Low Tech 2G Planted Tank Log

[inveritas]

Just starting out on planted tanks, here's my first try. Please help ID the plants if you can!

• Substrate: Unbranded aquarium ferts and fine gravel, plus thin layer of black gravel above.
• Filter: 3W internal filter with rain bar
• Light: 5W CFL
• Water: Seachem Prime and CO2 tablets
• Fishless cycling

Day 1: 30/05/13: Added substrate and a plant in and set up filter and lighting. Changed water 3 times to clear the mud.
 

 

 
Day 2: 31/05/13: Added rock, more plants and did another WC to clear the cloud.
 

 

Planning on some guppies and shrimps when the tank is more or less cycled!

 

[Mamashack]

Looking good so far but make it more cycled than less and definitely do fishless cycling as recommended on here and not by your LFS. It's kinder to your future occupants in the long run and saves you doing numerous water changes if you introduce them too early. The link to the beginner's resource centre is at the end of my signature.
Let us know how you get on.


For plant ID try this link: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/forum/207-plant-identification-biology/
I think your 2G is probably ok for the shrimp but not the guppies - a wee bit too small. There's a good topic that's been pinned for stocking nano-tanks - which is what your is:  http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/418749-nano-fish/

 

[mike455555]

looking good the plants are java fern, that needs to be raised above the substrate a bit, or it will rot  and im going to say water spirte, although it could be 1 of 3 similar looking plants (wistirea and indian fern) 

 

[inveritas]

Looking good so far but make it more cycled than less and definitely do fishless cycling as recommended on here and not by your LFS. It's kinder to your future occupants in the long run and saves you doing numerous water changes if you introduce them too early. The link to the beginner's resource centre is at the end of my signature.
Let us know how you get on.


For plant ID try this link: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/forum/207-plant-identification-biology/
I think your 2G is probably ok for the shrimp but not the guppies - a wee bit too small. There's a good topic that's been pinned for stocking nano-tanks - which is what your is:  http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/418749-nano-fish/

Thanks for the link! I might just keep it as a shrimp tank, but only when it's cycled.

looking good the plants are java fern, that needs to be raised above the substrate a bit, or it will rot  and im going to say water spirte, although it could be 1 of 3 similar looking plants (wistirea and indian fern)

Thanks for the ID! I raised the fern up an inch today and added some pearl grass (?) - now to sit back and let it grow!

Day 3 - 010613

 

[inveritas]

Did a test today:

• pH 7.6 (whoa)
• High Range 8.0 (whoa)
• Ammonia 2ppm (wow)
• Nitrite 0.25ppm
• Nitrate 0ppm

 

[Mamashack]

Good - that means the ammonia bacs have started converting it to nitrItes. Continue testing daily and keep topping the ammonia up to 2ppm when it drops below that. The nitrIte bacs take about a week longer to start developing and converting nitrItes .to nitrAtes. Occasionally test for nitrAtes (every 3-4 days) Don't do any water changes unless the pH plummets or the nitrAte level gets too high - approaching 160ppm - as both these can cause the cycle to stall.
Depending on what shrimp you'll be having you'll need a heater if you haven't got one already - can't see one in your picture - and you can help promote the process by cranking the temperature up to 30°C or 86°F and adding an air-stone to give optimum bacteria developing conditions.

 

[inveritas]

Update: Found some white slime at the bottom of the tank, either a thread algae or underwater mold. Sucked most of it out with a turkey baster and put a snail in to gobble up any remaining growth. Some leaves closer to the light source turned brown which I suspect is being burnt. Cut them off and repositioned my light further away. Everything else looks the same!

 

[Mamashack]

Hmm when I was cycling my tank I was told that nothing is safe in there with the inevitable spikes in ammonia so best not to put anything in even snails.