CNTSG's 7.5G Mr. Aqua - First planted tank
 

This is my first serious attempt at a planted tank and first post. For Christmas this year I received a Mr. Aqua 7.5 G cube tank and a Finnex Fugeray 12". I was going to wait until I could hit up the fish store near my work for some of the other plants I want to add, but I went ahead and set it up with what I could get near my home.

Tank: Mr. Aqua 7.5 gallon cube
Lighting: Finnex fugeray 12"
Filtration: Aquaclear 20
Heating: Jager 50W
Substrate: Azoo Plant Grower Bed
Decoration: Ryouh stones
Plants: Water wisteria (Water wisteria (Hygrophila difformis), Anubias nana. I am planning on adding narrow leaf java fern in the upper left corner, some micro sword in the mid ground, and flame or christmas moss in the foreground. This is my first go-around, so I am open to any plant suggestions.
Fauna: Once the tank is cycled I want to add otocinclus, Neocaridina heteropoda (RCS and I think Orange sakura shrimp look really cool), and I would like some small fish (danios or tetras) or a betta. I'm not sure if the betta would eat the shrimp or not. I had some amano with a betta in a tank before and they were fine.
Fertilizer: I am planning on dosing with Flourish and Excel maybe once a week.
CO2: none

I added API aquarium start up pack with Stress Coat and Quick Start to hopefully get the cycle moving along.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/pH...Bare_tankc.jpg

I was playing around with the landscaping and this is what my cat approved of. I think I may need to add a lid as he thinks this is his personal water fountain now.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/pH...Substratec.jpg

Here is the tank all set up and running. Now I just need to add more plants and wait for it to cycle.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/pH...G_plantedc.jpg

Nice start!

Thanks for the encouragement!

Two weeks in and things are looking good. I have added Narrow leaf java fern (Microsorium pteropus), Cryptocoryne lutea, Micro sword narrow leaf (Lilaeopsis mauritius), Ludwigia repens, Riccia fluitans, and Christmas moss. The riccia is attached to a rock and I tied the christmas moss onto stainless steel mesh.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/pH...SG_130111c.jpg

The cycle is coming along. I have been using Ace hardware ammonia and keeping the level above 1 ppm every day. Nitrite levels are off the charts and my nitrate levels are around 10 ppm. I want it to hurry up so I can add in some livestock.

The micro sword is sending up new shoots and the christmas moss is growing like crazy. I was thinking about adding CO2, but I prefer keeping things simple. I gave the micro sword a trim to encourage some new growth. I had some of the leaves on my C. lutea melt, but after that it looks reasonably stable.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/pH...SG_130113c.jpg

I love those stones! However, don't you feel the large leaves make the scape seem a lot smaller? Especially the Anubias. Just my opinion, looks great!

keep up with updates that is a great looking tank

Rock placement is perfecto

update? How is that light working out? I am thinking about buying this same combo, filter light, and tank haha.

I have a Betta in a 1.5 and he has eaten 4 ghost shrimp in his lifetime, but those shrimp are only .36 cents a piece. You might have better and more hiding places for your shrimp. I found that as long as I religiously feed my Betta he usually leaves the shrimp alone

Nice tank! I have three of those cubes, but could never get the hardscape looking "right." Yours looks great.

I have one betta that lives in a 2.5 with shrimp and never bothers them. Another that hunts down anything that moves. It even took awhile for him to leave snails alone. He kept nipping off their antennae (or whatever they're called on snails). I'd recommend OP start with just a couple of cheap cherries and see how they do.

I agree with the Anubius thing. This is going to look good filled in. It won't be long for that moss.

I don't know i have to disagree with this, usually larger plants tend to ruin the proportion and scale in tanks but for some odd reason it just goes with this tank in my opinion, keep up the good work go with whatever looks good to you.
;)