Tom's 180 wood scaping

[plantbrain]

So stop yer naggin, at least there's some water and some plants in it.
I've been looking for some nice wide leaf red plants to contrast and think I found a nicer type of A reineckii.

It will be at least 3 weeks or more to run the tank with water up to the top.
Need for the HC to grow in well and then I can flood.

I've had some water in it for the last 1-2 weeks, this was filter sponge and tank water. Seeding the new tank basically.

The sediment will be well cycled.
I'll add some "sponge squeezed juice" (Mulm) to the OC filters when I fire the sucker up.

Timers, electric are all done, just need to add tubing to connect the ball valves to the filter ends, snap the hosing together good etc.
I am using 1/8" lexan hood tops in 24x24 sizes, these can be cut to accommodate the wood poking out at one end and allow much better light transmission.

And each 2x2 ft piece fits the other sized tanks.

For 2 of the tanks, I do not use hoods at all.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[chasely]

Looking good Tom.

If someone wouldn't mind answering this for me...what is HC?

I've tried to do searches but HC is too short to do.

Chase

[lauraleellbp]

Hemianthus callitrichoides ; check it out in the Plant Profiles

[gmccreedy]

Tom, is that wood presoaked or are they destined to become mooring buoys for a while?

Glad to finally see plant pics on the 13th page of this thread. Was starting to think this thread was in the wrong section.

[plantbrain]

Originally Posted by gmccreedy

Tom, is that wood presoaked or are they destined to become mooring buoys for a while?

Glad to finally see plant pics on the 13th page of this thread. Was starting to think this thread was in the wrong section.

The wood was pulled from a creek near the coast.
Plenty soaked.

The wood has been glued with silicone to the tank bottom, it ain't going anywhere.

It turns almost jet black when water hits it.
Most of the plant choices are rather bright, the wood is very dark, so this makes for a nice contrast.

Fish choices vary.
The Red Ark pencils will look very nice, but the cardinals will look best against the darker areas. But looking at some open bright tanks, cardinals still look pretty nice, I just think they look best against a darker color. But I cannot have everything I desire in one larger tank.

The thread is really one that details out how, why, changes, the entire process, not just a tank and planting and seeing if it does well.

Since I made a lot of the things myself, and I am a full time PhD student, and I work as well, Bike, run, travel etc, it's not like I have that much time to devote.

So it can take me awhile, but clients need things done right and done yesterday, this comes second.

But, I also learn a lot everytime and like to reflect, implementing what I've learned.

Seeing if the large scale of the dry start method is effective for example.
Seeing if the parallel plumbing schematic works nicely, noise reduction, light hanging fixtures, no cords or hoses visible from the outside, yet another example of a tank where you clearly do not need power sand , a tank that is easy to garden(perfect height for me pruning and a sitting viewer).

I'm in no rush.

All the ideas and smaller scale test need to be implemented and verified.
Cannot talk the talk without walking the walk.

So no pics until the HC grows in good(2-3 weeks or so).
It's in the 70-90's here, so the temps are good for growing HC.
I just have the PC's on for 10 hours now.

So essentially, the tank is set up and I'm not doing any water changes to cycle it, to remove excess NH4, to worry over replanting HC, making a mess, no labor. All the good fruits of doing the Dry Start method.

The bacteria will be well established, HC will be healthy, thick and well rooted(and as far as cost, the amount hat grows in will be worth about 200-300$ in savings).

Then I'll fill the tank, then add lots of fast growing stems and have it up and running. From there, add some fish and Amano's/Cherries. After the stems are growing well, the MH's will be fired up.

Folks that get all impatient pay the price.
Heck, we all have seen that more than we can count.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[CobraGuppy]

i cant wait.

in the current pic, in the back right side of the tank, theres that little output nozzle thing that can turn.

Is it just there or is that your output?

thanks!

[plantbrain]

There are actually two of them.
Yes, those are the returns from the filter.

There are no hoses and siphon tubes at the surface or sides, the tank is drilled and filtered through the bottom.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[fishscale]

Originally Posted by chasely

Looking good Tom.

If someone wouldn't mind answering this for me...what is HC?

I've tried to do searches but HC is too short to do.

Chase

To do a search for things like HC and EI, you can go to google and type in

HC site:www.plantedtank.net

and it will search just within the site.



Tom, the Aquasoil would explain it. I assume it's not very light? I tried this with SMS, which makes craters when my shrimp poop.

[plantbrain]

Update:
Made custom lids for the tank, cut out for the wood rising above the surface at one end.
HC has grown in about 1" or so so far.

Regards,
Tom Barr

BTW, plant fest has been planned for this year!

http://www.barrreport.com/plantfest/...ed=1#post24791

[jaidexl]

Originally Posted by plantbrain

Made custom lids for the tank, cut out for the wood rising above the surface at one end.

I'd like to see how that turned out. I'm in a dilemma now where I'll most likely have to sacrifice chosen stock for emergent limbs. I don't think I can pull off a cover with multiple branches sticking out at different angles. :/

[stargate_geek]

Originally Posted by plantbrain

BTW, plant fest has been planned for this year!

http://www.barrreport.com/plantfest/...ed=1#post24791

And of course I have to 'get into' fish after I move away from Florida! But just for clarification (I have friends there still) is it a collection trip?

Post pictures of the top you made

[Orlando]

Its going to be fun!

[Badcopnofishtank]

I noticed that the one return is angled up and towards the back glass. How many intakes / returns do you have? Do you have any photos of your plumbing (intake / returns) beneath the substrate?

Sorry for all the questions; just finishing the plumbing on my 190 and this is a great example of how to do it right.

[helgymatt]

I think he has one intake and one outake. The outtakes is locline with a Y leading to two outtakes. He has two ocean clears that are run parallel.

[A Hill]

Looks good Tom!

That plantfest sounds like one fun time. Is it always in FL or do you go here and there around the USA? Next year I think I'll be going to FL for a week and want to do some different stuff and might have to pm you about the directions to which park to see the best plants. Did some kayaking in Longboat key last year in the mangroves and that was neat.

When is the water coming ?

-Andrew