Hello everyone, I figured its about time I setup a planted tank journal with a little bit of background history with this tank specifically. This is my second attempt at doing a planted aquarium, my first attempt was with a 30 gallon that ended in disaster over 2-3 years ago. I purchased this 10 gallon from my neighbor for 5 dollars and decided to try again.
1st Stage (September 2008):
Contained 2x African Cichlids
Lighting: 2x 15w Incandescent bulbs
Substrate: Crushed coral
Plants: Amazon sword and two others I haven't ID'd yet
Filtration: Aqueon HOB
Fertilization: None
This setup failed horribly (and I'm sure many of you already know why). Terrible lighting, substrate and rocks created very hard very alkaline water. The cichlids became way too big and territorial for my small 10g (gave one away to a friend, it's living happily and healthy in his 55gallon cichlid tank. The other I gave to petco for "adoption") The plants slowly withered away into nothing...
1st Stage (September 2008):
Contained 2x African Cichlids
Lighting: 2x 15w Incandescent bulbs
Substrate: Crushed coral
Plants: Amazon sword and two others I haven't ID'd yet
Filtration: Aqueon HOB
Fertilization: None
This setup failed horribly (and I'm sure many of you already know why). Terrible lighting, substrate and rocks created very hard very alkaline water. The cichlids became way too big and territorial for my small 10g (gave one away to a friend, it's living happily and healthy in his 55gallon cichlid tank. The other I gave to petco for "adoption") The plants slowly withered away into nothing...