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We just setup our tank today. Here is a run down.
Equipment
Dosing
Initial Setup – 12/4/2016
Sprinked some Oscomote Plus lightly on tank bottom. Added eco-complete, approximately 2 gallons of treated water to keep from drying out and laid out driftwood/rocks. Large piece of driftwood still floated like a bobber, even after 4 weeks submerged in water and one boiling water bath. Using rocks (lots of them) to keep it weighted down. Received a good squeeze from filters at LFS and added to the tank. Will start dosing Seachem Flourish Excel tomorrow morning. Planning on keeping temperature at 76 F. Planning on lights initially from 10 AM – 4 PM at about 80% white/red custom setting.
Planted the following
Test results about 45 minutes after filling and running filter
Questions
Pictures
Equipment
- 60 Gallon Tank – 48 x 15 x 17
- Hydor 350 Professional canister filter ~ 240 – 280 gal/h
- Hydor 300W inline heater
- Inkbird temperature controller
- Finnex Planted + 24/7 light
- 120 lbs Eco-Complete
- Driftwood and rocks
- API Test Kits – PH, Nitrite, Nitrate, KH, GH
Dosing
- Seachem Excel Flourish - planning on starting light (~1/4 dosage)
Initial Setup – 12/4/2016
Sprinked some Oscomote Plus lightly on tank bottom. Added eco-complete, approximately 2 gallons of treated water to keep from drying out and laid out driftwood/rocks. Large piece of driftwood still floated like a bobber, even after 4 weeks submerged in water and one boiling water bath. Using rocks (lots of them) to keep it weighted down. Received a good squeeze from filters at LFS and added to the tank. Will start dosing Seachem Flourish Excel tomorrow morning. Planning on keeping temperature at 76 F. Planning on lights initially from 10 AM – 4 PM at about 80% white/red custom setting.
Planted the following
- Java Moss
- Red Wendtii – front right, cutting on front left
- Java Fern
- Anubias Nana
- Hygrophila Corymbosa (Kompakt) – mid left and mid right
- Hygrophila difformis (Wisteria) – front left
- Nymphaea Zenkeri (Red Tiger Lotus) – back right
- Bacopa monnieri (Moneywort) - background
Test results about 45 minutes after filling and running filter
- PH: 8.0 – 8.2
- Ammonia: 0.25
- Nitrite: 0.25
- Nitrate: 0
- KH: took 9 drops, ~160 ppm
- GH – Unsure how to measure. Should I wait until it goes bright orange and then count drops to green?
Questions
- Should I be adding Ammonia (pure) to the tank to keep the level up to aid in the cycle or just let the tank run?
- I wasn't planning on adding any ferts other than the Excel for a couple weeks. I did order the DIY EI liquid fertilizer from NilocG.
- I realize that some of the plants are probably not ideal in the long term (monywort), but we wanted ones that were quick growing and would suck up the nutrients when getting started. Any problems with this?
- Any criticism, constructive or otherwise is definitely welcome. Great way to learn.
Pictures




