Journal NC AL’s First Planted Tank (8g AIO)

[techman81]

Productive weekend. I built a lid for the tank. Right now I have an egg crate covering for the opening. I might switch it out for plexiglass.

Great idea! Unfortunately my printer won't print anything near that big.

 

[NC AL]

Great idea! Unfortunately my printer won't print anything near that big.

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.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

That's awesome, I was wondering how you made that. Nice work!

 

[techman81]

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 makes more sense.

 

[Koan]

marine board and I used a router to notch/groove everything. It was a long morning of measuring and build jigs

Wow! Did you take pics?

 

[NC AL]

Wow! Did you take pics?

No not of the building process.

 

[NC AL]

Well this little project is now CO2 injected.

 

[Kwyet]

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.

 

[NC AL]

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.

For sure, but for what I am doing and testing the waters (no pun intended) of freshwater aquariums it will have to do.

 

[NC AL]

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....

 

[Koan]

Its hard to get solid healthy freshwater fish

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:

https://dansfish.com

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

 

[NC AL]

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

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.

 

[Kwyet]

Imperial Tropicals and The Wet Spot are both worth the shipping. I’ve never had an unhealthy fish in their orders.