[Yiannis]

Hello everyone!!!

I have tried many times to get it right with plants and aquascaping but for 15 years now I was never able to succeed. My passion for the natural planted aquarium has never went away and here I am now trying to fulfill my dream of a planted tank!

Here is what I have as of now:

Tank: 60cm height, 60cm length, 30cm width

Lights: Hagen glo luminary T5 HO, 2 x 24W just above the tank

Filter: Hydor Prime 30 wich gives 900L/h

Substrate: 3cm Sera floredepot capped with 3cm of sand

CO2: Paintball DIY CO2 tank with diffuser

Waiting for a few other things to arrive and will post pictures as soon as I get them.

Pictures of the tank and the stand comming soon...

 

[Yiannis]

Hello everyone,

I nearly had everything set in my room so I decided to give the tank a go and see if there were any leaks. Unfortunately a few litres along the way the tank was leaking all over the place so I stopped the process. Now the tank was a gift to me so there is not much to complaint about. Also the tank was put together by a machine and so the silicon connections are not 100% sure that are completely sealed. Now since it leaks from the bottom as far as I am concerned I will try and seal the bottom up with silicon. Here are a few pics along the way:

 

[Yiannis]

I have ordered the glass pieces to build a 60x30x45 tank. I put the glasses together yesterday with high strength aquarium silicon and today its testing day.

I also purchased Azoo substrate which looks like ADA Aquasoil. I believe this substrate will be a success.

My Eleocharis Parvulus will arrive tomorrow so I must be ready!!! I hope there are not too many leaks in the new tank.

Pictures coming soon!!!!!

 

[Yiannis]

Here is the new tank empty. I made this tank with my own hands for 30 EURO The guy at the pet shop wanted 130 EURO. I didn't do a perfect job but I saved 100 EURO

 

[Yiannis]

Here is the Azoo substrate and the rocks for my Iwagumi style. I tried very hard to find this substrate here in Cyprus. 20 Euros each bag. The rocks were from a local pet shop for 14 Euros.

 

[Yiannis]

This is my layout attempt the first time:

 

[1aqumfish]

I hope this works out for you Yiannis.

 

[Yiannis]

I wasn't happy with the depth effect of the layout so I pushed everything a little bit back:

 

[Yiannis]

So please can I have some feedback on the layout? I am leaving it until tomorrow afternoon when I will get the DHG.

Also any tips on photography?

 

[Yiannis]

Would it be wise to consider emptying the tank and continuing with Dry Start Method until it fills up?

Please consider that the temperatures are quite high at this time of the year!

 

[green_valley]

I wonder how you attach the pictures. They look so small. As for DSM, I am in SoCal, and have been having problems with DSM.

 

[Shimagoma]

I like the placement of the rocks but i wonder if it might need larger slopes in the back? or a more striking large rock feature? If youre going for the more purist iwagumi style i would DEF get maybe a larger rock to act as the catcher for you eye. the overall placement though helps carry your eye but right now it kind of comes in from the front then bounces around the mid/background and dies in the middle.

a larger feature could add a lot of movement to carry the eye to a better resting place like the open water top or to a clearing in the middle of either substrate or low plants (or sand.. lol OR another accent of an odd colored plant or something with an interesting shape (so many ideas!)