6.6g New Dirty setup 56k Warning (No longer using dirt)

[rnaodm]

Haven't had tanks in a While. Used to keep Mini Reefs and it was fun but expensive, and eventually came to the point where the stuff I wanted I could never realistically have, So I left the Hobby for a While.


I like the Dirt tanks Ive seen here, So I went with that.

Picked up what you see above, The Petco 6.6g Bookshelf aquarium, Miracle Gro Organic soil, couple bags of natural brown gravel, Lava rock.



Added the dirt, packed and wet.



Topped with gravel



Moss and Black Lava rock added.



Plant was named "Compacta" Hygrophila corymbosa stricta




Filling it up, I had expected far more brown as Ive read other people have had to fill and drain their tanks multiple times before it started to clear up.

And finally


Im sure itll be cloudy for a couple days. The filter is super silent. Im not really happy with the plants/moss placement. seems far too unoriginal.

Thinking of maybe cutting up the board the fern is on into strips, and making a road affect. possibly surrounding the lava rock with the compacta.

Ideas/comments appreciated.

thanks for reading!.

[rnaodm]

Can a mod please move this to the journal section, Sorry!!!!

[SaltyNC]

Glad to see you got your tank underway. I'll definitely be following your progress. I'm dying to flood my 6.6, but trying to hold out. Do you plan to stay with the stock light and filter?

Salty

[wkndracer]

The round shape of the pebble in river gravel may give you a little grief holding things down. (not a fan)
The tank will shape up as you add more weeds and scapes are always to please the eye of the owner. Welcome to the dirty side of things.

[rnaodm]

Originally Posted by wkndracer

The round shape of the pebble in river gravel may give you a little grief holding things down. (not a fan)
The tank will shape up as you add more weeds and scapes are always to please the eye of the owner. Welcome to the dirty side of things.

Thanks yea I might of made a mistake with the gravel, I'm already starting to hate it :/ unfortunately the only petshop within 15 miles is a petco, and I live in a decent sized city with NO local pet shops.

Salty yea I plan on keeping the stock light, But If I happen to come across something better I'm always open.

[FisheriesOmen]

woot I love seeing these 6g tanks they look amazing

[Hilde]

Originally Posted by rnaodm

Yea I might of made a mistake with the gravel, I'm already starting to hate it :/ unfortunately the only petshop within 15 miles is a petco,

Other options are:
River sand from a landscaper
Black beauty blasting sand Tractor supply co or sand blasting co.
Pool filter sand - Pool supplies.
Paver's sand - Home Depot

[rnaodm]

Originally Posted by Hilde

Other options are:
River sand from a landscaper
Black beauty blasting sand Tractor supply co or sand blasting co.
Pool filter sand - Pool supplies.
Paver's sand - Home Depot

I really like the black beauty sand, Actually have a sand blasting company 2 miles away, unfortunately they only sell it in 100lb bags.

[Hilde]

Originally Posted by rnaodm

A sand blasting company 2 miles away, unfortunately they only sell it in 100lb bags.

Perhaps 1 day they will have a broken bag and sell you some loose.

How about trying the ElNatural method with Hydroponics potting soil (Walmart) and top with the black sand from Petco.

[rnaodm]

I picked up black sand from petsmart. along with another plant, going to take out the gravel now.

[rnaodm]

Took out the brown, Added the black. Added another plant and broke up the moss. I think the sand/dirt layers might be too thick.

But looks alot better then it did, Unfortunately I just don't seem to have a wet green thumb.

And I haven't found a good light setting on my camera yet.

[SaltyNC]

Good move on replacing the gravel with black sand from an aesthetic point of view. The thickness looks like it is around 2". I think that is fine. Do you plan to do any foreground carpets or leave that area open?

[rnaodm]

Yea id like a foreground carpet, completely undecided on which exactly.

Though I like this:

[Hilde]

What is your light?
Are you dosing ferts?

Looks like you have mostly stem plants. They love KNO3 (potassium nitrate) and need a carbon replacement.

KNO3 sources are:
Spectricide stump remover is 100% KNO3 at Lowe's in some States
Seachem potassium
Dry form which needs to be diluted
30 ml (3 tsp or 1 Tbs) into 1 cup of water. 1ml = 1.08 ppm of NO3 in 10 gallons of water.

Carbon replacements are:
Seachem excel
API carbon booster
Metricide or Cidex

Metricide or Cidex is 60% stronger per mL. For Excel (1.5% Glut.) versus Metricide (2.5% Glut) Mathically is 1.5/2.5=0.6. is Thus dilluting 6:1. A quart is approx $25 on Ebay. Best to use a mask when diluting in well ventilated area for can be hazardous to respiratory system. I have pleurisy but use it.

[rnaodm]

Hi I just set up the tank yesterday, so not quite dosing anything yet.

Lighting is a stock 15w t8, I'm not really happy with it and will likely pick up another strip and at least double the wattage, it surprisingly dim.

Im going low tech, I'll pick up the excel/flourish on my next trip for more plants.

Thanks for your help.

Lava rock was a bit too big, introduced it to a hammer/chisel