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Allright, so this is my first endeavor into a truly planted tank, a few years back I had a a 55 gallon freshwater with fake plants, one or two live plants, a pleco, angel fish, ottos, etc, but I moved and had to give that to my neighbor.
About two weeks ago I went to my LFS and bought a top fin 15 gallon starter kit. Came with a topfin 20 filter, and the hood with two incandescent bulbs. I bought two bags of Activ-Flora™ Floracor Black Premium Planted Aquarium Substrate, poured the bag into the tank (black water in it and all), and smoothed it out. Then I poured in water using a dish to not disturb the substrate (roughly 13 gallons) and it was black as soot. If I stuck my hand in and put it two inches from the glass, I couldn't see it. I figured it'd all settle so I left it alone for three days and there was absolutely no discernible difference on the third day. After that I sucked out all the black water, added fresh water, and that gave me dark brown water. Let it sit over night with the filter running, no difference. After that I've done several 50% water changes, which has gotten me to where I am now.
Currently I have this odd brown looking water, I can not see any substrate at all floating around, but if I look turn off the hood lamp and shine in a white LED flashlight and look close enough I can see this extremely fine white/brown powder floating around. It's so fine it kind of seems like I'm looking at just plain water, but I know that isn't the case.
Since I've got to this latest state of water clarity I've done 3 50% changes and one 100% change, had the filter on about 75% of the time, and have noticed no difference what so ever.
All this has led me to believe that the cloudy-ness is coming from the actual substrate or it's the incandescent bulbs (which have a brownish hue) making the water look cloudy. I know it's not the rocks or plants as I've added them just a few hours ago.
What do you all think? Anyone have any bad experiences with Activ-Flora? Am I just being impatient? Maybe it is just the bulbs?
Thanks for the help and having me on the forum, it's great to be here.
edit; excuse my messy/beat up desk. It's temporarily permanent, heh :icon_redf
About two weeks ago I went to my LFS and bought a top fin 15 gallon starter kit. Came with a topfin 20 filter, and the hood with two incandescent bulbs. I bought two bags of Activ-Flora™ Floracor Black Premium Planted Aquarium Substrate, poured the bag into the tank (black water in it and all), and smoothed it out. Then I poured in water using a dish to not disturb the substrate (roughly 13 gallons) and it was black as soot. If I stuck my hand in and put it two inches from the glass, I couldn't see it. I figured it'd all settle so I left it alone for three days and there was absolutely no discernible difference on the third day. After that I sucked out all the black water, added fresh water, and that gave me dark brown water. Let it sit over night with the filter running, no difference. After that I've done several 50% water changes, which has gotten me to where I am now.
Currently I have this odd brown looking water, I can not see any substrate at all floating around, but if I look turn off the hood lamp and shine in a white LED flashlight and look close enough I can see this extremely fine white/brown powder floating around. It's so fine it kind of seems like I'm looking at just plain water, but I know that isn't the case.
Since I've got to this latest state of water clarity I've done 3 50% changes and one 100% change, had the filter on about 75% of the time, and have noticed no difference what so ever.
All this has led me to believe that the cloudy-ness is coming from the actual substrate or it's the incandescent bulbs (which have a brownish hue) making the water look cloudy. I know it's not the rocks or plants as I've added them just a few hours ago.
What do you all think? Anyone have any bad experiences with Activ-Flora? Am I just being impatient? Maybe it is just the bulbs?
Thanks for the help and having me on the forum, it's great to be here.
edit; excuse my messy/beat up desk. It's temporarily permanent, heh :icon_redf