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Hi everyone!
I'm quite green (pun semi-intended) when it comes to planted tanks, but I've experimented with a few, with decreasing amounts of algae each time, and I'm diving into another one right now!
I call it my "
Container Garden" because I wanted to do a dirted tank but am also a bit fearful of the mess of trying to overhaul it if it gets into trouble. So I'm planting in small, individual vases that I can remove to perform maintenance on if need be.
My goal is to develop a very natural, balanced, and low maintenance set-up - a hybrid of Diana Walstad and Tom Barr's methodologies.
SPECS:
- 10 gallon
- Light:
- 10W CFL Marineland bulb, 5100K (x2)
- 6 hour photoperiod w/ 2 hour break in middle
- Room temp (75F-ish) - to be heated to 80F soon
- Soil: Miracle Grow Organic Potting Mix capped with gravel
- Additives:
- Seachem Prime
- Seachem Flourish Nitrogen (1/4 capful per week or per large water change)
- 50% - 75% water change daily for at least the next week to keep down nutrient levels leaching out of the brand new soil
- Filtration:
- HOB "10 gallon" filter that came with tank kit, similar to aquaclear
- No media currently in filter, inert bio balls or similar to be added
- Sponge pre-filter to be added
- Fauna:
- Amazon sword
- Smaller, unidentified sword
- Java Moss
- Fauna: NONE yet
I'd love to hear your feedback on where I should go from here, and any problems you may see coming my way given the above set-up?
I assume that I should be testing levels in the water, but aside from ammonia/nitrite/nitrate, I'm not sure what's important to monitor? (phosphates?)
Oh, and yes, I did deliberately use pink gravel. Shield your eyes, as there is more where that came from!
I couldn't even wait for the outgassing to finish before I took a picture.
I think some of these leaves may need to be removed...
The mystery sword
