33g tank - shrimp Arrived (Update April 21th)

[dZilla]

So i've decided to set up a 33g (if anyone has been following my back and forth and inclusion of the forums then you already know)

So here are the specs:

33g tank - approx measurements are 36" x 12" x 18

Currently empty of all water

-- I did a perimeter of play sand (see picture)
-- 1-1.5" (approx) of Miracle Gro Organic Garden Soil
-- 1-1.5" (approx) cap of play sand
-- mixed in Schultz Aquatic Soil

-- 3 pieces of drift wood 'loosely connected end to end'

Filter:
Aquaclear 100 (moded with 2L pop bottle to control water flow -- thanks tang_daddy)

Heater:
Unknown heat supply but I have a heater here somewhere.

Air pump
-- maybe? for an air-stone or something -- unknown if required...

If you have any aquascaping tips let me know, I have a few nice sized rocks outside that I might put in there

Forthcoming :

-- Plants and a lot of them...
-- Shrimp we'll see what I can find

[Tn23]

Looks like a good start, the hard part will be picking what shrimps to stock

[tang daddy]

Looks good so far, I like the wood. It has lots of marbling which adds character, I added some cool fossil rock to a shrimp tank I set up years ago... That tank is long gone but the rock I kept for future use, you can see prehistoric shells imbeded in the rock.

I am curious to see how this tank plays out as you've definately done your homework!

And to see How this mixture will grow plants, good job and post lots of pics along the way.

[dZilla]

So, got water in the tank, and apparently after 3+ years of not using the wood I had, it doesn't sink (well 1 piece does -- the middle one) , don't know if it never sank, or if something happened... dried out? lol....?

So I just grabbed some rocks and attached them to the wood to hold them down, not as pretty right now but really too bad...

Got some plants today, and some filter water to help with my cycling, so no pictures yet as well its a mess in there...

[dZilla]

Last Water Test
Ammonia : 0
pH : 7
Nitrite : .1 (or less)
GH : 5.6 gH - I think thats right
Nitrate : Low range 5.0 high range 25

I know I need to get this down, I was hoping due to the fact that I have LARGE number of plants in the tank that it wasn't going to be an issue, but I've lost 2 fish already.

Lighting: (Mish mash)

2 X 15W T5s (daylight) -- these are only in a 22'' hood stolen from a smaller tank
2 X 13W CF -- again from another hood

Filtration: AC110 (I know might be a bit of over-kill)


-- Just got my CO2 hook u, and now I just need a tank, and a diffuser and some tubing



So added a bunch of plants, added some fish 10 types of tetras, 5 other types (can't remember the names lol), 10-15 very VERY baby guppies. 20 or so red cherry shrimp
-- Pretty sure I increased the bio-load too much hence why I might be losing some fish, but they are tetras, BUT it seems like my tests are not TOO high.

Pictures before I added another light.



Added another light..



As you read above have a mish mash of lights, patience is not something I have, but ordering this
Odyssea 36" 156W (4x 39W) T5 HO Light Fixture Extendable Series

-- I don't plan on running all four lights, as it seems like a bit of overkill unless someone thinks this one would be a better option (half the price as well)
Odyssea 36" 78W T5 HO Light Fixture Extendable Series

I still have MAJOR aquascaping to do, but right now meh its something to 'listen to' lol...

[dZilla]

Took out a piece of driftwood, and added one that didn't need to be weighed down by a rock anymore..... moved a few plants around.... not a major aquascape as I thought, but still need to cull some plants maybe

[mysticalnet]

Baby cherries might get eaten

[dZilla]

Baby cherries might get eaten

Really by who..? tetras?

There are lots of hiding spots in the plants and under the driftwood

[TomC]

How did you modify the filter to control water flow? Mine puts out to heavy a stream.

[dZilla]

tang daddy actually helped me with that we cut a 2L bottle in half and siliconed it to the underside of the filter so that instead of flowing down it kind of flows up and to the side If that makes sense