Agutt's 20 Gallon Journal - Updated 03.06.09

[agutt]

Hello all,

After enjoying many of the other users journals on this forum, I decided it was time to make one of my own. I have completely decided to re-do my main tank (A 20H). In fact, I actually went out and purchased a brand new tank because we wanted a tank in our family room. Rather then put the new one out there, I put my old 20H out there, re-scaped it, and put the new one in my room to replace the old one.

The inspiration for this tank is coming from here. I absolutely love this tank, so I am trying to create something similar.

Here are the stats on the tank...

Tank - 20H
Backgroud - Spraypainted on the outside in black (I am done with trying to tape paper to the back!)
Filtration - Eheim 2215
Lighting - 65W CF 10.5 hrs a day
CO2 - Pressurized (Rex Grigg Regulator) 40ppm or so
Substrate - Eco-Complete
Ferts - EI Method

Flora - Cryptocoryne Spiralis, Ludwigia Brevipes, Hemianthus micranthemoides

I will soon be adding the following:
HC in the foreground
Blyxa Japonica in the midground and on the sides
Dwarf Hairgrass in the midground and on the sides
Stargrass in the giant gaping hole near the center
Hydrocotyle leucocephala on either the left or right side

Fauna - 3x High Fin Barbs ( I plan on adding at least 7 more possibly 12 (What do you think?). Unfortunately the LFS hasn't gotten any more in, and Invertz said theirs were hit with a disease), 4x Otocinclus sp., and perhaps a small group of Marbled Hatchets.



So a couple questions...

I want to add some kind of root tab to the substrate. Any recommendations. I was thinking ADA Multi Bottom and Bacter Balls or Flourish Tabs...

As far as the stock, Should I keep the Barb count at 10 or up it to 15?

Please any questions, comments, etc, are appreciated! I will be updating this thread as the project moves along...