Aquascaping Blog

Thanks for looking

2008-11-22T11:02:00.003+01:00

This page describes a high-tech 20 liter Nano Tank and a 260 liter Juwel Vision Tank built by the Keymaker in Hungary. Förresten: heja Sverige!

All ARTICLES ON THE RIGHT ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE as tank setup develops! Thus some comments might refer to older versions that are no longer available.

Comments and critics always welcomed.

FORUM

2008-11-22T11:01:00.000+01:00

EI Dosing Calculator

2008-11-22T10:57:00.019+01:00

This Excel Chart can be used to calculate the nutrient quantities needed to make a dry fert solution to comply with the EI range of nutrients. The chart can be customized to any regime of water changes and can be used to dose different solutions for every dry fertilizer.

I used fert amounts from the DIY TPN+ solution published on James' site and NO3 data from my water company (some values are still missing). The molecular weights calculation is based on James' dosing calculator.

Big thanks to James, and to Mark from UKAPS for giving me the initial calculation method. As Mark rightly pointed out, this calculation does not include the amounts used by plants and assumes there is no other source of nutrients. It should be used as a guide only.

FEATURES

- Modifiable water change amount and fish tank volume.
- Custom water change and dosing schedule for each day.
- Separate dosing volumes for each nutrient.
- Automatic conversion of gram amounts to teaspoons.
- Dry Fertilizer solubility level check.
- Calculation of dosage impact in ppm for every day.

Download with confidence - No Viruses! (I made it under Mac OSX !) :)

Download Excel File
(Scroll down on page and select "download with filefactory basic".)

If you see anything that could or should be modified, please let me know in the forum, and I'll edit this post accordingly!!!

Nano tank fish

2008-08-01T19:26:00.018+02:00

Stocking: Maximum of 5 cm / 4.55 liter = 22 cm in total. - PFK

3 Otocinclus Affinis (Oto) 3*3.8 = 11.4 cm
6 Boraras Maculatus (Dwarf Rasbora) 6*2.5 = 15 cm
3-4 Cherry Shrimps

TOTAL: 26.4 cm

Both Otos and Cherry Shrimps are really light on the Bio-load.

Boraras Maculatus (Dwarf Rasbora)

Celestichthys margaritatus (CPD)

Corydoras pygmaeus (Pygmy Cory Cat)

Neocaridina Heteropoda (Cherry Shrmp) - algae eater

Paleomonetes sp (Ghost Shrmp) - algae eater

Nannostomus beckfordi (Pencil Fish)

Otocinclus affinis (Oto) - algae eater info 1, 2)

Hyphessobrycon amandae (Ember Tetra)

PLANTS

2008-08-01T18:22:00.010+02:00

Click the title or the image for detailed description and images of plants planned for my Juwel Vision 260 tank.

Hemianthus Callitrichoides

Pogostemon Helferi (downoi)

Glossostigma Elatinoides (high maintenance risk)

Utricularia graminifolia

Riccia Fluitians (application example)

Eleocharis Parvula

Midground transition:

Eleocharis Vivipara

Ludwigia Repens 'Rubin' - appl.

Limnophila Aromatica (left), Blyxa Japonica (right)

Pogostemon stellatus (surrounded by Limnophila)

Sagittaria Platyphylla - appl.

Anubias...
Cryptocoryne wendtii
Eleocharis acicularis, Eleocharis Parvula (grasses)

BKGD (Bush):

Eleocharis Vivipara (high), Eleocharis Acicularis (mid...)

Bacopa Monnieri

Nymphaea Glandulifera (left) Nymphaea Lotus Green (right)

Taxiphyllum sp. (Spiky Moss)

Cryptocoryne undulata

Cryptocoryne wendtii green

Rotala Rotundifolia (redish)

Alternanthera Roseafolia

Carpet (foreground):

Rotala sp. Green

On Wood:

Microsorum Pteropus 'Windelov' (Java Fern) - appl.

Riccia fluitans (more grass-like)

Cladophora sp.

Vesicularia dubyana (Singapore Moss)

Nano-Tank UPDATES

2008-08-01T18:21:00.065+02:00

16.06.2008 - Setup:

18.06.2008 - 2 Days On: White hair-like (algae-like) stuff appeared on everything - plants, rocks, gravel, glass.

It is really sticky, vacuum cleaning won't remove it. I tried changing the water twice, adding TetraAqua Biocoryn. No success. Also, there is no visible rotting anywhere. After seeking advice on the PracticalFishKeeping Forum Martinspuddle said it is "Filamentous algae, caused by nutrients and ammonia spikes in the water/subtrate. Given time, it will go."

29.06.2008 - 2 Weeks On: Good plant growth and the initial filamentous algae are almost gone.

As second wave of "instability attack" the Planaria and cyclops have arrived and I'm fighting them off with copper-based liquid additive JBL Schnecktol. First results look promising. I will repeat the cure in 3 days to get rid of new worms (eggs are not affected). I will start regular ammonia addition after the planaria are gone. I do not know yet how to do this, maybe I'll start adding a little flake-food daily.

23.07.2008 - 4 Weeks On: The algae and the Planaria are gone. Stem plants are growing fast. Fish were added today. (The siamese algae eater will be transferred to the 260 liter tank as it grows bigger and the Cory will get some company later.) Ammonia levels are 0.

30.07.2008 - 6 Weeks On: Adding all the fish at once caused water chemistry problems (excess in phosphate?). Green algae appeared on the glass but it seems gone. Brown algae is a still an issue. The filter flow-rate is so high it keeps small debris floating around all the time in the tank. Spotted Swordtail Fry that survived hiding in the plants.

06.08.2008 - 7 Weeks On: I count 3 Swordtail Fry - will have to give them away soon. Should replace most of the other fish with smaller ones too. Not sure will get the permission from my 5-year-old though. ;)

With a starting Black Bush algae problem I need to stabilize CO2 levels, so I'm getting rid of my manual Tetra CO2 Optimat. Bought a Dennerle Crystal-Line pressurized set with glassware and solenoid valve.

Green Spot Algae has re-appeared after installing the 6W T5 tube and forgetting the light on for 11 hours on one (!) day plus changing the lighting times from 1PM-11PM to 9AM-6PM for two days. Tell me about fragile environment in a Nano Tank! Guess will need to decrease the lighting period to 9 hours and stop messing with the timer.

10.08.2008 - 7 Weeks On: We finally improved photography lighting with Christine. Additionally I simplified the filter output and decided to get an external Hydor heater (forum) to get equipment out of the tank.

16.08.2008 - Two Months On: Rearranged some plants, and got rid of one of the two stem plants: Bacopa monnieri. Zierfishe.at sold me 3 pots of Ophiophogon Japonicus that are not really aquatic plants. I should have known better or they should have told me. With the 5 swordtail fry out the tank is back to normal. Filter cleaned.

26.08.2008 - Two And a Half Months On: The first beginner's mistake corrected. I gave away the original fish that were too big for the tank. 1 Crossocheilus siamensis (Siamese Algae Eater), 1 Poecilia latipinna (Black Molly), 2 Danio Rerios (Zebra Danio),
1 Xiphophorus Hellerii (Red Swordtail).

02.09.2008 - Two And a Half Months On: New fish from Vienna - zierfish.at: 4 Otocinclus affinis (Oto), 5 Neocaridina Heteropoda (Cherry Shrimp), 6 Boraras Brigittae (Dwarf Rasbora). One Oto died a day after the travel. Five Boraras were sucked up through the Cal Aqua glass intake and survived in the filter for one whole day! Glosso planting - disturbing the substrate - caused Staghorn algae on the Java Fern. Filter cleaned, water changed, will overdose Easy Carbo to solve the problem.

12.09.2008 - Three Months On: Tank published on UKAPS. Fertilizer dosing increased to 12 drops / Easy Carbo, 9 drops / TPN+, 2 drops / Sera Daydrops to fight Staghorn Algae. CO2 injection increased to 30 bbl/min. Glosso spreading nicely. Need to improve on photography. Cal Aqua glass intake covered with bug-net to prevent sucking Rasboras. Otos eat Zucchini with great appetite. Zucchini starts disintegrating after approx.. 20 hours in the tank.

09.10.2008 - Four Months On: Got rid of the Eheim Classic 2211 filter and upgraded to Eheim 2222 yesterday. Flow is much stronger now, hopefully getting CO2 and nutrients to plants better. Algae still an issue. Drop checker is presumably giving higher than actual reading due to occasional trapping of undissolved CO2 bubbles escaping into it. CO2 concentration in the drop checker air might be higher than in the water. I am relocating the test to find a position with less bubbles. I measured an ammonia spike today, so I did a 90% water change. Ammonia still reads 1.5 mg/l afterwards.

16.10.2008 - Four Months On:

It looks like the TPN+ dosing regime was not high enough. Increasing to 40 drops/2ml/day seems to help. Eheim 2222 is definitely better than 2211. Drop checker near the Glosso is light-green while in the back - closer to the surface where flow is stronger is yellowish. Ammonia spikes disappearing.

Plants: Cladophora aegraglopila, Cryptocoryne x willisii, Microsorum pteropus 'Windeløv' (on rock), Microsorum pteropus (Java Fern) (on rock), Glossostigma Elatinoides (FG), Rotala Macranda (Red plant in BG).

08.11.2008 - RESCAPE
I stopped the algae bloom but was unable to get rid of all the old algae without substantial plant trimming so I decided it's time to rescape the whole thing and do a real Iwagumi at last. Here's the procedure in pictures:

260 LITER JUWEL VISION TANK

2008-06-30T21:11:00.013+02:00

_______________________________________

Launch date: NOT LAUNCHED YET

Dimensions (W H D): 47" x 25" x 18" / 120 x 65 x 45 cm

Volume: 260l. / 57 gal. / 69 US gal.

Aquarium type: Tropical freshwater community

Fish (not added yet):
A.30 cardinal tetra, 12 German Rams, Caridinia japonica, Otocinculus catfish.
B.50 Puntius oligoleps, 5 Crossocheilus siamensis.
C.20 Hyphessobrycon eques 5 scalari F1.
D.25 Paracheirodon axelrodi, 6 Corydoras pygmaeus 4 Caridina japonica, many Neocaridina heteropoda var. red and Caridina cf. cantonensis "Tiger", Melanoides tuberculatus, Planorbarius corneus.
E.2 Crossocheilus siamensis, 14 Hemigrammus bleheri, 4 Otocinclus affinis, 8 Paracheirodon axelrodi, 5 Symphysodon aequifasciatus, lots of Melanoides tuberculata, 12 Cardina japonica.

Plants/Invertebrates:
Planned plants with photos here.

Filtration: 2x Eheim Professional II. 2028 external filters with original filter load. Filter data (PDF): volume 8l, pump flow-rate 1050 l/h, flow-rate with load 750l/h. Total turnover rate: 8x. Power consumption 20W, clear hosing 16/22 mm, dimensions 415*210*210, suitable for tanks up to 600 l. Compare Eheim filters.

UV-C Filtration: JBL AquaCristal UV-C 36W Series II water purifier on filter return hose. On for 4 hours/day before nutrition dosing (to spare the chelates) with automatic on/off.

Heating: Hydor ETH-300 inline heater on filter return hose.

Lighting: 4 x 54 W Juwel T5 Tubes (2x "Day"-white in front and 2x "Nature" - yellow in back). 2x Juwel 1047 mm reflectors. Arcadia luminaire.(guide). On for 9 hours daily with automatic on/off.

Substrate: Dennerle FloreDepot, Black gravel

Decor: Redmoor wood, ADA Seiryu rocks.

Background: Black Paint.

Water parameters: N/A

Nutrition/maintenance: Plant Nutrition: Easy Carbo and DIY Tropica Plant Nutrition+ daily. AquaMedic Reefdoser Twin for automatic dosing.

CO2: 2kg CO2 bottle, Papillon pressure reducer, 3x Papillon check valves, 2x Aquamas in-line external reactors on filter return pipes(application sample) and ADA drop checker with Aqua Rebell KH4 solution.

NANO TANK

2008-06-29T01:40:00.146+02:00

This is the most recent picture of the tank (08.11.2008):

Launch date: June 16, 2008.

Dimensions (W H D): 14" x 9" x 9" / 35 x 24 x 24 cm

Volume: 20 l./4 gal./5 US gal.

Aquarium type: Tropical freshwater community

Fish/Invertebrates: Stocking rule - Maximum of 5 cm / 4.55 liter = 22 cm in total. - PFK

4x (3F, 1M ?) Otocinclus affinis (Oto) - - info 1, 2) 4*3.8 = 14.8 cm
6x (3F, 3M)Boraras Brigittae (Dwarf Rasbora) 6*2.5 = 15 cm
4x (2F, 2M ?) Neocaridina Heteropoda (Cherry Shrimp)
4x (?) Caridina multidentata (Amano Shrimp)
1x Crossocheilus siamensis (Siamese Algae Eater - guest only)

TOTAL: 29.8 cm (SAE not incl.) Both Otos and Cherry Shrimps are really light on the Bio-load.

Plants: (1) Hemianthus Callittrichoides, (2) Hemianthus Micranthemoides (BG right), Utricularia Graminifolia

Filtration: Eheim Professional 2222 external filter. Volume: 2.3l. Suitable for tanks up to 150l. Filter load: original. Max Flow Rate: 500 lph. Flow Rate with Load: 350 lph. Cal Aqua glass nano lily pipe set used for filter inflow/outflow. 12/16 mm clear tubing. Last filter cleaning: Aug. 09., Sept. 11., Sept. 22., Oct. 8 (Upgrade from Classic 2211), Oct. 26.

Lighting: 11W Compact Tube (original Tetra - 9000K white), 2 * 6W T5 fluorescent lamps with reflectors (DIY mounting - 4100K yellow). On for 9 hours/day 2PM-11PM with Brennenstuhl digital timer. Total illumination: 5.75 WPG (Watts Per UK Gallon) or 300 PAR or 180 PUR (source: defblog.se - 200 PAR or 120 PUR). Wattage Calc.

Water Heating/Cooling: Hydor ETH 200 external heater with 12 mm int. hose. Small 12V 4x4cm fan (running on 6V for lower noise-levels) for water surface cooling. It decreases water temperature by at least 3° C.

Decor: Grey Alabama Stones (much like Seiryu Stones) Background: Black paint.

Substrate: 1cm thick Dennerle FloreDepot and Sera Substrate mix, 5 kg (4 cm thick) Africa Black Gravel on top.

Water Parameters: PH 7.2, KH 9, GH 16, Nitrate 10 mg/l, Nitrite 0, Ammonia 0, Temp.: 26-28° C.

Carbon Dioxide: Pressurized CO2 system with Dennerle Crystal-Line (glass) drop checker, bubble counter and diffuzor. Dennerle Profi Line check valve. 350g CO2 bottle from Aqua Light (filled bottle pressure on 23°C: 75 bar, working pressure: 2 bar), Dennerle solenoid valve (on 1 hour before lights on and off 15 minutes before lights off). 70-80 bubbles/minute initially. Increased to 134 BPM (75 new BPM). 170 BPM produced toxic effects. . CO2 level 30 mg/l??? (calc.)

Plant Fertilizing (daily) / Water Treatment: Easy Life - Easy Carbo (1ml or 20 drops - manufacturer recommendation: 1ml/50l/day, George Farmer recommendation: 1ml/20/day), Tropica Plant Nutrition+ (2 ml or 40 drops - manufacturer: 5ml/50l/week, , SuperColey1 recommendation: 2ml/1WPG/100l ex.: 2ml*5.2WPG*20/100 = 2.08ml/day). Weekly 50% water change (calc.) with syphoning and Easy Life - Easy Life water treatment, dechlorination (3.5ml/10l - normal: 10ml/30l).

EI nutrient concentrations (in PPM):

Nutrient	My Values	EI Range
NO3	41.3	5 - 30
PO4	2.17	1 - 3
K	26.6	10 - 30
Mg	2.38	N/A

Shops: Fish, Invertebrates and some of the plants from zierfish.at and zierfische.at in Vienna (AT). Technology from aquadiskont.at in Klagenfurt (AT) and from Dennerle (GE). Tank, CO2 bottle and the rest of the plants from Budapest (HU) and Tatabanya (HU), glassware and fertilizers from AquaEssentials (UK).

Tank published on Practical Fishkeeping and UKAPS.

Regular updates and additional images HERE

---