90 Litre Riverbed

[Burtie]

So just setup my first aquarium. It's a 90 litre tank which previously belonged to a friend. He's upgrading to a large marine setup (Gav's marine journal) and was looking to pass on his tropical setup to a good home. Spent last weekend setting it all up - this was much more exhausting than I'd ever had thought! Transported all the fish and sand substrate carefully. Setup the tank, filled with Prime treated water then aquascaped and planted. After a day running I acclimatised the fish to their 'new' home. Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels remain low and I continue to test every other day. No plants came with the tank - so it was very much a blank canvas. I've tried to style it on a cross-section of a riverbed.

Have planted:
Echinodorus Tennellus, Elodea Densa, Vallisneria Torta, Sagittaria Natans, Eleocharis Parvulus, Rotalla Indica, Bacopa monnerii, Aponogetum Crispus, Cryptocoryne Wendtii, Ludwigia Mullertii, Hygrophillia Polysperma, Cambomba Caroliana, Vallisneria Spirallis, Mayaca Fluviatilis, Ludwigia Natans.

Some have taken well but others are not looking so good. Looking forward to seeing how the aquarium planting develops. Although my main thought at the moment is why my catfish is so set in digging massive trenches in the sand!

Equipment:
90 litre glass aquarium
75w Jager heater
Filter (can't remember manufacturer at this time!)
Airator
Basic CO2 system
18w tropical lamp

After 4 days this is my 'new' aquarium...

 

[lljdma06]

A good start, but look at all that bare substrate! I usually aim for about 60-75% of substrate coverage for an initial planted. Sometimes even more.

Your light levels are on the low end, but that means little for most of the plants on your list. Some that may require higher light levels or more efficient CO2 injection may be.

Echinodorus Tennellus (may be ok, I'm growing mine fine with only .77WPG), Eleocharis Parvulus, Rotalla Indica, Ludwigia Mullertii, Cambomba Caroliana, Mayaca Fluviatilis, Ludwigia Natans.

Define your "basic" CO2 system? How do you measure your CO2 levels? Are you dosing ferts as well?

llj

 

[Burtie]

Thanks for the comments. Looking to get more plants. Wasn't sure how many plants to order initially - so hedged my bets a bit. Now it's all setup I know what I've got to work with.
Know what you're saying about the light levels. The lamp apparently hasn't been replaced since the tank was new. So guess that lots of gases will have diffused into it by now. Am intending to replace it this weekend. I'll have to take a look into your list of plants when I've a bit more time free tomorrow.
I bought the Hagen CO2 Natural Plant System. I've not started testing CO2 levels yet. How do you go about that anyway?! Using the API master test kit for Ammonia et al. Yes, am using a plant feed. Can't remember the name off the top of my head. Do you recommend a certain fert?

 

[lljdma06]

Thanks for the comments. Looking to get more plants. Wasn't sure how many plants to order initially - so hedged my bets a bit. Now it's all setup I know what I've got to work with.
Know what you're saying about the light levels. The lamp apparently hasn't been replaced since the tank was new. So guess that lots of gases will have diffused into it by now. Am intending to replace it this weekend. I'll have to take a look into your list of plants when I've a bit more time free tomorrow.
I bought the Hagen CO2 Natural Plant System. I've not started testing CO2 levels yet. How do you go about that anyway?! Using the API master test kit for Ammonia et al. Yes, am using a plant feed. Can't remember the name off the top of my head. Do you recommend a certain fert?

I use a dropchecker to measure CO2 levels and make my own 4dkh solution with distilled water and sodium bicarbonate. Check out this link for directions.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=268972

The tank is larger, you might want to invest in a second system and follow a DIY recipe for the yeast, sodium bicarbonate, and sugar mix. Right now, for my 8g, I have two canisters that are changed alternating, 1/2 tsp yeast, 1/4 bicarbonate, 8-10 tbs of sugar, with added water. This gives me a bright apple green on my dropchecker continuously. And my tank is only 8g.

llj

 

[Burtie]

Your light levels are on the low end, but that means little for most of the plants on your list. Some that may require higher light levels or more efficient CO2 injection may be.

Have changed the tube now - quite amazed at how much brighter it was!

Echinodorus Tennellus (may be ok, I'm growing mine fine with only .77WPG), Eleocharis Parvulus, Rotalla Indica, Ludwigia Mullertii, Cambomba Caroliana, Mayaca Fluviatilis, Ludwigia Natans.

Have now planted a number of new plants; including Eleocharis Parvulus and I think also Mayaca Fluviatilis (but maybe not - forgot to note name at LFS). Also bought a rather handsome Moss ball.

I use a dropchecker to measure CO2 levels and make my own 4dkh solution with distilled water and sodium bicarbonate. Check out this link for directions. http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=268972

I think I'll have to get the drop checker setup. Looks relatively straight forward. Thanks for the link.

 

[flyhawk]

i would be a bit worried about the lower light but....
i really like the tank so far, and that piece of driftwood