Reserved for update
"Pirate Cove" - My dream tank build
Hello all! So i wanted to start a journal for one of my dream scapes. There are 3 scapes/layouts that i call my dream scapes. This one is my oldest and the one i have wanted since as far back as i can remember. The main drive behind this comes from my favorite movie as a little kid - The Little Mermaid. When i was little i watched this movie several times a day with my grandmother, who first introduced me to fish tanks. I have always wanted a tank with a sunken ship in it, steming from the scene at the end with all the sunken ships at the bottom of the sea while they fight ursula.
Well now that i am an adult (or at least pretend to be :hihi: ) and have the space, its time to start making my dream a reality. This is going to be a long build, but a fun one. I wanted to make a journal not just to share, but admitedly i will need some help along the way.
This will be my first high'ish tech tank. I'll be using CO2 (non DIY) which will be a first for me. I'm not really planning on growing any plants that require CO2, but i want to have it for good growth and to bring out the best colors in my plant choices. So, onto the details!
Tank - 40 Breeder
Stand - DIY
Filtration - Aquatop AT-300
CO2 Non-DIY - Concoa/Airco dual-stage 3000psi/30psi regulator, Fabco NV-55 needle valve, JBJ style bubble counter
Lighting - Current Sat+
Hardscape - Seiryu Stone
Substrate - Play Sand
Ferts - Standard ferts, liquid macros/micros just need to calculate dosage and regime
Flora - Various Bucephalandra - primary plant of the scape
Various Anubias
Various Mosses
Hygrophila pinnatifida
Proserpinaca palustris (mermaid weed)
Fauna - Betta macrostoma
This will be a work in progess, but i figured i'd start it now to keep all my thoughts in one place. Like most of my tanks and ideas, i like to draw them out before hand. Below is a rough drawing of what i have in mind. Scale is a little off, but just to give you an idea. The ship i want to go with is 15"L 4"W 10"H. For reference, a 40B is ~36"L 18"W 16"H. Also included is a picture of the actual ship i want to order. Some big things that i would LOVE some insight on;
1. I know the ship will need work done to it to get it aquarium safe. I may have to sand it down, possibly coat it with something, remove sails, etc. The one i'm looking at is all wood. Worst case, i can always order a kit and build it myself to make sure nothing is toxic, but i really dont want to go that route as it will probly take FOREVER. Hoping to make the assembled work! What to do here...
2. The hardscape i'm pretty set on. I will play around once i get the materials to make it exact, but roughly you get the idea. Along the bases of the rock structures i'm sure i want to have Anubias nana-petite and on the log fallen on the left side i want weeping moss. Next to the ship towards the front, will be an Anubias Marbled-varigated (been saving up for this one
). Other than that, i'm open to suggestions (and would reall like some). Where would you put what? I have several buce species, anubias species, i need to get the hygro. As for mosses i have anchor, NL, mini riccia, x-mas and i'm always open to getting more mosses. I'm also thinking Proserpinaca palustris. Open to any and all suggestions for plants. This will be a buce dominant scape
3. CO2. I have done a lot of research and understand the pieces and so forth, what i'm looking for is advise on how much/big of a tank to go with for this size of setup?? Again not planning on having high demanding CO2 plants. Also, should i just buy a setup pre-built? Or build one up myself?
Lastly just tips on the general planting and design theme of this tank. Any ideas are encouraged and welcomed, even if you just have an idea for one little area of the tank! I'll be picking up the tank and starting the sump build this week, and from there it will be slowly piecing everything together. Thanks for looking everyone, i'll update as i can
Well now that i am an adult (or at least pretend to be :hihi: ) and have the space, its time to start making my dream a reality. This is going to be a long build, but a fun one. I wanted to make a journal not just to share, but admitedly i will need some help along the way.
This will be my first high'ish tech tank. I'll be using CO2 (non DIY) which will be a first for me. I'm not really planning on growing any plants that require CO2, but i want to have it for good growth and to bring out the best colors in my plant choices. So, onto the details!
Tank - 40 Breeder
Stand - DIY
Filtration - Aquatop AT-300
CO2 Non-DIY - Concoa/Airco dual-stage 3000psi/30psi regulator, Fabco NV-55 needle valve, JBJ style bubble counter
Lighting - Current Sat+
Hardscape - Seiryu Stone
Substrate - Play Sand
Ferts - Standard ferts, liquid macros/micros just need to calculate dosage and regime
Flora - Various Bucephalandra - primary plant of the scape
Various Anubias
Various Mosses
Hygrophila pinnatifida
Proserpinaca palustris (mermaid weed)
Fauna - Betta macrostoma
This will be a work in progess, but i figured i'd start it now to keep all my thoughts in one place. Like most of my tanks and ideas, i like to draw them out before hand. Below is a rough drawing of what i have in mind. Scale is a little off, but just to give you an idea. The ship i want to go with is 15"L 4"W 10"H. For reference, a 40B is ~36"L 18"W 16"H. Also included is a picture of the actual ship i want to order. Some big things that i would LOVE some insight on;
1. I know the ship will need work done to it to get it aquarium safe. I may have to sand it down, possibly coat it with something, remove sails, etc. The one i'm looking at is all wood. Worst case, i can always order a kit and build it myself to make sure nothing is toxic, but i really dont want to go that route as it will probly take FOREVER. Hoping to make the assembled work! What to do here...
2. The hardscape i'm pretty set on. I will play around once i get the materials to make it exact, but roughly you get the idea. Along the bases of the rock structures i'm sure i want to have Anubias nana-petite and on the log fallen on the left side i want weeping moss. Next to the ship towards the front, will be an Anubias Marbled-varigated (been saving up for this one
). Other than that, i'm open to suggestions (and would reall like some). Where would you put what? I have several buce species, anubias species, i need to get the hygro. As for mosses i have anchor, NL, mini riccia, x-mas and i'm always open to getting more mosses. I'm also thinking Proserpinaca palustris. Open to any and all suggestions for plants. This will be a buce dominant scape3. CO2. I have done a lot of research and understand the pieces and so forth, what i'm looking for is advise on how much/big of a tank to go with for this size of setup?? Again not planning on having high demanding CO2 plants. Also, should i just buy a setup pre-built? Or build one up myself?
Lastly just tips on the general planting and design theme of this tank. Any ideas are encouraged and welcomed, even if you just have an idea for one little area of the tank! I'll be picking up the tank and starting the sump build this week, and from there it will be slowly piecing everything together. Thanks for looking everyone, i'll update as i can
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I love themed tanks when pulled off well. Good luck
Thanks for the comments all My rough estimate, i should have all the parts to put everything together in about a month, month and a half. I already have orders going out on several of the plant species listed to start building my stocks up further.
Got a couple more rough sketches here to better estimate scale. Below, each section represents 4.5" / 4.5" as far as real distance goes. The red is rough estimate how much room the ship will take up.
I'm going to need a lot of rock.......:icon_eek: . So my immediate thought is seiryou stone. Finding exactly sized, big pieces will likely be impossible. So i'll be piecing the structures together most likely, although i want to keep the number of pieces as low as possible. If anyone has any objections and/or recommendations on stone type please, feel free to provide it The shading in the pics below is the different levels of rock. Size increasing from front to back except for the middle structure (ship bed). Again rough sketches but just a better idea of scale. Stay tuned
My rough estimate, i should have all the parts to put everything together in about a month, month and a half. I already have orders going out on several of the plant species listed to start building my stocks up further. Got a couple more rough sketches here to better estimate scale. Below, each section represents 4.5" / 4.5" as far as real distance goes. The red is rough estimate how much room the ship will take up.
I'm going to need a lot of rock.......:icon_eek: . So my immediate thought is seiryou stone. Finding exactly sized, big pieces will likely be impossible. So i'll be piecing the structures together most likely, although i want to keep the number of pieces as low as possible. If anyone has any objections and/or recommendations on stone type please, feel free to provide it
The shading in the pics below is the different levels of rock. Size increasing from front to back except for the middle structure (ship bed). Again rough sketches but just a better idea of scale. Stay tuned Attachments
This is going to have a very Oliver Knott feel....also, be the perfect tank to show a kid to totally wow them. I'm excited for this
Thanks Josh! The more and more i look, i think your right. At least for my first official C02 i'm going to get a kit/already assembled unit.
Thanks! It's going to be a fun build, this has been in the makings since i was a little guy so it has a lot of meaning to me.This is going to have a very Oliver Knott feel....also, be the perfect tank to show a kid to totally wow them. I'm excited for this
You read my mind
Once everything is set up it will be a big work in progess as far as planting, but definately gotta get some moss on that ship. Most likely mini-pellia or mini fiss. As for the treasure, i know what you mean. I'd love to have a small treasure chest inside the hull, and maybe some loose treasure around but i'll have to play that one by ear. Quick update-got some hygro pinnatifida, more roserpinaca palustris, and more nana-petite on the way to build up my stock and start cultivating for the amounts i'm going to need. Slowly but surely
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