Journal The beginner scaper journal

[Sb1415]

I would like to try something different in the journal section, which might have been done before and hopefully is allowed. I am starting this Journal with more of the vision rather than the full setup and looking to get guidance along the way so that I invest appropriately from the start. I have an existing 29 gallon tank and want to build something that is better.

Equipment that i have
Oase Biomaster thermo 350
Fzone 17mm (16/22 tubing) glass lily pipes
Fzone Pro series dual stage Co2 regulator
Fzone inline Co2 diffuser
Chihros WRGB II - 60 - 10th anniv edition (En route from China) - planning to clip it on

Stuff that I hope to get soon:
Tank - Waterbox clear mini 30 (got this idea from ElleDee, thank you)
Stand - https://www.wayfair.com/pet/pdp/arc...nk-stand-with-storage-cabinet-w112412988.html - Will probably have to drill holes on the side panel to allow tubing. Assuming people have done that before. The Waterbox stand is very expensive!
Background - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R63QRXH?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1 - I have liked the white background, from people that i have followed on youtube, but do see some nice ones with black so a little undecided on this. If you all have suggestions happy to take it.

Vision:
I want to create nature landscape, with drift wood, stones, a small sand path in the golden ratio point leading to an end point in the back with a concave layout (hardscape on either side with dense planting.

Next few posts

• Going to test the tap water i have in detail and post more details on it about the plan for this new setup
• Go over substrate choices
• Go over tank start up methods
• Go over hardscape placement
• Plant choices
• Fertilizing plan

Hopefully the mods allows this or maybe i might need to save this and post it all together when i get everything together.

 

[Koan]

Hopefully the mods allows this

A journal is whatever you want it to be! Looks great, keep us posted as you go!

 

[Art]

Be sure to keep us updated on your progress and if you have questions along the way. A journal is your personal journey so make it what you will.

It's all about sharing and learning together.

 

[Sb1415]

So saw the Landen 60P tank on sale on Amazon which has dimensions that i like, i am trying to do a poll here .....

Landen 60P (60 x 40 x 40 cm) with Chihiros WRGB II 60 cm light

or

Waterbox mini 30 (80 x 40 x 40 cm) with Chihiros WRGB II 60 cm light

Cannot seem to get lot of info on how the light intensity would drop on the sides of the waterbox mini 30 because of the shorter light length?

 

[Art]

Hmm...

My advice is always to get the biggest aquarium you can. You will never regret more space. Therefore, I would go with the Waterbox.

That said, you will have about a 4 inch gap on either side of the light that will receive less light. This may or may not matter depending on your aquascape.

Your options would be to embrace it and use lower light needing plants on the sides, use an island style aquascape where the plants are focused in the center, or, perhaps, raise the light so the light spread extends out closer to the sides.

 

[Sb1415]

Ok guys update after some time and contemplation.

Inspiration - Dennis Wongs Dutch like tanks

Aquarium - going to get the water box 25 mini later this week. Decided that a smaller one with full light coverage would be better.

Plant list so far - going to convert my existing 29 gallon to a farm tank

1. Rotala blood red Sg variant
2. Ludwigea super red
3. Ludwigea arcuata
4. Pogostemon erector/decannensis
5. Rotala orange juice I think - might skip
6. Ludwigea repens - do not like it and might skip it
7. H.Pinnatifida uk variant
8. Montecarlo carpet

Fish - tetras or rasboras, Corys, otos, neocardina

Still thinking about mid ground plants

Target kh - 0-4

1. Substrate - going to do Apt feast. Was planning to do about an inch in the front and 3 inches in the back. It does not come with a base layer like Amazonia do you guys think it is best to use some lava rock at the bottom ?

2. Using oase 350. Should I use 13 or 17 mm? I think the 13 would suit it better. I need to buy a metal one with skimmer. Any recs ?

3. I hate the tubing that comes with oase, recs for alternate tubing? Do you guys use quick connects to help clean the lily pipes ? If so where do you place the quick connects ?

4. I plan to use in line diffuser but with all the news …. is the Yugang reactor beginner friendly ? The acrylic one seems to fit my budget but would I have to clean it like lily pipes ?

 

[techman81]

Make sure you wait until Friday to get that Waterbox. It will likely be 15% off for their Fresh Friday sale.

I agree with you on the stiff tubing but it's not just Oase, all vinyl filter tubing is crazy stiff. I was buying 16/21 clear silicon tubing off Amazon but am now switching to gray silicon tubing. You can find it on Amazon sold by Fzone or Aqua Rocks Colorado also sells it. Just keep in mind it will kink if bent to tightly.

I really like the Aquario Neo premium lily pipes. The output pipe has the skimmer and you can configure the output in different ways to help flow control.

I also like the quick disconnects and use them inline close to where the tubing connects to the pipes. Just makes cleaning pipes a little more convenient and less mess when disconnecting things.

I just got a Yugang, but haven't tried it yet. Right now I have Aqua Rocks Colorado's vertical reactor and it works well with one caveat, It will build up a gas pocket inside and you will get some gurgling sound. My tank sits right next to my main chair in my living room and the sound bothered me at first. I could clear it up by opening a valve to off-gas it. However, I've since gotten use to it and am not bothered by it. I really only bought the Yugang to see if it was more efficient. The reactor will build up some algae over time, but I've only cleaned mine once and that was for photos for my Waterbox interview.

 

[techman81]

I agree with you on the stiff tubing but it's not just Oase, all vinyl filter tubing is crazy stiff. I was buying 16/21 clear silicon tubing off Amazon but am now switching to gray silicon tubing. You can find it on Amazon sold by Fzone or Aqua Rocks Colorado also sells it. Just keep in mind it will kink if bent to tightly.

Just wanted to come back and correct my comment. I have purchased the ARC gray silicone tubing and just assumed the Fzone tubing on Amazon was also silicone. Should have read the description more closely, as it is indeed vinyl, just thinner walled vinyl. I do see that UNS also has gray silicone but it it appears to be unavailable in 16/22 at all distributors.

 

[Sb1415]

Just wanted to come back and correct my comment. I have purchased the ARC gray silicone tubing and just assumed the Fzone tubing on Amazon was also silicone. Should have read the description more closely, as it is indeed vinyl, just thinner walled vinyl. I do see that UNS also has gray silicone but it it appears to be unavailable in 16/22 at all distributors.

Just wanted to come back and correct my comment. I have purchased the ARC gray silicone tubing and just assumed the Fzone tubing on Amazon was also silicone. Should have read the description more closely, as it is indeed vinyl, just thinner walled vinyl. I do see that UNS also has gray silicone but it it appears to be unavailable in 16/22 at all distributors.

 

[Sb1415]

Still waiting for my Waterbox mini 25 to arrive. But have been experimenting with plants in this 29 gallon. New plants (all TC from APF) added 1 week ago.
1. Rotala blood red SG - doing well on the right mid
2. H.Pinnatifida UK - Attached to the wood on the top - OMG this grows like crazy already has long roots
3. L.Arcuata - Doing well on the middle center behind the crypts - has some aerial roots - maybe needs aquasoil
4. P.Decannensis - Immediately to the left of the R.Blood red in the empty space, not doing well, hasnt had any growth and seems to lift off intermittently and i have to replant it. Going through the 2 Hr Aqua website seems that it needs low KH, mine is hovering at 6-8. Not sure how my KH goes up if i am just doing water changes with RO water and using APT sky without any stones. It was 5 couple weeks ago. Guess it could be coming from the substrate (Ecocomplete) and gravel.
Rest of the plants need a good trim, hopefully will get to it this weekend.

Got an Oase skimmer to go with @Naturescapes_Rocco recommendation for surface skimming to improve Co2. Works good, but seems to need perfect water level. It also seems to push the plants right beneath it and they sway a lot.

Have some more new plants, equipment and RO setup on the way for the WB mini 25 build ..... exciting times!

 

[techman81]

I just got an Oase skimmer for my farm tank that I'm using the stock filter pipes. Haven't installed it yet. I was a little concerned about how it's outflow is downward instead of horizontal.

 

[Sb1415]

I just got an Oase skimmer for my farm tank that I'm using the stock filter pipes. Haven't installed it yet. I was a little concerned about how it's outflow is downward instead of horizontal.

yes, G.Farmer on his video says it quite a nice feature and gets flow into the corner but I am not sure. It would have to be in the front, where there is low height plants, for it to not cause too much downward flow onto tall stems. But then i don't want it sitting in the front of the my tank.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Yeah I love the downward motion on my 60cm tall tank, but on smaller tanks it could be an issue depending on what is underneath it.

 

[Sb1415]

Bit the bullet and got the water drop G3P800 RO system. I think most recommended a tank based RO system but we will also be using this for drinking and after much research settled on this tankless. Cost more and has more expensive filters but decided to go tankless. Hopefully this should help with the water changes! Got a 20 gallon Brute and a cheap Imagitarium in circ pump to help with the water change.

 

[JuJuFish]

Interested to follow your setup of the RO. Contemplating the same system.

 

[Sb1415]

Interested to follow your setup of the RO. Contemplating the same system.

Getting an under the sink electrical outlet installed this week so should be up and running by this weekend!

Note - should thank @ci for the waterdrop recommendation!

 

[Sb1415]

More arrivals today for the Waterbox mini 25! 15 Liters of APT feast. A free APT pure - conditioner was also shipped which was a nice touch and unexpected. Will take it to offset the cost!

 

[Sb1415]

Got the Steel GLA Lily pipes these are the 16 mm version without the skimmer and a 10 mm extension
Looks very well made - 304 stainless steel - meaning surgical grade.
I like how the inlet has holes all the way around and slightly higher as well and also that the profile is very sleek and not bumpy like some of the other steel pipes.
But....They sent me one acrylic holder and one steel holder; this was not the cheapest options especially with the extension and hopefully they will make it right and send me another steel holder let's see how they respond.
I assumed GLA was the manufacturer but these are from some Chinese company.

 

[gnatster]

I assumed GLA was the manufacturer but these are from some Chinese company.

Appears to be China CO2 Equipment, Aquatic Light, Aquarium Filtration Equipment Manufacturers, Factory - WYIN

 

[DutchMuch]

Got the Steel GLA Lily pipes these are the 16 mm version without the skimmer and a 10 mm extension
Looks very well made - 304 stainless steel - meaning surgical grade.
I like how the inlet has holes all the way around and slightly higher as well and also that the profile is very sleek and not bumpy like some of the other steel pipes.
But....They sent me one acrylic holder and one steel holder; this was not the cheapest options especially with the extension and hopefully they will make it right and send me another steel holder let's see how they respond.
I assumed GLA was the manufacturer but these are from some Chinese company.

View attachment 9752

Glad to hear they came okay!

Definitely let them know, I’d recommend via SMS for a quicker response. They will make it right.

Excited for you!

Edit: Also let me know how the extension attachment works for you… I have a replacement for mine coming Saturday, but the first one I ordered didn’t properly fit… it was a millimeter off or so.