Kogo's fresh water refugium project

[terd ferguson]

thanks terd,

The hornwart castoff is a big concern for me and the only reason I hesitated to use it.

No problem. I'm looking forward to more updates.

 

[Dr Joe]

I may still consider anachris if I decide to add substrate

Anacharis doesn't need substrate.

If you want to go the aquaculture route you can grow real lettuce(same root structure and you may still be able to find seedlings in the garden centers) just need to flow the plants on a bit of styrofoam or support them elsewise.

Dr Joe

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[Kogo]

Anacharis doesn't need substrate.

Dr Joe

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OK, I was unaware of that. In your opinion, will it grow faster or slower then the hornwart.

 

[JBarlak]

updates?

 

[Kogo]

right now i have several plants in the sump with the water recirculating on itself. I want to see which plants will grow best under the lights I have. some plants are floating, some are banded to rocks, and some are in a planter. I hope to pick up a few more plants and post an update with pictures this weekend, but so far the project looks promising.

I have been using a 2 X 40watt shop light, but I just received a 4 X 20w light today. the 4X20w will light only the planted section, where as the shop light covers the entire filter. I will try the new light for a few days and see which i like best. I should also get all matching bulbs in the two fixtures for an even comparison.

but like i said, Ill try to get a real update this weekend

 

[Kogo]

Well, about a week ago i set up the filter to recirculate with old tank water a a few plants in different configurations.

as you can see I used free floating hornwart, floating parrots feather, potted stem plants (collected in a Miami canal), and plants attached to rocks including Anubis.

with the addition of the planter, the flow seemed just about right.

things seem to be going well

today I added wysteria and anacharis in planters as well as more hornwart and parrot's feather. the water is a bit cloudy from the planters, but here you go

i also added an egg crate top instead of the class tops

 

[Kogo]

I still need to decide weather to use a 48" 2 X 40w shoplight or a 4 X 20w light that only covers the planted area. Input is welcome.

and here is a few quick pics of the tank the filter is being made for

current stock (off the top of my head) includes 9 Frontosa, 2 Texas, two Midas, a small oscar, several small salvini, 3 small red texas, pair of clown loaches, and several exotic plecos.

The frontosa are leftover from when the tank was full of Africans (Im giving south americans a try now)

I may remove the frontosa before I replace the filter, but I'm still undecided.

 

[terd ferguson]

I still need to decide weather to use a 48" 2 X 40w shoplight or a 4 X 20w light that only covers the planted area. Input is welcome.

and here is a few quick pics of the tank the filter is being made for

current stock (off the top of my head) includes 9 Frontosa, 2 Texas, two Midas, a small oscar, several small salvini, 3 small red texas, pair of clown loaches, and several exotic plecos.

The frontosa are leftover from when the tank was full of Africans (Im giving south americans a try now)

I may remove the frontosa before I replace the filter, but I'm still undecided.

Thanks for the update. Your sump looks great. Your fishes look even better. When are you planning to have the sump running the tank?

 

[Kogo]

I think it is ready now, but moving out the old sump and replacing it with the new is a very big job. It would also be difficult to pull it back out if something goes wrong.

i want to be sure before i move anything, so maybe a few more days to a week.

 

[frasertheking]

i think you would be best with 4 lights against the two larger ones. if possible get a reflector as it can increase your light levels reaching the tanks hugely.