I finally started to set up this 75gal tank. Its been six months of saving and planning. Just when I thought I would start the set up with out the lighting, I found out my tank had a leak in it. Bummer! But now with a new tank I am ready to get started.

This is about two hours after adding water. I really like this Eco-Complete. I added 8 bags but I could have just used 6-7 but I like a deep substrate. I got a really good deal on it so I bought 12 bags, Looks like I might have to set up another tank, after all I have the substrate. You think my wife will buy my reasoning? LOL

The driftwood is cedar from local lakes around here. I keep them from floating by attaching large flat rocks to the bottom. I use to be a dedicated fisherman for over 18 year. I would go fishing 2-3 times a week. I love to fish sallow flats in the bend of creeks. In the lakes here the water is clear so you can see the structure on the bottom. So what I try and do with my aquascape is create the structure I use to fish, Stomps with downed trees.

There is a spot I use to like to fish late afternoons in the spring. This is a scaled down version of the spot I caught numbers of bass over the years. I plan to add a variety of ferns to the stomp and log.

The end of the log has pocket that I am thinking about planting some baby tears.

Well before I get to many plants I need to talk with Robert about some lights. I will update as the growth of this tank comes along. I like to bring a tank this size along slow. Most of the plants I add now will be break'in plants, mostly stem plants until I reach a balance.

update 10/13/03
Post by RobertH:
Nice looking peices of wood. The problem with using large peices of wood in an aquascape is that they take up so much room, leaving little else for aquascaping. They end up looking to far in the front of the tank blocking the view of the rear so you have very little depth of field.

If it were me, I would end up taking out the wood lying horizontal and leave just the wood standing up in the rear corner. But I might also try turning that peice so its diagnol, one end, (the big end) touching the rear glass. Then you are using the wood to divide the tank in sections, almost traingle in shape. You then have a clear view between the two peices of wood all the way back to the rear glass.

Robert

Robert -
I thought about that too but I am going to plant all kinds of ferns and Anubias.
The long horizontal log with pockets too fill with substrate as planter you probably wont ever see it
in a few months.

Hawk

update 10/17/03
Post by Justin:
Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe Cedar releases chemical/organic coumpounds that are poisonous to reptiles, amphibians and fish......

Update 10/18/03
Cedar and some other woods I would think be very toxic if they where fresh cut but the longer they soak the toxins would bleed out. The cedar I use have been under water for know telling how many years. The stomp came form the bottom, the lake was formed back in the late 50s. It hard to believe that its that old but I have seen cedar post that are over 20 years old. As far as what I have in my tanks they have been in for about 2 1/2 years now. I haven't had any problems with fish or plants. I would like to know if there was a trace amount of toxin thou. Now that I know I wont be using cedar any more. I will look for some hardwoods like oak or hickory.

Hawk

Update 10/20/03
Well Its been just over a week. I took some plants out of my grow tanks to help get a balance. I hooked up CO2 tonight and started to add ferts this past weekend after a water change. I added a school of Rummy Nose Tetras along with some Mollies to help in the cycling of the tank. I never did seen any Ammonia yet but I did have a trace on NO2 Its about gone now. I usually add an old dirty filter for cycling a tank but I wanted to see how Eco-Complete worked out. So far I really like this stuff. I could see plant grow right from the start. Most of these plants will be replaced after I get the tank to balance out and I get some better lighting.

Hawk

update 11/14/03
I can't believe how well this tank is coming along. There was just a little algae in the second and third week. Most of it has cleared up or just stopped growing. I am totally sold on Eco-Complete. Plants have new growth in days after planting. I still need to add more light. I have 140w now. Soon I should have 220w. I still haven't reached the level of NO3/PO4 I am looking to reach but I am close. I have some Mis-Nymphes stellata bulbs I have tried to start for all most a year now. After putting them in this tank they all sprouted in just a few days. The Rotala indica not only is growing tall fast but it has new growth from the roots, Ambulia also is growing really fast but I have never had any trouble growing it in any tank. I have never been able to grow Dwarf hair grass but in this tank its sprouting form with new growth in days for planting. I need to make some spray bar to control the water circulation. I am using two 304 Fluval. When I get a reactor 1000 hooked up to one of them that should cut down on some of the water circulation. I am using a Aqualine reactor now with a 550 powerhead. IT just doesn't work as well. I use the 1000 on my 55gal and love it. As soon as I get the light, and new reactor set up I will start replanting with plants I intend on keeping.

Hawk

update 1/18/04
I can't believe this tank is just over 3 months old. As you can see I have all ready removed some of the stem plants. I have made around $30 selling cuttings from this tank in the past few month. I would have to trim every week. I know I keep saying it but I really like Eco-Complete. Just look at the growth I have without adding any substrate tabs.

This is where I start to tweak the canvas. What I like to do with a new tank or a redo on an old tank, is plant as many plants as I have access to. Then see what grows best in the tank over time. For some reason I find as a tank gets older some plant will stop doing as well and others will finally take off. After using Eco-Complete I think this problem I have had in the past is due on me and the way I use substrate tabs. It seems like every type of plant I plant in this particular tank takes off.

First I think I need to open up the area in the circles, these areas are just to crowded. I haven't made up my mine about the lilies or the swords but there's not room for both. In the far left corner is a Aponogeton boivinianus. I hope this plant keeps growing to fill in this corner. I have had this plant over two years and this is the only time it has shown any growth since I first bought it. When I first got the plant it was spectacular! leaves over 24" long. The lilies bulbs have never grown in any other tank ether. I think its the Eco-Complete. Once I get them to start growing, I have had luck in transferring them to my 55gal with plan gravel. I do add tabs under them in that tank.

On the other side of the tank I need to remove some of the taller Sagittaria. They are hiding the Baby Tears growing out of the driftwood. I need to space out the large Swords in the back too. Some of them have to go.

Well these are my plans for this tank Any one have any suggestion?

Hawk

updat 1/21/04
Post by RobertH:
Where did the wood go? Did it get swallowed up ?

Robert

Its still there Robert. The vision I had is not the vision you seen now. After I do some major trimming and plant relocating I hope to see some of the driftwood. The Java and African ferns have taken over one end and baby tears the other end, there might not be much driftwood left to see.

Hawk

This tank had a bad aglae out break and got a major redo.