[ConfidentBlue]

As of 7/6/14 this tank was broken down and moved to its new location. The new scape has been started on page 3! Looking for ideas and feedback!


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[STRIKE]Hello all!

This is the start of my ADA 60P Iwugami Journal. I've been acquiring the layout materials over the past few months and currently have the tank hardscaped. I took about a week to get it where I wanted it, slowly working and re-arranging and the scape has been completed for about two weeks now and I haven't had any real urge to make changes so I think I'm done with it.

The substrate slope has been shored up using pieces of cheap plastic cutting board material I picked up at Target so hopefully it'll stay put (The slope that wasn't re-enforced in my 36Gal eroded away and is now flat so trying to learn from my mistakes).


I recently purchased a 100gal per day 7 Stage DI/RO Unit from PureWaterClub (AWESOME customer service) and have it up and running as of today.

Any recommendations and constructive feedback is welcome. [/STRIKE]

Stay Tuned!

Equipment:

• ADA 60P + ADA Mat
• ADA Thermometer
• [STRIKE]IKEA Besta with door + IKEA Chrome Legs[/STRIKE]
• DIY Light Stand
• Eheim 2215
• BML 6300k Dutch 24" Fixture + Dimmer+ Hanging Kit
• Neptune APEX Controller
• Hydor 200w Inline heater
• Glass Lily Pipes On order
• Alum 10lb CO2 tank, Victor Regulator, IDEAL Needle Valve with ADA Beetle Counter and ADA Pollen Glass.

Layout + Substrate:

• ADA Amazonia
• Approx. 25lbs Manten Stone
• Bacter 100 and Tourmaline BC

Fauna:

• 
  [[STRIKE]10]Amano Shrimp
  [6] Ottos
  [3] Nerite Snails[/STRIKE]

Plants

• 
  [STRIKE]HC Cuba (removed a significant portion)
  Dwarf Hair Grass[/STRIKE]
  Downoi
  [STRIKE]S. Repens[/STRIKE]
  [STRIKE]Cyperus Helferi[/STRIKE]
  [STRIKE]Christmas Moss[/STRIKE]
  Trithuria sp. "Blood vomit" (4)
  Ammania sp bonsai (5)
  Eriocaulon sp. cinerum (4)
  Eriocaulon sp. "Shiga" (1)

 

[ConfidentBlue]

Full tank Shots:
Planting:

1month:

 

[ConfidentBlue]

Update as of 3/7/14
Tank is filled




As of 3/19/14



As of 4/10/14


As of 5/2/14

 

[Dantrasy]

Looking great so far.

About the filter, I'd consider something a bit bigger than a 2213. At least a 2215, even a 2217.

I use rodi too. What tds is your tap water? When you fill the tank for the first time (I know that's a long way off) aim for a tds of 120-130. If you monitor tds like me, you'll want to get a measuring pen.

 

[ConfidentBlue]

Looking great so far.

About the filter, I'd consider something a bit bigger than a 2213. At least a 2215, even a 2217.

I use rodi too. What tds is your tap water? When you fill the tank for the first time (I know that's a long way off) aim for a tds of 120-130. If you monitor tds like me, you'll want to get a measuring pen.

Thanks for the recommendations for the filter!

My TDS straight out of the tap is 160 (well water) but it's extremely hard. I went with RO/DI for when I start doing shrimp, that and I like to be able to modify the parameters of the water to my liking so figured it would be a good investment. Plus i know in the future I'm going to want to do a Nano Reef tank, really thinking about a Ada 60-F =)

 

[ConfidentBlue]

:bounce:I know its been about a month but I finally received my BML 63k Dutch Light last week so I had ordered my plants. Received them on Weds and got the majority of the planting done yesterday. I'm pretty excited to finally start the DSM on this thing. I purchased some Christmas moss with my order but the majority of it was brown when I received it. I hope I can bring it back to life!

In other news, I purchased an Apex controller and should be receiving it on Thursday! I know most people would say its not needed but I figure the investment is worth it since eventually (hopefully soon) I will be starting my first Saltwater Mixed Reef tank in my living room and I wanted to have a piece of equipment to really help protect my investment. The Apex will do just that and I can use it now for my FW planted tanks as well.

Short-Term things to accomplish: :fish1:
Purchase Canister Filter, In-Line Hydor Heater, Lily Pipes
Program Apex (Timers, sunrise-sunset)
Purchase Dosing Pumps and dosing containers for EI
Decide if I'm doing a Shrimp or Micro-Fish tank

Onto the photos: Sorry the quality wasn't quite what I expected

^ Showing some prep-work. Each pot of HC Cuba was cut into 6 smaller "plugs" for planting, same thing with the DHG.


^I used dividers in this tank quite a bit to A. Shore the substrate to prevent erosion, as well as dividing the areas where I am planting DHG close to HC Cuba in order to try and prevent inter-mixing of the two plants.









^showing everything including fixture hanger

Thats it for now. will continue updating and I'll post some pics after I determine where I want to put my Christmas Moss. I'm going to try DSM with that as well.


I'm open to comments as well as constructive criticisms.

Thanks for looking!

 

[AquaAurora]

Looking good, keep us posted on the plant growth progress ^^

 

[Down_Shift]

That's gonna look super nice when it's flooded!

 

[ConfidentBlue]

Looking good, keep us posted on the plant growth progress ^^

Thanks, I will. Hardest part right now is figuring out how much I need to mist it. I might need to add more water to the substrate being as that it soaked up the majority of it and I think I need more. It seems whenever I go in to check on it the plants are dry on the leaves. I might go down and see about picking up a fogger they use for reptiles and frogs.

That's gonna look super nice when it's flooded!

Thanks! I'm pretty excited about it. I finally took my time on a project instead of rushing it and really thought about the layout so hopefully it'll pay off!

 

[ConfidentBlue]

^Christmas Moss is in, I'm really hoping it'll keep improving and get healthy again. Shipping was hell on it apparently. I've seen improvement since I received it while it's been in my QT so hopefully it'll keep recovering. If it doesn't, maybe the excess I have in the other tank will. When it grows in hopefully it'll have an effect of green covered mountain tops


^Set up a mister. Have it set up to spray 2 seconds every 4 hours. It'll adjust it as I see fit. Hopefully this will make it easier to maintain the humidity in the tank and I don't have to stress about it when I'm at work.

 

[Charrr89]

Subscribed!

 

[ConfidentBlue]

1 Month Update:
Still doing DSM but I haven't seen much change really. Some of the HC is dying and thinning out while other bunches are going strong. The soil is moist but no puddles on the surface (originally had it too wet and white mold was starting to come in). I've noticed the root system is growing in so thats a good sign, but I was expecting it to be growing better by now . I'm tempted to just fill the tank and give er a go. I've got my Neptune APEX controller set up and controlling the BML Dutch light. 0500 hours to 1700 hours with a 5min sunrise and sunset. Rest of the time the light is set to 100% brightness.

Any ideas to help me out? I've seen others with short DSM that is already carpeting and everything growing good. I'm getting frustrated haha.








At least some of the moss that I missed when i was taking out is green so I suppose it's humid enough.

 

[Hyzer]

I read somewhere that the two most common mistakes in the DSM method are sealing the tank completely and misting with water that has excessive nutrients. You want to allow for air exchange and keep it humid, but not too humid. It's also best to let the HC get nutrients from the substrate, not the misting.

 

[ConfidentBlue]

I read somewhere that the two most common mistakes in the DSM method are sealing the tank completely and misting with water that has excessive nutrients. You want to allow for air exchange and keep it humid, but not too humid. It's also best to let the HC get nutrients from the substrate, not the misting.

Thanks. Maybe ill try leaving the back of the tank open since my schedule is hectic right now with work. I'm using RO\DI water in the mister so I know it's not the water giving excess nutrients. I might need to set it to mist more frequently. Right now I have it set for 6 Seconds every 12 hours


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[TDV]

Did you buy your HC in emersed form or submersed form? Mine was emersed already so it took off pretty quickly, but if you get it submersed it may take time to get used to not being in water. Looks like you are getting some runners now though, so it should start filling in pretty soon!

 

[ConfidentBlue]

60P- "Soul's revival" DSM Started!!!!!!!! Photo Heavy

Did you buy your HC in emersed form or submersed form? Mine was emersed already so it took off pretty quickly, but if you get it submersed it may take time to get used to not being in water. Looks like you are getting some runners now though, so it should start filling in pretty soon!

I'm not real sure if it was emersed or submersed. I got it from aquarium plants.com and I think the majority of their product is submersed already.
Well see looks like their are some runners but well see hopefully it'll start growing better


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[Hyzer]

Thanks. Maybe ill try leaving the back of the tank open since my schedule is hectic right now with work. I'm using RO\DI water in the mister so I know it's not the water giving excess nutrients. I might need to set it to mist more frequently. Right now I have it set for 6 Seconds every 12 hours


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You probably want to mist less frequently than twice a day. I think just a couple times a week would be fine, depending on how large of a crack you have in your plastic wrap. That's what i'm doing now and it seems to be working.

 

[ConfidentBlue]

You probably want to mist less frequently than twice a day. I think just a couple times a week would be fine, depending on how large of a crack you have in your plastic wrap. That's what i'm doing now and it seems to be working.

I guess I'm just having a hard time not misting less than what I am currently. The soil looks too dry if I don't do at least once every 12. Maybe I'm just paranoid about it being too dry.


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[Brian_Cali77]

I'm really liking this tank build. Great choice on lighting and I like how that light hanger came out. The hardscape came out cool too... can't wait to see how this fills in

 

[ConfidentBlue]

I'm really liking this tank build. Great choice on lighting and I like how that light hanger came out. The hardscape came out cool too... can't wait to see how this fills in

Thanks Brian. Hopefully everything will recover and fill in. The light hanger was easy to do and I'm happy with how it turned out. I left a decent amount of pipe below the two mounting brackets on the side of the stand for vertical adjustment of the lighting as well as the dimming capability of the BML Dutch fixture so I've got a lot of flexibility as far as that goes.


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