MTS rescape for my 50gal

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Fozzybear

wocka wocka wocka!
Mar 16, 2011
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I just got my mineralized topsoil today in the mail care of http://stores.intuitwebsites.com/Aquarisms/-strse-Substrate/Categories.bok (Most excellent! :clap:) and also the money to get Tahitian moon sand and place an order with bobstropicals. So...the recreation begins...here i shall make pictures happen.



Before I get to it...****ty potting soil under #3 gravel...cartoon colors special. Also makes for wonderful algae blooms.
IMG_20110404_193318.jpg

And at this point I was pretty sure gremlins had been pooping in my tank for months...surely.
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Old crappy heater, meet Mr 200watt Aqueon Pro
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The fish snails and floating plants, chilling with the filter and a light in a rubbermaid bin.
IMG_20110404_203636.jpg

Plants waiting in the kitchen...wife loved this one IMG_20110404_203650.jpg


And finally the tank is clean...i'm not...the house isn't...wife is pissed lol.
(actually she was quite the sport...i'd have been mad at me >.>)
IMG_20110404_205054.jpg

Finally get to glue to black background to the glass....yay for clarity
IMG_20110404_210752.jpg


now i'm SURE somebody pooped in my tank
(black sand)
IMG_20110404_211157.jpg


Ready for the MTS
IMG_20110404_211942.jpg


Dolomite Powder and Muriate of Potash say "HI!"
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Note to anybody who does this: DO THE SOIL+CLAY WET!!!. I mixed mine in a garbage bag so it was well....mixed and then poured it into the tank....SO MUCH DUST. Turned the whole house red for a bit.
IMG_20110404_212740.jpg


Pulled the sand in over the edges and put in the rocks for the cave
IMG_20110404_213713.jpgIMG_20110404_213722.jpg



Got all my microsword cut and ready for planting
IMG_20110404_220948.jpg



filling took hours with the sensitive substrate.
IMG_20110404_224949.jpg

Totally worth it in the end... I ran out of light time so i'll have to add some pictures of the tank once its all clear and stuff tomorrow morning.
IMG_20110404_224942.jpgIMG_20110405_001238.jpgIMG_20110404_233007.jpg

IMG_20110404_203650.jpg IMG_20110404_213722.jpg IMG_20110404_213713.jpg IMG_20110404_203636.jpg IMG_20110404_210752.jpg IMG_20110404_212740.jpg IMG_20110404_224949.jpg IMG_20110405_001238.jpg IMG_20110404_203630.jpg IMG_20110404_233007.jpg IMG_20110404_212109.jpg IMG_20110404_193318.jpg IMG_20110404_203625.jpg IMG_20110404_220948.jpg IMG_20110404_211157.jpg IMG_20110404_211942.jpg IMG_20110404_224942.jpg IMG_20110404_205054.jpg
 

jetajockey

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Apr 9, 2010
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Looking good. If that heater is totally submersible you might want to try mounting it horizontal along the lower half of the tank so that you don't have to worry about unplugging it or running it dry.

Also, what are those large floaters? I want something like that for my pond.
 

Fozzybear

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Mar 16, 2011
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lmfao you'd have to ask gypsy about those large floaters (gypsy125) and if you look in...the two pictures with this caption: "Pulled the sand in over the edges and put in the rocks for the cave" you'll see where that heater wound up finally. The ones with the black sand in before water, I'm quite pleased with it.

I can give you a couple of those floaters too if you want...i started with one...now i have a million, if you want to pay for shipping i'll totally send you a couple.
 

itsalltoomuch

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Apr 3, 2011
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That looks really neat! I want to try this with my tank aswell but I'm not really sure how this works. Can I just take any kind of potting soil from the store and but it in the fish tank?
 

jetajockey

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Apr 9, 2010
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Ah. I see it, looks like a good spot. MG just told me that its frogbit. I want some of that stuff, I need large floaters to cover my pond, at the moment I just have water lettuce and the dreaded duckweed of doom.

I've never used tahitian sand with MTS, it looks like it'll blend well if it ever gets shifted together.
 

Fozzybear

wocka wocka wocka!
Mar 16, 2011
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Ellis
That looks really neat! I want to try this with my tank aswell but I'm not really sure how this works. Can I just take any kind of potting soil from the store and but it in the fish tank?
I used mineralized top soil...origionaly i just used regular topsoil but it bloomed a ton of algae and smelled strongly of farts...all the time...check out the link at the beginning of this thread as well as http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/...-mineralized-soil-substrate-aaron-talbot.html <---(very informative)
Ah. I see it, looks like a good spot. MG just told me that its frogbit. I want some of that stuff, I need large floaters to cover my pond, at the moment I just have water lettuce and the dreaded duckweed of doom.

I've never used tahitian sand with MTS, it looks like it'll blend well if it ever gets shifted together.
Yes yes frogbit is right...you want some? also...duckweed....not so bad imho, my corys love it. And yeah...I derped a couple times when i was filling, stuff blends very nicely and my corys are on cloud nine right now...i feel bad that they weren't this happy the whole time :(
 

Fozzybear

wocka wocka wocka!
Mar 16, 2011
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Habrosus, got another 6 inc from bob, gonna be a happy little school :p:, they're wonderful fish.
 

standardbyker63

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Dec 10, 2008
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Very cool. I've been doing a lot of research on MTS. Seems to be the way to go. I think ill be doing the same in my new 75g. Good to know it can be ordered online if you don't want to spend the time making it yourself. Everything looks good so far. Flora and fauna plans? Keep us updated on how it all works out.
 

Buff

Former Squid
Oct 5, 2010
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Buff
The picture of your plants sitting in the cooking utensils reminds me of a picture I have somewhere of rocks I was boiling for my 75. Yeah, my wife won't let me do that anymore...
 
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