Tropical Fish Forums UK

The Aquarium. => Tank Logs. => Topic started by: blue_cortina on February 01, 2009, 07:10:21 pm

Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on February 01, 2009, 07:10:21 pm: Thought that having said hello I'd start a tank log. If I ask any questions the background will be here, and, it looks like a good way of sharing our tank experiences.

The Equipment:
Tank: Juwel RIO 180
Filtration: 'Stock' Juwel internal filter
Heater: 'Stock' Juwel heater
Lighting: 'Stock' T5 hi-lites - on a mechanical timer.

Subtrate: Carib Sea Eco Complete
Wood: 4 largish pieces of mopani(iirc)

The Plant:
limnophila sessiliflora (Ambulia?)
Vallisneria Spiralis (taking over the tank)
Crypto' Wilisii
2 other Crypto
Small amazon sword

The Inhabitants :-)
(Slowly added over th past 13 months)

Cardinal Tetra 5
Neon Tetra 6
Rummy Nose Tetra 10

Golden Molly 1
Koi Swordtail 4
Red Coral Play 4
Blue Guppies 3

Dwaf Chain Loach 2
Bristle Nose Catfish 3

Shrimp 12 ish
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: Tymm on February 01, 2009, 08:52:24 pm: i´m always told THIS THREAD IS NO GOOD WITHOUT PICTURES:cool::):D
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on February 01, 2009, 09:04:38 pm: Quote from: Tymm;94728
i´m always told THIS THREAD IS NO GOOD WITHOUT PICTURES:cool::):D

Thanks - Photos to come later - when I've sussed that out

Also
Thanks to Mrs T.A.W for merging
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: mrs t.a wayne on February 01, 2009, 09:07:08 pm: Absolutely ha ha :worthless: ;) No probs
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: Hayley on February 01, 2009, 11:29:21 pm: :agree:....*wwopix*....have a look here (https://www.tropicalfishforums.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=6056)...no excuses now;):D:D
Title: Photo of the Tank
Post by: blue_cortina on February 03, 2009, 01:27:21 pm: :) As you requested.... :cool:
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: gratts on February 03, 2009, 02:23:44 pm: Nice tank :)
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: Tymm on February 03, 2009, 07:57:42 pm: nice tank good photo aswell i´m a bit jealous..................
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: plankton on February 03, 2009, 08:35:44 pm: *nicetank*
Lots of thought gone into that :)
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: mrs t.a wayne on February 03, 2009, 10:22:56 pm: gorgeous tank :D may i suggest a little something to really show those plant's off! A nice dark background would do wonders ;):D
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: Hayley on February 03, 2009, 10:53:35 pm: :agree: a black background would just finish the tank off nicely, I love the vallis, beautiful tank:D
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on February 04, 2009, 01:24:42 pm: Thanks for the comments. I've tried black backgrounds in the past and agree they can look very good. I think I will get some card and try it out on this tank - at least there should be enough lighting to support it...
Title: with black background
Post by: blue_cortina on February 08, 2009, 01:30:55 pm: I added a black background yesterday evening. I got two pieces of large black card stuck them together (butt joint) so that they long enough. I put an extra strip of card along the back of this verticle joint to ensure no light showed through the joint, this also strengthen the card. I then cut it to the correct length and then trimmed the height so that it was taller than the visible height of the glass. As the tank is a juwel one I was able slide the card down between the glass and the plastic framing all the way along the bottom. I did the same at the top. This really helps to keep the card flat against the glasss. I finished off by putting a bit of tape at the two end sides.
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: mrs t.a wayne on February 08, 2009, 01:35:49 pm: And it was worth look at the difference :D:D:D
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: johnny70 on February 08, 2009, 01:36:26 pm: very nice, love the vallis:D

JOHNNY
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on February 08, 2009, 02:58:46 pm: ...I'm very pleased with the effect. The fish and plant look brighter and the tank looks deeper - which is all great.

Thanks to all for the suggestion.*applause*
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: Hayley on February 08, 2009, 10:35:53 pm: Yep, looks fantastic now, good move:D
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: Malfie on February 09, 2009, 08:53:50 pm: Your tank looks amazing.I love the verticals provided by the Vallis.
Also,your Rummys look so happy with their little red faces.

Malfie
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on February 19, 2009, 05:19:42 pm: Quote from: Malfie;96950
Your tank looks amazing.I love the verticals provided by the Vallis.
Also,your Rummys look so happy with their little red faces.

Malfie
Thanks again everyone - I've just done a water change and trimmed plant/removed algae etc and all is looking better. I've also been given 2 more RummyNose (Thanks Matty) so I
ve got ten of those lovely fish shoaling around now. I like the way the neons/cardinals often join in with them as well.
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: kathateria on February 19, 2009, 05:24:41 pm: Really nice tank,well done:)
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on April 07, 2009, 06:36:43 pm: Thought I'd add an update picture now the CO2 https://www.tropicalfishforums.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7899 has been running for a month. The Ambulia has grown well and the Valllis is running out of room - wonder how long the longest bits are on it...
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: mrs t.a wayne on April 07, 2009, 06:48:56 pm: that is gorgeous can we have some more pics of it please :D
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: plankton on April 07, 2009, 10:12:24 pm: Very lush indeed :)
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: Hayley on April 08, 2009, 12:28:41 am: That's one lovely tank :D:D
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: aquaticmaniac on April 10, 2009, 02:46:36 pm: Lovely tank. Those vals add a lot of depth.

Is that algae I see? :D
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on April 10, 2009, 04:35:04 pm: Quote from: aquaticmaniac;110123
Lovely tank. Those vals add a lot of depth.
Is that algae I see? :D

Thanks - Yes it is algae - I've had a lot of problems with algae over the time since I set i up (1about 15 months ago). The main growth is over the wood and was present before co2 injection started. This weekend I will do a water change and scrub all four pieces of wood to remove the worst. The back left piece will get covered with some riccia I have. The ambulia at the fron will receive a good trim and there will be a general tidy up.
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: aquaticmaniac on April 10, 2009, 11:55:05 pm: Also, is that some sort of crypt I see on the far left? I usually don't go for the crinkly leaved plants, but it looks great.
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on April 16, 2009, 05:42:54 pm: Quote from: blue_cortina;110136
This weekend I will do a water change and scrub all four pieces of wood to remove the worst. The back left piece will get covered with some riccia I have. The ambulia at the fron will receive a good trim and there will be a general tidy up.
[/SIZE]
Well I actually managed to do the job - helped by the bad weather here. Thought as I could not do gardening outside I'd do it in the wet inside ;-)
So attached is another picky of the tank after about 4 hours of water change, wood cleaning and plant trimming/replanting etc
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on April 16, 2009, 05:54:24 pm: Quote from: aquaticmaniac;110219
Also, is that some sort of crypt I see on the far left? I usually don't go for the crinkly leaved plants, but it looks great.

Yes it is a crypt - but my records do not show what type it was - the plant label I kept was a bit vague. Attached is a better photo of it...
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: aquaticmaniac on April 16, 2009, 06:14:08 pm: Nice udate. Looks great *OK*
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: plankton on April 16, 2009, 06:47:51 pm: Very nice, and a great photo as well, so.......
Nominate for AOTM :camera:
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: mrs t.a wayne on April 16, 2009, 09:52:44 pm: Very very nice that hard work paid off ;):D because............

i'm 2nding that Nom many congratulation's :D:D
Title: External Filtration
Post by: blue_cortina on May 27, 2009, 08:56:51 am: I added an external filter to the RIo 180 last week. It's a Tetratec EX700 - which comes highly recommended. I'll post some pics of it as soon as I can...

https://www.tropicalfishforums.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=121168#post121168
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on September 14, 2010, 08:20:09 pm: Time flies - but it's still a great hobby to have - thought an update was in order...
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: johnny70 on September 14, 2010, 08:21:29 pm: Very lush *dude*
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: DEE on September 14, 2010, 08:24:07 pm: Am I allowed to ban someone for having a gorgeous tank like that? :)

Only joking, that's really amazing. I love it. Well done.
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: keepontrying on September 14, 2010, 08:42:34 pm: Blue cortina you should have entered the planted tank competition. Your tank is fab! Maybe it is still open to you? Does it close on or before the 15th????? :)
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on September 14, 2010, 09:30:21 pm: Thanks for the comments - I'm still not quite happy with it yet but am loving having it. It's a great hobby to have.
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: plankton on September 14, 2010, 10:08:17 pm: Does that happen when anybody doesn't post for years? Maybe I should try it...... *rolleyes*
Nah! It'd never work for me! *laugh*

Very nice! *grin*
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on November 16, 2010, 08:05:51 pm: Tank was becomming too much of a jungle so had a massive tidy at the weekend...

Here's the just after and once it's cleared...
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: plankton on November 16, 2010, 09:49:24 pm: Looks great! *grin*
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on November 17, 2010, 04:24:16 pm: Thanks - Any ideas how I could hide the return for the external filter?
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on November 17, 2010, 04:33:19 pm: I've been trying to get some photos of my fish for ages and without much luck - finally I got a reasonable photo.. here's one of my Phantom Tetras
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: plankton on November 17, 2010, 06:50:36 pm: Nice pic :)

The filter return should get hidden by the plants you've got there.
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: Hayley on November 17, 2010, 11:15:36 pm: The tank looks great :) as Ian said the plants should grow up and thicken out to hide the return, you could always stick some moss to it to camouflage it, make sure you trim it to enable you to remove the end :)

Stunning Phantom picture too :)
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on January 04, 2011, 06:54:55 pm: Managed to get another Phantom photo...
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: plankton on January 05, 2011, 12:19:58 pm: That's a nice pic :)

(shame about the dirty glass..... ;) *grin*)
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on January 05, 2011, 07:28:47 pm: Quote from: plankton on January 05, 2011, 12:19:58 pm
That's a nice pic :)
(shame about the dirty glass..... ;) *grin*)
Good job you didn't mention the dodgy tail ...agh the war wound

Here's my best photo of my Cherry Shrimp.
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on January 23, 2011, 07:44:45 pm: Updated photo to show how the plants are growing..
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: Ruthie on January 23, 2011, 07:49:30 pm: Looks amazing! *love*
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: Hayley on January 23, 2011, 10:33:27 pm: *applause* It's beautiful, nice one *grin*
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: fragglehair on January 23, 2011, 10:42:30 pm: Lovely tank. Incredibly lush and green looking.
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: plankton on January 24, 2011, 09:05:41 am: That looks really inviting for fish. *dude*
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: BalloonMolly on January 24, 2011, 05:34:44 pm: WOW, WOW, WOW!!!

THAT IS ONE OF THE NICEST TANKS I'VE EVER SEEN!!!
Title: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: AstroMelly on January 24, 2011, 06:21:01 pm: Lovely tank BC. You said you used caribsea Eco complete? Can you elaborate please? Is it the cichlid mix product? How thin/thick and did you put another substrate over it?

Also, can you let us know where you sourced the plants please? Reason is we are going to be planting our tank up soon and would like to get the best start possible for them and get the tank looking as good as poss in the shortest time. I haven't put nutrient substrate in, just silver sand. I was advised to use liquid feed which I may regret in the long term but hey ho, I can always start again at some point in the future, can't I?

Lovely tank!
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: DEE on January 24, 2011, 06:43:40 pm: I love it!! Beautiful *wub*
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on January 25, 2011, 04:48:37 pm: Thank you all for your kind words. I'm nearly happy with it, may do one more tweak to it, but if I do I'll post the results ;-)

The substrate is http://www.caribsea.com/pages/products/planted_aquar.html Eco-complete "planted" (IIRC). The substrate is described as bimodal - i.e two sizes in one bag rather than a substrate bagand then a top layer from another bag. The tank is no been running for just over 3 years. I recon it took a good 6 months to get it established and running properly. Most of the plant came from my LFS, and would therefore be from "Tropica"http://www.tropica.com/home.aspx. We also swap plant at work :-). I run a CO2 injection system but only inject a small amount of carbon at a steady rate. It's enough to make a difference and keep the algae down. I also dose with liquid fert (SeaChem), should be daily but I forget, so, maybe every other day. Oh and the tank is running T5 lighting, 2*45W...
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on June 10, 2019, 08:15:47 pm: Well its been a long time since an update but my Aquarium is still running. Not as lush as it used to bbe and not very many fish at the moment but they are at least healthy.
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: Gingerlove05 on June 10, 2019, 08:46:44 pm: Still looking good :)
Not sure if we’ve met so hi! *grin*
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: Stephen on June 10, 2019, 10:42:13 pm: The tank looks good, which fish do you have?
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: plankton on June 11, 2019, 08:56:11 am: It is still looking good. :)
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: blue_cortina on June 11, 2019, 09:56:58 pm: 2 Bristle Nosed Catfish (One Marmalade and the other I cant remember)
2 Dwarf Chain LoachMany Black Molly1 HarlequinA few Cherry Shrimp & Some Amonao Shrimp

Think thats abbout it at the moment - If I could find a decent LFS I'd star to add more ... Lookking abit empty for a 180l
Title: Re: Blue Cortina's Tank Log
Post by: Ric on July 15, 2019, 06:26:32 pm: Very nice tank and very green. Love the jungle look, then having a clear-out to see the fish again and then letting it all grow again. Well done :)