Daniel Price
Seedling
- Joined
- 12 Sep 2013
- Messages
- 3
Hi all
I am (VERY) new to the planted side of this hobby but have kept fish for quite a long time. I have never really attempted to make a tank a proper aquascape before either.
I recently converted an established 40g to a planted tank, sitll using the old filter so it cycled really fast just changed from gravel to filter sand.
Important stats
Tank: 40g
Lighting: 64W (T8) 6500K
Substrate: Pool filter sand (will be dirted at some point but I am moving house in 6 months and did not want the hassle)
Decor: Driftwood (New hence the tannins)
Fertiliser: Just some root tabs under the crypts and vallis
Macro test results: pH 7.4, Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrites 0ppm, Nitrates 0ppm (going to start column dosing macros because of the low nitrate)
Flora: Crypt wendtii and beckettii, Anubias nana, Vallisneria, Microsorum pteropus, Microsorum pteropus "windelov"
Fauna: 7 Danios, 1 of the hardiest Hillstream loaches you will ever meet (will be expanded after Xmas break as the tank needs to be left alone for 2 weeks)
FTS
Questions -
1) I am trying to go for a very low maintenance setup as I often am not able to do anything with it for a fortnight or so. Am i right in thinking crypts and anubias are good choices for this with low light and low ferts?
2) I would like the areas of crypt planting to appear really dense rather than tall and stemmy like they are at the moment. Is the best way to achieve this just to leave them to get established and start producing plantlets or to plant a shorter crypt speceis in amongst them, if so which species would you recommend?
3) Could you please critique the aquascape element a bit? It is the first time I have tried something like this, I aim for a jungle feel if that helps.
Thanks in advance for your help, please feel free to rip me to pieces as it will all help me learn.
Also here is my little hillstream loach, I have had him for years. He is the result of a very badly informed purchasing decision of four of them in an old coldwater tank, he was the only survivor. Unfortunately this is the only tank running at the moment and therefore is his home but he seems happy enough. He has his own cave in the right piece of driftwood and is very bold.
Also my danios have never been happier, they lay eggs most days now and then promptly eat them
3) I would like a low growing foreground around the left pieces of driftwood
I am (VERY) new to the planted side of this hobby but have kept fish for quite a long time. I have never really attempted to make a tank a proper aquascape before either.
I recently converted an established 40g to a planted tank, sitll using the old filter so it cycled really fast just changed from gravel to filter sand.
Important stats
Tank: 40g
Lighting: 64W (T8) 6500K
Substrate: Pool filter sand (will be dirted at some point but I am moving house in 6 months and did not want the hassle)
Decor: Driftwood (New hence the tannins)
Fertiliser: Just some root tabs under the crypts and vallis
Macro test results: pH 7.4, Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrites 0ppm, Nitrates 0ppm (going to start column dosing macros because of the low nitrate)
Flora: Crypt wendtii and beckettii, Anubias nana, Vallisneria, Microsorum pteropus, Microsorum pteropus "windelov"
Fauna: 7 Danios, 1 of the hardiest Hillstream loaches you will ever meet (will be expanded after Xmas break as the tank needs to be left alone for 2 weeks)
FTS
Questions -
1) I am trying to go for a very low maintenance setup as I often am not able to do anything with it for a fortnight or so. Am i right in thinking crypts and anubias are good choices for this with low light and low ferts?
2) I would like the areas of crypt planting to appear really dense rather than tall and stemmy like they are at the moment. Is the best way to achieve this just to leave them to get established and start producing plantlets or to plant a shorter crypt speceis in amongst them, if so which species would you recommend?
3) Could you please critique the aquascape element a bit? It is the first time I have tried something like this, I aim for a jungle feel if that helps.
Thanks in advance for your help, please feel free to rip me to pieces as it will all help me learn.
Also here is my little hillstream loach, I have had him for years. He is the result of a very badly informed purchasing decision of four of them in an old coldwater tank, he was the only survivor. Unfortunately this is the only tank running at the moment and therefore is his home but he seems happy enough. He has his own cave in the right piece of driftwood and is very bold.
Also my danios have never been happier, they lay eggs most days now and then promptly eat them
3) I would like a low growing foreground around the left pieces of driftwood