I started my first post about Tiger barbs in a 15gal but Byron (thx) suggested that I go the planted tank route instead and choose different fish. So, I started with a marimo, and now I have a tall mint charley and two other broad leafed plants in my tank to help with the cycling. I still want to fully plant the tank as well down the road. Right now the NH3 level is still at .25ppm. I removed the carbom bag out of the filter and added a second foam pad for now. I need to get more ceramic pellets for the filter basket. Temp is 78f.
I have fully planted the tank now. I had to return some items for the power filter that I did not need and got some more plants and just took out all of the plastic plants. I need to get 4-5 Anubis plants (2 for my shrimp tank) and I'm done for now. In 2 weeks I hope I can get some fish in the tank!
I'll post some pics tomorrow once the tank clears up a bit. It's still a bit hazy. I'll need to get some liquid ferts this week as well. (will this bother the cycling?)
No the ferts will not hurt the cycle and if your tank is well planted you can go ahead and add a few fish because the plants will automatically cycle the tank for you. ; )
I found out this morning I had a hitch-hiker on one of the plants, it was a small snail. Oh well. I know it looks under planted right now and I must resist the temptation of over planting the tank, but all I need to buy now are the anubis plants and I'm done.
I'll be stocking fish in 2 weeks when I go to Atlanta (Asian food store run) I will stop by Blue Planet to get my fish (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blue-Planet-Aquariums/145993078779139) because Petsmart and Walmart are the only places locally that have fish and I have looked and they are both terrible for fish.
It looks very nice. May I suggest adding a black background, it would really make the plants and the fish (once you get them) stand out. Also the plant in the left corner is that a sword plant? If so you might want to move it to the back middle of the tank because they can get very big and the when you get the anubias get something like Anubias Barteri Var. Nana Petite for the left front corner they do not get big and are a lovely dark green color.
Yep, I plan on moving the sword later once I get the Anubias plants (I will put 2-3 in this tank and 2 in the 5gal I'm planning for shrimp). That is the fun in this, getting to where the tank is the way I like it. :-D
Is that Pennywort in the back? Where did you get your plants? The only places that sell anything plantwise around here are Petsmart ad Petco. Petsmart is 100 times nicer then Petco. I wouldn't by anything fish related from Petco. Walmart here has fish again too which is sad. They didn't have for awhile but now I see they have a few tanks again.
I got the plants at Petsmart, but I refuse to buy fish there, They told me their tank setup had been "down" for over a year and they just got it going again. Went there yesterday to return some items and get some plants and there were allot of dead fish in different tanks. No thanks. :|
It's really coming along. Of course I am a fan of live plants so they are always an 'upgrade' to a tank for me. Is this a square tank?
The pennywort is so pretty, and will just continue to look better and better as it spreads out and grows taller. I am new to that plant, but I think from what I've read that it will grow up and then float on the top? If not, you could snip some when it's established or get another plant and float some up top. Agree with your choice of moving the sword and then putting some anubias up front.
Also agree with calm in that a black background will make it all pop.
My fish plan is headlight taillight tetras, ember tetras, cories and red cherry shrimp. Once I get all the plants I want I will re-arrange the tank to better suit the plants. I'm looking for some black background right now.
Remove it because it will cause the water to loose the CO2 that the plants need. Your fish will not need it because the plants will create the oxygen they need.
Yeah...as long as the surface of the water is disturbed and there are plants in the tank...the fish will have all the O2 they need.
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