The makings of a high tech tank

It is time to reveal my new tank, but first, a look at it's components.

The tank I am using is a 40 gallon breeder, dimensions 36x18x16.
The lighting is a pair of 55 watt compact fluorescent bulbs, with high quality reflectors. This should provide enough light to grow any plant available, but still low enough to keep growth slow enough to be manageable.



The plumbing is driven by a Rena Xp3 cannister filter, which cleans the water and provides a home for the bacterium necessary for aquatic life.
The water is then directed through a CO2 reactor, which churnes bubbles of carbon dioxide into the water. From there the water passes through an inline heater, and back into the tank.

This shot of a leak test:


Nutrients are provided through additions of dry fertilizers, and the water is kept nice and clean with weekly water changes of half the tank water.

The results, an algae free tank full of healthy growing plants.


The plants should be grown in enough to start shaping and propagating them very soon.

Here is the solitary current resident of the tank, more to come soon!