AquaStudent's First Tank - Plans for an Upgrade (New Video Update)

[sewingalot]

You can't be lead wrong by Kara, she'll help you with low tech. Her journals and Lauraleelbp are good ones to visit. Both are a wealth of information for low tech tanks.

[Karackle]

Aww thanks Sara! I learned most of it from LauraLeeLLBP myself so I can't take all the credit

Anyway AquaStudent, I think you definitely have a good start. Whether you want to deal with the hassle of changing the substrate is really up to you. If you want to stay low tech, you should be fine with just add root tabs as substrate fertilizer and then you don't have to change out the substrate. As the tank establishes you will build up a nice layer of mulm (looks like dirt / gunk) within the substrate that will help act as fertilizer too.

[AquaStudent]

Originally Posted by Karackle

Aww thanks Sara! I learned most of it from LauraLeeLLBP myself so I can't take all the credit

Anyway AquaStudent, I think you definitely have a good start. Whether you want to deal with the hassle of changing the substrate is really up to you. If you want to stay low tech, you should be fine with just add root tabs as substrate fertilizer and then you don't have to change out the substrate. As the tank establishes you will build up a nice layer of mulm (looks like dirt / gunk) within the substrate that will help act as fertilizer too.

Thanks, the substrate will definitely be a project for the future. I'm concerned about my stock (already started a thread elsewhere about it) so that will most likely be changing soon.

[AquaStudent]

I have returned the Chinese Algae Eater and Bamboo Shrimp to the store. I'm sad to see them go but I know it's for the best. Thanks guys for all the suggestions.

I'm going to be transporting my tank up to my dorm next week so I will not be changing the stock for awhile. I'm going to focus on trying to fill out the plants as much as possible and making it the best home possible for my fish.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

For plants I currently have an Amazon Sword (I know they get big. I may move it to an aquarium I may set up for my suite common room), some Micro Sword (I want to carpet the tank with it), a marimo ball, and a small plant that looks like an amazon sword that I can't recall the name of currently. What would be the best ways to increase the plant growth without adding c02.

I plan on getting some root tabs tomorrow.

[AquaStudent]

I got the root tabs and added them earlier today. I'm also now working on a new background.

I got red paper and am probably going to do a similar pattern to the one before. It's a pain in the butt but I thought the first one came out great.

Is there a way to change the title of a thread once it has been posted? I want to change it to "Pax's 10 Gallon Kingdom" or something along those lines. I was going to say paradise instead of kingdom...but that word doesn't fit it just yet. It's still a work in progress lol

[Hilde]

Originally Posted by AquaStudent

I got red paper and am probably going to do a similar pattern to the one before.

You mean the blue with triangles? I just use material and tape it on with Gorilla tape.

[Splendid Splendens]

My threads all have an "Edit" button beneath them, don't know about yours! Hahaha
I am also contemplating a background for my 20, I'm thinking of just going with dark green/brown.

[Karackle]

Originally Posted by AquaStudent

Is there a way to change the title of a thread once it has been posted? I want to change it to "Pax's 10 Gallon Kingdom" or something along those lines. I was going to say paradise instead of kingdom...but that word doesn't fit it just yet. It's still a work in progress lol

Yes, go to the first post, click on "edit" at the bottom of it, and then click on "go advanced" and then you can change the title

Good luck

[AquaStudent]

thanks i knew there had to be some way.

The background is actually circles. I drew horizontal lines and alternated shading. My art friend suggested the pattern. it takes forever to shade in but looked pretty decent. and i had a fun time doing it. I wouldnt recomend it for anything larger than a 10 gallon though lol

[Splendid Splendens]

Hahaha the blue one did/does look nice.

[Karackle]

no problem! glad to help!

[AquaStudent]

The only problem, as someone pointed out, is that it does take away from Pax's colors. He kinda dissolves into the background. It's ok though because I'll just use the blue background on a fish tank I'm setting up for my suitemates.

the problem wouldn't have bothered me normally but now that someone has pointed it out it bothers me...i can't help it

[Splendid Splendens]

It would have bothered me if it was my tank.
I noticed but didn't want to point it out and discredit your background haha.

[AquaStudent]

I want to make my aquarium the best it can possibly be. If there's something I can do to improve it aesthetically, ecologically, or any other way (i couldn't think of anything else) and I have the power (and finances) to do it then I'll do it.

I really like this hobby and want to get as immersed (pun intended) as possible.

[Karackle]

a black background will really make Pax AND the plants stick out.