[freshfish]

Looks like I may be starting up this tank before my 29gal gets off the ground.

I had this tank set up previously, but had to take it down to make room for my 29gal. I work for my husband, and we have just taken an office closer into town, and so I will now have room there to set up the tank.

This was the tank previously:









Wasn't really "scaped" I really just let the plants grow however and wherever they wanted to. The carpet was 4 years growth of E. tenellus 'narrow', and there were lots of small java ferns, Pellia, and flame moss as well. The floating stems are some Ludwigia repens that I'd planned on putting in as a background... until my cat Osiris pulled them out of a bucket when I was doing some tank maintenance and ATE them.

I'm debating now on how I want to 'scape this tank. Things I know for sure:

Low tech; I'll be using the same 18watt T8 fixture that I used before, no CO2.

Filter will be a Rena Filstar XP1 I just picked up on Ebay for $65 shipped.

Hardscape options: Manzanita wood and/or rocks. I know I want more of a "jungle" look with this tank, so I'm leaning towards branchy manzanita. I might even do a "river" in this tank... we'll see.

Substrate - Flourite black sand. Low maintenance, nutrient content, and I think the size will be a good scale against Red cherry shrimp.

Livestock- RCS (red cherry shrimp) and possibly some Oto cats after the tank is established, for algae control. MTS (Malaysian Trumpet Snails).

Plants will be simple. I defintely want lots of mosses. Pellia, Suesswassertang, Flame, Willow, Fissidens are probable. Probably some crypts in the background. Foreground- probably Marselia minuta.

[freshfish]

Oh, I forgot to mention- I never mind comments, constructive criticism, or just plain silliness in any of my threads.

Shopping list:

Black Flourite sand - 1 bag
Black gravel for potential "river" - 5 lbs
-probably also some Black Colorquartz to increase height of substrate in the back/sides of the tank; I may go for a "jungle gorge" look
Prime
Hardscape materials- possibly some dark slate to make some steep "cliffs"
Timer/power strip
Digital thermometer

Plants
Shrimp

[Crazygar]

Have you ever considered doing an Iwagumi Style tank? You can have a low tech one, that still requires some discipline. They are nice once they grow in.

Gary

[freshfish]

I have, but they're more suitable for really low tanks and most of my tanks are really tall. They are beautiful, though.

I guess I could do something like that in this 10gal, but I really want a more "jungly" look at work. Plus I want some reds in the tank.

[freshfish]

Gary, I think you'll appreciate the vision I'm toying with ATM... a C. wendtii 'red' jungle on either side of a black river gorge with steep slate cliffs...

[kb46]

FF, if you're still considering Marsilea hirsuta I would suggest checking this site for information about how to get the best results. Aquagreen come highly recommended for Aussie natives and the owner (I think his name is Dave) is very happy to help out with information. He may take a little while to answer your email, as he isn't always at the nursery.
Kylie

[freshfish]

I haven't quite decided yet, and thanks for the link.

I spent some of this evening with a cardboard cutout the size of a 10gal tank playing with pieces of slate. I haven't come up with anything yet that quite looks right, but I'll keep playing with it.

I might end up going to a quarry and looking for some pieces of granite.

[Crazygar]

This hobby turns you into a Rock Hound as well. Yeah, a C.wendtii look nice in a 10GAL. They grow large enough in such small tanks to become centerpiece tanks.

Gary

[freshfish]

Slight change in plans, the LFS was out of Flourite black sand, so I picked up a bag of Onxy Sand instead.

I'm just hoping that the water at work is softer than my water at home. Should be, it's city water not well.

[kb46]

Tom Barr seems to advocate Onyx Sand. I imagine your crypts will love it!
Kylie

[freshfish]

Hopefully!

I inspected the 10gal tank I have in storage ATM, and I think I'm going to buy a new tank. The silicone seams on the old one are just looking beat up around the edges, with algae under the edges of the seams that I never could clean out.

I may also need to get a lily pipe output for the XP1; it appears that the XP1 uses the same size flowbar as all the other XPs, which will be too big for a 10gal tank. I think I'll PM fish about making one for me...

[Crazygar]

Onyx Sand is great for growing plants like Hairgrass and Glosso. I've used it in the past and plan to use it again in the future. Oh, sometimes, you'll find it at Petsmart in the Marine section entitled "Grey Coast". The only thing different is the Name.

Gary

[freshfish]

Fishman has some "imperfects" he's gonna sell me for cheap, so I'm thrilled.

It just occured to me now that I didn't get shipping confirmation info about my XP1 shipping out, though... hopefully tomorrow.

So, the only things I need to get the tank up and running are:

New 10gal tank - $10
Colorquartz - $25 (actually $50 b/c I want 2 bags, one for the 46gal project too)
Hardscape - I'm thinking of trying to collect locally for this one; I have a new plan in mind that will require some very specific-looking pieces...

[Crazygar]

Wow, MTS strikes again.

Gary

[k2_16]

MTS is horrible! Jk! Good call on changing the tank because it is better too when in doubt! My 10G could use a replacing but if I'm tearing it down in a few years, why bother! My 29G and 2.5G MiniBow are the only new tanks. Everything else is prehistoric! lol