[chocological]

Welcome to my new journal that's been almost 2 years in the making! :hihi:
I'm finally able to plant and fill within the next two weeks!
Some background. I first got this tank back in 2013 and started a journal.. but ran out of funds and other life priorities took over. I've since moved into a house and have been back at it with the tank.

Latest FTS (4/1/2015):

Journal start:

I completed the hardscape the other day, and without further ado, here it is!

So now for the mandatory equipment list.
Tank: Standard 55 gallon
Filter: Eheim 2217
Light: Catalina 4x54w Solar T5HO 48"
CO2: 10lb pressurized, custom built SS regulator assembly, custom reactor w/venturi
Substrate: ADA Aquasoil
Hardscape: Seiryu Stone, Ryuoh Stone, manzanita driftwood, ADA La Plata sand
Ferts: EI dry dosing
Other: Koralia Nano powerhead, Taam Rio 1000 powering the reactor, Eheim Skim 350

Planned flora:
Bolbitis heudelotii
Microsorum pteropus 'Trident'
Cyperus helferi
Hygrophila pinnatifida
Rotala rotundifolia
Ludwigia inclinata 'Cuba'
Hydrocotyle japan
Anubias petite
Willow moss
Fissidens fontanus
Eleocharis parvula

Planned fauna:
Glowlight Danio
Galaxy Rasbora (CPD)
Panda Cory
Amano Shrimp
Otos
Blue velvet shrimp

So I should note, I plan on having 20 or so of the Glowlights and CPD's. I'm aiming for at least 6 cory's and maybe 10 blue velvets to seed a colony.

Moar Pics:

Here's the regulator. Chrome VTS 253 A-1993, with stainless swagelok fittings, stainless Ideal needle valve, stainless Burkert solenoid... you get the picture. I spared no expense on this.

Oh, hey, it's my little Chi! I'm using it just to grow out DHG, and mosses these days. It houses some blue velvets, and amanos.

Anyway, stay tuned for more. I'll be updating with more details later!

 

[andrewss]

great looking hardscape, I bet it will look great filled and planted

 

[planttastic]

I second that! Did u glue or silicone the rocks in place?

 

[rezende]

Subscribed because of the hardscape! Very promising!

 

[Mitashade]

Hardscape looks great. Once this is mature, it'll be absolute gold.

 

[Jessica]

Beautiful hardscape! Can't wait to see this planted!

 

[treyLcham]

Wow you have a good eye for hardscaping, that's for sure! One question, how are you going to keep the CPD with the shrimp? I know that shrimp have trouble with just tetras so I would think the CPD wouldn't be good? Just wondering, I have no experience with them so I'm just wondering. If not great because I love those fish


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[chocological]

great looking hardscape, I bet it will look great filled and planted

Thanks! That's the plan!

I second that! Did u glue or silicone the rocks in place?

I wish I took photos of the process.
I put the rocks in first, and stacked them in the configuration that you see. There were gaps on the bottom but the rock "face" actually held together pretty well. I did run a bead of silicone where the rocks met the glass on the bottom of the tank to prevent the aquasoil and sand from mixing.

If you look closely, you can see I did silicone a small rock to a spot that was leaking aquasoil on the left. I plan to cover that spot with anubias anyway so it didn't matter.
But this was mostly just good old rock stacking.

Subscribed because of the hardscape! Very promising!

Beautiful hardscape! Can't wait to see this planted!

Hardscape looks great. Once this is mature, it'll be absolute gold.

Thanks! I'll try not to let you guys down!

Wow you have a good eye for hardscaping, that's for sure! One question, how are you going to keep the CPD with the shrimp? I know that shrimp have trouble with just tetras so I would think the CPD wouldn't be good? Just wondering, I have no experience with them so I'm just wondering. If not great because I love those fish

From what I've read, they may eat the baby shrimp, but for the most part the adults will be too large for them to eat. Anyway, this tank will have many hiding spots and I think they'll be all right.

 

[Charrr89]

Omg I love that drift wood!! I'm sub'd

 

[brittany.lindenthaler.9]

The hard scape looks great, following.

 

[chocological]

Trying my hand at improving my photography skills. It came out okay I guess. Trying to get as close as possible to what it really looks like.

This week I'm expecting my co2 tank to come back from the LFS. They sent it out to be filled. Hopefully I'll get a call by Wednesday to go pick it up!

 

[lksdrinker]

Fantastic looking scape! Wish I had an eye like that.

What LFS are you using?

 

[chocological]

Monster Aquarium in queens. I sourced the rock and wood online though from hobbyists. I'll be sourcing most plants online too.

 

[lksdrinker]

Monster Aquarium in queens. I sourced the rock and wood online though from hobbyists. I'll be sourcing most plants online too.

I just made my first visit there recently. Great store and what seems to be a highly knowledgeable staff. Too bad they dont have more space to work with (and that I live too far away to make it there often!).

 

[chocological]

Guess what came today!

Picked up my CO2 tank, and attached the regulator. I'm beginning the leak test now.

PSI looks good, holding here. I'll update in a few hours.

 

[chocological]

Bad news, the regulator is leaking from the relief valve. It's a 2 stage regulator, but it seems the first stage (high pressure) is blown. The second stage (low pressure) works just fine. I think I'll plug the relief valve for the time being until I can either get a new regulator or send this one out for repairs.

Sadface.

 

[Dead2fall]

Bad news, the regulator is leaking from the relief valve. It's a 2 stage regulator, but it seems the first stage (high pressure) is blown. The second stage (low pressure) works just fine. I think I'll plug the relief valve for the time being until I can either get a new regulator or send this one out for repairs.

Sadface.

You sure it's not just the relief valve itself that's bad? Or even the threads for it leaking? What pressure does it start/stop bleeding off at? I'm assuming it was used, maybe someone changed the relief valve to a lower pressure one at one point?

 

[skoram]

The hardscape looks really great! Too bad about the regulator leak. I really look forward to seeing what this will look like once it's filled in.

 

[chocological]

You sure it's not just the relief valve itself that's bad? Or even the threads for it leaking? What pressure does it start/stop bleeding off at? I'm assuming it was used, maybe someone changed the relief valve to a lower pressure one at one point?

The relief valve is set to 400psi. The leak brought it completely down to 0 from 800 last night. I'm not sure if it leaked out to 400psi and then leaked from somewhere else, or what. All I know is that the water/soap spray showed the relief valve leaking from the valve itself when I tested it.

I've got a plug on it now, and it seems to be holding okay. I sprayed all of the connections and I can't spot any leaks at the moment.

If all goes well, I'll be making a plant buy tomorrow, and fill early/mid next week. :icon_frow

 

[Dead2fall]

Well a 400psi relief valve won't do any good whether it's good or bad. Unless I'm mistaken and it's there to blow off in case high pressure makes it past the first stage protecting the second stage?