Fire aquariums Knock off 60 P

[charlie]

 At the last plantacholic, the discussion started by me,as to why the planted tank folks do not post pictures & information of their tanks,several voices  said if i started posting they will.
So i`m starting the trend , hope those voices live up to their promise.
I picked up this tank last year at the Montreal auction from Aquasense workshop - Thanks Luke.
It ran for a year until i pulled it down this week , since i had to move the tank.
Started out like this

Then this-

Finally-

I will post some more on the new scape & hardware etc. later
I decided to re scape the tank & change the substrate to the Tropica soil, , also finally ordered the LED fixture i wanted to try for a while now - Kessil A160 WE Amazon Sun

[pm]

Looks (or looked?) great!

I am in the process of converting my 90cm tank to lower light/lower maintenance, and will have my 45cm tank ready soon for pics.  I will help continue the posting trend.

[exv152]

Great tank Errol as usual. I especially like the killi fish.

I was one of those voices that said I'd post if you did, so I'll get around to it very shortly.

[charlie]

The tank is now rescaped.
Tank:60P
Filter : Eheim 2213
Lighting : Just switched to the Kessil A160 WE Tuna Sun( Verdict is still out)
Substrate:( Miixed )-ADA Amazoina  with Tropica Powerded soil  layered on the ADA soil
Hardscape :seiryu stone
Supplements- 2 stage Co2 kit. With SS in tank diffuser.
Plants: Eleocharis acicularis 'mini',Staurogyne repens,Hygrophila 'Araguaia',Ranunculus inundatus - for now may switch or remove plants as it matures.
I have not made a choice of livestock as yet.

[exv152]

Nice setup Errol. I'm interested in seeing how the kessil grows red pigment plants.

[charlie]

Nice setup Errol. I'm interested in seeing how the kessil grows red pigment plants.

Sure will, there is a lot of forum discussion around, that suggest the Kessils are inadequate for growing red plants.
although i don`t plan on using a lot of reds in this tank , i will place a few stems of red plants to experience for myself.

[aciport]

I haven't had any issues with red plants with the Kessil A150 on my 60P. However, I tend to tear my tank apart every four to five months to play with different plants so I don't have long term trials.

The one problem that the A150 (that I run) is not tuneable and is actually too strong of a light for the tank. Having the A160 should eliminate that issue. I've had to play with height above the water, photoperiod, CO2, and fertilization or otherwise it will be a green mess. The other thing is that being a single point light source the growth patterns of taller stem plants will make them bend inward. Not unexpected, but can create an odd display.

[charlie]

I haven't had any issues with red plants with the Kessil A150 on my 60P. However, I tend to tear my tank apart every four to five months to play with different plants so I don't have long term trials.

The one problem that the A150 (that I run) is not tuneable and is actually too strong of a light for the tank. Having the A160 should eliminate that issue. I've had to play with height above the water, photoperiod, CO2, and fertilization or otherwise it will be a green mess. The other thing is that being a single point light source the growth patterns of taller stem plants will make them bend inward. Not unexpected, but can create an odd display.

Thanks for chiming in Kyle. I could not understand why people were saying they have difficulty growing red plants with it, i saw many thread on various  forums when i was researching the light for the last 9 months, it did not deter me, so far loving it.

[pm]

Hey Errol, as someone who has grown both, do you see a difference between the Eleocharis acicularis 'mini' and hairgrass 'belem', or is it the same plant?

[charlie]

Hey Errol, as someone who has grown both, do you see a difference between the Eleocharis acicularis 'mini' and hairgrass 'belem', or is it the same plant?

In  all honesty ,I don't know.
A while back I got some from Rah which was known as belem, it grew as described, also exactly as the mini in this tank is growing, later on when moved to another tank the charteristics changed, perhaps lighting?

[FishPassion]

Beautiful Errol, a tank I could just sit and stare at for hours

[charlie]

Beautiful Errol, a tank I could just sit and stare at for hours

Thanks Klaus, nice to see you around.
The tank is steadily progressing, i`ll get a picture up soon.
Errol

[charlie]

It`s 2 weeks since the re scape , the soil is cycled after almost 100% water changes daily for the first week & daily 50% for a few days, livestock added - for now Amano shrimp, Otto Cats & Gold Tetras also added some Hygrophila 'Araguaia',ludwigia arcuata & ludwigia sp red, these plants are just for testing & may be removed later.

Please excuse the quick phone camera pic.

[exv152]

Looking good Errol, I'm looking forward to how this progresses. Were you able to find any detailed information about par values or a detailed spectral chart for the kessil?

[charlie]

Looking good Errol, I'm looking forward to how this progresses. Were you able to find any detailed information about par values or a detailed spectral chart for the kessil?

Whats spectral & PAR  . To date i have not seen any PAR charts on the light but have seen charts on the older model Amazon Sun.
As most know i tend not to get my head wrapped around the technical specs in this hobby, as experienced has taught me it`s not an absolute requirement.
Here are 2 links of many i used to research the light.
the first one only deals with the older Amazon sun that the Tuna sun replaced & is said to be better
https://aquariumdigest.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/led-compairison-med1.jpg
http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/kessil-a160we-tuna-sun.36690/

[charlie]

This is the tank  now.
I have switched to a DIY inline reactor and moved the Eheim skimmer to the right of the tank, I`m pretty happy about how everything turned , i`m also a Kessil fanboy 

[charlie]

Pic. update.

[bitterman]

Stunning!

[sas]

Looks lovely, wonderful job!

[charlie]

Thanks guys & doll

[exv152]

Nice job Errol. I think I like the latest version the best.

[charlie]

Thanks.

[charlie]

At some point i was able to put a nice scratch in my shrimp tank, it`s smack bang in the middle of the front panel and jumps out at me each time i look at the tank, needless to say it irritates me and i want to reverse the tank making the scratch panel the back of the tank.
This means i will have to also reverse the scape , creating a mess in the tank up rooting  plants and hardscape.
I really don`t want to try and net the shrimp.
What do you think about attempting to do this with shrimp in?  I`m aware of the dangers of disturbing the substrate  hmmm, is it such a high risk?

[rivermuse]

My experience with re-scaping a planted shrimp tank with the inhabitants inside, has not been very good. The last time I moved a few plants and rocks. All 4  amanos jumped and committed suicide.  I realized that after a week while cleaning my office and some crystals died within two days. 

You could try to siphon water at the same time you start uprooting the plants / rocks so that the dark debris/mulm is taken out  is instead of spreading into the tank. You will need a bit of extra water ready. It would be easier if you had someone helping with that while you rescape. 

... Nice tank!

[charlie]

Thanks rivermuse, i`m hoping the shrimp aficionados among us would have shared their opinions 

[AngelaM]

I've only ever kept cherry shrimp and although I never I did a complete re-scape on a tank I did move them across town a couple times. I generally lower the water to prevent jumping out. Then I'd catch everything I could and sticking them in a bucket before moving anything in the tank. Generally, I was trying to keep plants in the substrate during this procedure but it was never particularly effective except with really heavy root feeders like vals, crypts, and swords. I never noticed deaths with this procedure that was really disturbing but then the tanks were such jungles I'm not entirely surprised.

Again, these were cherry shrimp and I always found them really hardy. I'd be more concerned with some of the more sensitive species.

[charlie]

Update- i did it  !, after no input  from the shrimp aficionados who visited, i took the dive  .
My strategy going in was to siphon approx 50% of the water to a holding container before moving anything.
While the filter was running, i gently removed the monte carlo ( wow lot`s of it), this created a mild clouding of the tank, i let it filter for an hour or so and then proceeded to remove the hard scape and the rest of the plants, storing them in the holding container with the 50% of  the water removed to try and preserve as much of the beneficial bacteria hosted on the hard scape and plants.
Let it filter again  while  waiting for my helper  ( nephews  , great to have those  ), took the time to apply black Vinyl to the front scratch panel.
Help arrived and  gently repositioned the tank, i then added some Prime to the tank in the event there was any ammonia spike from all the disturbance, also topped off the tank with some of the water removed to further help by having a larger water volume while it settled so i can re-scape  .
Did the re-scape followed by a water change incorporating  the rest of the removed water, added a second mature canister filter crossed my fingers , monitored the tank for the rest of the evening  time to sleep , so far so good.
Next morning got up and checked the shrimpies ,  who welcomed me by happily  doing their morning frenzy dance.
Proving once again , an exception to the saying " crystal shrimp is very sensitive"
I`m not advocating anyone do this , if you choose to do so, it`s at your risk as their is a risk.
Just wanted to share my experience

[AngelaM]

I'm glad it went well. The results are lovely.

[charlie]

Update:
I was asked if my luck/success remained unchanged, happy to report both shrimp and plants are doing great!

[exv152]

Nice looking crystals you got there Errol! I think big changes are possible even with sensitive fish/shrimp as long as one goes slow so as not to disturb the contents of the substrate too much, and by taking precautions like adding prime, WC's etc. But change is always a good thing.

[bergenm]

Nice tank! You are making me reconsider giving up shrimp...

[AngelaM]

Absolutely lovely shrimp. I'm glad the re-scape worked out!

[charlie]

Thanks guys, my hope is that my experience with Crystal shrimp will encourage others who are deterred by the general belief that they are super sensitive, I have no doubt that the higher grades may be a bit more sensitive .
Regards

[charlie]

Sadly this tank is no more 
Got an alarming call this afternoon to inform me one of my tanks is leaking, got home to discover it`s this tank.
Thankfully my wife was home heard drip drip, investigated and saw where it was leaking from.
I dropped the water level  below where the seam had let go, removed all plants, scape and shrimp to buckets.
The other sad part was that in the haste of moving a pair of Apistogramma Cac. orange flash, who was just set up to spawn , had spawned unbeknown to me and only discovered this when i was emptying the tank to make it ready for the shrimp, hopefully they will not be too angry at me and soon spawn again soon.
I think the tank heard of my intent to move the shrimp to a bigger tank i have in the works and took it out on me.
decisions decisions!

[exv152]

Close call Errol. Looks like you caught it just in time. Could've been a lot worse. Out of curiosity, because i also have a couple of these fire tanks on the go, how old was this tank?

[charlie]

Kudos to my wife for saving the

The tank was acquired fall of 2015.
I now have a legitimate excuse for a new tank

[cdylnicki]

Thank goodness!!  Let us know how things go!

[charlie]

Yes, shrimpies and plants are in another  tank , settling in nicely

[barefoot_golfer]

Stunning contrast