[Knicolas]

4/20/13:

3/25/13:

2/23/13:

2/15/13:

2/11/13:

So like the title states, this is my first planted tank. I've been doing reef tanks for the past 5 years, and recently moved to Hawaii. Since there are limits to having a reef tank here, I decided to try a planted tank. I've always wanted to do one, just never got around to it. Found a brand new ADA Mini-L on craigslist and jumped on it. That was two months ago which gives you a little idea on how slow I've been going with this whole build. So far this is what I have:

Equipment:
ADA Mini-L
Finnex Ray II LED Daylight: 7000k Dual LED Strips
Eheim 2213
Atomic CO2 Regulator V3 (ordered)
Atomic CO2 Diffuser - Inline (ordered)
Atomic CO2 Bubble Counter (ordered)

Stand:
DIY ADA Stand
- Rustoleum Ultimate Sunbleach Stain
- Rustoleum Ultimate Satin Finish
DIY Light Suspension Hanging Kit

Tools:
Do!Aqua Pincettes S (ordered)
Do!Aqua Scissors S-Curved (ordered)

Supplements:
Pfertz (N,P,K,M)
Flourish Excel

Hardscape:
Aquasoil New Amazonia (Normal and Powder type)
Ryouh Stones

Plants:
Hemianthus Callitrichoides
Dwarf Hair Grass (waiting for shipment to Aquascapes)

"To get" list:
Hydor ETH 200
CAL AQUA FLUXUS 13mm
CAL AQUA "Nano" Drop Checker

 

[Knicolas]

Here's how I built my stand. This was my first "carpentry" work I've ever done. There are some flaws but I'm pretty proud of myself. Most important, it's solid as a rock and my tank is level. Oh and in pictures you can't see the flaws haha.

Figured the easiest way was to have HD cut the wood and put it together using a Kregjig.

*notice my workbench

Drilled two holes in the back

I used Rust-Oleum Ultimate Wood Stain - Sunbleached. Finished it off with Rust-Oleum Ultimate Polyurethane Satin.

 

[Knicolas]

Here's my light setup.

I didn't like the way the Finnex Ray 2 took away from the rimless look so I wanted to hang it. Unfortunately, they don't make a hanging kit so I had to come up with a way to do so.

I found some stuff in the picture hanging section and attached them to the light.

Also picked up some wire and ferrules to hang it with.

And then comes the bars to hang the light. Didn't have any pictures of me bending the bars but basically I used one 10' conduit bar, cut it in half, and made 90 degree bends. I hate how they don't normally make any caps to cover the holes so I had to get a little creative. I used rounded wood plugs.

Painted the bars a matte black and attached them to the back of the stand. And here's what I'm left with!

 

[UDGags]

Looks good man. Very clean look.

 

[Geniusdudekiran]

Great to see a newbie starting out right. Looks like you've done a lot of research and it's about to pay off!

 

[Knicolas]

I'm still learning. It's amazing how different the planted world is different from reef tanks. If anyone says reefing is harder, I'd tell them they were wrong. It requires just as much planning and research.

 

[Couesfanatic]

nice work. this is gunna be good.

 

[kcirtappatrick]

Best of luck to you. Everything looks great! There are some stores you could check out in the Aiea / Pearl City area that might have supplies for your tank.

 

[Knicolas]

Thanks to kcirtappatrick for the tip on finding ryuoh stones!

Picked this up today:
10lbs Ryuoh Stones
9L AS New Amazonia (Normal)
3L AS New Amazonia (Powder)

I plan on using the left rock as my main rock. Anyone have any tips on breaking the other into smaller pieces? Heard this stuff can be tough.

 

[sayurasem]

Clean work on the light!

 

[acitydweller]

very nice wood work and layout. keen to see what's next!

 

[Knicolas]

So I guess slamming a rock down three stories 10 times does the trick!

Keep in mind this is my first attempt at an iwagumi layout. I'm pretty happy with it but willing to hear your opinions.

 

[plecostomouse]

looks very nice!
good work the whole setup looks clean and tidy.
the stand is very nice to!

 

[crazydog64]

If you plan on having an HC carpet over most of it the rocks really close to the substrate are likely to get buried depending on how often you trim.

 

[The Trigger]

Yeah this will be cool to see how it turns out

 

[fishboy199413]

Looks great! I am going to have to watch this one.

 

[Knicolas]

thanks for the encouraging words!

 

[Knicolas]

Decided my background plant to be DHG. I've seen on other's build threads that it has a tendency to invade HC so I placed plastic borders (from a salad container you buy from the grocery store). In some areas I used a hair dryer to make bends that wouldn't hold on it's own. Let me know what you think.

 

[Knicolas]

Will this plastic cause any problems?

 

[Knicolas]

So thanks to this link http://www.3reef.com/forums/general-reef-topics/reef-safe-plastics-leaching-myths-facts-57828.html I took out the plastic dividers just to be safe. And because I got paranoid, I even took out the soil around the dividers.

Anyway, so I had to redo my scape. Here's the old one:

To this:

I think it has a little more personality and when the plants grow in it won't over power the rocks. What do you guys think?