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...

[demosthenes]

hey! i like the idea so far, i'll make sure to give you a little extra stargrass to fill in that spot. my only advice is, don't try to fully recreate that tank, do something along those lines, but with your own flair, so it reflects you and your creativity, and not just what someone else has done. for instance, i really don't like hydrocotyle, i find it annoying to work with, but i love stargrass and fine leafed plants like cabomba, ambulia, and myrios.

see what kinds of things you like or don't like to use.

[agutt]

Originally Posted by demosthenes

hey! i like the idea so far, i'll make sure to give you a little extra stargrass to fill in that spot. my only advice is, don't try to fully recreate that tank, do something along those lines, but with your own flair, so it reflects you and your creativity, and not just what someone else has done. for instance, i really don't like hydrocotyle, i find it annoying to work with, but i love stargrass and fine leafed plants like cabomba, ambulia, and myrios.

see what kinds of things you like or don't like to use.

Oh def, I want it to be my own! I am trying to work some red into it...and mix up the plants a bit. I hear ya on the hydrocotyle... I like the idea of a finer leafed plant, although not as fine as the ones you listed. Im thinking some Rotala sp. Green

[agutt]

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[agutt]

I also forgot to mention that in addition to the new stand, I got a pair of CAL lilly pipes and a hydor 200W inline heater. I want to keep as much equipment out of the tank as possible

[agutt]

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[agutt]

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[fastfreddie]

Looks good! That stand looks nice! Great idea with the disconnects on both sides of the wood too. That will make things easy I guess! I really like the way HM looks when allowed to grow tall. Looking forward to the progress!