This is partially just a thread to write down thoughts, but I also want to make sure I have some other opinions before I begin! The first part is just my mistakes, so you can ignore those if you want. :3
I will be redoing my 29 gallon dirted planted aquarium, because I feel like it's time for a change of view, I'm sick of all the snails and some algae, and I have more experience now. Here's my take on a couple things:
Playsand as a substrate/cover for dirt- I got it from home depot, nice and cheap, 6$ for a 50 lb. bag. I would rather have gone the pool filter sand route, but hey, use what you can. I use it in all my tanks, just because it's what's laying around when I want to start a tank RIGHT NOW. it is 1) very light 2) quite bright at first, then becomes a sort of gross brown if you don't keep up the gravel vacs 3) not very good as a cap over dirt. Since it has such fine grains, it blocks any oxygen from reaching the dirt, which NEEDS oxygen. If it doesn't get there, your tank isn't happy. This isn't good for plants when they just start out, but they grew pretty well afterwards.
Solution: Eco-Complete. Now, I was against this stuff before, just because I think cheaper=better. But, I really want some black sand, and I don't want painted gravel, or sand. Eco will boost my plant growth, and it looks pretty nice! Sure, I'm busting out the cash for it, but hey, the tank will be there for a while, gatta use the good stuff.
Aquaclear Powerhead 20- I use a spraybar to get a nice flow throughout, but the thing likes to get clogged with MTS! like, what the heck! Why would you stick yourself right onto the intake! *sigh*, okay. It works great otherwise. 2 of the propeller blades snapped off, so I'm going to put it in my 10 gallon for now.
Solution: Aquaclear Powerhead 50 w/ Hydro sponge filter IV. I will attach the sponge at the intake, that way I will get more water polishing/biological filtration, no MTS blocking the flow, and a ton more flow out of my spraybar. I'll have to add some more holes, or else the powerhead will be pushing too much to get the water out of the spraybar. I'm really excited for this new filter setup. Oh, and the reason why I currently have such a small filter right now is because my tank has so many plants, I don't even get nitrates in my water chemistry. Oh, and I won't lose any guppy fry, as I plan on this tank having tons of males and females.
Lava Rock Decoration- I use these rocks I found on a vacation, and it looked good in my head, but I feel like the way I set it up, it just wasn't the way I wanted it. Besides that, MTS would bury themselves into the holes, and would stay there, At this point, it's more like a giant mound of MTS, rather than a rock. And I have a nasty case of Black Beard Algae, and I can't get it out since it's in the holes of the rock.
Solution: 1. big. not lava rock. This rock stands at about 10" on its highest point, and I like how it has a nice curve on it, and has different colors. It's also super heavy, and doesn't stand on it's own. I'm hoping ill be able to put some sand under it to help it stand. What do you think, do you like it? Please, be honest, I have more to choose from!
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I'm pretty sure that's all my mistakes. Not bad for a first time aquarist, huh? xD Now it's been over a year since I set this tank up, and i've learned a lot. Now for my plan, from the bottom to the top:
Dirt-1 inch, mix some clay-like like dirt with a small amount of Miracle Gro brand. A VERY small amount. I don't need much of this "hot" stuff.
Eco-Complete- 1 inch, I want to try to do this with 1 bag, which is 20 lbs. I calculated it, and it's just enough for an inch all around.
Plants- I'm still thinking about my aquascape, I tried drawing it, to give you a rough idea. Ok, it's really bad. Anyways, I wan't to do the right side with JUST jungle valls, creating a thick jungle for fry to hide in. This will go all the way to the "foreground", there will be nothing in front of it. On the left, I want the rock in the back, angling towards the left, with some tall plants on the left wall, and foreground plants like dwarf sag. everywhere in front. Ill put my quite large anubias behind the rock, and java fern sort of surrounding it.
This is my tank. So all the tall plants that aren't jungle val will go on the very left, and the dwarf sag on the left foreground. The anubias are pretty big, so we will see how that works out.
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Fish: 1 angelfish, 3 mollies, lots of guppies
Filter: Aquaclear powerhead 50 w/ sponge filter
Lighting: 55 watt CFL 6500K
Tank size: 29 gallons
Questions:
What background color do you prefer? Keep in mind, I'm using a black substrate, and will have lots of plants.
Any experience with sponge filter attached to a powerhead? I havn't tried this before, does it clog?
I'm trying to grow some dwarf sag immersed to get more plants, any experience with this? I feel like mine might be dying...
And unrelated questions are great! And comments, of course
I will be redoing my 29 gallon dirted planted aquarium, because I feel like it's time for a change of view, I'm sick of all the snails and some algae, and I have more experience now. Here's my take on a couple things:
Playsand as a substrate/cover for dirt- I got it from home depot, nice and cheap, 6$ for a 50 lb. bag. I would rather have gone the pool filter sand route, but hey, use what you can. I use it in all my tanks, just because it's what's laying around when I want to start a tank RIGHT NOW. it is 1) very light 2) quite bright at first, then becomes a sort of gross brown if you don't keep up the gravel vacs 3) not very good as a cap over dirt. Since it has such fine grains, it blocks any oxygen from reaching the dirt, which NEEDS oxygen. If it doesn't get there, your tank isn't happy. This isn't good for plants when they just start out, but they grew pretty well afterwards.
Solution: Eco-Complete. Now, I was against this stuff before, just because I think cheaper=better. But, I really want some black sand, and I don't want painted gravel, or sand. Eco will boost my plant growth, and it looks pretty nice! Sure, I'm busting out the cash for it, but hey, the tank will be there for a while, gatta use the good stuff.
Aquaclear Powerhead 20- I use a spraybar to get a nice flow throughout, but the thing likes to get clogged with MTS! like, what the heck! Why would you stick yourself right onto the intake! *sigh*, okay. It works great otherwise. 2 of the propeller blades snapped off, so I'm going to put it in my 10 gallon for now.
Solution: Aquaclear Powerhead 50 w/ Hydro sponge filter IV. I will attach the sponge at the intake, that way I will get more water polishing/biological filtration, no MTS blocking the flow, and a ton more flow out of my spraybar. I'll have to add some more holes, or else the powerhead will be pushing too much to get the water out of the spraybar. I'm really excited for this new filter setup. Oh, and the reason why I currently have such a small filter right now is because my tank has so many plants, I don't even get nitrates in my water chemistry. Oh, and I won't lose any guppy fry, as I plan on this tank having tons of males and females.
Lava Rock Decoration- I use these rocks I found on a vacation, and it looked good in my head, but I feel like the way I set it up, it just wasn't the way I wanted it. Besides that, MTS would bury themselves into the holes, and would stay there, At this point, it's more like a giant mound of MTS, rather than a rock. And I have a nasty case of Black Beard Algae, and I can't get it out since it's in the holes of the rock.
Solution: 1. big. not lava rock. This rock stands at about 10" on its highest point, and I like how it has a nice curve on it, and has different colors. It's also super heavy, and doesn't stand on it's own. I'm hoping ill be able to put some sand under it to help it stand. What do you think, do you like it? Please, be honest, I have more to choose from!
removed
I'm pretty sure that's all my mistakes. Not bad for a first time aquarist, huh? xD Now it's been over a year since I set this tank up, and i've learned a lot. Now for my plan, from the bottom to the top:
Dirt-1 inch, mix some clay-like like dirt with a small amount of Miracle Gro brand. A VERY small amount. I don't need much of this "hot" stuff.
Eco-Complete- 1 inch, I want to try to do this with 1 bag, which is 20 lbs. I calculated it, and it's just enough for an inch all around.
Plants- I'm still thinking about my aquascape, I tried drawing it, to give you a rough idea. Ok, it's really bad. Anyways, I wan't to do the right side with JUST jungle valls, creating a thick jungle for fry to hide in. This will go all the way to the "foreground", there will be nothing in front of it. On the left, I want the rock in the back, angling towards the left, with some tall plants on the left wall, and foreground plants like dwarf sag. everywhere in front. Ill put my quite large anubias behind the rock, and java fern sort of surrounding it.
This is my tank. So all the tall plants that aren't jungle val will go on the very left, and the dwarf sag on the left foreground. The anubias are pretty big, so we will see how that works out.
removed
Fish: 1 angelfish, 3 mollies, lots of guppies
Filter: Aquaclear powerhead 50 w/ sponge filter
Lighting: 55 watt CFL 6500K
Tank size: 29 gallons
Questions:
What background color do you prefer? Keep in mind, I'm using a black substrate, and will have lots of plants.
Any experience with sponge filter attached to a powerhead? I havn't tried this before, does it clog?
I'm trying to grow some dwarf sag immersed to get more plants, any experience with this? I feel like mine might be dying...
And unrelated questions are great! And comments, of course
