[wheatiesl337]

Update #1:

Introduction: I have been totally into freshwater shrimp since I first saw them, and I decided to put together a dedicated shrimp tank. I wanted to try an ADA tank since I have heard so many good things about them. So a 60p seemed like a good start.

I still need to decide on a background. The easy choice would be dark, but I am tempted by a light and slightly back-lit background. Not much other to do than that and wait for the plants and mosses to grow in.

Substrate: ADA amazonia. Is this stuff really as magical as everyone says? I thought it was time for me to find out.

Lighting:My buddy put together an awesome LED build with separately adjustable white and yellow LEDs on a ramp timer.

Filtration: DIY 10g sump/refugium. Pictures below.

CO2 and Ferts: Update: c02 injection from 10lb tank with victor dual-stage reg. EI dosing with auto-dosers.

Fauna: CRS/CBS and fire yellow colony. Potentially compatabile micro fish once colonies are established.

Flora: c. parva, c. lucens, a. nana petite, s. repens, e. parkeri, e. cinereum, peacock moss, m. minuta

I am open to other suggestions. I was thinking maybe c. petchii or another small-medium sized crypt, or maybe red lotus if I could keep it pruned small enough? I have lots of vibrant greens atm, but I was especially hoping for something more on the reddish spectrum.

Photos:

The DIY 10g Sump:

 

[wheatiesl337]

Update #2 on 12/9/13.

The tank plan and design has been changed quite a bit since the dry start. I am running c02 on an EI regimen with auto-dosers. This is because that Rudger dude decided he had all these gadgets he wasn't going to be using anytime soon. I blame him.

Overall, things are going well. The moss really filled in nicely. I put some UG in during the dry start and moved the MM. I will probably move things around a bit more as the plants fill in, and I find a few additional things I am looking for.

I am surprised at how long the ADA amazonia leeches ammonia. I changed water out of the substrate a few times during the dry start, and I thought this would give me a good head start. However, I am in week 3-4 with frequent water changes and there is still detectable ammonia. I have a bit of algae, but I'm not surprised since there was no cleaning crew. The ammonia levels were finally low enough I felt comfortable dumping some amano shrimp in over the weekend. They have been doing a good job cleaning things up. Once the ammonia is down to 0, some horned nerites I have been saving for this tank will go in. With capped dirt substrates, I have never really had ammonia issues after a dry start, so this is a new experience for me.

I put in couple temporary Riparium Supply planters for a bit of extra help on the substrate leeching.

The e. cinerum and e. parkeri didn't really like the dry start that much, but have been perking up nicely since I flooded:

After spending some time looking dead, the moss really exploded during the dry start. Amano moss method is the way to go. It has slowed down since flooding, but I am having to trim it regularly.

 

[wheatiesl337]

Reserved for update #3.

 

[wheatiesl337]

Reserved for update #4

 

[wheatiesl337]

Reserved for update #5.

 

[wheatiesl337]

Yes, the fog is from a hyper-sonic fogger. I have it on a timer for humidity during the dry start. Surprisingly, the fogger alone has not been enough for the peacock moss (it is good enough for the crypts). The moss didn't really start growing until I also misted directly with a spray bottle once or twice a day.

 

[wheatiesl337]

I am interested in your sump. I have only seen a small number of sumps on planted tanks under 30ish gallons. How are you dealing with in/outflow?

You can see part of the in-flow to the sump in the top pictures. I will take better pictures of that and post. It's DIY bent acrylic modeled after the inflow seen here: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showpost.php?p=3591601&postcount=1. I forget what that style is called. Outflow is a DIY acrylic spray-bar. I ran it empty for a couple weeks to make sure it works. Very pleased with it. I have the sump running in a closed loop right now to keep it cycled during the dry start.

 

[wheatiesl337]

Update #2 posted above. Rudger is a bad influence.

I will be putting together a video and more complete set of photos, including of the sump, when the parameters stabilize.

 

[wheatiesl337]

The "Amano moss method" involves chopping the moss to bits (like in cuisinart, but not slurry), then applying to rock or wood where it will grow in during a dry start. Others have discussed using the method on this forum as well.