23G Rimless Community Tank Build

[octanejunkie]

I continue to be inspired by some of the great planted aquariums I've seen here and there, I jumped on an opportuynity to pickup a new CAD Lights ZEN 23G Rimless tank through a group buy over at SCAPE. Thanks Carlo!

I'm planning on setting it up on the counter between our kitchen and living room so the tank can be seen from 3 rooms. Here is where it will live

I'm considering all the styles of tank, obviously featuring lush and verdant planting, a visually captivating hardscape of rock and wood, and a mix of peaceful species for our viewing pleasure. There will be no back and nothing will touch the rim except for the pipes, the light will be suspended from the cabinet above hovering 4-10" over the top of the water.

Looking at layout ideas over at tropica.com for inspiration and process - pretty sure I'd like to dry start this tank. I'm leaning towards something like Layout 77 as I can adapt it to provide a 2-sided view, it features plants and livestock I want to stock and will look stunning if executed well.

Here are the stats of the setup as planned for now:
Aquarium: CAD Lights New ZEN
Volume: 23 G
Dimensions: 23.5" x 14" x 16" H
Substrate: AS Amazonia
Decoration: Manzanita Wood, Petrified Wood and/or Seiryu stone
Light: BML Dutch 6300° LED (or 2 x Finnex Ray2 LED)
Photo Period: 8 hours total (two 4-hour periods per day) or as required
CO2: YES
Temperature: 77° F (or ambient So Cal)
Filter: single Eiheim 2215
Pipes: BorneoWild 13mm
Fertilization: 3ml Tropica Specialised per day
Livestock: Neon tetra, H. Amandae, T. Espei, CAE & inverts like shrimp & snails

I will do my best to post more photos and links, especially of the layout development, item selection and eventually the dry start build

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

Exciting...New build! Following

I love that tropica site...very inspirational. It's great how they have layouts numbered like that with species of plants.

So interesting choice in fertilizing method. What does that entail exactly?

Lighting? BML all the way! Haha

And what made you decide to go with BW filter pipes? Are those glass or SS? I heard all their stuff is nice (not to mention spendy).

 

[Jkeating8]

Exciting...New build! Following

I love that tropica site...very inspirational. It's great how they have layouts numbered like that with species of plants.

So interesting choice in fertilizing method. What does that entail exactly?

Lighting? BML all the way! Haha

And what made you decide to go with BW filter pipes? Are those glass or SS? I heard all their stuff is nice (not to mention spendy).

I think he got the same pipes I did. Mine were sold as borneowild, too.

 

[Jkeating8]

Following along, Mike! Glad you're doing co2. It makes everything much, much more fun.

 

[Billbug68]

I'm following...

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

I think he got the same pipes I did. Mine were sold as borneowild, too.

Oh cool.. didn't realize you have those too. How do you like them?

 

[octanejunkie]

I love that tropica site...very inspirational. It's great how they have layouts numbered like that with species of plants.

So interesting choice in fertilizing method. What does that entail exactly

I'm doing a lot of research through tropica as that community is really well established and creative... like the youghurt moss culture method, I love that.

I might make life easy and stick with Flourish and Excel + CO2 (need bottle, regulator, etc)

Lighting? BML all the way! Haha

I am actually leaning towards the Ray2, I saw a few of them in the recent past and they are super bright, and 1/2 the price of BML. I need to save my pennies for the purchase pending below...

And what made you decide to go with BW filter pipes? Are those glass or SS? I heard all their stuff is nice (not to mention spendy).

I'll be picking up a set of "used" BW SS pipes from a fellow SCAPE member that is tearing down his 60P - I might pickup his filters too: a pair of Eheim 2211s in series

Since I'm dry starting I have no problem waiting... I hope

 

[octanejunkie]

Following along, Mike! Glad you're doing co2. It makes everything much, much more fun.

Do me a favor guys, hit me up with your CO2 rig components, please

I already have a glass diffuser (2 actually, one spiral and one standard with separate drop checker) and a pair of one-way valves from the SCAPE auction on Sunday. Bill was there as I finished a sentence saying I wasn't going to go CO2 and then I bid on diffusers... I'm whack

I'd like to know which cylinder and regulator (or tank and regulator) setup to go with

 

[Jkeating8]

Oh cool.. didn't realize you have those too. How do you like them?

I like them alot. For 35$, they look good and are durable. The create a nice vortex, too.

 

[Jkeating8]

Do me a favor guys, hit me up with your CO2 rig components, please

I already have a glass diffuser (2 actually, one spiral and one standard with separate drop checker) and a pair of one-way valves from the SCAPE auction on Sunday. Bill was there as I finished a sentence saying I wasn't going to go CO2 and then I bid on diffusers... I'm whack

I'd like to know which cylinder and regulator (or tank and regulator) setup to go with

I have the UP AQUA Dual Gauge reg from amazon, a marineland timer, and a glass diffuser. Works great. I also have the aquatek adapter for a 24oz paintball tank. I'm going to get a 5 pound tank soon. It's much more economical.

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

If you go Ray 2, you'll want to get the Monster Ray later as a supplemental light to it. The Ray 2 is bright but it also washes out colors. I know your planned scape is going to involve all green, so the Ray 2 will do well. However, it sucks at red plants and makes them look muted and they fade to green... are you planning on two Ray 2's?

If you want to get two, maybe two Fugeray Planted Plus would be better?

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

I like them alot. For 35$, they look good and are durable. The create a nice vortex, too.

35$ isn't too bad... I thought they were much more expensive.

 

[Billbug68]

Two Ray 2s seems like an awful lot of light... No?

 

[octanejunkie]

I have the UP AQUA Dual Gauge reg from amazon, a marineland timer, and a glass diffuser. Works great. I also have the aquatek adapter for a 24oz paintball tank. I'm going to get a 5 pound tank soon. It's much more economical.

I find a few on amazon...
UP Aqua
Amazon.com: U.P. Aqua Co2 Reguator w/double gauges: Pet Supplies

OR

Aquatek
Amazon.com: Basic AQUATEK CO2 Regulator with COOL TOUCH SOLENOID: Pet Supplies

I think I like the Aquatek...

 

[octanejunkie]

35$ isn't too bad... I thought they were much more expensive.

BW SS pipes for $35? where?

 

[octanejunkie]

Two Ray 2s seems like an awful lot of light... No?

One to start off with and a reserve unit in case the first one dies, or I buy another 60P tank

 

[octanejunkie]

If you go Ray 2, you'll want to get the Monster Ray later as a supplemental light to it. The Ray 2 is bright but it also washes out colors. I know your planned scape is going to involve all green, so the Ray 2 will do well. However, it sucks at red plants and makes them look muted and they fade to green... are you planning on two Ray 2's?

If you want to get two, maybe two Fugeray Planted Plus would be better?

I'm really driven by cost at this point. Gotta buy a CO2 rig too ya know...

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

Do me a favor guys, hit me up with your CO2 rig components, please

I use all paintball cylinders... I have three Aquatek mini regulators. I know it's more economical to go with a full size regulator and 5# or 10# tanks, but I went for form over function on this one. Only because I wanted concealability and my space for each tank that uses co2 is limited.

I bought 2x 20oz paintball tank for each regulator. Luckily my local paintball/airsoft arena has a special that with each tank comes with a stamp card for 5 free refills. Basically, it made the tanks free.

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

I'm really driven by cost at this point. Gotta buy a CO2 rig too ya know...

The planted plus is priced between the regular Fugeray and Ray 2. Meaning, it will cost less and have red diodes to supplement that wavelength in the spectrum. PAR is less but on the flip side it should make colors look more vivid.

 

[Jkeating8]

This is the reg that i have. I couldnt see your link so i dont know what it was. haha
Amazon.com: U.P. Aqua Co2 Reguator w/double gauges: Pet Supplies

My BW pipes are glass. Maybe they arent BW, but thats what they were sold as.

I was going to say... Two Ray 2s would be entirely too much light.