60 Litre Planted

[Tim]

Looking really interesting there Al. Looking forward to seeing more

[Gerry]

So if I take cuttings of plants and want them to get a good start I would be better to plant them like that with the roots wet and the leaves in air and then cover it like yours with film to keep moist.

What temp do they require, tank temp or just kept from getting cold?

Just normal room temp will do mate, they'll need light as well though. Seen a few people do it in the likes of an ice cream tub on the window sill.

thanks bud, gonna give that a try

[Katt]

Like I`ll alway`s said, you got the touch.
Love table your making, can`t what to see it done.
Are you planing to put in any fish in this tank later on ?

[altaaffe]

Was figuring on a light stocking probably a few cherry shrimp and few Endlers. But I love the way my Marble shrimp have turned out so might use it as a breeding tank for them and maybe some Praecox before I go that way, that'll to save me having to buy more for my main tanks.

[Tim]

All the little tips you throw in these threads get very handy Al, thanks a million

[altaaffe]

OK - got sick of waiting for this company to get me replacement plants so I'll write them off as a bad experience and never use them again.

Got some Lileopsis instead of the Glosso to try and I'll harvest some of my Crypts and Staurogyne bit by bit.

I'll start by getting the wood out and positioning the plants where I think I want them, here I've got Needle leaf fern, Windelov fern & anubias nana, petite:


That process takes a little while and they did move once or twice, next superglue a part of the rhizome to the wood:


I use superglue gel for this as it holds a bit easier, although I had to settle for B&Q own brand and that only seems to want to stick your fingers !!
The name brand superglue gel sticks brilliantly and even with the wood still damp.

After that , the wood is back in and plant around, I've got Ludwigia Arcuata in the back left, another disappointment from the plant company:


Following this it's fill up !!

[Katt]

Was figuring on a light stocking probably a few cherry shrimp and few Endlers. But I love the way my Marble shrimp have turned out so might use it as a breeding tank for them and maybe some Praecox before I go that way, that'll to save me having to buy more for my main tanks.

Windelov fern is one of my favorite.

[altaaffe]

Mine too Katt, looks great and you can use and abuse it and it keeps coming back.

Got it filled up and the filter in and connected (eheim with heater internal):


CO2 connected up and on, the fire extinguisher is there for the time being, I'll hopefully find a source of 5kg bottles and it can then be hidden behind wood facia for the main tanks and pipe it in to the table. I've only "blipped the handle to check for leaks and all seems OK, then cable tie the handles together to keep the supply on:


My supplies are still there !!


Setting up the drop checker, load it with some API low range pH tester and fill up half way with 4dkH solution. This gives the solution a baseline whereby blue is not enough CO2, yellow is too much and lime green is just right.


So having just been switched on this is showing not enough CO2:


And a quick shot as it looks just now, still got to decide what way I'm going to light it permanently, it's just got T8 lights sat on top just now:

[Tim]

wow! cool again Al

[Gerry]

I take it this tester is just testing the air and does not have any tank water added?

[altaaffe]

Yes Gerry, if you look at the picture of the drop checker you can see where the air comes to on it.
The solution is mixed with a solution which is 4dkH exactly. You can make this yourself but I just bought mine in for a few quid.

[Gerry]

hmmm, I can see me trying this next year maybe

[altaaffe]

Came to a decision on the lights and took a pair of aquaray LED tubes of another tank and over this one. The replacement plants never arrived from the company that I originally ordered but the replacements I put in are doing well and starting to fill.

Drop checker shows lime green all the time

[Tim]

sweet

[Gerry]

This has been a great topic