JayP
Valuable Member
Great idea! Unfortunately my printer won't print anything near that big.
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Journal NC AL’s First Planted Tank (8g AIO)
- Thread starter NC AL
- Start date
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- #22
The lid is made of marine board and I used a router to notch/groove everything. It was a long morning of measuring and build jigs.
That's awesome, I was wondering how you made that. Nice work!
JayP
Valuable Member
That makes more sense.
- Thread starter
- #26
No not of the building process.Wow!Did you take pics?
- Thread starter
- #27
Well this little project is now CO2 injected.
Kwyet
After every new tank—“This is my last one!”
Ohhh, that’s the terrible regulator I just threw away. I hope yours works better. Keep an eye on it, because the gauges may not show when the tank is empty.
- Thread starter
- #29
For sure, but for what I am doing and testing the waters (no pun intended) of freshwater aquariums it will have to do.
- Thread starter
- #30
A few things I have already learned in my small endeavor.
1) Your CO2 tank should be put in the freezer before being filled. Makes sense, just hadn't thought about it. Luckily there was a Mexican restaurant next door and the store was willing to put it in their freezer while my family had dinner.
2) Phototropism - Well I knew this but hadn't thought of it as being an issue. With such a small tank and a single, central light my background plants are growing forward over my mid ground plants. I don't like this. If I decide to build a larger tank the tank will need to be of sufficient height to mitigate this or have a strip or bar light over the back portion to keep them growing more vertically.
3)Its hard to get solid healthy freshwater fish. I have several fish stores near by. The quality and health of saltwater fish in my area is decent. However the freshwater sections all have dead fish in them and limited choices. I have bought most of my saltwater fish online just for price. I was really looking forward to not having to do that with a freshwater tank....
1) Your CO2 tank should be put in the freezer before being filled. Makes sense, just hadn't thought about it. Luckily there was a Mexican restaurant next door and the store was willing to put it in their freezer while my family had dinner.
2) Phototropism - Well I knew this but hadn't thought of it as being an issue. With such a small tank and a single, central light my background plants are growing forward over my mid ground plants. I don't like this. If I decide to build a larger tank the tank will need to be of sufficient height to mitigate this or have a strip or bar light over the back portion to keep them growing more vertically.
3)Its hard to get solid healthy freshwater fish. I have several fish stores near by. The quality and health of saltwater fish in my area is decent. However the freshwater sections all have dead fish in them and limited choices. I have bought most of my saltwater fish online just for price. I was really looking forward to not having to do that with a freshwater tank....
Not just there, that's true everywhere
hardly any margins on freshwater fish. Fortunately for us, these people are a joy to work with:
Tropical Freshwater Fish for Sale Online
Tropical Freshwater Fish for Sale Online delivered right to your door from one of the largest specialized stores in the country.
www.wetspottropicalfish.com
I get all my fish from them, far as they are away from here
Other top options:
Imperial Tropicals - Buy aquarium fish direct from the breeder
We've been breeding and shipping the highest quality freshwater aquarium fish in the USA since 1970.
imperialtropicals.com
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- Thread starter
- #32
Thanks, I will keep this in mind. Unfortunately they are on the opposite side of the country from me. I also hate paying shipping cost. With saltwater I would spend $150 and get free shipping. I don't think I would ever be able to put a freshwater order together to amount to free shipping.Not just there, that's true everywhere
Fortunately for us, these people are a joy to work with:
Tropical Freshwater Fish for Sale Online
Tropical Freshwater Fish for Sale Online delivered right to your door from one of the largest specialized stores in the country.
I get all my fish from them, far as they are away from here
Here's another fun breeder folks here have used, for fish and plants both , Daku Aquatics 
he will ship outside of Florida again once it warms up
he will ship outside of Florida again once it warms up
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Love Daku's stuff!
Not sure where you are but here in Charlotte, I typically just order from NU Aqua rather than risk local. My luck rate with local stores is ok but I won't use them for my stocked tanks only new ones where the tank is the quarantine.
Nice!
Nu Aqua
At Nu Aqua, our mission is simple: to provide the highest quality, disease-free freshwater aquarium livestock through a process rooted in care, expertise, and integrity. We believe every aquarist deserves access to vibrant, healthy animals that thrive in beautifully balanced aquatic ecosystems.
nuaquashop.com
- Thread starter
- #38
Thanks, I will look into them. I don’t mind quarantine, I have a little 10 gallon that I can set up break down as needed.
I live in rowan county, out in the middle of nowhere.
- Thread starter
- #39
A little update over the past month. I am seeing some growth from most of the plants. I have only been using the co2 at the correct amount for about 2-3 weeks. Excuse the picture clarity, as I did a cleaning and water change today.
I lucked out and found a cheap piece of glass that fit my lid insert. It’s raised with silicone bump stops so it isn’t air tight. I prefer the look and the light has an improved spread compared to the egg crate.
The 2 of the 3 guppies never made it out a quarantine and that made me skiddish about putting the third in my tank. So I am still fishless. The shrimp are doing well and have kept me entertained. I am looking to make an online order soon for some emerald dwarf rasboras.
I am seeing some algae growth. I attributed most to raising the intensity of light when I added co2. I don’t think that was necessary and have lowered it back. I am also going to add to the clean up crew with a few amano shrimp and 2 nerite snails (when I place my fish order.)
I am learning a bunch and finding out what plants I like and those I don’t. I knew this first tank would likely be temporary. I am enjoying the freshwater side enough, so I am planning a 20 gallon AIO cube for the future. Diagram of the planned filtration chambers below.
- The ludwigia was doing well, but was growing up to the top of the tank. I didn’t like that look. I tried to cut it back and replant it. Well that didn’t work….most did not make it.
- The alternanthera reineckii looks great. I wish I wouldn’t have spread it out and kept it in a clump.
- Hygrophila Compacta has done really well in my opinion.
- Anubis petite looks about the same. It was an impulse buy. I doubt I would use them again.
- Hygrophila parawitota never did well and I had to pull it out as it was decaying.
- Hornwort to replace the wisteria. I don’t like it, but it is serving its purpose.
I lucked out and found a cheap piece of glass that fit my lid insert. It’s raised with silicone bump stops so it isn’t air tight. I prefer the look and the light has an improved spread compared to the egg crate.
The 2 of the 3 guppies never made it out a quarantine and that made me skiddish about putting the third in my tank. So I am still fishless. The shrimp are doing well and have kept me entertained. I am looking to make an online order soon for some emerald dwarf rasboras.
I am seeing some algae growth. I attributed most to raising the intensity of light when I added co2. I don’t think that was necessary and have lowered it back. I am also going to add to the clean up crew with a few amano shrimp and 2 nerite snails (when I place my fish order.)
I am learning a bunch and finding out what plants I like and those I don’t. I knew this first tank would likely be temporary. I am enjoying the freshwater side enough, so I am planning a 20 gallon AIO cube for the future. Diagram of the planned filtration chambers below.
- Thread starter
- #40
I was getting excessive algae. Nothing much, but the tank heading in the wrong direction. I ordered my fish and picked up a nerite snail and a few amano shrimp. I had raised the intensity of my light, and felt like that was the main causing factor. So between the clean up crew, lowering the light, and getting the co2 dialed in, everything seams to be heading in right direction now.
I can really tell the difference in plant growth once I was able to get my co2 dialed in. I can see it for sure from the pics in my last post 2-3 weeks ago. I had to fill the back left corner and replace the Monte Carlo that wasn’t doing well.
View attachment IMG_1130.mov
View attachment IMG_1972.mov
I can really tell the difference in plant growth once I was able to get my co2 dialed in. I can see it for sure from the pics in my last post 2-3 weeks ago. I had to fill the back left corner and replace the Monte Carlo that wasn’t doing well.
View attachment IMG_1130.mov
View attachment IMG_1972.mov
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