90L Low-Tech Community Journal

[Blondielovesfish]

Looking good!
 
The red plants probably won't last long, as most red plants require high lighting and CO2.
 
Not really sure about any of those plants sorry, though it looks like you have some baby tears in there.
 
The driftwood looks great!
 
Thats good that they replaced the heater! 
The wires are water proof, so don't worry about how far they are from the port, see the picture below for how I have positioned my heater.

 

[dave840f1]

Please DO NOT use Harlequins in your tank when cycling it they are not that hardy.

 

[Blubble37]

First lot of plants are here! You get these "lucky-dip" bags of 14 bunches at the LFS, which is cheaper than buying bunches one at a time. Only downside is the risk of getting unsuitable plants and having no idea what you have. I was conservative since I didn't know how much space they would take up and only got one lot, I'll have to go back and get one or two more. But for now the tank looks like this!

 
Hey look the new heater (the LFS gave me a free replacement!) is on. Time will tell if this one works properly I guess. Its set to 25.

If you'd like to identify what plants I have here feel free.

 
Also here's that shot of the inside of the filter. You can see its been filtering the tannins lol

the filter looks good, cant see any problems with it, looks like a nicely made one at that

 

[kiwifeather]

Well I got some more plants....
Unfortunately I also got 4 bonus Cardinals! (I think, pretty sure they aren't neons) I'm not entirely sure but I'm guessing they either got stuck in the plants or scooped up when the guy put water in the bag. I'm not entirely sure what to do now, for obvious reasons. I decided I was going to go with either Neon, Cardinal or Rummynose tetras anyway, but its earlier than I was planning to get any. The little guys are in the tank and are doing ok, already got their colour back. I'm sure with some 25 or so bunches (4-6 stems each bunch) of plants in there now it shouldn't be a problem, but I'll see what you guys think.
Anyway, tank picture time!

I'm really pleased with how it looks.

 And great news, the new heater is keeping the temp at a consistent level! Guess the other one really was faulty. 

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Yay! Looks great with the extra plants!
 
Told you you should of gone with the cardinals Now you have to. Hopefully they'll be fine with all those plants in the tank, just make sure to keep your eyes on the ammonia and nitrite levels. When you're sure they won't spike, you can proceed to add a few more cardinals (maybe just get another bunch of plants and hope for some more freebies ).

 

[kiwifeather]

Yay! Looks great with the extra plants!
 

Told you you should of gone with the cardinals

Now you have to. Hopefully they'll be fine with all those plants in the tank, just make sure to keep your eyes on the ammonia and nitrite levels. When you're sure they won't spike, you can proceed to add a few more cardinals (maybe just get another bunch of plants and hope for some more freebies

).

Yeah the difference between the photo from yesterday and today. Only a few more bunches makes a big difference!
 
Yes well it seems fate decided for me, I'm not complaining, now I don't have to pick. The Cardinals colour is great in the tank too. They are already more confidant and wizzing around even though there is only the four of them. I imagine they are enjoying the space and all the plants after being in the cramped LFS tank. I'm going to test the water every day to be sure. How many days do you reckon it might take? Not sure where else I can fit plants , I need that space at the front as some free swimming/viewing room! 
 
Was scooping out what else the LFS currently have today. They have the one Red Whiptail that I'd like to nab asap as the LFS guy told me they don't do holds and they don't get them very often. While I'm still fine with a BN Plec, I really do like these guys. They also had what was labeled Cobalt Gourami, which I believe is just a colour morph of the Dwarf? Not sure on that let me know. The after telling me they didn't have any Dwarfs, only Honey and Red Honey in my size range (although they told me the Kissing and Pearl and Opaline would be fine too!)

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Yeah, cobalts are a colour form of the dwarfs, also called powder blue.
 
If you don't get any spikes for a week then I would say you would be fine to add the final amount of cardinals to get to your final school.
 
Its up to you if you want the red whiptail or BN, only thing is that IMO the BN would be more active.

 

[kiwifeather]

The four cardinals have made it through the first 24 hours with flying colours and I've done the first round of tests. I did pH again out of curiousity because I have heard tannins can bring pH down slightly. 
 
pH: 7.0-7.2 (It was a colour somewhere in-between the two so I'm thinking it might be 7.1, leaning more towards 7.2 as it was)
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 0
Nitrite: 0
 
I've also decided to give the kuhlis a complete miss.. I don't care for them that much and its easier to stay with the same substrate, at least for the foreseeable future. I'm not sure but I'm guessing this opens me up to either expanding on what I was already going to have or adding something else?  Not necessarily a bottom dweller but something that goes down there and uses the space, but doesn't need sand would be nice but not a necessity. Another schooling fish or maybe something that lives alone/in pairs/trios maybe? I'm not sure what I'd be able to get away with.
 
I was thinking something like this if I just add to the species I already planned on:
1-2x Dwarf/Honey Gourami 
7-11x Cardinal Tetras
1-2x BN Plec or Red Whiptail Catfish
 
Also good to see how the plants that needed to have shifted their leaves towards the lights, good sign! 

My camera is rubbish at close up moving things

this was the best I got of the tetras.

 

[508]

Looking fantastic already, good job!

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Looking great!!!

 

[Primous]

I really like the plants so far. It has the makings of a great tank. The only thing I'd advise is to be careful of deadspot (areas where there is little to no water movement) right behind the wood as dead spots they can kill plants.

 

[kiwifeather]

Quick update: Test results all the same today, fish still doing fine, so nothing happening there. 
 
Also quick question, how many hours a day should I be keeping the lights on for? Does it have to be longer than normal while the plants are new?

 

[Blondielovesfish]

6-8 hours is what most people keep them on for

 

[kiwifeather]

Didn't make an update yesterday as there was no change. Same goes for today, still all sitting at 0. Fish are still doing ok, although they are starting to have small scraps with each other, nothing major although one has tiny nick out of its tail now. I'm guessing once I finish off the school they'll settle down a bit.

 

[AquaPit]

Nice Tank! Can't wait for more pictures with the fishes you gonna put in there!

Try looking into dwarf cory or pygmy cory somewhere in that line.. i know the gravel is of a concern for their barbels but one of those species i mentioned have a tendency not to stay at the bottom that much and love shoaling at the lower ends of the tank even up to the middle aread as well.. correct me if I am wrong.. hehe