[gregpxc]

After 3-4 years of inactivity (maybe more) I am finally in a place where I can get new planted tank going. In the past I focused on saving money where I could and using DIY techniques for almost all aspects of the tank. This time around I am focusing on one small tank that I can move up to the high tech range in the hopefully near future.

I picked up a Fluval Spec V, a Current Freshwater+ 18" light, and some Eco-Complete substrate.

A couple days later I went out and bought some Pagoda Stone, a nice rooty piece of driftwood, and some plants.

flora:
- java fern (back right)
- Didiplis diandre (back left)
- staurogyne (ground cover)

planned fauna:
- 5 CPDs
- 1 Dario Dario
- BVS

Without further ado, here are some images of the tank thus far!

 

[tdiggs]

I like it thus far and look forward to seeing in grow in more.

 

[gregpxc]

Small update, I think I am going to add one Dario Dario to my list of fauna.

What do you guys think of the updated list?

 

[Tihsho]

Interesting to see that you and I started tanks the same weekend with eco-complete and Pagoda Stone.

Are you looking to add Dario Dario to the fauna list or replace something on the list? I'd honestly go with something schooling that is red, i.e. Boraras Brigittae. Dario Dario males show their best color when paired with a female or two in the aquarium and multiple males fight. If you're looking for a spread amount of color a school would work great and contrast with the dark substrate. If you're looking for something small Dario Dario or Apistograma's would work.

 

[gregpxc]

Interesting to see that you and I started tanks the same weekend with eco-complete and Pagoda Stone.

Are you looking to add Dario Dario to the fauna list or replace something on the list? I'd honestly go with something schooling that is red, i.e. Boraras Brigittae. Dario Dario males show their best color when paired with a female or two in the aquarium and multiple males fight. If you're looking for a spread amount of color a school would work great and contrast with the dark substrate. If you're looking for something small Dario Dario or Apistograma's would work.

Well I know that I definitely want CPDs as a small schooling fish. Is it possible to add another small school of a different type in a tank this small? I was under the impression it wasn't so I searched for a good looking loner fish.

On another note, this showed up today on my wood, what am I looking at here?

 

[Tihsho]

I was having a hard time telling last night, but is that grape vine? If so it gets a weird film over it like you have above. I tried this years ago and ended up having to ditch it.

 

[prighello]

Just bacterial or fungal growth on the wood. It will go away.

 

[dru]

I had some Mopani wood that had the same growth. I got some otos after reading they eat it but they didn't touch it. I took the wood out several times and scrubbed it but it came back each time.

I eventually ditched it.

 

[gregpxc]

I was having a hard time telling last night, but is that grape vine? If so it gets a weird film over it like you have above. I tried this years ago and ended up having to ditch it.

I'm not 100% sure what type of wood that is. My LFS has tons of it though. It looks more like a root if I had to guess.

I asked in some other places too and most people seem to think it will go away within a few days to a couple weeks without disturbing the fish much in the process. I'll keep an eye on it and do some WCs every couple days or so.

 

[sumer]

People call that "red moor root" usually. The mold will go away as the nitrogen cycle will kick in. Do not add fish at the moment. Wait at least 30-40 days.