Planted Nano - First Time With The Green Stuff

[fishprotector]

This will really be my first time with a planted aquarium. I have got some moss, anubis and vallis in my Shrimp tank, but I want this one to be an all out attempt. I managed to get a brand new Fluval 30l nano for £40 yesterday so this will provide the home for it all. I will tell you what I have already got and which plants I have seen which I like the look of. I will need help with the final plant choices, which ferts to use and which CO2 system to get. I will then keep you updated with the progress of things.

Inventory:

Fluval 30l Nano (the shrimp model)
Fluval Stratum (will be the lower level of the substrate)
JBL Mandano (for the top layer)
Standard stock 11W over tank lighting
Standard stock Fluval Nano Filter
Heater, I have a 50W, may buy a 25W
One piece of redmoor wood

Intended fish (I already have these):

Half Moon Betta
Pygmy Corydoras and / or Vietnamese Cardinals
Temperature will be around 24/25 degrees


I had a look arond MA today at the plants and have noted the ones I liked the look of. Please can you use your experience to let me know which ones would be suited to my tank lighting conditions.

For the forground carpet:

pogostemon helferi
hemianthus callitrichoides

For the mid and back layers:

hygrophila australis rosae
ludwigia palustris green
lysimachia nummularia aurea

I will also tie moss to the branches of the wood. I have a mixture of Java and Christmas.

Finally, which CO2 system would be the best to get and which ferts should I be looking at getting?

P.s. Am I missing anything major out?

Pictures so far:

Redmoor

Redmoor in proposed position head on view

Redmoor in proposed position side view

Redmoor in proposed position other side view

 

[kyleb2003]

Liking the wood. You could consider fissidens for the branches that might look good instead of the java moss.

 

[ian]

nice...this has a lot of potential.

as for C02, i personally would go for some Easycarbo and either TNC complete or Tropica plant nutrition plus as the ferts.

just a little tip, when attaching the moss, make sure you attach it in the bends of the wood. This is an Amano trick and looks more natural.

 

[JenCliBee]

This really has potential.... tbh though the only thing i can point out at the moment is that hideous background .... i would remove it and add a plain black or blue (black would be my choice).


Look forward to seeing it progress

 

[fishprotector]

Liking the wood. You could consider fissidens for the branches that might look good instead of the java moss.

Cool, I will have a look into them.

nice...this has a lot of potential.

as for C02, i personally would go for some Easycarbo and either TNC complete or Tropica plant nutrition plus as the ferts.

just a little tip, when attaching the moss, make sure you attach it in the bends of the wood. This is an Amano trick and looks more natural.

I had not thought about solely using a liquid CO2. It does sound a lot easier though thanks.

This really has potential.... tbh though the only thing i can point out at the moment is that hideous background .... i would remove it and add a plain black or blue (black would be my choice).


Look forward to seeing it progress

Lol it is just the standard Fluval Nano foam thingy. I like the fact that it adds a bit of depth to the tank but then it does take up space.

 

[ian]

if you want to add more depth and are keeping the background, slope the substrate from front (lower) and back (higher), this will give a greater sense of depth.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Nice start mate, liking the wood a lot too.

 

[JenCliBee]

This really has potential.... tbh though the only thing i can point out at the moment is that hideous background .... i would remove it and add a plain black or blue (black would be my choice).


Look forward to seeing it progress

Lol it is just the standard Fluval Nano foam thingy. I like the fact that it adds a bit of depth to the tank but then it does take up space.

As ian has mentioned, depth can be achieved by sloping the substrate.... 'I' would personally remove the background, apparently it isn't that hard on these tanks?... the reasons being.... space as you mentioned and the fact that if you decide you dont like it afterwards once all planted it will be alot of hassle draining, removing everything and the taking it out and then having to put everything back lol. Certainly worth a consideration before getting any further along with the project

Black backgrounds imo really do bring out the colours better aswell

 

[ian]

i would also remove the backing, that way you can achieve more, it will also make it look more natural and you get more water space.

 

[fishprotector]

I will probably remove the background. It is only held in with four small and flimsy blobs of silicone and wobbles anyway. I do like the look of it, but I would rather have the extra space and with the wood and plants, I think that it will look deep enough. I will slope the substrate though. At the moment the Fluval Stratum is in because the previous owner opened it to photgraph it. I will slope it when it goes in for real.

Nice start mate, liking the wood a lot too.

Thanks. I see that you have HC in a couple of your tanks. What were your experiences with it?

I am going to Florida on Saturday for 10 days and work 12 hour days during the week so there will not be much progress on this until I return.

P.s. If I remove the background and want to paint the back of the tank black, what paint should I use??

 

[fishprotector]

I have just put the wood into my Betta's current home and it floated like a plastic bottle. I have not had any Redmoor before, but I did not think that it would be that boyant. I will leave a couple of rocks on it to weigh it down whilst I am away. Hopefully in two weeks time it will stay on the bottom.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

I will probably remove the background. It is only held in with four small and flimsy blobs of silicone and wobbles anyway. I do like the look of it, but I would rather have the extra space and with the wood and plants, I think that it will look deep enough. I will slope the substrate though. At the moment the Fluval Stratum is in because the previous owner opened it to photgraph it. I will slope it when it goes in for real.

Nice start mate, liking the wood a lot too.

Thanks. I see that you have HC in a couple of your tanks. What were your experiences with it?

I am going to Florida on Saturday for 10 days and work 12 hour days during the week so there will not be much progress on this until I return.

P.s. If I remove the background and want to paint the back of the tank black, what paint should I use??

Read the journals lol hehe self promotion lol

 

[fishprotector]

I read through them earlier this evening. Very interesting. I am undecided though whether to go for the HC or the pogostemon helferi as a carpet. At the moment, I am thinking that the later may go better with the wood, but am just worried that the 11w light may not be enough and that it might get 'leggy'. You seem to be doing ok in a similar sized tank with the same light wattage though so I may give it a go.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Just bare in mind it will stay low but grow very slowly, very very slowly.

 

[fishprotector]

Oh and I have just removed the 3D background. The silicone came off pretty easy with a razor blade. Looks much more roomy now.