AlexXx's First Planted Nano Tank!

[AlexXx]

Hello all! Most of you do not know me because I have not been posting for too long now, although I have been lurking this amazing forum for some time. I am fairly new to planted tanks. I have been keeping fish, primarily betta fish since last summer. I have a 10 gallon I have finally finished clearing out the fake silk plants of. It’s doing great. I just wish I could get more light in it, the hood says max 15watt bulbs. Oh well. Enough background and on to my very first planted tank journal. I think I will need lots of input, I do not know TOO much, but I am a little learned thus far…Hopefully. Here we go.

Tank:
2.5 Gallon Standard Rectangular Aqueon.

Lighting:


CO2 :
Soon to be DIY mixture, hopefully.

Filtration:
Azoo Palm Filter

Substrate:
Eco-Complete

Heater:
Tetra Submersible Heater, Up to 10 Gallons

Hardscape:
Some rocks I got for cheap at a store.
Flora:
All of my plants are thanks to Indignation. This guy has been the most helpful person ever during planning my real first planted tank. He’s been kind enough to send me some starter plants! Thank you again Indignation.
This is a plant list to best of my knowledge:
Hemianthus callichtroides (HC)
Blyxa Japonica
Weeping Moss
Fissidens Moss
Bolbitis Fern
Rotala sp. Mini type 2
Cladophora aegagropila

Fauna:
I have not decided on Shrimp or a Betta. I love Betta, but since being on this forum I have grown to LOVE shrimp. I do not have a great selection where I live, but I found a Cherry Shrimp farmer so I am going to pick some up from him. When would you think I could add some of them safely, I don’t want them to die.



Pictures:
January 29, 2010












I will try to update weekly. Please let me know what you think, and when you think i could add some shrimp! Also how long should i be leaving the light on per day?

[isu712]

I like it. It should look great once everything starts to grow.

As far as the light goes, start with 8 hours and adjust from there depending upon growth and any algae issues.

[doggyhog]

Looks GREAT Alex! Can't wait for it to grow out!

[Cichlid Junkie]

Great start Alex.

[Damian]

Hey great start! Looks good. Will be subscribing to this. Looking forward to this.

[MONARK]

Looking good.

Where did you get your shrimp? at Tadege's???

[AlexXx]

Thanks everyone!
HEY DOGHOG

Monark, I have not got my shrimp yet, but that is where i am planning on going. Have you dealt with him yet? Seems pretty legit. Nice guy too.
When do you think i should put some shrimp in? I dont want the cycling process to be the end of them

[MONARK]

Yep, I bought 20 from him at Aquabid and he sent me almost 30, adults and babies. Very nice guy also.

[AlexXx]

Oh cool, ya i was gunna go pick them up from him and get some algae wafers too. I work right next to where his place is so its not outa the way at all. Plus i wanna see his ponds and stuff. hes mad legit.

[blockclimber]

where in home depot are you finding these lights? everytime i look for one i cant find it

[Indignation]

Hey Alex, tank is looking great! get that co2 up and running, and those plants will take off.
Subscribed, looking forward to seeing how this turns out.
The only way to know when a tank is done cycling is to pick up a test kit. You want 0 ammonia, and 0 nitrites. Nitrates are fine, they aren't nearly as toxic as the nitrites or ammonia. as soon as you zero out nitrites and ammonia you should be good to go for livestock.

[AlexXx]

Alright! Thanks all! Ill prob get the DIY CO2 going next week or something whenever i have time. School/work is beating my up right now.

It seems like my HC is a lot less green than everyone elses on here. It was in the mail for a few days and it arrived that color, dull green. Ive had the light on it for almost 48 hrs straight now in effort to try to jump start it. Is it getting to much light!?

[isu712]

Originally Posted by AlexXx

Alright! Thanks all! Ill prob get the DIY CO2 going next week or something whenever i have time. School/work is beating my up right now.

It seems like my HC is a lot less green than everyone elses on here. It was in the mail for a few days and it arrived that color, dull green. Ive had the light on it for almost 48 hrs straight now in effort to try to jump start it. Is it getting to much light!?

48 hours straight?!!! That's not a good idea because plants need a dark period for part of their photosynthesis, so the only thing you'll be helping will be the algae. Just set it up for a regular photo period and it should bounce back with your CO2 and time.

[AlexXx]

Oh no! alright well i turned it off, ill turn it back on tomorrow. Hope this helps!

[isu712]

Originally Posted by AlexXx

Oh no! alright well i turned it off, ill turn it back on tomorrow. Hope this helps!

Good. It sounds like you've got a pretty good set-up going, so you should be fine with time, which is the hardest part of this hobby as I've found. I get impatient myself, but there's a saying the the only things that happen quickly in aquariums are bad things, so patience is definitely a good thing.