Once the rocks were in it was a matter of choosing plants and improving the lighting. I don't care what the bulb says, 15W over 20Gal and you'll be lucky to grow Java Moss.
Lighting was a challenge. The tank is rimless and the hood has an 18" T8 bulb, a new hood and fixture was needed. If finally decided on a 24", 1x65W Coralife Power Compact fixture. I like these since they don't need to attach to an existing hood.
Once lighting was setup it was time for plants. There wasn't much at the LFS when I went so I'm sure I'll be back for more. So far there's Hygrophilia Corymbosa Siamesis at the rear left, Corkscrew Val in the rear right, Lobelia Cardinalis at the front left and Cryptocoryne Parva in the centre of the rock formation.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/528632049/in/photostream/
There's also a little dwarf hairgrass I was able to salvage from the old tank at the front centre and right, it doesn't look like much though.
I've moved the inhabitents of the old tank across (4 otos, a 2 1/2" royal pleco, a few ghost shrimp and an african dwarf frog)... I'm sure I moved them... they're not in the old tank anymore... I just can't find them in the new one either! I've also connected the filter from the other tank in hopes to kick-start the cycle.
Over the next days and weeks I plan to plant more, and stock it. Looking for suggestions for both, but I'd like to keep it fairly low tech.
Lighting was a challenge. The tank is rimless and the hood has an 18" T8 bulb, a new hood and fixture was needed. If finally decided on a 24", 1x65W Coralife Power Compact fixture. I like these since they don't need to attach to an existing hood.
Once lighting was setup it was time for plants. There wasn't much at the LFS when I went so I'm sure I'll be back for more. So far there's Hygrophilia Corymbosa Siamesis at the rear left, Corkscrew Val in the rear right, Lobelia Cardinalis at the front left and Cryptocoryne Parva in the centre of the rock formation.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/528632049/in/photostream/
There's also a little dwarf hairgrass I was able to salvage from the old tank at the front centre and right, it doesn't look like much though.
I've moved the inhabitents of the old tank across (4 otos, a 2 1/2" royal pleco, a few ghost shrimp and an african dwarf frog)... I'm sure I moved them... they're not in the old tank anymore... I just can't find them in the new one either! I've also connected the filter from the other tank in hopes to kick-start the cycle.
Over the next days and weeks I plan to plant more, and stock it. Looking for suggestions for both, but I'd like to keep it fairly low tech.
