[hedge_fund]

Current 1/1/14 (last page has video and more current pics)

What's up all. I have been on this site for many years but I do not recall ever starting a journal. Figured it's about time to post in this section and chronicle my low tech set up. I'll be doing mostly crypts in this tank but at first I'll start off with a ton of hygrophila corymbosa kompakt. I actually had a ton of crypts but many melted on me during the move so I'll need to grow them out again.

I have a ton of top notch equipment that will go in this tank including co2. I am calling it low tech since the light will be dimmed and will shoot for around 30 par (I have an ATI Dimmable that will go on this tank). I will still inject co2 as I did with all my tanks in the past (this is the magic ingredient to having nice plants). I will fertilize but not very much due to the mineralized top soil.

Anyway, I'll probably be somewhat winging it and doing things as I go along since I rarely stick to original plans when it comes to aquascaping. This is why I will not list everything in this first post. Stay tuned as I will be doing weekly updates.

Tank with stand (there are panels that go on the bottom to hide all the equipment:

MTS from bamaplants.com:

Three 9l powder and two 9l normal:

Driftwood from Tom Barr:

 

[hedge_fund]

Filled the tank with MTS and aqua soil. I just threw in the drift wood without really putting too much thought into the arrangement (will re-do it all over the weekend).

 

[OVT]

Sweetness!
The stakes keep going up
Guessing a custom tank?

I see a lot of crypts in your future and will be checking back and often.

v3

 

[thelub]

great start. subscribed

 

[I<3<*))))><]

This is gonna be an epic tank... I can feel it already!

 

[SlammedDC2]

look forward to watching this

 

[Jonnywhoop]

Nice wood.

This tank is already epic.

 

[alipper]

Nice progress man. I might have to hit up Mr. Barr for driftwood in my 75G. Type of fauna?

 

[somewhatshocked]

Unbelievably awesome tank dimensions. Can't wait to see where you go with this!

 

[trailsnale]

subscribed.... looking forward to your build.

thanks,

 

[hedge_fund]

Thanks all. I ordered some plants to use for my cycle....I guess I should start soaking the driftwood today.

These plants are most likely temporary and will be changed over with "rarer" crypts once I grow them out.

 

[Greenz]

Perferct tank for a beautiful scape, cant wait

 

[bitFUUL]

Parva? 10 please!
(That's a standard answer, right?)

Sweet tank, will be following.

 

[primo]

Great tank, really looking forward to how it looks with plants and fish!

 

[ua hua]

Nice! I really like the dimensions of that tank. Did you buy that from a member on here? I thought I remember someone on here selling one like that.

Why do you feel like you need MTS with the Aquasoil?

 

[ChadRamsey]

what a great start, subscribing for sure

 

[Jack Gilvey]

Awesome.

 

[hedge_fund]

Sweetness!
The stakes keep going up
Guessing a custom tank?

I see a lot of crypts in your future and will be checking back and often.

v3

Yep, the tank was custom made which is why the dimensions are so unique.

Nice progress man. I might have to hit up Mr. Barr for driftwood in my 75G. Type of fauna?

Tom is great when it comes to the driftwood..definitely pick some up from him.
In terms of fauna I haven't really given it too much thought just yet. For now it will definitely be a ton of ottos, amanos and a giant shoal of something small such as neons (probably 100+).

Parva? 10 please!
(That's a standard answer, right?)

Sweet tank, will be following.

LOL...exactly. It literally took me 10 minutes to pick out plants and add them to my cart. Not much thought went into it for now....I just need the tank to cycle first with these cheap plants.

Nice! I really like the dimensions of that tank. Did you buy that from a member on here? I thought I remember someone on here selling one like that.

Why do you feel like you need MTS with the Aquasoil?

Yeah, I purchased it from a member on here who had it custom made in New Jersey. An impulse buy.
Their website: http://coasttocoastaquariums.com

In regards to the MTS, I like to keep somewhat rare crypts and they always did better for me when I used Aquasoil as a cap. I only used 9l of MTS so it was barely covering the bottom.

 

[Green_Flash]

Perfect shape for a shrimp foraging ground. :icon_smil

 

[ua hua]

Yeah, I purchased it from a member on here who had it custom made in New Jersey. An impulse buy.
Their website: http://coasttocoastaquariums.com

In regards to the MTS, I like to keep somewhat rare crypts and they always did better for me when I used Aquasoil as a cap. I only used 9l of MTS so it was barely covering the bottom.

That is a really sweet tank. I would take that over a ADA tank any day. I think some apistos would look good in there with all those crypts.