Little Iwagumi World

Maybe this is premature...ok, it is about two WEEKS premature. But I'm excited. ;D I just got a job on campus and I've been tank-deprived for some months now. I want to have something I can enjoy in my dorm that's relatively easy to care for. So I guess this is sort of a celebration of my excitement for new tank adventures.

I will be doing an iwagumi style (a popular form of planted tanks, for those who don't know) ecopico. I have my costs added up and once I get paid I will begin gathering up supplies over the next two months.

 

Reserved for FTS.

 

I chose the Ecoxotic EcoPico for obvious reasons - I'm a sucker for rimless tanks, it has awesome aesthetics, simple AIO setup, it should tie in nicely with my 10g when I move next year.

Livestock: 10-15 red cherry shrimp


Plants...

dwarf hairgrass (though I plan to keep it cut shorter than this)


dwarf baby tears


maybe some java moss around the rocks...


The substrate will be a 2.5" deep layer of SeaChem Flourite black sand substrate. My sister has extra from her tank, so I'm going to steal it from her. I am going to look around for cool rocks to choose from for the initial aquascape. I may also take some of the rock I had in my 29g reef (all dry now, appears to be volcanac rock or limestone of some kind).

Right now the plan is to use the dry start method. This consists of wetting the sandbed and keeping it wet, but plants will stay emmersed for the first month or so (not certain on how long this generally done for, or if there is a "limit" to it). This will give plants a head start in getting a good mat down and rooting into the substrate before adding water. One theory to this is increased CO2 levels from being out of water (opposed to being submerged). I have heard about the possibility of plants melting (though not common) during the transition from being emmersed to submerged, but I will need to look into this subject more.



The shopping list.

Tank
Ecoxotic EcoPico 5 gallon pico aquarium w/ LED light arm and filter - $50 from ebay (or $106 from Marine Depot)

Aquascape/Substrate
SeaChem Flourite black sand substrate - free
Rocks - free, taken from outside

Test Kits & Suppelemts
SeaChem Flourish Excel 500ml - $11.39 from Marine Depot
API Freshwater Mater Test Kit - $20 from Amazon
Heater - free (taken from 10g sw tank)
API RENA 50w heater - $26 from Marine Depot (to replace current heater in 10 sw tank)
Floating thermometer - $3.50 from Amazon / Walmart
Fluval Edge gravel vacuum 15” - $7.73 from Amazon
Fluval Flora stainless steel planting tongs 10.6” - $6.72 from Amazon
TLF NanoMag glass cleaning Magnet - $7.64 from Marine Depot
API Root Tabs - $6.49 from Marine Depot

Total: ~$142 - $247

 

get er done

 

Reserved for EXCITEMENT!!!!! :trampolin :trampolin :trampolin :trampolin :trampolin

 

EcoPico no longer available on ebay for $50 = sadface. I will keep a lookout for new ones, and buy it from Marine Depot at full price if need be.

 

Glad to see others are as excited about this as I am.

 

Freshwater planted tank + Rimless tank = Fresh sexy tank.

 

Nice man! Im growing some dwarf baby tears emmersed right now! If they grow out a bit more I might be able to send you some. Ill send you trimmings of what I have in my 55 if you want. It doesnt really fit the iwagumi style but whatever. lol

Also, are you going to do a dry start? Ive had some issues growing these plants submersed. It can be such a pain in the butt.

 

Thanks. Yes, I'd like to try the dry start method for the plants. I'm not certain on plants. I think I'd like to keep it to what's on my list so far.

My sister had the dwarf baby tears in her tank and had a hard time keeping them rooted (submersed). I think she ended up switching it out for micro-sword instead.