[Derick]

Finally got my tanks up and running.

Summary of the approach I've taken so far:

Water: I've been using pure RO/DI water, I don't plan on adding any livestock for some time and so far it has worked out great. I've got some GLA GH booster handy for when I do get started thinking about livestock. Currently GH and KH are at 1. I doubt any fish on the nano list can survive that, but it would be nice if I didn't have to mess with GH.

Water Changes:

First 2 days: 75%
Next 5 days: 50%
Next 14 days: 50% every other day.
Afterwards: 2x weekly 50%

Filtration:

Eheim 2213, media basket removed (using Eheim lattice screens, one on top and one on the bottom).

1.5 months: Eheim bio rings + 2L active matrix carbon
1.5-3 months: Eheim bio rings + Seachem active matrix
After 3 months: All Seachem active matrix

Plants:

Using only tissue cultured plants, the experience has been great so far. Great growth, no risk of parasites, algae or snails.

Equipment & Materials:

2 x Aquatop low iron 30cm aquarium (same size as ADA mini-s).
2 x Eheim 2213 filters.
4 x Eheim lattice screens (7273050).
2 x Viv spin type lily pipe outflow.
2 x Viv glass inflow.
2 x Flexi Mini LED lights.
1 x Azoo CO2 regulator.
2 x Needle valve with bubble counters and integrated check valve.
2 x GLA 12/16mm inline atomic diffuser.
1 x ADA 12/16mm clear hose.
2 x 2L Seachem active matrix carbon
2 x Filter bags for active matrix carbon.
1 x 4L Seachem active matrix carbon
1 x PPS fertilizer package from GLA (with jars and bottles).
1 x ADA Powersand S
1 x 9L ADA Amazonia Powder

Tank 1 (running for 12 days):

1 x Hydrocotyle tripartita "Japan"
2 x Micranthemum "Monte Carlo"
1 x Ludwigia "Super red Mini"
2 x Rotala rotundifolia
1 x Alternanthera reineckii "Mini" (Planted on day 10)

Tank 2 (running for 2 days):

1 x Alternanthera reineckii "Mini"
1 x Echniodorous tenellus green
1 x Utricularia gramminifolia
1 x Eleocharis sp. "Mini"
1 x Cryptocoryne parva
1 x Rotala "Pearl"

 

[Derick]

Any suggestions for fauna? I'm thinking of getting some neon rasbora. Should I add any amano shrimp, how many if so for a tank this size (3.5 gallons)?

 

[Edward]

Currently GH and KH are at 1. I doubt any fish on the nano list can survive that, but it would be nice if I didn't have to mess with GH.

1 x PPS fertilizer package from GLA (with jars and bottles).

Your dGH and dKH at 1 degree is about perfect for fish and plants.

CO2, I would set 1 bubble per 2 seconds to have 6.2 pH and 20ppm of CO2.

For the fertilizers, PPS-Pro solution #1 macros 7 drops daily and solution #2 micros 1 drop daily. This is for 3.5 gallon at 1 ml per 10 gallon or 40L macros and 2 drops per 10 gallon or 40L micros. You may need to dose more solution #2 micros if you see pale new growth.

Because you use RO you need to dose Ca. This is done with Ca solution. For 3.5 gallon aquarium dose 10 ml daily, this will add 0.3 ppm of Ca a day. Calcium solution is made of 3.44 g of CaSO4 in 2000 ml bottle, 3 ml per 1 gallon or 4L makes 0.3 ppm of Ca.

Nice Nano!

 

[WaterLife]

1 German degree of GH and KH is pretty far from perfect for most fish.
Do some searches for fish that do well soft acidic water.

Especially check water parameters for considered inverts as most would definitely not survive long in too soft, acidic water which is very detrimental to their exoskeleton/shell health.

 

[Derick]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll have to check if the GLA GH booster has some calcium. I'll also look into soft water fish.

 

[Edward]

Data from 31 ADA Takashi Amano’s aquariums
TH Total hardness:
8 with 50 ppm, (2.8 dGH)
1 with 30 ppm, (1.7 dGH)
18 with 20 ppm, (1.1 dGH)
4 with 10 ppm, (0.56 dGH)

Data from 11 ADA Takashi Amano’s aquariums
pH:
7 with 6.6
1 with 6.4
3 with 6.0

“What constantly fascinates us is the water quality of natural springs. When our field research unit conducted a comparative water quality testing three of the world’s largest rainforest, where majority of the aquatic plants and tropical fishes originated, we discover the water to be rather acidic and extremely poor in dissolved salts. The pH values for the constant varies between pH 5 to 6, with TH averaged below 20mg/litre.” (ADA Aqua Journal, Vol.36, pg.28), 20 mg / litre = 1.1 dGH

“When CO2 is injected into the water, its pH will be lowered approximately to the range of 6.6 – 6.8. If your aquarium is a newly setup tank using Aqua Soil as the base substrate, the pH will decline further to 5.0 – 5.5 or even lower. There is no cause for alarm as this is only temporary.
After a period of time (about a month’s time), when the substrate is leached by regular water change, the pH will gradually rise back up 6.6 and remains constant thereafter. “ (ADA Aqua Journal, Vol. 38, pg.29)

Shrimps in natural habitat and in an aquarium habitat at
less than 10 ppm GH (0.56 dGH)
less than 10 ppm KH (0.56 dKH)
(Entry #457: 65L Biotope Aquascape: “Tully River zebras”, Benjamin Mos, Sapphire Beach New South Wales Australia, 2015 AGA Aquascaping Contest - Entry #457)

 

[Derick]

Edward, Thanks for the information. Are the Aqua Journals available in english anywhere? Even if they are older editions, I would love to buy/read them.

 

[locus]

Wow, nice growth after less than two weeks!

Maybe a small group of chili rasboras and a few Amano shrimp might be nice? I've got an ADA Mini-M with some Boraras maculatus and half a dozen darwin algae shrimp (similar to Amano shrimp) here.

 

[Derick]

Those dwarf rasboras look neat, I'll definitely consider them for one of the tanks. Thank you!