Journal My $12 Aqueon 10 gallon journey from nothing.

[HardeeParty]

New tank should be coming in tomorrow. Plan is to break down the 5.5 gallon entirely, leave the 10 gallon running, and trim both tanks to plant the 22 gallon. I’ll be setting some aside for two pre-orders as well.

Tentative plan is to use a base of Fluval bio-stratum and eco complete (layered or mixed - undecided) in the rear 3/4 of the tank. Filling in the rest with black diamond blasting sand. I was going to lightly distribute some osmocote plus granules on the base of the tank before substrate goes in, as well as a very minimal amount of aragonite for calcium/Mg. Osmocote plus seems calcium deficient, and I’m thinking the aragonite could possibly make up and continue to leech nutrients to the aqua-soil. Let me know if I’m totally off base here.

The tank will be left-focused with the carpeting plants on the right 1/3 of the tank lit by the M450 and the P600 covering the other 2/3rd. Dragon stone as the focal point accented with the Buce and Anubis I’ve been growing out. Maybe a nice spindly driftwood piece if I can find the right one. No particular style. Just appealing to the eye.

I picked up a quanvee in-line co2 diffuser for the canister as well as an upgraded 200gph (up from 106gph) pump I plan on running inline to replace the stock pump on the SunSun 603b filter. I’ll carry the surface skimmer over to help with circulation. The existing canister filter should help hasten the cycle? That’s the plan at least.

 

[BigWave]

Someones back is going to hurt.... Good luck, its an exhausting endever tearing down and setting up same day.

 

[HardeeParty]

Someones back is going to hurt.... Good luck, its an exhausting endever tearing down and setting up same day.

Tank arrives today. I’ll probably break down the 5 gallon and set the new one in place to set up equipment and prep substrate and hardscape.

Also this just happened….

 

[HardeeParty]

So, another thing happened. Local guy getting out of the reef hobby was unloading his equipment and scored this…

Tunze 7077.400 regulator and solenoid combo.


Hooked it up to all my co2 tanks to test. I never realized how woefully cheap and pitiful the Amazon special needle valves are. The dual stage mini Keg regulator I’m using for the sodastream canisters is actually pretty good, but the needle valves are really sad in comparison.







Plenty of stock to pull from.



Time to play.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

You don’t realize how crappy the cheap stuff is until you get a quality valve. I have a Swagelok valve myself now and it’s light years better when it comes to making adjustments.

 

[Unexpected]

Same exact experience, had no idea how much better a quality valve is. So…much…money…wasted.

Can’t wait to see what you come up with in the new tank.

 

[HardeeParty]

Someone please protect me from myself.

 

[Unexpected]

I mean, it’s a 100 bucks

 

[FrankZ]

Do it!!!

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Holy crap what a deal

 

[HardeeParty]

As absurd a deal it was, it was equally absurd to think I would be able to actually put that anywhere in my house.

I’m looking into an affordable auto dosing pump and have been considering a Jabeo/Jecod DP-2. Mixed reviews, but a lot of the gripes seem to point towards operator error. Local marketplace generated someone selling a Kamoir F1 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth single pump and I’m also considering that. It seems very well rated. Anyone have any experience or feedback on either of these? For the moment, it will be used to auto-dose Thrive+ once daily before the light cycle starts (well after I go to work). Dosing prior to leaving in the morning would be 4 hours sooner than ideal.

Also, I started trimming the tanks for orders including care package for @Adibee and his new tank.

 

[Adibee]

Thanks the care pack @Jhardee85! Can't wait to plant these!

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

I have a Jebao and have yet to set it up. Honestly wish I would have gotten something WiFi/Bluetooth enabled, so keep that in mind.

 

[HardeeParty]

Gotta love the local reef guys.

 

[SingAlongWithTsing]

I hope you didnt get fluval stratum yet. Idk if i got a bad batch but that stuff crumbles pretty easy

 

[HardeeParty]

I hope you didnt get fluval stratum yet. Idk if i got a bad batch but that stuff crumbles pretty easy

I did, and I got the bio-stratum before realizing the difference. I only started with small 4.4lb bag because I’m also using eco complete and black diamond sand considering just mixing it in as opposed to layering it on top for that reason.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Just out of curiosity, why the mix of substrates? I’d return the stratum if you didn’t open it yet, it’s not going to provide much benefit.

 

[HardeeParty]

Just out of curiosity, why the mix of substrates? I’d return the stratum if you didn’t open it yet, it’s not going to provide much benefit.

Really, it’s because I have the eco complete and black diamond sand leftover from the initial setup. I actually just opened the stratum today and used some when setting up my open-top office terrarium.



I was considering mixing it because I impulse bought a 4.4 bag which isn’t enough to do the whole tank and I didn’t think it would hurt to experiment. I could also be painfully wrong; which is precisely why I’m sharing this here to be picked apart by those more experienced.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

I think I’d either stick with the inert substrate of your preference, or a more well known aquasoil. Your tanks look great, so I’d stick with what’s working for you

Also, new tank means new journal!

 

[HardeeParty]

Some prepping, some scape practice, some cool growth, some maintenance, and some gross negligence.





Cleaned up and organized the years worth of haphazard power cables and equipment. Installed the new inline diffuser (wow) and hoses. Canister maintenance.






New office open-top terrarium is doing surprisingly well.