New low light, low tech 15 journal*Rescaped 6/10/09*

[Minsc]

Now that the craziness from my recent move is starting to wind down, it is time to think about getting some tanks going!

For my 15 gallon, I can clearly see in my mind a low light epiphyte based "fantasy forest" sort of tank populated by killies. Unfortunately, in real life, my tank looks like this:



Not exactly there yet

So, first of all, my tank is going to need a new place to live, as I gave away the previous stand.
A few hours of annoying work with a significant lack of proper tools has produced something that is starting to resemble a fish tank stand:



Just a bit of plywood, some boards, sawing, sanding, staining and sealing and I'm in business

To be continued...

[Minsc]

Another week goes by, and some progress has been made!
I attached the plywood to the stand...


Unfortunately, I forgot that whole measure twice bit
Too much coffee and not enough patience will do that...
Luckily the trim board will hide that bit. Yay for idiot proof design!



So, some cutting, some sanding, some gluing, some nailing, and it looks like I'm still a few hours away from staining.


Hopefully I can sneak in some time to work on the stand this week, not having a tank is frustrating!

[fishman9809]

nice, anymore pics?

[Minsc]

Double post, sorry!

[Minsc]

Thanks fishman! I'm posting pics as soon as I get anything new to take pictures of! I know I'm in the boring part right now, and everyone is looking here to see a planted tank, and not a plodding account of how to build a crappy looking stand, but I figure I want to make this journal truly complete. The fun bits will come later

That said...

The stand is assembled! Well, minus door, but that can come later...
Here it is assembled, nails countersunk and filled:

Time for a dry fitting, everything looks good

Unfortunately the move took its toll on my painted background. That is alright, I was getting tired of the blue anyway. I'm going sans background this time. I found with my last tank, against the wall with low hanging lights produced dark shadows behind the tank that provided a lot of depth.
It always allows for draping backgrounds behind the tank for photo shoots and such as well.

Time to see how well Krylon Fuzion comes off of glass....
Turns out it comes off as well as can be hoped. That is, time consuming and tiring, but clean and without scratches.

In fact the whole tank somehow survived a 4300 mile journey in the back of a bouncy U-Hual filled with crap with nary a crack nor scratch!

With the wood filler drying, I had time to start playing with the light hanging fixture.
I'm using what seems to be the new standard in DIY construction, rigid electrical conduit. I don't have a conduit bender, so I went with pre fab pieces. They won't be as structurally sound as a single bent piece, but I think they will do just fine.


Here is the first bit of hanging hardware attached:


TOMORROW: The hanging brackets get finished and spray painted, the stand gets stained, and I fix my car so I can pass emissions and get Oregon plates!

[dekstr]

Looks like a great start!

I'm looking forward to the whole set-up put together!

The stand isn't that bad, in fact, it's a lot better than what I can build!
It's all in the planning and details, so take your time to make something quality!

Same goes for your whole set-up, take your time and it'll turn out great!

[pilau]

Can't wait to see it!

[Minsc]

Thanks guys!

Finished sanding the stand and got it stained:

I managed to get the light hanging fixtures for this and another tank put together and painted.

A little polyurethane and a couple details and this tank is ready for water!

[Minsc]

Two and a half weeks later, and finally there is some progress worth reporting.
The stand is polyed, the door is almost ready, the lighting started, hardscape acquired, and plants are in!

For substrate, I went with a mixture of soil and eco, capped with more eco. Unfortunately, the soil I have has annoying floating white bits, but I figure I'll just have to net them out when they appear.
Picture of dirt


I'm going really simple with the equipment on this one. Stealth heater, AC 30 HOB filter, and a power head aimed along the back wall. I'm hoping this will prevent stagnation when the plants grow in.


The scape is going to be based around branchy manzanita. Luckily I found a source... I wasn't planning on planting the tank just yet, but I had an opportunity to buy some needed plants I just couldn't turn down. So, now I have a planted tank! A quick trip to the LFS and I got some wendtii red and some sort of ugly floater. I need a good nutrient sponge, so the ugly floaters were necessary, even though they came with duckweed and wolfia

Oh well, what is a new tank without a new duckweed battle looming

Tank with temporary lighting:


Tank with flash:


The big picture:


The manzanita may be subject to change, I'll have to look it over for a few days. I still need rocks, and more crypts! And moss!

[Minsc]

Been a while since I've updated... It's amazing how much a new city, new job, new kitten and trying to get 2 fish tanks up and running can take out of you...

The tank is doing great! I am using 2x15 watt T6 bulbs, with reflectors I bought at the local weed grower store, and end caps/ballasts ripped out of $8 fixtures from BORG (aka Home Depot).
Who knew they are including electronic ballasts in these things nowadays?
In case anyone else feels like doing this, remember to SHIELD THE BALLAST. Otherwise you end up having to buy more, and smoke out your house ops:





The tank has passed through a fungus on the wood phase, a massive diatom outbreak, and now there is some minor BBA on some of the spiralis right under the light. Overall, it has been pretty painless.
The most work I've had to do is vacuuming out the dead diatoms and removing the floaters when they get overgrown.

I'm adding a pinch each of KNO3, K2PO4, CSM+B, CaSO4, and MGSO4 weekly, and topping the water. No water changes for this tank. The plants are all growing new leaves, and everything looks healthy

I'm still looking for C. petchii and weeping moss, otherwise it is just waiting for the plants to grow in more.

Here is the FTS:

And here is an invited guest:

The tank currently has 3 amanos, pond snails, mini ramshorns, limpets, and white worms of some sort.
It is one heck of a ecosystem currently! I have a feeling the killies will drive some of the current critters into extinction when they arrive...

[fishman9809]

Nice tank!!!!

[CobraGuppy]

nice tank, i like your hardscape.

what killies do you have in mind?

[nate_mcnasty]

what k temp are your bulbs?

[Minsc]

Originally Posted by fishman9809

Nice tank!!!!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by CobraGuppy

nice tank, i like your hardscape.

what killies do you have in mind?

I'm currently leaning towards a group of clowns, I'm thinking I can probably fit 8 in there? I'm hoping the clowns are peaceful enough to keep cherry shrimp as well, we shall see...

Originally Posted by nate_mcnasty

what k temp are your bulbs?

They are daylight bulbs from Quantum Aquatics called Lightning Rods. I think it is 7000k or so. The water has a bit of yellowish cast right now also.

[nate_mcnasty]

i thought it looked a bit yellow but the tank looks great