Well, here we go...100 gallons. Walk me through it?!

[BCollie]

I just found out that Home Depot carriers Sphagnum Moss, but it comes in very small bags. I'll get everything I can at Home Depot then get the rest at the stores mentioned above. Just have NO idea how much to get of each, and I'm so bad with math so that doesn't help. Need enough to cover a 5'x16" area. If someone could walk me through how much to get of each I would be forever in your debt haha! I am just so confused right now especially because it seems they all have different units of measurement.

[BCollie]

Don't worry about it It doesn't really bother me, all I care about is making sure I buy the right amount of stuff for the ABG mix lol!

[DigitalPunk]

Its hard to gauge how much of each type you should buy. It is all about how you layout the tank. You will want your soil to be around 3" deep where you intend to put plants. It is a guessing game :/ I always end up with extra soil.

[Lija]

Buy the biggest bags of each lol. I got a few smaller ones, mixed it up, then got some more, mixed it up.... Repeated like 10 times lol

and after I put that into the tank, got some more lol

after DIY I figured it would so much less $ and effort to buy ABG mix, unfortunately I can't do it Canada, but you sure can.... Just saying

[BCollie]

Its hard to gauge how much of each type you should buy. It is all about how you layout the tank. You will want your soil to be around 3" deep where you intend to put plants. It is a guessing game :/ I always end up with extra soil.

I guess I can always return anything extra I just have no idea what I need to start with.
WOW, I just did the math and if I were to order the ABG online it would cost me $170 including shipping. It sounds like it would definitely be cheaper to do my own mix?

[deranged chipmunk]

Downside to building a big tank unfortunately. More of everything, including $$

I really should start selling ABG lol


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[LilyPad]

Downside to building a big tank unfortunately. More of everything, including $$

I really should start selling ABG lol


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

I would really buy it.

[BCollie]

Downside to building a big tank unfortunately. More of everything, including $$

I really should start selling ABG lol


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

So true. But it is always worth it in the end when you finally get to sit back and look at what can only be described as a finished work of art. I am artistic when it comes to photography and decorating things. Not so much when it comes to fake backgrounds and such.
Will my background need to go in before I put in the soil,, or should it go on top of the soil? What do you think will be the approximate cost to build a 3d background for a 5ft wide, 23" tall tank? *cringes* I have a feeling it's going to be quite a bit...

[jarteta97]

I would too. Maybe I should make my own, lol

[BCollie]

I am going to stop by Home Depot on my way home from class to look at the stuff I need, and maybe buy it if it becomes apparent how much I need. Either that or I'll wait for Bill to help me out after he gets off work I also want to look at stuff for making a 3D background. What would I need and approximately how much of it? Also gotta go by Walmart to get more razor blades for scraping the glass.

[UncleChester]

I just found out that Home Depot carriers Sphagnum Moss, but it comes in very small bags. I'll get everything I can at Home Depot then get the rest at the stores mentioned above. Just have NO idea how much to get of each, and I'm so bad with math so that doesn't help. Need enough to cover a 5'x16" area. If someone could walk me through how much to get of each I would be forever in your debt haha! I am just so confused right now especially because it seems they all have different units of measurement.

First figure out the total number of cubic feet of substrate you need. Multiple length x width x height, make sure the units are in feet. Your tank is 16" wide, this is 16/12=1.25'.

So if you wanted 3" deep substrate, 3/12=0.25', you'd need:

5' x 1.25' x 0.25' = 1.5625 cu. ft. total substrate

If you wanted 6" deep substrate, 6/12=0.5', you'd need:

5' x 1.25 x 0.5' = 3.125 cu. ft. total substrate

etc.

Add up the total number of 'parts' in the recipe you're using, for example (taken from here):

2 parts fine fir bark ( sometimes seen as "orchid bark" in the list of ingredients)
2 parts fine tree fern fiber
2 parts milled sphagnum moss
1 part fine charcoal
1 part peat moss

Has 8 parts (2+2+2+1+1). So 2/8= 1/4 of the recipe will be orchid bark. 1/4 will be tree fern fiber. 1/4 will be sphagnum. 1/8 charcoal, and another 1/8 peat.

Take the total cubic feet of substrate divide by 4 to get how much orchid bark, fern fiber, and sphagnum. Divide by 8 to get charcoal and peat. It's generally best to buy too much rather than too little, even doubling what you think you'll want won't hurt. Any excess can be used on your next tank or for potting plants you're propagating.

You can save on the charcoal by using hardwood lump charcoal designed for bbq's coupled with a hammer for smashing it. This is messy though (dusty), and if you go this route make sure there are no additives to the kind you get (lighter fluid for easy starting will be the most common).

[deranged chipmunk]

First figure out the total number of cubic feet of substrate you need. Multiple length x width x height, make sure the units are in feet. Your tank is 16" wide, this is 16/12=1.25'.

So if you wanted 3" deep substrate, 3/12=0.25', you'd need:

5' x 1.25' x 0.25' = 1.5625 cu. ft. total substrate

If you wanted 6" deep substrate, 6/12=0.5', you'd need:

5' x 1.25 x 0.5' = 3.125 cu. ft. total substrate

etc.

Add up the total number of 'parts' in the recipe you're using, for example (taken from here):

2 parts fine fir bark ( sometimes seen as "orchid bark" in the list of ingredients)
2 parts fine tree fern fiber
2 parts milled sphagnum moss
1 part fine charcoal
1 part peat moss

Has 8 parts (2+2+2+1+1). So 2/8= 1/4 of the recipe will be orchid bark. 1/4 will be tree fern fiber. 1/4 will be sphagnum. 1/8 charcoal, and another 1/8 peat.

Take the total cubic feet of substrate divide by 4 to get how much orchid bark, fern fiber, and sphagnum. Divide by 8 to get charcoal and peat. It's generally best to buy too much rather than too little, even doubling what you think you'll want won't hurt. Any excess can be used on your next tank or for potting plants you're propagating.

You can save on the charcoal by using hardwood lump charcoal designed for bbq's coupled with a hammer for smashing it. This is messy though (dusty), and if you go this route make sure there are no additives to the kind you get (lighter fluid for easy starting will be the most common).

My man Brian is wicked smart eh?? Thanks a bunch Brian!!


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[BCollie]

Ah, I see we have a genius on this thread! Thank you so much, that makes it easy!! I have 3cf of peat moss and approximately 1 cf of Sphagnum Moss in my cart. They have orchid potting mix here but it has fertilizer in it so I will get the stuff from Ace. I agree it's definitely better to have too much rather than too little! And I can always return anything extra.
Checking out now then heading to Ace then a local hardware store.

[DigitalPunk]

If you are doing a spray foam back ground you will want to do the back ground first before adding the soil in. You will want to lay the tank on its back so the foam doesn't slide down the wall and end up in a big sloppy mess on the bottom of the tank lol. Once the spray foam cures you can carve it as desired and then cover it with your preferred method

[BCollie]

If you are doing a spray foam back ground you will want to do the back ground first before adding the soil in. You will want to lay the tank on its back so the foam doesn't slide down the wall and end up in a big sloppy mess on the bottom of the tank lol. Once the spray foam cures you can carve it as desired and then cover it with your preferred method

I would like to do a background where I don't have to move the tank, it is a huge and extremely heavy chunk of glass. Can I do painted Styrofoam?

[DigitalPunk]

You can do not background at all if you like. I have a few tanks that I just covered the glass on the outside of the tank.

[BCollie]

I would like to do one if I don't like it I can take it out. Is a painted and carved Styrofoam background an option?

[DigitalPunk]

Yep, Use acrylic paints and then seal it with a clear polyurethane spray . You will want to let the whole thing air out for a few days before you put it in the tank... trust me. rushing that is awful. will make the whole tank smell like a chemical plant.

[BCollie]

Yep, Use acrylic paints and then seal it with a clear polyurethane spray . You will want to let the whole thing air out for a few days before you put it in the tank... trust me. rushing that is awful. will make the whole tank smell like a chemical plant.

I will do that, thanks! I just need to figure out where I can find big sheets of Styrofoam. any ideas?

Also, how do I post pictures that are bigger than just a little thumbnail preview?

[deranged chipmunk]

ok, all caught up. Andri, i assume brian's post was helpful and got materials figured out?

just out of curiosity, what are you using as a drainage layer?