brush it on, wait for it to dry, and you get a very cool metallic grey stained maple.



Rear View.



Cheers!

[roybot73]

I'm hoping today's the day. I think my plant orders should be delivered, and if so, I'll be a-plantin' and a-fillin' when I get home from the salt mines.

A few weeks back I set up and cycled a 29 gallon I had in the basement to serve as a plant holding tank. Stopped by the LFS 2 days ago and picked up 12 Threadfin Rainbows, 3 Otos, and 8 Amanos.

I was considering CPD's (which they had for $5.99!!!) or Ember Tetras for this tank, but when I saw the Threadfins I was sold! Those are quite possibly the most understatedly beautiful fish I've ever seen, and when the males display (which they're doing alot), they're breathtaking.

come onnnn plaaaantssss

[jinx©]

Off to a beautiful start and great work on that stand.

[Wasserpest]

Patience, grasshopper. Plants should arrive today, if not, then tomorrow.

Good USPS seemed to be a bit overwhelmed on Tuesday. Shouldn't take that many vacation days!

[roybot73]

I hear that on the vacay days!
Your plants arrived this morning, (thanks a million! Looks like a big 'ol bundle!!!) but I'm still waiting for orders from 2 other places!!!

[frozenbarb]

Were the plants frozen?? Its very cold in NY and im afraid my plants will freeze.