mark4785
Member
For around 3 months now I have been undertaking a fishless aquarium cycle on a open-top aquarium. While undertaking this boring and sluggish ammonia-cycle, I've been re-arranging the hardscape to try and figure out exactly how I could go about creating a scenery which depicts a natural-looking environment. I currently have a hooded aquarium which, due to it containing inhabitants, I haven't had the will to turn into a proper aqua-scape. It's more an environment that I know the fish will enjoy rather than something that I wanted to make picture-perfect. So unfortunately, this attempt at creating a competent aqua-scape is my first so I'm not sure if the hardscape, substrate and lighting that I have opted to use is entirely conducive for plant growth.
Aquarium Specification:
Capacity: 120 litres
Lighting: Arcadia Freshwater OT5 Luminaire 2 x 24W - 26" with 2 x T5s (1 x Original Tropical Pro and 1 x Plant Pro)
Substrate: Natural Sand (sourced from a China beach)
Measurements: Height = 50cm, Width = 60cm (Lighting is approximately 60cm from substrate level)
Hardscape: Rocks used; name not known at the moment
Co2 injection: Yes
Fertiliser: Yes; EI dosing method
Filtration: Fluval 406 External Filter
Stocking: Various black neon tetra's initially, followed by a pair of Bolivian Rams or, if I feel the need to live on the edge of sanity, I'll stock it with a German Blue Ram pair!
Layout Images
With the current set-up, and given the height of the lighting unit from the substrate, would the light intensity require me to inject co2?
Also, I plan to use Hemianthus callitrichoides in the aquarium has a carpet plant. Will the German Blue Ram (Mikrogeophagus Ramirezi) up root these plants? Do they require any substrate fertiliser?
Any recommendations on additions or changes to the layout would be most appreciated. I have adapted it to ensure that any GBR's that I place in the aquarium do not scrape themselves so you may want to consider this also.
Thanks,
Mark.
Aquarium Specification:
Capacity: 120 litres
Lighting: Arcadia Freshwater OT5 Luminaire 2 x 24W - 26" with 2 x T5s (1 x Original Tropical Pro and 1 x Plant Pro)
Substrate: Natural Sand (sourced from a China beach)
Measurements: Height = 50cm, Width = 60cm (Lighting is approximately 60cm from substrate level)
Hardscape: Rocks used; name not known at the moment
Co2 injection: Yes
Fertiliser: Yes; EI dosing method
Filtration: Fluval 406 External Filter
Stocking: Various black neon tetra's initially, followed by a pair of Bolivian Rams or, if I feel the need to live on the edge of sanity, I'll stock it with a German Blue Ram pair!
Layout Images
With the current set-up, and given the height of the lighting unit from the substrate, would the light intensity require me to inject co2?
Also, I plan to use Hemianthus callitrichoides in the aquarium has a carpet plant. Will the German Blue Ram (Mikrogeophagus Ramirezi) up root these plants? Do they require any substrate fertiliser?
Any recommendations on additions or changes to the layout would be most appreciated. I have adapted it to ensure that any GBR's that I place in the aquarium do not scrape themselves so you may want to consider this also.
Thanks,
Mark.