the dirty little NPT blog

I started this 10 gallon NPT (natural planted tank) in mid-ish October. the substrate is topsoil, with a gravel cap. each is about 1.5 inches.

I planted it with anubias (forget which one, not the large one), dwarf sag, mirco sword, four leaf clover, anacharis (which is now out), lemon bacopa, lilopsis (I think that's how you spell it-small form) dwarf onion, several small crypts, a red ozelot sword....and several bulbs, which have done nothing yet >.< if they do not sprout soon, they'll be pulled.

floaters inclue, frogbit, water lettuce and duckweed

there is now driftwood, with java moss.

aaaaand a huge tannin problem. which i'm doing about 50% water changes once a week, at least, to help. this is why i'm not using topsoil again. but this was an experiment, so lesson learned. (the driftwood is not the issue, as it had been in another tank for over 6 months.)

lighting: 2 work lights, hung about 15 inches above. each has a 20w 'cool' cfl, which are on for about 9-10 hours. plus, it gets good southern sunlight.

fauna: 2 sparkling gouramis, 2 CPOs, 2 corona nerites

here are some earlier pics-sans the driftwood. tannins were minimal this day.

 

here are some, taken today....after a 50% water change yesterday. as you can see, pretty yellowish. but in person it's not as bad as the pics. but still, sigh.

 

I think the tannins look good

 

no way you do? I mean I like some tannins....but these are driving me crazy haha

 

I've been debating on doing a NPT on my ten gallon I've got sitting waiting for me to finish the stand for it. I'm curious to see how your tank turns out. I'll be watching this thread to see. Keep us updated.

 

this was my first attempt at using soil....so it's an experiment of sorts. so far the plant growth has been positive. especially inthe ozelot sword. I started a little npt bowl, with organic garden soil....and like that much better. buuuut, if I can get the tannins out of this one, mostly, then I think I'll like it better. i'm excited to see what effect the soil has on the plants. I'll keep updating!

 

Did you sift through the top soil before you put it in the tank and get out any small sticks and stuff?

 

cletus: I did get some of the bigger sticks/rocks out before I put it in. though if I just went with garden soil, I could have avoided this. haha.

this tank isn't necessarily about beauty per se, but my first attempt at an npt. though i'm thinking it will look better once things start to fill in. =]

 

dirty ;D

 

My top soil NPT was always yellow. I liked it though, as did the Bettas.

 

why thank you jaysee. the dirtier the better.

akari....welllll i'm not sure if it will stop leaching tannins, ever, and I can't get a good photo of the CPOs because of the color of the water...and my camera isn't wanting to cooperate either haha. I'll probably do a water change tomorrow and see what happens

how long was yours set up?

 

No, thank YOU

 

why thank you jaysee. the dirtier the better.

akari....welllll i'm not sure if it will stop leaching tannins, ever, and I can't get a good photo of the CPOs because of the color of the water...and my camera isn't wanting to cooperate either haha. I'll probably do a water change tomorrow and see what happens

how long was yours set up?

Almost a year, I think. It never got any more clear, but since I liked it, and the soil was cheap, I didn't really care LOL You my try running a filter with carbon on it for a while? I used a carbon insert, but never changed it out from when the tank was.... "clean"...? So I don't know how it'd help or not.

 

hmmm yeah, I forgot about carbon haha. I could stick some in there. duh. thanks!

 

Sure thing

 

I like it......the tannis that is....lol...tank looks like it will be awesome once they really get going......changing and adding the carbon often will get rid of those tannins for u......

 

thanks lorabell. =]