[WallaceGrover]

Ahhh, I just do not know what to do with this tank.

How about this, what's a tiny fish that has been known to breed in these types of tanks?

 

[WallaceGrover]

I ended up sticking with my original plan to do a southeast asian biotope covered in cryptocoryne with a small school of rasboras. Here are some pictures since I added the leaves:

I added some filter floss to the azoo and it is AMAZING at how few particles there are in the water. One thing that concerns me a little though is the desk lamp, which is rated for up to 60w (I have it on a 23w). It still gets really hot though, and if I get about 4 inches away from it it emits a slight smell. Is this ok?

 

[WallaceGrover]

Ooh, they are stunning. Hopefully my LFS will have them or Boraras maculatus...

 

[WallaceGrover]

I looked at my LFS and the only rasboras I found were harlequins. Maybe in the next few weeks they'll get some rasboras in.

Anyways, here are the first plantings!! I'm just praying that my wendetti does ok, god forbid I'm so terrible the duckweed I added dies!!

 

[WallaceGrover]

Just ordered 2 Lutea, 2 Bronze Wendetti, and 4 Dwarf Hairgrass. Crossing my fingers that these and the current wendettis dont die in some freak accident.

I also got a more direct desk lamp that swings over the top to give a better coverage. Getting a 6500K 23w bulb tomorrow for it since the current one is a 4500K, 23w (maybe 13), I think. It is about 4-5" above the water, and with tannins, it will hopefully not be too much light...

 

[WallaceGrover]

Added another light to it today, to make it 8 WPG!! (one 23w and one 18w)

The tannins in the water and the lights being 4-6" above the tank give me comfort against overlighting...


EDIT: Also dosed several liquid ferts (NPK, Micro, and Iron)

 

[WallaceGrover]

The day has come, my plants (which came from Baylees PAPA aquabid auction) were just planted when these photos were shot. They're cryptocoryne lutea/walkerri and bronze wendetti. Without further ado, here she is:

A close up of the gorgeous wendetti:

I am a tad bit nervous now, hoping they wont all melt and die on me. My wendettis I put in a few weeks ago are probably going to do not so well since they were disturbed yet again (several leaves melted, etc.), although they weren't that welly established in the LFS, so I'm hoping they arent an indication of what's to come. They were probably going to die in the first place. I'm doing a daily dosing fertilization of all 6 seachem products (except trace).

I also added a small 10w heater to help the regular heater hit 82, although it is usually slightly below that. I also replaced the light with a 23w 6500k desk lamp with a swing arm, and an 18w Ott light. Pretty soon, in the next 2 weeks or so, I'm planning on getting some form of tiny rasbora. The dwarf rasbora seems particularly attractive, but I would preferr to get something that is at my LFS. Anyways, any advice you have for me or critical comments are more than welcome!!

This is really pretty. I love the tannins and leaves and whole blackwater look of it.

Thank you!!

BTW: I'm adding some dwarf hairgrass most likely to the front...

 

[WallaceGrover]

That is so cool, I want to do something similar for a wild betta (also 5 gal)

Go for it!!

It's a bit nerve wracking though, hehe:icon_wink

 

[WallaceGrover]

Hehe, it hasn't even grown in yet though!! Of course, if it grows *gulp*

 

[WallaceGrover]

Ooh, I do need to do an update!!

Everything is going great, and I have a little surprise!!

 

[WallaceGrover]

Ok, here is a shot of the tank I took today. (including the surprise!!)

 

[WallaceGrover]

Oh, I almost forgot to post some specs.

I am dosing this with a DIY CO2 (yeast) as well as seachem potassium, flourish, iron, excel, nitrogen, and phosphorus. I go by half their recommended amounts...