[phoenixkiller]

Hey guys!

Tearing down a ten gallon tomorrow (Couldn't get around to it today due to the hustle and bustle of the holidays), and I plan to keep it torn down until after the major holidays coming up fast.

Today I am going to find out what I'm gonna do with this tank. It's just a standard 10 gallon tank, but I think we all know that we can do awesome things with the most traditional hardware. This is going to be a high tech (But low budget) endeavour into high tech.

Hardware:

Tank:
Black-rimmed 10 gallon tank, 20" long, 12" high, 10" front-to-back. No scratches or abrasions, and I plan to keep it that way.

Lighting:
Planning on using a T5 HO Odyssea fixture (I know I am gonna get a TON of flak for choosing Odyssea... have mercy!). The tank length is weird, so I am planning on just going with what I can find that doesn't break the bank.

I don't want the schnazzy, super duper expensive Finnex stuff, I just want to get the job done. If I plant it right and set it up professionally, the look of the light fixture can be ignored. If you have a better light for me in a reasonable price range, please, please let me know! Here is the planned light:

http://www.amazon.com/Odyssea-Aquarium-Light-Fluorescent-Fixture/dp/B007RQUOTW

Substrate:

Going soil! Planning on diving into the mini-hobby and world of soil planted-tankers! Hoping to get past my childish ways of messing with my plants all too often, thus disturbing the soil. I would be using Miracle-Gro Soil, capped with some white (Inert) sand I have lying around.

Carbon Dioxide injection:
I will be using a 20-ounce paintball tank, the regulator being a jaggedfury style ASA On/Off valve system. I have several drop checkers with tons of extra fluid, bubble counter, glass diffuser, CO2 tubing, and brass check valve. Is that all good?

Filter:
This will be an AquaClear 20, but if you think a different filter is better, please post!

Hardscape:

Stones of some sort, hoping not to get the expensive crap that is Seiryu stone. Too expensive, raises pH too. Got any suggestions for the type of stone? I like the look of Seiryu stone, but I do not like the price nor the pH-altering properties it hides.

Driftwood? I don't have any handy, but a small, branchy piece would be nice. Lemme know if you have one, I'll pay for what it's worth, we'll work something out.

Flora:
Only thing set in stone is Hemianthus Callitrichoides (HC, or Dwarf Baby Tears). This is a beautiful plant, I have longed for it ever since entering the planted tank section of this super awesome hobby.

Please, please give suggestions for plants! I don't really mind, but I would like if I started out with the high(er) tech plants that aren't impossible, just starting out here.

Fauna:
1x Male Veintail Betta (Name: Sunset)

Fertilizers:
Dry fertilizers from nilocg. N,P,K, and Micros is the name of the game, will be dosing every other day, alternating days.

I'm not good remembering pictures, so please, remind me constantly, or else you're not gonna be able to get pics!

I will be posting 6 space savers.

Thanks for reading, please subscribe and give advice!

 

[phoenixkiller]

Space Saver 1 of 6.

 

[phoenixkiller]

Space Saver 2 of 6.

 

[phoenixkiller]

Space Saver 3 of 6.

 

[phoenixkiller]

Space Saver 4 of 6.

 

[phoenixkiller]

Space Saver 5 of 6.

 

[phoenixkiller]

Final Space Saver.

 

[bud29]

I see you are taking my advice and going dirted, instead of buying another overpriced bag of aquasoil........good choice

 

[wkndracer]

I would be using Miracle-Gro Soil, capped with some white (Inert) sand I have lying around.

Thanks for reading, please subscribe and give advice!

Rather that you start with Miracle Gro Organic Choice Potting Mix.

MGOCPM (potting mix) contains soil and a large portion of organic material (55-65% by volume). Sphagnum peat moss, composted bark fines, leaves, twigs, wood chips etc. and "pasteurized poultry litter" (cooked chicken crap).

Potting soil is spiked with cow manure.
Manure tends to spike ammonia early on in a rather rich release. Stay away from manure rich mixes.

Bang for the buck and the least effort go dirt because it works :smile:

 

[phoenixkiller]

I see you are taking my advice and going dirted, instead of buying another overpriced bag of aquasoil........good choice

Um, this is the other tank, not the shrimp tank. I did get AS for the shrimp tank, and that's the one I didn't want to get soil for. There are no cons for soil for this tank, except that it's gonna be really messy.

 

[phoenixkiller]

Rather that you start with Miracle Gro Organic Choice Potting Mix.

MGOCPM (potting mix) contains soil and a large portion of organic material (55-65% by volume). Sphagnum peat moss, composted bark fines, leaves, twigs, wood chips etc. and "pasteurized poultry litter" (cooked chicken crap).

Potting soil is spiked with cow manure.
Manure tends to spike ammonia early on in a rather rich release. Stay away from manure rich mixes.

Bang for the buck and the least effort go dirt because it works :smile:

So, wait, are you suggesting I do the MGOCPM? Or do something else? I meant that I was gonna do MGOCPM, I just forgot its full name.

 

[bud29]

Um, this is the other tank, not the shrimp tank. I did get AS for the shrimp tank, and that's the one I didn't want to get soil for. There are no cons for soil for this tank, except that it's gonna be really messy.

*facepalm*

 

[jhays79]

I have Odysea fixtures on all my tanks and IMO for the money they can't be beat. Never had a problem with any of mine