Nursery island
21st January 2009
This little project has been brought about by my black Corys producing fry. Therefore I need a nursery to put them into and hopefully be able to pass the 2-3 month old fish (if I can get them to survive) onto my LFS.
The first batch (I only spotted 3 eggs) has rendered 1 survivor who is now 5 days old and getting bigger, however I wouldn't be happy with a bare bottom boring tank and therefore am going to do a 'simple' aquascape. This will be inspired by Filipe Oliveira's latest aquascape with the large round boulders in it. No argument from me! It is almost a direct copy of his layout, just with different materials.
As this tank is only 13" x 6" x 8" (10 litres approx volume) I will be able to get away with large cobbles rather than boulders.
One other thing is I am trying to keep cost to virtually zero!!! This means utilising things I already have if at all possible.
I have cut an old window pane into the 5 pieces needed and will then rough off any sharp edges but it won't be perfect.
For filtration I have taken an old MP400 powerhead. I have then used a plastic pot that contained herb and spices, removed the label/glue poked loads of holes in the bottom and a large hole in the side. The hole in the side goes over the intake of the MP400. I then cut a Fluval 3+ foam pad and carbon pad into 3 circles (6 total) and stuffed them into the pot. With the pot already attached to the intake I put the lid on the end. This should hopefully work as a filter and reduce the 400lph of the filter substantially.
The heater will be a Newattino 10W.
For substrate I will put a thin layer of Leonardite, then I have a half full pot of JBL substrate and will use some small "Roman Gravel Highland Blend" to top it.
I am going to look for rocks/cobbles around the local nature reserve.
The lights will continue my current LED obsession and will be a luminaire with 3 x 3W 5500K LEDs (underpowered giving 2.45W per LED/7.35W total.)
For CO2 I will be using EasyCarbo and the dosing will be EI.
Plants will be Glossostigma Elatinoides, Microsorum Pteropus 'Needle' and Blyxa Japonica.
This is my first attempt at a Nano and therefore will be a learning curve.
