Bert's 60g Planted Tank

The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
See posts with no answers
Think I've settle on a final scape. Might add a few more rocks once I start planting but I think overall I'm pretty happy with it. Still need to get 1 more bag of substrate so the slope on the left may become slightly higher but mainly it will be for bringing the center up to planting depth.

Getting the last bag tomorrow and then it's strip down time to boil everything and rebuild.

Final result:
http://pho.to/AZzoE

Quick question, I'm worried about the wood not being waterlogged before I fill the tank. Do you think boiling it and misting it during the dry start will be enough to waterlog it?

I think I'd die if I filled it with water and it all fell apart [emoji51]
 
I would take the wood out, boil it, and leave it in a bucket while you do the dry start. It will become water logged and sink during that time (as well as leach tannins).
When it's time to flood the tank, you can add the DW back (using your tank pics as reference).
 
Fresh2o said:
I would take the wood out, boil it, and leave it in a bucket while you do the dry start. It will become water logged and sink during that time (as well as leach tannins).
When it's time to flood the tank, you can add the DW back (using your tank pics as reference).
Click to expand...



Good idea! However I wanted to attach some moss to a few bits aswell during the dry start. Maybe I'll just have to attach it with string once I've flooded it.
 
Looks good. Very nice. I think I actually let out some kind of strange gasp when my last piece of wood detached from the substrate and floated to the top. Do not let that happen [emoji23]
 
Caliban07 said:
Looks good. Very nice. I think I actually let out some kind of strange gasp when my last piece of wood detached from the substrate and floated to the top. Do not let that happen [emoji23]
Click to expand...



Haha I know nervous times! Think I've come up with a solution. I'll put the wood in a tray full of water like fresh said but have it attached to the top of the tank and I'll tie all the moss on and leave it under the lights so it grows to it.
 
Because I couldn't be bothered boiling my wood I have used stainless steel screws attach a piece of slate to the wood. Once the slate has substrate on it it tends to keep the wood down.

This time I just used slate and cable ties. The ties can be cut eventually or covered with plant material.
 
Caliban07 said:
Because I couldn't be bothered boiling my wood I have used stainless steel screws attach a piece of slate to the wood. Once the slate has substrate on it it tends to keep the wood down.

This time I just used slate and cable ties. The ties can be cut eventually or covered with plant material.
Click to expand...



Yea I can't really use rocks as the dw is only stuck into the substrate abit. Id put all the wood in the 30g but the BBA is too serious in that tank. I've been really lazy with it since I got the new tank. Lol
 
Bert2oo1 said:
Yea I can't really use rocks as the dw is only stuck into the substrate abit. Id put all the wood in the 30g but the BBA is too serious in that tank. I've been really lazy with it since I got the new tank. Lol
Click to expand...


You screw the slate tight to the wood put have it wider than the base of the wood. You could literally just bury the slate. A touch under the gravel.
 
Caliban07 said:
You screw the slate tight to the wood put have it wider than the base of the wood. You could literally just bury the slate. A touch under the gravel.
Click to expand...



Oh really? I've never seen slate that thin before, only slate I've ever seen down here in slate floors tiles, I just tore a whole heap of them up at my parents place so maybe I could try and break them into thinner pieces?

Getting the rest of the substrate today and I'll start deconstructing it. Still waiting on my lights aswell they haven't been posted yet so hopefully they get here mid next week. (Can't make the hood till they get here either)

Also need to order a big batch of HC but the supplier I get it from is closed till the 9th so it's gonna be a while before I plant.

Also struggling to to get a few other plants, might have to do the dodgey again and dodge to QT laws by getting my friend to post them.

Also need to strip the 30g down abit, remove all the rocks and a few plants I won't be using. I'm worried about removing the rocks thought because there is BGA under the substrate near the rocks and I really don't want to disturb it.

Gah so much to do!
 
If you cannot find suitable slate for this, you could try stainless steel mesh. Used the same was as the slate (fastened to the DW with a stainless steel screw).
One advantage of the mesh is that it can be bent down to be less visible yet also bent in such a way that retains the substrate (think anchor).
 
Fresh2o said:
If you cannot find suitable slate for this, you could try stainless steel mesh. Used the same was as the slate (fastened to the DW with a stainless steel screw).
One advantage of the mesh is that it can be bent down to be less visible yet also bent in such a way that retains the substrate (think anchor).
Click to expand...



Good idea fresh! I've got some stainless mesh so I might even do that. I'm also wondering if I dry start maybe I can just dry start the moss on the wood and then once it grabs I can just soak the wood to water log it. Most of the DW is small so I'm thinking it wouldn't take long for it to sink.

All the wood is currently in the pot boiling up ;)
Got my last bag of substrate today as well. Get excited it's all about to come together once my light arrives!
 
30g has been mostly stripped. Few more plants added that I'll be using in the new tank. (Baby tears are just there to soak some of the nutrients)
http://pho.to/Aa3Hi
 
So who forgot about that little nano I started? Well it's only a week or 2 off being filled! Really impressed with the growth of the DSM. You could say S Repens really love that high atmospheric co2 level!
Picture of it now:
http://pho.to/Aa6Pm
 
Fresh2o said:
Everything looks good in there!
Click to expand...



Thanks fresh! I'm actually really happy with how it's grown. I've only got a tiny bit of green slim in 1 corner. I must say dry start works really well with these little nanos
 
nirbhao said:
I love the blues.
Click to expand...



Thanks :) it's the light that's turning it blue, I actually though it was straight white and was a little disappointed with it but it's grown on me. Looks really nice when the rooms dark
 
So I got bored today and decided to fill the nano! Really happy with how it's come together. Looks great in the kitchen! It's amazing how much water changes the colours and magnifies everything.
Here's the final result:
http://pho.to/AaEdX
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
New plants propagating but not growing
Replies
3
Views
681
Colin_T
C
G
Please help... Tank is getting away from me
Replies
6
Views
1K
Joe_D
J
H
Plant Issues - Algae?
Replies
3
Views
875
Caliban07
Caliban07
A
Fishless cycle, nitrites bounced back up. Is that normal?
Replies
19
Views
702
Andy Sager
Andy Sager
T
Planted Tank Advice
Replies
3
Views
869
Caliban07
Caliban07

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom