My First Tank Journal

[wally6346]

Here's my new nano, which I wanted other people's thoughts on...I think other views are invaluable!

Its been set up for about a week and a half now, and I used some of my other tank water and an existing filter to help bacteria mature a little quicker. I found some bogwood that seems to fit nicely, and some rocks which now have riccia attatched to them (since yesterday!). I've also added another plant (dwarf hairgrass maybe?) at the back which I planted about 2 days ago.

I'm using a Nutrafin CO2 Kit, at about a bubble every 3 to 4 seconds. I'm only using the plant 'gro' provided with the kit at the moment. In terms of lighting, I'm using an 11W white flourescent bulb which I think gives me around 2.2 WPG, on for about 11 hours a day. I've added 6 neon tetras from my other tank and they're doing fine, and am also adding one amano shrimp today.

I am intending to change 20% of the water every week initially.

Any advice at all, plants, fish, layout, maintenance etc. would be great!!

Here's the tank a few days ago and as it stands now (although with fish!)

 

[Themuleous]

Looks nice not to sure about the left rock, bit big for me but that's up to you. That plant you added looks like chain sword Echinodorus Tennellus.

Sam

 

[lljdma06]

Hi, I actually like the wood, pretty dramatic.

11 W over 5g isn't a lot of light. I have 24W over 8g and it is a low-light tank. I have 13W over a 2.5g and it is also a low-light tank. Lighting works very differently for tanks less than 15-20g. You will have trouble keeping the riccia compact and the E. tennellus not covered in algae. CO2, IMO is also not necessary with this low-light level. You can either...

a) Upgrade your lighting and add at least another 11W to give your 22W. That may work. Then you can keep your plants and keep your CO2. You will have to add more plants though.

B) Don't upgrade you lighting, get rid of the CO2 and stick with mosses, anubias, cryptocorynes, egeria, hardy stemplants, etc...You still will have to add more plants

You may also have to consider changing the water a bit more often. I change my nanos 2x a week, some of the people here, with more high-tech setups change as often as every other day.

Below is a useful website to help you calculate the amount of lighting you will need to achieve low to bright lighting levels, depending on what you want. Simply scroll down and enter your tank dimensions and poof! It'll even be specific to the type of bulb you have. I would look at the figures for PC (Power compacts) or T5s and see what the levels are.

http/woo.gotdns.com/Aquarium/Lighting.htm

 

[wally6346]

Hi, I actually like the wood, pretty dramatic.

11 W over 5g isn't a lot of light. I have 24W over 8g and it is a low-light tank. I have 13W over a 2.5g and it is also a low-light tank. Lighting works very differently for tanks less than 15-20g. You will have trouble keeping the riccia compact and the E. tennellus not covered in algae. CO2, IMO is also not necessary with this low-light level. You can either...

a) Upgrade your lighting and add at least another 11W to give your 22W. That may work. Then you can keep your plants and keep your CO2. You will have to add more plants though.

B) Don't upgrade you lighting, get rid of the CO2 and stick with mosses, anubias, cryptocorynes, egeria, hardy stemplants, etc...You still will have to add more plants

You may also have to consider changing the water a bit more often. I change my nanos 2x a week, some of the people here, with more high-tech setups change as often as every other day.

Below is a useful website to help you calculate the amount of lighting you will need to achieve low to bright lighting levels, depending on what you want. Simply scroll down and enter your tank dimensions and poof! It'll even be specific to the type of bulb you have. I would look at the figures for PC (Power compacts) or T5s and see what the levels are.

http/woo.gotdns.com/Aquarium/Lighting.htm

Thanks for that help, I can see exactly what your saying by your examples but the webpage baffles me somewhat, although I get the main drift. Is there any lighting in particular you could recommend, that would fit onto the tank, or I have the hood too. Obviously I need more suitable levels to get a decent tank and plant growth.

Thankyou very much

 

[~T~]

Looks good,I think the plant at the back is the same as I have and it was labled as new zealand grass.The riccia might not stay down on the rocks the way you have it.Might be better off using a hairnet(or the net that you get round fruit punnets thats what I use).