[somewhatshocked]

Time to start a new tank for Tigers and Cherries, as I need to shut down one of my 20Ls for a do-over.

The Stuff:

• Standard 5.5gal tank
• Fluval 30 (formerly Aquaclear 30)
• Pool Filter Sand
• Black Lava Rock
• Not sure on lighting yet
• Fissidens
• Maybe some other mosses

Here's roughly how it will look:

Gonna try to keep things simple and clean.

 

[GMYukonon24s]

Nice start with the hardscape Jake! Where do you plan on putting the fissidens? on the rock?

 

[somewhatshocked]

Yep - on the rock work.

 

[somewhatshocked]

Looks rough now but give it six weeks:

Should have some decent growth. Then I can glue bits and pieces in a few more spots.

Ideally, I would have done a "dry start" but I need to get this thing shrimp-ready within six weeks.

 

[rustbucket]

that looks really nice, will look good grown in. Although the rocks look really good bare too, almost a shame to cover them.

 

[Barbgirl]

What did you use for a glue?

 

[somewhatshocked]

The rock work isn't glued together.

Fissidens is attached with Superglue Gel.

 

[Barbgirl]

Meant to put for fissidens. It's late and my brain is not 100% functioning sorry!!

Definitely going to subscribe to this one

 

[A.D.D.i.c.t.]

Nice start with the rock work. Lots of crevices to satisfy your shrimp friends.

the addiction continues...

 

[chou]

looks amazing

 

[somewhatshocked]

Just got a new fixture from eBay that I'm toying with using on my 45-F. If it doesn't work out, I may use it on this tank instead:

Here's what it looks like:

If not that, then I'll likely suspend a spare 24" Marineland Double Bright four or five inches above the tank.

Decisions, decisions…

 

[mubender]

Bah!!!.....where did you get the black lava rocks?....only ones i can find are grill rocks and much too small.

 

[somewhatshocked]

You can do some pretty cool things with black lava rock meant for landscaping. See here.

A little reef epoxy putty and you're golden.

You should be able to get larger pieces from landscape suppliers.

 

[shmeeg]

boooooo not seeing pictures at work :/

 

[mubender]

Where did ya get them?...the lava rocks that is?

 

[somewhatshocked]

See above. They originated from a landscape supplier.

 

[Barbgirl]

Anything new going on with this?

 

[somewhatshocked]

Gonna take three or four more weeks to finish "cycling" and a while for Fissidens to grow in. Will also trim the Fissidens that's already in there and glue it in other areas.

Just a waiting game for bacteria to do their thing.

 

[somewhatshocked]

Things are finally progressing. Had to add more ammonia for the first time. Also chucked in half a bottle of Safe Start for the heck of it.

Here's hoping I can move Tigers in by early April.

There are already a couple Pond Snails doing their thing in the tank and I've been spending a lot of time staring at the nooks and crannies. May not be the most beautiful scape I've done but it's one of my favorites. Simple and natural.

 

[somewhatshocked]

The "cycle" completion is probably about a week away.

An updated cell phone shot:

Fissidens is growing, needs a trim and re-gluing soon.

Ended up trading a bunch of my Tigers for some aluminum c-channel, so I think I'll order some more wild Tigers from Rachel.

Any thoughts on plants I could add that won't totally ruin the aesthetic? I'm at a loss.

Maybe some moss glued to smaller lava rock behind the current scape.