Hi guys

Im new to this forum, and have got back into aquariums after having been unable to have aquariums for about 15 years (no I wasn't in jail).

Anyway, Ive posted below some of my pics from my first foray into the planted tank hobby.

This tank is ~180L and is about 2 weeks old. So far so good. No ammonia, pH about 6.8, slight nitrites (0.5ppm) and nitrates about 20ppm. Injecting DIY CO2 and plants are cranking. They've doubled in size in the last week and fish seem fine.

Anyway, I would like observations, suggestions, comments please. Thanks!

bump, wow no comments?

Slight Nitrite means tank is not cycled. Fish will die. Nitrite must be 0

Thank you for your input mate.

Nitrite levels and ammonia have disappeared completely and regardless, throughout the 'mini-cycle' the fish were coloured up, active, alert and in fact breeding so I have no issues regarding mortality.

Secondly, the toxicity of nitrite is often overstated. It has a lot of dependencies, including chloride levels, oxygen levels and the presence of other cations. Given that the oxygen levels are saturated and the fish are small, the very low nitrite levels have had no deleterious effects.

The scientific literature indicates (across the 40 studies i have read), that the LC50 (96hr) is ~2ppm nitrite-N. That is 4 or 5 times what i had in the tank. Secondly it effects larger fish more. Across species this appears to be consistent.

Ill agree though, no nitrite is preferable, but to say they'll die and no nitrite is essential is plainly false.

Welcome to the forum. Your tank is beautiful. It should fill in nicely. The only suggestion I have is to add something low, and sculptural like some good clumps of Downoi up front.

Thanks mate, I appreciate your comments.

Just today i have received more plants that may go to your advice.

Updated photo, looking a bit better, thanks for the advice!

Welcome to TPT.

I think your tank looks great for two weeks. I agree, you needed some forground plants. I would also do something about the condensation on the back. It's quite distracting. I assume it's water under the film on the back?

welcome and congrats. you have done really well for your first tank back into the hobby. it looks really natural and realistic. I am a big fan of tanks that aren't over scaped so I think yours is simply beautiful. your substrate interests me, what is it??

Thanks mate. I appreciate the encouragement. I read a lot of background information and so far its going really well.

Currently no algae, epic pearling, fast plant growth, happy fish and no toxins. I'm injecting CO2 into my internal eheim sponge filter (has an adapter for this) and I have a canister filter as well. Tonnes of light, 4 x T5HO, LED and MH. So cranking.

In terms of your question, its just standard gravel from my LFS. Nothing added, nothing special.

I wish my tank could look like yours. I would like to know more about the DIY solenoid. Is a 12v solenoid?

Hi mate. No its 240V solenoid. I simply plug it into a timer.

Updated pic

Well 240 is what the house voltage is in Australia. It is different here in the USA.

What was the user name of the seller of the solenoid?

This was funny, reminded me of The Wire. Tank looks to be going well, welcome to the forum. Was thinking DIY CO2 for such a large tank isn't easy.

beautiful tank, it is filling in very nicely. good job. if you only used aquarium gravel, get you some root tabs ready later.